GT LEAD News

November 30, 2025

I will be at the GiftED2025 Conference December 3-5.

K-4 referral window: Dec. 1st- 15th
K- 4th GT testing: January 8th - 30th

What will we be learning in GT Lead this 9 weeks?

1st Grade - Authentic Research

2nd Grade - Simple Machines

3rd Grade - Spy School

4th Grade - Detective School

5th Grade - Independent Research

First Grade

First Graders started their new unit on Authentic Research. They are learning how can we use data collected to impact our school or community. Students learning includes hypothesis, researching ways to improve our school, sample, data and impact. We also examined the making of Skittles to discuss and learn about systematic sampling and its importance.

Second Grade

Students incorporated Depth and Complexity icons in the context of fairy tales. They applied the depth and complexity icons as a question or a skill stem as they researched simple machines. Students demonstrated skills of complex thinking by comparing the operations of different simple machines are now designing a system in which several simple machines are used to “trap a wolf”.

Third Grade

The students collected and analyzed data using alphabet statistics in order to apply that knowledge to breaking codes. The students were introduced to a problem of communication and applied various rules of our language to design a "Thankful Note" to a friend and then to decode one that was given to them.

Fourth Grade

The Fourth Grade GT LEADers are exploring the procedures of crime scene investigators in order to use scientific procedures to analyze and solve mysteries. Especially the one that occured in my classroom and involved my beloved Longhorns!

Fifth Grade

Fifth Graders have started an Independent Research project. They each selected a topic of their choice and then created a driving question using The Differentiator from Ian Byrdseed to Depth & Complexity. The LEADers are now researching their topic, selecting quality sources, taking notes, and creating a bibliography. When complete they will create a final product to share and present to the class.

2025-2026 GT LEAD Schedule

First Grade~ Monday/Friday 1:30-2:15 or 2:15-3:00

(90 minutes)

Second Grade~ Tuesday/Thursday 1:05-2:05 or 2:05-3:05

(120 minutes)

Third Grade~ Tuesday/Thursday 9:20-10:20 (120 minutes)

Fourth Grade~ Monday/Friday 12:15-1:30

or Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 12:15-1:05 (150 minutes)

Fifth Grade~ Monday/Wednesday/Friday 10:20-11:10

(150 minutes)

Email: tiffani.griffard@gcisd.net

Website: GT Newsletter

Location: 6600 Glenhope Circle North Colleyville, TX, 76034 USA

Phone: 817-251-5720

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