GT with Mrs. G
July 17, 2018
Summer is winding down!
Are you ready to get back to school? As much as I love being home and getting caught up on rest during the summer, I am really looking forward to starting a new year with my wonderful students!
My plans for the school year are shaping up nicely. Here are some things to look forward to:
- Kindergarten: I will make identifications by January.
- Grades 1-3: Primary Talent Pool will likely meet on Wednesdays. I have been building our Maker Space this summer, adding Legos, Lincoln Logs, and more art supplies. I plan on having some exciting Maker Space challenges to go along with things we will read this year.
- Grade 4: Identification letters will come home the first week of school. I'll be pulling 4th graders on Wednesdays, too. We will be doing some Genius Hour work, as well as Maker Space challenges.
- Extensions for Grades 5-8: I will offer Future City for 5th and 6th, as well as 7th and 8th grades as my main extension offering. Students will imagine, research, design, and build cities of the future that have energy sources that can withstand natural disasters. We will use math, engineering, technology, public speaking, reading, and writing skills. Once a week extensions will be Journalism (school newspaper and quarterly literary journal) and Genius Hour.
- ATLAS (Advanced Topics in Language Arts Studies): All identified GT (academic and GI) 7th and 8th graders as well as a few others who demonstrated above level ability will have me for their Language Arts teacher. I have so many exciting things planned. Our first quarter will focus on the theme of the individual in society. We will work toward answering the question, "Can freedom and compliance coexist in society?" We will be doing lots of reading and writing and discussing! Supply list: one or more spiral notebooks, a sturdy folder/skinny binder, and your own writing utensils. ATLAS kids received a summer reading assignment before school was out. Summer Reading work MUST be ready to turn in on August 1!!!
- High School- I will be sending a Google Classroom code and we'll have some ongoing assignments and discussions that are happening in the background of your regular classes. I would also like to plan a field trip or seminar each quarter.
Ways to Be Involved
Students:
- I will be sponsoring KYA and KUNA for 6-8 graders again this year, along with Y Club, which is a year round service organization that goes along with those. We will start Y Club meetings in August. I plan on having those on Wednesdays after school. KYA is November 4-6 at the Crown Plaza in Louisville. Fees are about $250, so start planning for that!
- Middle School Academic Team will start in August as well. We will likely join the Bluegrass League and have some matches in the fall. I anticipate practices being on Mondays and Thursdays after school, in addition to morning "Breakfast Club" practices.
Families:
- I will need help with Y Club, Academic Team, Future City, and more! I will have a volunteer sign up once school starts.
- I am also on the lookout for some supplies. Future City will require recycled materials to build our city. Scraps of building materials, old appliances, old Legos, etc, will come in handy. I'm also always working on improving my Maker Space. I would love empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls or any other recycled crafty "stuff" you would like to unload! I also always need tissues, paper towels, construction or card stock paper, and pencils.
- I am contemplating "rebranding" the Gifted and Talented program with a new name that does a better job of describing what we do. I will have some ideas ready by the first week of school and I would love some input from you guys!
Dates to Note
July 24- Back to School Pool Party at Juniper Hills, 7-9 pm
August 1- First Day of School!!!
August 16- Open House (I will have a GT orientation session!)
Mrs. Elly Gilbert
Elly Gilbert
Gifted and Talented Teacher/Coordinator
Middle School Academic Team Coach
Middle School KUNA/KYA/Y Club Sponsor
Frankfort Independent Schools
Email: elly.gilbert2@frankfort.kyschools.us
Phone: 502-875-8658
Facebook: facebook.com/GTwithMrsG
Twitter: @mrsellygilbert