Embedded Files
Table of Contents - Click the links below to jump to that section of the newsletter.
ISO... ย The 6th grade GATE class is in search of local business professionals who would be willing to be interviewed by (in person, video chat, phone, or email, if need be) a 6th grade student about their field of practice and the role of leadership practices in their profession. The industries that the students are interested in are:
Entrepreneur/Inventing
Marketing and Advertising
Historical and Modern Aeronautics/Aviation
Airplane Pilot/Airline Industry
Law
Mechanical Engineering ("or another kind that involves building cool models")
Technology or Economics ("especially if it can connect to airplanes")
(This student is still a bit fuzzy on what they are most interested in)
Please let me know if you or a contact might be willing to help out!
Click through the photo carousel below or click the post to view directly on Instagram.
6th Grade - Sep 23
6th Grade - Sep 23
**Please See the note about about our search for local business professionals to interview/collaborate with.**
This week, the students continued their look at communication's role in leadership. They started with a good old fashion human knot challenge. Some of the class observed from "on the balcony" while the rest of the class tried to untangle the human knot. The students "on the balcony" gave feedback of leadership traits they noticed in their classmates during the challenge. While the math group was gone, the other students examined the Question of the Day, "What are the advantages and disadvantages of using technology to communicate?" Many of the students reflected on their experience with virtual learning and decided that it is easier to have more connection through technological communication, but it is harder for those connects to be as deep. The stay-behind students then tried their hand at the Cross the River challenge which got more and more challenging with each iteration.
Later, the students split into pairs and read two articles about communication strategies for leaders in the workplace. They created a double-bubble (compare and contrast) map about their articles' main points, connected the strategies to the 5 Practices of Exemplary Leadership, and noted any points brought up in the article that stood out to them.
We finished the day with students analyzing the leadership data they collected on their Leadership Profile Placemats and reflecting on what they learned. They also started to look ahead to their upcoming leadership research projects.
5th Grade - Sep 24
5th Grade - Sep 24
This week, after discussing the Question of the Day (What do you do when plans unexpectedly change?), the 5th graders got an introduction to video editing. We are using the district approved program WeVideo. The students learned basic file organization on Google Drive and how to add text, video, and audio layers onto the editing timeline. They also learned basic editing such a splitting clips, fading sounds in and out, and adding transitions. Then they got a lot of time to experiment and put together a silly video or make a sample PSA. Over the years of doing video editing with students, I have found that when they have free reign to experiment, they tend to learn way more than I could teach them if I gave them a specific task to complete right off the bat. WeVideo has hundreds of thousands of stock videos, images, and sounds for the students to use.ย
Next week, the students will view sample PSA videos to figure out typical formatting, decide upon a PSA topic, and start research, writing, and storyboarding their PSAs. I am also excited to receive a couple green screen/light kits from the class Amazon Wishlist in the mail this week! WeVideo has a green screen feature and having a kit with professional lighting will really up the quality of the work. Thank you for the families who have donated to the class Foundation Account and purchased off the Amazon Wishlist!
My video.mp4Student Practice Video #1
My video (1).mp4Student Practice Video #2
My video (2).mp4Student Practice Video #3
Click through the photo carousel below or click the post to view directly on Instagram.
4th Grade - Sep 18+25
4th Grade - Sep 18+25
Last week as I was out for a 4-day district training, the students worked on examining the connections between ethics and empathy with the guest teacher, Ms Reynolds.ย The Question of the Day was "How can you tell if someone is having a tough day? How can you help?" Ms Reynolds said they were a bit rowdy during the discussion time. They then went on to watching a video and discussing the meaning of empathy. The added to their vocabulary foldable and did an empathy article round up activity where they split up to read and discuss different articles connected to empathy. They got a good report from Ms Reynolds on this work and had good recall when we reviewed today. Yay! Most of the students added reflection videos to their portfolios, but a couple students had some tech issues and completed the reflections on paper.
Today, the Question of the Day was "Why might something seem fair to one person and not to another?" Most of their discourse was about difference in morals and values, but one student brought up the concept of students having different advantages and disadvantages in life that might impact how fair things feel to them. I thought this was a really astute idea for a 4th grader to bring up, so I encouraged the students to continue that discussion at home with their families.
The class then analyzed these pictures from the GATE ethics curriculum and used them to determine class definitions for equality and equity. They shared personal examples of when equal isn't always fair such as siblings of different ages/abilities being responsible for the same amount of chores.
We finished the day with the vocabulary flyswatter game, a class favorite, and Choice Time.
We will be finishing up the ethics intro unity next week and then getting started on our brain science unit that will end in an optional sheep brain dissection.
3rd Grade - Sep 19+26
3rd Grade - Sep 19+26
Last week I was out for a 4-day district morphology training, but the 3rd graders were able to get started on their Invention Convention project with the guest teacher, Ms Peterman! This is an invention competition (competing is optional) that leads kids through the invention process -- from brainstorming to patent research to prototyping, revising, analyzing, and presenting. We are still waiting on final word from the Invent Idaho organizers, but in years past, any student with a complete project could enter the Southwestern Regional Competition (held at the JUMP Center January 24-25, 2025). Top place winners in each category at each age grouping will be offered the opportunity to share their invention at the State Competition in Moscow Idaho in late April. In years past, students were not required to be present for the State Competition in Moscow to compete, though I don't know if that will still be the case this year. The website feels a bit outdated, so I will update families as I find out.
I typically avoid competition in the classroom with gifted kids because they can be so saturated with that as it is, but I do think that competition can also be used as an excellent learning opportunity, especially for our perfectionist in the bunch. It can be a pretty safe way to take risks and step outside of comfort zones. That being said, it is 100% up to families and their values/schedules whether their 3rd grader competes or just views Invention Convention as a class project. I don't have to register participants until mid-December, so there is plenty of time to decide.
Last week, the students worked with Ms Peterman to set up their IC binders, take notes on some inspirational inventions, and start a brainstorm list of inventions that can solve problems and/or help people.ย Last week's question of the Day was "What can you gain from trying something new, even if you fail?"
This week, the students had a huge question and answer session about IC. We looked at the judging criteria, judge's rubric, invention categories, and the rules. They then learned about combination inventions and irritation inventions and used some tools to help brainstorm invention ideas. The students are trying to brainstorm at least 30 invention each. Next week, we will complete the brainstorming process and hopefully start patent research.
Click through the photo carousel below or click the post to view directly on Instagram.
Click through the photo carousel below or click the post to view directly on Instagram.
2nd Grade - Sep 20+27
2nd Grade - Sep 20+27
Last week I was out for a 4-day district morphology training, but the 2nd graders were able to start a mini circle study with Ms Eichelberger who is a former GATE teacher and fantastic substitute teacher. We were so lucky to have her! Last week, the students learned about a couple ways to measure a circle, the radius and the diameter. They used their understanding to do some radius and diameter calculations and then learned how to use a mathematical compass. The class then used the compasses to make circle art inspired by Wassily Kandinsky and International Dot Day.
This week, the students elected to continue their dive into circle math before jumping back into fractals. We reviewed how to calculate radius and diameter. This involved lots of doubling and halving numbers. Some students chose to keep practicing that while other students chose to learn more about how circumference is calculated in addition to working with radius and diameter. The students finished the day by going on a circle scavenger hunt around the classroom. When they found a circle, they took its photo, measured its approximate diameter, and then calculated its radius. This work can be found in their digital portfolios linked below.
Donation Link & Amazon Wishlist
Donation Link & Amazon Wishlist
If you would like to help fund our tech needs, supplies for students, brain puzzles, etc, please click on the link below to donate to my Boise Foundation Account. You can also check out our Amazon Wishlist.
A Special Note
A Special Note
Some of the district's other pull out GATE programs serve higher-need communities and aren't able to secure many funds for their programs due to the nature of voluntary donation systems. These teachers regularly pay for project supplies out of their own pockets. If you feel led to donate, please consider blessing these deserving students and teachers by giving to their programs. A few Lowell families donated to these programs last year, and they made a huge difference! Lowell family donations were actually the ONLY donations Garfield received last year. Thank you so much!
The programs most in need are [GARFIELD/GATE/TUCKER,KATIE], [PIERCEPARK/GATE/ALEXANDER,LEONA], and [MOUNTAINVIEW/GATE/WELLER,LYNNETTE]
Secure quick link to the class Foundation Account donation page
Parent Lending Library
Parent Lending Library
The Boise School District has a Parent Lending Library to help educate, inform, and support parents as they raise gifted children. If you are looking for my information related to parenting gifted children, please reach out to Helga Frankenstein, GATE Supervisor, (helga.frankenstein@boiseschools.org) for more information.
Page updated
Report abuse