December PARENT UPDATE
Amy Stedham | 4th Grade Teacher | Farragut Intermediate School
This month we would like to highlight Amy Stedham, a fourth grade teacher at Farragut Intermediate School. Amy goes above and beyond each day to push her students academically. She is always eager to collaborate with her GT Coach to brainstorm ideas and find ways to challenge all of her students. She just recently partnered with her GT Coach to present professional development for Knox County math teachers at our District Learning Day. She is also part of FIS’s GT Action Team. This team of teachers implements our GT Advancing Resources in the classroom and then shares their best ideas and strategies with other teachers on their grade level. We appreciate Amy’s eagerness to try new strategies with her students and willingness to partner with our department to help students grow!
Podcast: Growing Creativity in Gifted Kids
Grade Level Updates
The Grade Level Updates are samples of possible lessons your student may complete during this month. Please ask your child each week what they learned in GT.
Second Grade
Continuing this month, second graders are learning the Bubble Map, one of eight Thinking Maps, that teaches students how to describe a particular topic, idea or character. They All Saw a Cat is a module built around the 2017 Caldecott Honor book, written and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel, that explores what a cat might look like from the perspectives of various animals’ points of view. Students will then analyze one character and choose to write from that animal’s perspective. Additionally, students will begin working on a module called Which One Doesn’t Belong (WODB). This module introduces students to a variety of images where they have to explain which one doesn’t belong. They quickly realize there are many different answers depending on what perspective they are looking from.
Perspective Discussion
THINKING MAPS
A Thinking Map is a graphic tool directly linked to a specific thought process that may be used by all teachers and all students in a consistent manner across all grade levels and curriculum areas.
Third Grade
Continuing this month, students will focus on the grade level competency, creative thinking, through a module called “Let’s Get Creative”. This module teaches students in-depth what it means and looks like to think creatively. Students will be introduced to a concept capsule which allows them to dig deeper into vocabulary and application of the word. They will also have an opportunity to learn about six different innovators who all used creative thinking to produce some of the world’s best inventions. Students will get to put their own thinking to the test when they have to solve a problem/scenario using creative thinking. Lastly, students will have the opportunity to work through some perplexor/logic activities that require them to use clues to determine outcomes for each puzzle.
Creative Thinking Activities | Click below
Fourth Grade
Students will work through a module called Family Reunion that integrates both Math and ELA into a fun experience where students are using the four operations with whole numbers to calculate the cost of dinner for a party. Then, they get to arrange/ create a seating chart based on social interests and interactions of characters. Students have to justify their thoughts and reasons for who sits next to whom and then finally, set the table for the dinner party.
Critical Thinking Activity
Fifth Grade
Train Wreck! Students are given a scenario where two trains are traveling towards each other at varying speeds. This complex math problem highlights the use of decimals to help students solve the task which involves speed, time, and distance. Students also have opportunities throughout the module to learn more about decimals and how they are used in the real world and in real jobs daily.
Parent Tips on Teaching Children the Value of Self-Advocacy
15 Winter Learning Activities for Kids
As the winter months settle in, getting outside becomes less frequent, and finding fun and educational activities for your kids becomes more challenging. Fortunately, there are a ton of resources for STEM-related activities for kids of all ages. Keeping kids engaged is critical for their mental health and development. These winter learning activities for kids are sure to keep your young ones entertained and engaged as they learn new concepts and skills! Click the picture above.