Cassidy Gifted and Talented News
September 22, 2019
Welcome!
Each week, I will also send a newsletter that describes opportunities for you and your child in relation to Giftedness and describes what your child is up to in PTP/GT.
I am here to help with anything you need, so reach out anytime (contact info at the bottom).
Announcements
Save the Date!
We will have a fall and spring PTP/GT showcase (for general intellectual ability, specific academic areas, and leadership) and a spring arts and creativity showcase (for music, art, dance, drama, and creativity). These events are an opportunity for your child to share what they have been learning in PTP/GT with their friends and family. The fall showcase is scheduled for December 19 from 5:30-6:30pm in the cafeteria. The spring showcase is scheduled for May 7 from 5:30-6:30pm in the cafeteria. We will also have a showcase on May 21 (time TBA) for creativity, art, dance, drama, and music students to showcase their work. Art, dance, drama, and music will not display their work at the fall/spring showcases, but will save their pieces for the creativity/arts showcase in the spring. This is to accommodate the length of time it takes for them to complete their pieces and to also provide them with the spaces they need to best share their work and have comfortable places for their families to view their work.
Cassidy Parent Information Night
Here is the link to the information I presented at the Cassidy PTP/GT Parent Information Night last week.
Gifted Accelerated Program Information Nights
If you are interested in learning more about the Gifted Accelerated Programs at Ashland for grades 4-5 and Winburn for grades 6-8, they are hosting some parent information nights. Click here for more information.
Cassidy Science Club
The Cassidy Science Club is a wonderful opportunity for PTP/GT science students (or any students interested in science) in 3rd-5th grades. Space is limited so sign up fast! It will be on Wednesdays from 3:15-4:15 starting in October. Click here to sign up.
Super Saturdays at WKU
Western Kentucky University (the home for the Center for Gifted Studies) hosts a series of fun workshops for GT students at the campus in Bowling Green. Click here for more info.
Duke Tip
Duke Tip is a program through Duke University that offers a variety of opportunities for GT learners in grades 4 and up. Click here for more info.
KAGE Conference Parent Night
KAGE (the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education) Fall Conference will host a parent night session on "Understanding and Supporting Your Intense Gifted Child." Click here for more info.
What We Are Up to This Week!
1st Grade PTP:
Students are participating in an interdisciplinary enrichment curriculum called Envision designed specifically for gifted and talented learners. The first unit we will do is called Kentucky Backyard Getaway where students will use science, social studies, math, language arts, art, and technology to create their own dream backyard.
2nd Grade PTP:
Students are participating in an interdisciplinary enrichment curriculum called Envision designed specifically for gifted and talented learners. The first unit we will do is called Travel Passport where students will use science, social studies, math, language arts, art, and technology to plan a trip to a destination(s) of their choosing within a budget.
3rd Grade Language Arts:
Students are beginning a unit on historical fiction and non-fiction. They will be reading historical fiction and non-fiction on a topic of their choosing while participating in book clubs to discuss their readings and practice comprehension strategies. They will then write their own non-fiction and historical fiction texts based on their topic to share with their peers and to share at the showcase.
3rd Grade Math:
I am co-teaching with Mrs. Dycus during math Monday-Thursday and will be doing a variety of accelerated math activities with students to advance their math skills. Currently, we are working on a multiplication unit where students must design a series of movie theaters that fit a certain set of specifications to practice arrays, order of operations, word problem solving strategies, and number sentences.
3rd Grade Leadership:
Students are working on a project to identify 25 leaders in our world (past or present) to help them identify the characteristics that make a true leader. They will then apply their own leadership skills to design and execute a leadership project in their class/school/community. This group will meet with me a few weeks in a row on a rotating basis so they will see me for a few weeks, then work on their project for a few weeks. We will repeat this rotation throughout the year. The purpose of this is to give students longer, consistent blocks of time to work on their projects with me and their leadership projects around the school/community.
3rd Grade STEM (Science and GI):
Students will be working on a project related to sustainability. They will learn what sustainability is and decide on a project that they want to do in their class/school/community. They will then work on this project throughout the school year. This group will meet with me a few weeks in a row on a rotating basis so they will see me for a few weeks, then work on their project for a few weeks. We will repeat this rotation throughout the year. The purpose of this is to give students longer, consistent blocks of time to work on their projects with me and their sustainability projects around the school/community.
3rd Grade Art/Music/Dance/Drama/Creativity:
Students will be collaborating together to design a production/piece to perform/present at our arts showcase this spring. Students will collaborate together to highlight each of their skills to create their pieces/productions. This group will meet with me a few weeks in a row on a rotating basis so they will see me for a few weeks, then work on their project for a few weeks. We will repeat this rotation throughout the year. The purpose of this is to give students longer, consistent blocks of time to work on their projects with me and Mrs. Gilpin, Mrs. Stringer, or Mrs. Case (our district GT arts specialist).
4th Grade Language Arts:
Students will be engaging in a unit on mythology. We will be reading Percy Jackson aloud together as an example. Students will also be reading and discussing myths together in Book Clubs while practicing their comprehension strategies. They will then write their own myths to apply what they have learned.
4th Grade Math:
I am co-teaching with Mrs. Valentino during math Monday-Thursday and will be doing a variety of accelerated math activities with students to advance their math skills. Currently, we are working on an algebra unit called At the Mall with Algebra from the M3 Curriculum, which is designed specifically for GT learners. Students will apply a variety of math skills (understanding operations, variables, equations, and word problems) to work through the lessons.
4th Grade STEM (Science and GI):
Students will be working on a project related to sustainability. They will learn what sustainability is and decide on a project that they want to do in their class/school/community. They will then work on this project throughout the school year. This group will meet with me a few weeks in a row on a rotating basis so they will see me for a few weeks, then work on their project for a few weeks. We will repeat this rotation throughout the year. The purpose of this is to give students longer, consistent blocks of time to work on their projects with me and their sustainability projects around the school/community. This group will also be collaborating with Mrs. Patton from Bluegrass Greensource, who will be visiting our classroom periodically throughout the year to do a variety of lessons on sustainability. We will be going on a field trip October 1 to the Lexington Recycling Center. Forms will be coming home Monday, but here is the link as well. I need chaperones so please let me know if you would like to go.
4th Grade Social Studies:
Students will be working on a "Design Your Own Country" project to learn about different types and parts of government. They will then work on this project throughout the school year. This group will meet with me a few weeks in a row on a rotating basis so they will see me for a few weeks, then work on their project for a few weeks. We will repeat this rotation throughout the year. The purpose of this is to give students longer, consistent blocks of time to work on their projects.
5th Grade Language Arts:
Students are beginning a unit on dystopian fiction. We are reading The Giver aloud together to learn about elements of dystopian literature, literature in general, and comprehension strategies. Students are working together in book clubs to read an additional dystopian novel and practice their comprehension skills. Students will then write their own dystopian fiction stories to apply what they have learned.
5th Grade STEM (Science, GI, and Math):
Students will be working on a project related to sustainability. They will learn what sustainability is and decide on a project that they want to do in their class/school/community. They will then work on this project throughout the school year. This group will meet with me a few weeks in a row on a rotating basis so they will see me for a few weeks, then work on their project for a few weeks. We will repeat this rotation throughout the year. The purpose of this is to give students longer, consistent blocks of time to work on their projects with me and their sustainability projects around the school/community. This group will also be collaborating with Mrs. Patton from Bluegrass Greensource, who will be visiting our classroom periodically throughout the year to do a variety of lessons on sustainability. We will be going on a field trip October 1 to the Lexington Recycling Center. Forms will be coming home Monday, but here is the link as well. I need chaperones so please let me know if you would like to go.
5th Grade Art:
Students have been learning about the elements of art, art over time, and art from around the world to develop a plan for the artwork they want to create. They will then create their pieces to present at our arts showcase this spring. This group will meet with me a few weeks in a row on a rotating basis so they will see me for a few weeks, then work on their project for a few weeks. We will repeat this rotation throughout the year. The purpose of this is to give students longer, consistent blocks of time to work on their projects with me and Mrs. Gilpin.
5th Grade Dance:
Students will be working with me, Mrs. Valentino (our dance team coach), and Mrs. Case (our district GT arts specialist) to develop a piece to perform at our arts showcase this spring. This group will meet with me/Mrs. Valentino/Mrs. Case a few weeks in a row on a rotating basis so they will see me/Mrs. Valentino/Mrs. Case for a few weeks, then work on their project for a few weeks. We will repeat this rotation throughout the year. The purpose of this is to give students longer, consistent blocks of time to work on their projects.
5th Grade Drama:
Students will be working with me, Mrs. Valentino (a skilled drama performer and teacher), and Mrs. Case (our district GT arts specialist) to develop a piece to perform at our arts showcase this spring. This group will meet with me/Mrs. Valentino/Mrs. Case a few weeks in a row on a rotating basis so they will see me/Mrs. Valentino/Mrs. Case for a few weeks, then work on their project for a few weeks. We will repeat this rotation throughout the year. The purpose of this is to give students longer, consistent blocks of time to work on their projects.
Seesaw Sign Up Links
Seesaw is an online journal where students can make posts to document and share their learning with you and each other. They can take videos and pictures, make drawings, type notes, etc. I am beginning to use it in several classes and will roll it out to more as we go along so if you do not currently see your child, please continue to check in with them or check back in to see if they have set up Seesaw yet or not. If your child participates in one of these groups, you can sign up with Seesaw to view their work by clicking on the link for their group, choosing their name from the menu, and then signing up for an account. There is also a Seesaw app you can download on your phone.
PTP/GT Art/Creativity
1st Grade PTP (Coming Soon)
Contact Information
Gifted and Talented Teacher
Cassidy Elementary
859-381-3018 ext 21252
angie.madden@fayette.kyschools.us
Email: angie.madden@fayette.kyschools.us
Website: www.cassidy.fcps.net
Phone: 859-381-3018