Cassidy Gifted and Talented News
March 19, 2018
Announcements
3rd Grade Parent Meeting
I will be hosting a meeting in the library on April 19 at 5:30 to go over the process of exiting PTP and being referred for services for GT next year.
PTP/GT Showcase
Our spring PTP/GT showcase will be held on May 10 at 5:30 in the cafeteria. At this event, students will be showcasing what they have been working on.
5th Grade GI Congratulations
Congratulations for our 5th grade team for attending and competing in the district STEM Showcase with their Working Hard and Being Kind with Robots project! See our Homeroom for pictures!
What We Are Up to This Week!
We are engaged in STEM units that engage them in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. For the spring, we are using Envision units designed specifically for Gifted and Talented Learners. These were provided by the district. First graders are doing a Party Planning unit where they will use budgeting skills (math) and do investigations about the location and weather (science). Second graders are doing a Pet Parade unit where they will do research about a variety of pets (science), determine the costs associated with owning that pet (math), and then select the best pet for them. Third graders are doing a Curiosity Expedition unit where they will research a STEM topic and come up with an interactive learning station to teach others about it. Fourth graders are doing an Environmental Declaration where they will select an environmental issue that is meaningful to them. They will research that issue and brainstorm solutions. The fifth graders are engaging in a Financial Adventure where they choose a career and engage in a variety of scenarios to map out what their life would look like based on their salary, taxes, etc.
Math:
Students are engaged in Problem Based Learning connected to the content they are learning. For example, third graders are engaged in Geometrocity, a project where they use geometry concepts to design a city. Fourth graders are starting a new unit on conversions and measurement. Their task is to make a game that will engage their classmates in making conversions (e.g., If Billy ran 100 yards, how many feet did he run?).
Language Arts:
The theme for our Evening with the Arts event this year is Fractured Fairy Tales where you take a classic tale and change something about it such as the setting or characters. First and fifth grade students are writing twisted tales for this event. Second and third graders are engaging in book clubs where they read and practice comprehension strategies. Fourth graders are doing a genre study project where they are working in book club groups to read and study several novels in a particular genre. They will then create their own writing pieces in that genre.
Social Studies:
Students have self-selected topics that they want to study in U.S. History or the environment and are working on a research project about it.
Art/Creativity/Dance/Music/Drama:
Students are working on self-selected projects where they can make a contribution to something going on in the school (e.g., making Work Hard Be Kind posters for our new school motto, designing advertisements for school fundraisers, writing a song to teach others to Work Hard, Be Kind) or something that develops their particular talent. 4th grade drama students are preparing for the 4th grade Twisted Tale musical for Evening with the Arts. 5th grade art/drama students are working on creating their own pre-show for the 5th grade spring constitution musical. 4th and 5th grade dancers will be starting a group with Mrs. Williams this week (our dance team instructor) so that she can help them prepare a dance to share at our showcase on May 10!
Leadership:
Students are self-selecting projects where they can demonstrate leadership within the school. They can participate in an existing program or come up with one on their own.
Kindergarten:
Kindergarten students all have a Language Arts project selected and are working away on it. They have chosen to read Magic Tree House books and then do a research project to go with it and then write their own Magic Tree House books. In math, I am setting them up on Khan Academy, a self-paced website where they can explore and learn about topics that they are interested in. The topics they selected are time, multiplication, and division so we will be focusing on those over the next few weeks.
Resources and Opportunities
Cassidy App
Make sure to download our Cassidy App! I will use the app to distribute newsletters and announce events. Here is a link to directions on how to get the app. When you click to add GT (this will pop up after you choose your grade(s)), you will need the following password: GTcassidy17
If you already set up your app and did not add GT, then you will need to go to Settings and click on Enroll in GT and then enter the password: GTcassidy17
Homeroom
Within the app, we will also have a Homeroom button where I will post pictures, videos, and notes about what we have been up to in GT. To link to our homeroom, you will click here and set up an account. It will then populate in your Homeroom button on the app. I have posted tons of pictures and videos of our projects!
If your child is identified in science, you may also want to add Mrs. Fehr's science Homeroom. She posts many community events, activities, and pictures there.
Seesaw
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. Right now, I am using it in the following classes:
3rd Grade STEM (click here)
3rd Grade Math (click here)
4th Grade STEM (click here)
5th Grade STEM (click here)
If your child participates in one of these groups, you can sign up with Seesaw to view their work by clicking on the link next to 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.
Contact Information
Gifted and Talented Teacher
Cassidy Elementary
859-381-3018 ext 21252