Hello all,
Here is what's going on in the world of Gifted/Talented/Differentiation (GTD) Direct and Classroom Resource Services at Irving School.
Kindergarten:
Mr. Packer goes into the Kindergarten classrooms once a week for one half hour. The past several times he has been working with the kids on positional words such as; over, under, near, above, below, etc.). The first session the kids had to connect cubes at put the white cube in the correct position. The last time Mr. Packer was in, the kids did an activity with placing a diamond pattern block and plastic cup in positions related to each other (i.e. "the diamond is next to the cup").
1st Grade:
In first grade Thinking Skills, the kids have finished up with DOT's adventure at school and now are being introduced to Dudley the Detective. Dudley teaches the kids to look for all of the clues, don't jump to conclusions (answers or endings), and that there is only one correct answer. The kids will begin working on using their deductive reasoning skills and solve some logic problems.
2nd Grade:
2nd Grade students have been working on solving problems by drawing pictures. We did an activity that was teacher directed, the students then completed a similar activity with Mr. Packer, and they have now begun to solve some problems on their own using this strategy. After completing the activity on their own, they will then continue to work on their own or with partners (as necessary) to solve some more difficult problems.
3rd Grade Math:
Students who receive Direct GTD Resource services in Math have been working on solving logic problems and have been brushing up their math skills by playing "I've Got: Who Has" for speed. We will begin working on our multiplication facts and strategies.
3rd Grade Reading:
Students have read "How the Camel Got Its Hump" by Rudyard Kipling and are turning the story into a skit. They will then be put into small groups to condense their individual scripts in to one, and then work on performing it for the group and their classes.
4th Grade Math:
Students continue to work on their "Average 4th Grader" drawings and will continue to work on studying averages and data.
4th Grade Reading:
Students continue to work on turning their summaries of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves into storyboards using Google Drawings, which will then be turned into presentations.
5th Grade Math:
Students are working on CCSS in the area of Ratios and Proportions. Having been assessed on CCSS in Number Sense, they will receive extra instruction and practice in division.
5th Grade Reading:
Students have read and discussed our first Edgar Allan Poe story "The Tell Tale Heart" and have begun to read "The Fall of the House of Usher" on their own.
Hope you are enjoying the cooler weather. All my best,
Mr. Packer
