Cassidy Gifted and Talented News
Week of May 2 and May 9
Announcements
This week we are welcoming many new students and families to Gifted and Talented services at Cassidy Elementary! If your child is new to the program, you should have received (or will soon receive) a letter that I sent home with your child explaining the services they will receive and the areas that they will receive services in. I am always here to answer questions (or get you to someone who can answer your questions), so reach out to me anytime (contact info is at the bottom of the newsletter).
I send out a weekly newsletter that highlights the services that are being provided in each area of gifted and talented for each grade level. See the newsletter below for details about the next two weeks!
I send out a weekly newsletter that highlights the services that are being provided in each area of gifted and talented for each grade level. See the newsletter below for details about the next two weeks!
What We Are Up to This Week in GT
Literacy:
Kindergarten through third grade students are working on a creative reading and writing unit. We have read multiple examples of creative writing and have discussed what makes it creative. We are now moving on to brainstorming our characters, setting, and plot. I have so enjoyed seeing these creative minds at work! I am sure your child would love to share their ideas with you if you want to ask them about their stories!
Fourth and fifth grade students are continuing work on a creativity project where they have selected a problem in their school, community, or world and are using their creative thinking skills to come up with innovative solutions to those problems. They are currently in the planning and implementation stages. They are very excited about making a difference in their world about something that matters to them so ask them to share what they are doing with you!
All groups have on-going book clubs, so students will be continuing to practice their conversation and comprehension skills in those.
Math:
In math, we are focusing on explaining our thinking in words and writing and advanced level curriculum. In Kindergarten, we are working on logic and spatial thinking using pentominoes. In first grade, we are working on understanding fractions. In second grade, we are working on understanding factors and multiples through a Candy Box Problem Project. In third grade, we are working on understanding the relationship between area and perimeter. In fourth grade, we are working on multiplying decimals.
In fifth grade, we are working on angles and shapes.
Art, Creativity, and/or Leadership:
In art, creativity, and leadership, students have self selected a project that they want to work on. In art, those projects can include activities such as researching a famous artist and recreating one of their works. In creativity, those projects can include activities such as designing your own habitat and the creatures/plants that could survive there. In leadership, those projects can include activities such as defining the characteristics of a great world leader and applying that to your own leadership abilities.
General Intellectual:
General intellectual groups in K-3 are working on logic and reasoning. General intellectual groups in 4-5 will be working on making Rube Goldberg machines.
Kindergarten through third grade students are working on a creative reading and writing unit. We have read multiple examples of creative writing and have discussed what makes it creative. We are now moving on to brainstorming our characters, setting, and plot. I have so enjoyed seeing these creative minds at work! I am sure your child would love to share their ideas with you if you want to ask them about their stories!
Fourth and fifth grade students are continuing work on a creativity project where they have selected a problem in their school, community, or world and are using their creative thinking skills to come up with innovative solutions to those problems. They are currently in the planning and implementation stages. They are very excited about making a difference in their world about something that matters to them so ask them to share what they are doing with you!
All groups have on-going book clubs, so students will be continuing to practice their conversation and comprehension skills in those.
Math:
In math, we are focusing on explaining our thinking in words and writing and advanced level curriculum. In Kindergarten, we are working on logic and spatial thinking using pentominoes. In first grade, we are working on understanding fractions. In second grade, we are working on understanding factors and multiples through a Candy Box Problem Project. In third grade, we are working on understanding the relationship between area and perimeter. In fourth grade, we are working on multiplying decimals.
In fifth grade, we are working on angles and shapes.
Art, Creativity, and/or Leadership:
In art, creativity, and leadership, students have self selected a project that they want to work on. In art, those projects can include activities such as researching a famous artist and recreating one of their works. In creativity, those projects can include activities such as designing your own habitat and the creatures/plants that could survive there. In leadership, those projects can include activities such as defining the characteristics of a great world leader and applying that to your own leadership abilities.
General Intellectual:
General intellectual groups in K-3 are working on logic and reasoning. General intellectual groups in 4-5 will be working on making Rube Goldberg machines.
Week of May 9
Because of KPREP testing this week, gifted and talented classes will not meet. We will pick back up the week of the 16th.
In the Community
KAGE (Kentucky Association for Gifted Education) has compiled a list of Kentucky summer camps that are of particular interest to gifted and talented kids. Check out their list here!
May 14 - Scratch Day! Scratch is a free creative computing software from MIT that allows kids to create games, stories, animations and more using computer coding in a kid friendly format! For more information, click here!
May 14 - Scratch Day! Scratch is a free creative computing software from MIT that allows kids to create games, stories, animations and more using computer coding in a kid friendly format! For more information, click here!