Fourth and Fifth Grade PEAK
Mrs. Turner's News
Topic Study Share
Photos in this newsletter are entirely from our topic study presentations. As I mentioned in an email earlier, every student gave several 5 minute presentations and then answered questions about their topics. The format gave us an authentic audience and also provided a time to practice our public speaking skills.
We want to share our work with you as well, so we created digital portfolios using an app called Seesaw. As parents, you can access your child’s portfolio at home. It's completely private -- only you can see your child’s work outside of class.
If you have time to look at Seesaw with your child, I think it will be a valuable experience! Possible questions to encourage good dialogue include: How did you choose your project? What was your note taking method? Did you arrive at an answer to your essential question? What made you proud?
If you have any questions please let me know. I hope you enjoy talking with your kiddos about their topics as much as I have!
We are also adding theme study, elective work and science into the Seesaw digital portfolio.
Project Sharing
Enthusiasm for Learning!
Audience is Engaged!
Curricular Areas:
SCIENCE:
Continue experiments to answer the following essential questions:
- 4th grade- How can I use the scientific method to determine if advertising claims are true?
- 5th grade- How can I use the scientific method to design and conduct qualitative experiments on the brain?
THEME:
Finish editing and revising our writing and begin working on final projects:
- 4th grade- Public awareness campaign to bring attention to world problems
- 5th grade- Brain museum exhibit
ELECTIVES:
PEAK is getting in the maker spirit for the remaining months of the school year! We're offering students DIY choices that include sewing, coding, movie making, engineering, algebra, logic, and more! Students have already made their selections and are excited to get started next week!
Elective: Movie Maker
Elective: DIY Sewing
Elective: Engineering
Middle School Placement
With middle school just around the corner for 5th graders, I've been getting questions about PEAK placement.
There are 3 PEAK classes at the middle level- reading, math, and science. They replace regular reading, math, and science. 5th graders take I-Ready reading and math in the fall and spring. Qualifying criteria is 95% or better on either fall or spring results. They also take the Performance Series science in the fall and spring. Same criteria- 95% or better. Parent letters regarding placement will be sent at the end of the school year.
Critical Thinking
- Students took a posttest on critical thinking vocabulary words. If your child scored a 8 or 9 on the test out of 9 then he/she does not need to study the vocabulary words. If your child scored under a 8 then each student is designing his/her own method to best learn the meanings of the critical thinking vocabulary words. Some kids wrote songs, some made memory concentration games, other made good old fashion flash cards. Students will study the words using his/her method 10 - 15 minutes each week at the beginning of class.
- We are working on applying the words across the disciplines (math, science, research)
Vocabulary Words:
- Clarity
- Accuracy
- Precision
- Depth
- Breadth
- Relevance
- Logic
- Significance
- Fairness
TEAM CHALLENGES:
4th and 5th grade students have taken part in several Team Challenges already this year. In fact, it's one of the most requested PEAK day activities. I love that they're so excited to work together!
For Parents: Overexcitabilities in Gifted Children:
Stay Connected to Mrs. Turner:
Email: kturner@liberty.k12.mo.us
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/student.liberty.k12.mo.us/peakturner/home?pli=1
Location: Alexander Doniphan Elementary School, Clay Drive, Liberty, MO, United States
Phone: 816-736-5400 2674
Twitter: @TurnerKimberly5