August-September 2026
Hello!
Welcome back! I hope everyone had a great summer.
I will be using this newsletter to share information about my gifted classes.
Subject: August & September Update: Creativity, Logic, and Big Projects in 5th Grade Gifted!
Dear Parents,
Welcome to our first bi-monthly newsletter! It has been an awesome start to the school year. The kids jumped right into everything with so much enthusiasm, and it's been wonderful watching them bring their creative ideas and clever thinking to class every day.
Here is a look at what we have been working on throughout September and October:
Humanities & Creative Arts: The Stop-Motion Project
Our major long-term project this term is a deep dive into filmmaking and storytelling through stop-motion animation. Students have been working incredibly hard to bring their original ideas to life, and it has been amazing to see their tremendous progress in stop-motion techniques along with the incredible creativity shown across all their projects.
Skill-Building Challenges: To kick things off, students completed a series of mini stop-motion challenge assignments before they even began writing. These hands-on challenges exposed them to different mediums and animation techniques, including sculpting with clay, designing 2D scenes using only paper, and experimenting with object transformation.
Plot Mountain Screenplays: Armed with a solid understanding of how stop-motion works, students became authors. They learned how to map out a narrative arc using the "Plot Mountain" format (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution) to write comprehensive, structured screenplays for their final films.
Production Underway: Students are now translating their scripts into visual media, learning patience, teamwork, and spatial awareness as they build sets and shoot their main projects frame-by-frame.
Mathematics: Advanced Logic & Problem Solving
In math, we are focusing heavily on algebraic thinking and conceptual understanding. We balance our time between two rigorous programs:
Hands-On Equations: This visual and kinesthetic program uses physical pawns and balances to demystify algebraic equations. Students are already solving complex equations with variables, learning the foundational "legal moves" of algebra.
Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) Pre-Algebra: We utilize this world-class curriculum to stretch students' mathematical reasoning. Rather than just memorizing formulas, students are challenged to solve highly complex, multi-step novel problems that require deep critical thinking.
Daily Enrichment: Critical & Creative Thinking
Beyond our core units, students engage in regular exercises designed to stretch different parts of their brains:
Critical Thinking Challenges: We start many of our sessions with logic puzzles, lateral thinking riddles, and deductive reasoning tasks to build stamina for solving difficult problems.
Creative Writing Assignments: Through unique prompts and journaling, students are pushing past conventional ideas to develop their unique voices, experiment with vocabulary, and practice flexible thinking.
Thank you for your ongoing support at home! Please let me know if you have any questions about what we are covering in class.
October-November 2026
December-January 2026-2027