GT LEAD Newsletter
(Gifted and Talended, Learning Experiences for Academic Discovery)
November 2021
FEELING THANKFUL
As we begin the holiday season, I just wanted to take the time to say how thankful I am for all of our GT students and families. It is a pleasure to work with you and your children on a daily basis. This program would not be possible without all of your amazing support, and so, thank you for all you do to provide opportunities for our students!
1ST GRADE LEADers - CONTRIBUTION
In GT LEAD, students have been studying about authentic research and research sources. They have learned about traditional research using books and teacher approved websites to find out facts. We also discovered other ways to gather data to solve a problem or answer a question, such as conducting surveys and experiments. One topic they brought up is how often we use our iPads each day and ways to charge them at home. Students then did a mini survey in class to determine how many iPads were charged and at what percentage. We looked at fun size M&Ms to analyze the most and least popular colors (systematic sampling), and we may conduct a systematic sampling on iPads and charging after Thanksgiving. To support the concepts of good questioning, observations, and wonderment, we conducted an experiment on items that "Sink or Float." We talked about how this is another way to gather data for research depending on the topic. Students practiced making predictions and analyzing results and what they could mean. These students will be ready to make predictions on their systematic sampling regarding iPads after the break.
Systematic Sampling
The Example to Build
Taking turns communicating how to build it
Teamwork
Making sure the details are right
Sink or Float Experiment
Making Predictions
Making observations and recording data
KAPLAN'S DEPTH & COMPLEXITY ICONS -- All grade levels are using the icons below to add deeper thinking and new discoveries.
2ND GRADE LEADERS - SYSTEMS
Second Graders are starting to learn about simple machines and how they can be a part of a greater system.
To start, students have been analyzing The Three Little Pigs and the The True Story of the Three Little Pigs to learn about Kaplan's Depth & Complexity Icons, such as, multiple perspectives, details, patterns and ethics. Next, they will be learning about types of simple machines and their purposes, as well as how to build a wolf contraption with the the story of The Three Little Pigs and the Scientific Wolf.
They also practiced creativity by brainstorming ideas for a draw start, as well as putting their ideas into action and finishing the drawing, attempting to come up with a one of a kind idea and using details to help tell the story of the picture. Lastly, they evaluated their drawstarts.
SHARING THEIR PIC COLLAGES THEY CREATED ON SYSTEMS THAT WE FOUND AT SCHOOL
3RD GRADE - POWER
Third Grade LEADers Completed our flight unit and are now building 3D innovations from a specific set of materials and will be writing an alliteration story to supplement their product.
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TESTING OUR PLANES INDOORS
MEASURING THE DISTANCE
READY, SET
GO!
COMPARING INDOOR DISTANCE TO OUTDOOR DISTANCE
Students are engaging in Think, Write, Pair Share about what it means to be creative.
4TH GRADE - EXPLORATIONS
Fourth Grade LEADers finished their Monuments of Me, and uploaded their presentations in Seesaw. You can see your child's presentation in the Seesaw blog. You can also see their monuments and their writing (metaphoric/symbolic thinking) in their GT LEAD folders in Google Drive.
After that, students moved on to reviewing what SCAMPER is and how companies use it in the real world to repackage/redesign and sell more of a product. Due to it being the fall, we SCAMPERED how a Pumpkin Patch could make more of a profit. Students either chose to SCAMPER pumpkins (size, types, purposes) or they chose to SCAMPER the actual layout of Pumpkin Patch itself and what it could change/add to bring in more people and make more money. Then, students collaborated in teams to pitch ideas to each other. Next, each student sketched their own idea and created a commercial-type script to present the idea. Lastly, students "pitched" their ideas through videos in order to persuade the owner of the Pumpkin Patch to consider their ideas.
Parker Chose her three SCAMPER letters to use to improve her product.
Grayson sketched how the new layout for the Pumpkin Patch would look.
Hadley sketched out how her new layout would look.
5TH GRADE - CHANGE
Fifth Grade LEADers continued their Power of YET thinking by mind-map themselves through elementary, middle school, high school, and beyond. Each student included a speaking goal in the elementary branch, and each added a quote that represented either perseverance, grit, or courage. Students then presented their mind-maps in Flipgrid. Ask your child to share his/her mind map and presentation with you.
MIND-MAPPING ABOUT STRENGTHS, GOALS, INTERESTS.
Kathy Griffin, GT Specialist
817-305-4870 ext. 2811
@OCTGriffin - Twitter
Website: Kathy Griffin - GT LEAD Website
I am so fortunate to call O.C. Taylor my home, and like our mascot, the Tiger, we ARE creative, resourceful, and resilient. The definition of RESILIENCY is “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.” Whether it be digital or in person, my goal is to provide opportunities that develop a student’s capacity to trouble- shoot, problem-solve, reflect, be creative, and look at situations from multiple perspectives. My own children are GCISD graduates and have benefited greatly from the rigor of advanced academics, leadership opportunities, and programs that have met their needs socially/emotionally. Likewise, I am committed to connecting students and families with programs and services that are unique to GCISD. In a nutshell, my WHY of teaching is … “It’s all about the kids!”