Gate Recap – Week of Feb. 11 - 14

Kindergarten - Enrichment & GATE - Thursdays

The students learned the word attribute Thursday.  We used attribute blocks to complete a puzzle.  The attribute blocks we used come in three colors, five shapes and two thicknesses.  The students had to pick pieces that changed those attributes in just a one way or up to three ways.  This is a difficult thinking activity that also seems to bring out great satisfaction when the students are able to “find” that perfect piece to solve the puzzle.   We also talked about our attributes that make us each individuals.  This discussion revolves around appreciating our differences and seeing how they make us who we are as an individual.  They did a great job working together on the attribute puzzle / game.  I was so proud of how nice they were to each other.

We also heard a puzzle story about Dudley's gift at a birthday party.  This activity was a bit more difficult.   I had a sample display and asked the children to follow my example.  Most of the children were able to follow.  this is definitely a developing skill in Kindergarten.

Due to the Valentine’s Day parties there was no afternoon GATE group Thursday.

First Grade – Wednesday Mornings

The full size digestive system was a huge hit. I hope you enjoyed your discussion with your child.  Each one of the students was able to explain the process of digesting food in class and I believe the model we made really helped to seal the information.  Next week we’ll jump into the circulatory system.  We also met Jordan the Judge, the last character in the Primary Education Thinking Skills program.  Jordan teaches us to think of the considerations that are important when making a decision.  We did an activity about spending money in the GATE classroom.  Your child should have their work in their binder.

Looking ahead, there will be no class on Wed., Feb. 27 due to a first grade field trip to the St. Louis Symphony.

Second Grade – Tuesday Mornings

This week seemed like too much fun to be work, but work they did.  Each student’s game was played by other students.  As they were playing the games they were helping each other find the “bugs” in their games.  I explained to them how real games are tested and changed as needed until a company thinks it’s ready for the public.  They all thought they might like to be toy testers.  I was so impressed with the focus of the discussions.  The children were positive with each other and gave good constructive ideas for improving games.  Many times, game makers didn’t need suggestions, they found areas they wanted to add to, change or take out, all on their own.  It is difficult to let go of our work and realize it sometimes needs to be fixed.  Your children did a fabulous job.

Third Grade – Tuesday Afternoons

I began the afternoon with a full review of the Hands-on Algebra vocabulary and worked through many set ups and moves.  When we got to the review page however, many students went blank.  I am really encouraging them to believe in themselves and to give it a second look when they get stuck on a difficult problem.  We’ll be jumping into more negative numbers next week.

Most of the children have now tested all the Shongo Networks.  We did not get to the mathematical check so we’ll do that next week.  I will then present a super challenge puzzle that they can bring home to solve with your input.

Fourth Grade – Monday Afternoons

The timelines took our entire class time and we will still need to finish most of them next class.  There is one completed timeline outside Room 213 that you can stop by and see if you are in the building.  Our next class is Monday, February 25.  Students will then choose their independent projects and begin work on research. They will be able to research on the Internet at home as the final product will be due March 4.

Fifth Grade – Wednesday Afternoons

The Stock Market Game has begun.  This week I had each team make at least one purchase and I’m urging them to buy more than one stock.  I really want to encourage them to also buy bonds or mutual funds for their portfolio.  We will begin our Inventions unit next week.

Gate Recap – Week of Feb. 4 - 8

GROUP NEWS

Book orders are due next week, Thurs., Feb. 14.  All on line orders must be input by midnight on Feb. 14.  Paper orders should come to me at school by Feb. 14.  Our online code is GL7HN at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs.

There is no school on Friday, Feb. 15 it is a Professional Development day for teachers.

Kindergarten - Enrichment & GATE - Thursdays

This week we continued with Dudley the Detective and his deductive thinking.  We did four logic puzzles.  The first two problems were elimination type problems.  But the last two were ordering problems.  The children took turns helping to be the items that had to be moved around while others read the clues and figured out where they belonged.   These activity pages will be coming home when we finish the Dudley unit.  The afternoon group completed a math skills pre-test and a Word Wizard activity based on the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

First Grade – Wednesday Mornings

We moved on from the muscle system to the digestive system.  Despite the grossness of our digestive system, the children were wonderful.  The last thing we did was make a life size replica of the digestive tract.  This will come home next week.

Second Grade – Tuesday Mornings

Second graders had a blast with visual fairy tales. It was so much fun. Hopefully they came home and shared the one they have with you.  Their homework is to draw their own version of a visual fairy tale. 

The game boards are done.  We wrote directions this week and we’ll be ready to play our games next week.

Third Grade – Tuesday Afternoons

The opposite of x went ok.  Next week we’re going to take another week to review all the vocabulary and skills they really do know, but don’t seem to believe it for themselves. I had a lot of questions that really weren’t necessary, they knew the answers.  I am working on building their confidence.  They have the ability. 

Then we moved on to our Shongo Networks.  Most of the students moved onto networks that didn’t have obvious answers.  That was great to watch.  They had developed strategies to solve the early puzzles that no longer worked.  Next week we’ll learn a mathematical way to know before you start if a puzzle can be solved.

Fourth Grade – Monday Afternoons

This week’s Lewis and Clark activity was the timelines. There are three different timelines to solve.  The children did a fabulous job using the resources to find the actual dates of the 10 – 12 events they were researching.  Most of the groups were very close to finishing.  For homework they are allowed to use the Lewis and Clark on-line resources to find the dates that they either needed to fix or find.  They should bring the information on Monday and they will then create an illustrated time line with their events.  They will also be choosing their individual project next week.

Fifth Grade – Wednesday Afternoons

This week was wonderful.  I had so much fun listening to all the reports.  I’m almost ready to go back to college, if it just wasn’t so darn expensive.  I am currently paying for college, so I am well aware of the costs.  One person even figured the costs and salaries with inflation built in.  WOW!   These are the careers the student’s researched. Architects, Artists / Graphic Designer, Actress, Director, Set designer, Army Intelligence, Officer, Doctor, Prosecutor, Pilots, Computer Programmers, Computer Designers, Novelist, Forensic Scientist, Marine Biologist, Historian / College Professor.

The Stock Market Game has begun.  Only one team has come to me to make a trade. Everyone will need to make a trade soon to be in the game.  Students should work on their research so they know what to buy next week.

 

Gate Recap – Week of Jan. 28 – Feb. 1

GROUP NEWS

The book orders will be coming home this week.  All on line orders must be input by midnight on Feb. 14.  Paper orders should come to me at school by Feb. 14.  Our online code is GL7HN at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs.

Kindergarten - Enrichment & GATE - Thursdays

Kindergartners used their detective skills to find many details in a picture of an outdoor party.  They had to use those clues to decide what kind of party was happening and who the party was in honor of.    They then were asked to color the many details so each detail popped out from the picture.  The GATE students completed a word making activity using the book Chrysanthemum as a launch.  Next week they will do the activity on their own.  We’ll be using the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

First Grade – Wednesday Mornings

First graders this week dissected a chicken drumstick.  We had fun while learning about the bones, tendons and muscles on a leg.  We then looked at how similar a chicken leg is to our own leg.   We did a quick lesson on our muscles and tried many activities to “find” our muscles.  Ask your child what it takes to keep our muscles strong. Oh, also, they have a quick experiment to do with you that tests the strength of your hand / arm muscles.

Second Grade – Tuesday Mornings

After a visual learning activity using tangrams the students spent the rest of class finishing their game boards. The visual activity threw the students for a loop.  We used tangrams to finish open spaces.  This is not a new activity, but there was a twist.  The shapes only used six of the seven pieces and the students didn’t know which pieces didn’t fit.  I love activities like this that take something familiar and then add a snag that forces different thinking.

The game boards are looking fabulous. It will be fun to begin playing the games, hopefully next week.  Please do a quick check with your child to see what they think they have left to finish on their board or with their cards.

Third Grade – Tuesday Afternoons

We got back together as a whole group for Hands-On Algebra.  Thankfully Mrs. Schwartz was with me to get me on track.  I skipped to whole lessons.  But it worked out that the lesson I was prepared for supported everything the children had learned.  We reviewed the basics of the program, as well as vocabulary.  The review problems were a good chance for me to see where everyone’s comfort level lay.  Next week, we’ll go back to where I should have been this week.  I will reintroduce the concept of “opposite of x”.

Then we moved on to our Shongo Networks.  Most of the students were able to get to the larger, more difficult networks.  This week, the students were much more focused on their task.  Next week, we’ll look at networks that are not so standard.  Quite a few students found strategies for solving the networks, but these strategies will not work on the new ones I’ll introduce next week.  We’ll also look at how to figure out if a network can be completed without lifting the pencil, using math.

Fourth Grade – Monday Afternoons

It was all about dilemmas on Monday.  I gave the students the bulk of our time to find the answer to their dilemma and to begin writing their final results.  HOMEWORK: is to clean up everything they’ve done.  The final paper they turn in should be neat in organization, writing and basics of grammar and punctuation.  Please ask your child if they have given details in their explanations.  Have they used complete sentences?  What I see most often is that first try is “good enough” so they don’t want to look at it again.  I do my best to push the children to WANT to do their best, not just that work that would meet the assignment.

Fifth Grade – Wednesday Afternoons

The students had over an hour and a half to work on their projects.  It was clear who had been doing their research and working at home.  I am so impressed with some of the work I am seeing. I cannot wait to hear the reports.  Here are the basics for next week.

As students come in I will collect the written reports.  Then we’ll draw names to determine who presents and in which order.  Students may have notes for the talk, but not a long paper that they simply read to the group.  Many of the students are looking at varying areas of the arts.  It will be interesting to have them all exposed to the many options that are available to them.  Also, when students hear about careers they hadn’t thought of, it plants that seed that maybe they might like something other than what they are thinking about now.  I keep reminding them that their interests may change, and to be open to all the possibilities many of the colleges they have researched offer to all their students.