September 23, 2012
Hello everyone,
Here is an update of what has been going on with GTD Resource services since the last post.
Kindergarten
Mr. Packer has gone into each of the Kindergarten classroom's and introduced himself and played a game using movement to help him get to know each of the student's names. Our first activity will be reading a book called "Tomorrow's Alphabet" in which the students have to think about what something will be in the future. We may do an activity where they will create their own page.
1st Grade
Dot has been coming with Mr. Packer to each of the 1st grade classroom. This adventure is "Dot Goes To School". We discuss varioius strategies for solving the problems and questions that arise as Dot continues on his/her adventure. Look for your child to create their very own Dot story.
2nd Grade
2nd Graders have had two thinking skills activities. The first, "How Old Are....?" was an activity that introduced the concept of solving for unknowns by working backwards. The 2nd activity "Number on a Hat" introduces solving for unknowns by using clues to narrow down our choices and reading clues carefully.
3rd Grade
Math
3rd Grade math students are getting acclimated to the 4th grade curriculum and their teachers. With Mr. Packer we have been working on logic problems (strategies for solving) and our multiplication facts.
Language Arts
Groups have not begun, but will start in the coming weeks beginning with a read of Rudyard Kipling's "Just So"stories.
4th Grade
Math
We have been working on learning about Data Collection and landmarks, prepping ourselves for the upcoming election where we will take a poll of one class and make election prediction outcomes for the whole school.
Language Arts
We are reading Ellen Raskin's "The Westing Game". A great book to discuss plot, plot twists, and characters. Look for us to create Google Docs and create character snapshots for each of "suspects" in Sam Westing's final game
5th Grade
Math
We are working in Everyday Math. Having finished Unit 1 on data collection, we have started a project that should take us up to the end of the trimester (see side bar ). We have begun Unit 2, operations with decimals and Powers of 10.
Language Arts
We have started to read Edgar Allen Poe and are reading and discussing "The Fall of the House of Usher"
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Welcome Back
Hello ALL Irving Families,
Welcome to Packer's Post, a blog where you can keep up with the latest happening with Gifted Talented and Differentiation services at Irving School provided by Mr. Packer.
In grades K-2, Mr. Packer "pushes in" to the classrooms as does THINKING SKILLS with the whole class so everyone has the benefit of learning to become great problem solvers through the use of higher level thinking skills. Mr. Packer also works with the classroom teacher to help provide differentiated instruction and materials for those students demonstrating a need for enrichment and challenge in a specific subject matter.
In grades 3-5, Mr. Packer is responsible for "pulling" students out for DIRECT instruction in the subject areas of Math and Reading. Students are identified for DIRECT INSTRUCTION services based on criteria set forth by District 97. To learn more about GTD Services within the district follow this link: http://www.op97.org/teach-learn/Gifted.cfm
I look forward to working with your families and our wonderful school community in the upcoming year. You will find useful websites for all on top left of my blog and some really cool links below that.
Welcome Back!
All my best,
Mr. Packer
Welcome to Packer's Post, a blog where you can keep up with the latest happening with Gifted Talented and Differentiation services at Irving School provided by Mr. Packer.
In grades K-2, Mr. Packer "pushes in" to the classrooms as does THINKING SKILLS with the whole class so everyone has the benefit of learning to become great problem solvers through the use of higher level thinking skills. Mr. Packer also works with the classroom teacher to help provide differentiated instruction and materials for those students demonstrating a need for enrichment and challenge in a specific subject matter.
In grades 3-5, Mr. Packer is responsible for "pulling" students out for DIRECT instruction in the subject areas of Math and Reading. Students are identified for DIRECT INSTRUCTION services based on criteria set forth by District 97. To learn more about GTD Services within the district follow this link: http://www.op97.org/teach-learn/Gifted.cfm
I look forward to working with your families and our wonderful school community in the upcoming year. You will find useful websites for all on top left of my blog and some really cool links below that.
Welcome Back!
All my best,
Mr. Packer
Monday, January 16, 2012
January 9-January 20
Happy New Year!
I hope everyone had a wonderful winter break, spending time with friends and family. Now that we are rested up, here is what's happening in our first several weeks back.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten students are going to be playing with words and have been using their logic to figure out "Tomorrow's Alphabet", a wonderful book which teaches us that "A is for SEED, tomorrow's APPLE". A fun book and fun game to play at home which will help your child deal with sequencing and build their vocabulary.
1st Grade
1st Graders continue to work with DOT and will be finishing up in the next week or two using their logic and sharing the answers and reasoning for the specific answers they recorded on their DOT sheets.
2nd Grade
2nd Graders are being introduced to Max the Magician, who is teaching them to visualize and use visual-spatial reasoning to solve problems. Students learn to flip, rotate, and slide shapes to help solve visual problems, and use their imaginations to visusualize solutions.
3rd Grade
Reading students have finished up their respective rodent novels "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" or "Poppy". They have created and are now evaluating and judging each others board game projects that were assigned over break.
Math students have finished up Unit 4 and begin on Unit 5 in EVERYDAY Math 4th Grade. This unit focuses on extending multiplication skills, estimation, and multiplication strategies.
4th Grade
Reading students are finishing up "The View from Saturday" and our gathering information about the 4 areas of expertise of the main characters in the story. They are then taking that information and using technology to share with peers.
Math students are working on mathematical problem-solving from math competitions, are reading a mathematical theme novel called "The Toothpaste Millionaire", and as an extension will be exploring the Stock Market.
5th Grade
Reading students are learning various approaches for reading the works of William Shakespeare. They have been given short scenes from variouis plays such as The Tempest, Macbeth, and A Midsummer Night's Dream and have auditions on Friday.
Math students are working on Unit 6th of EVERYDAY math which focuses on creaating compass and straight edge constructions, and using a compass to create circle graphs.
That's all for now. If you have questions about GTD Services at Irving School, I can always be contacted at ppacker@op97.org
All my best,
Mr. Packer
I hope everyone had a wonderful winter break, spending time with friends and family. Now that we are rested up, here is what's happening in our first several weeks back.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten students are going to be playing with words and have been using their logic to figure out "Tomorrow's Alphabet", a wonderful book which teaches us that "A is for SEED, tomorrow's APPLE". A fun book and fun game to play at home which will help your child deal with sequencing and build their vocabulary.
1st Grade
1st Graders continue to work with DOT and will be finishing up in the next week or two using their logic and sharing the answers and reasoning for the specific answers they recorded on their DOT sheets.
2nd Grade
2nd Graders are being introduced to Max the Magician, who is teaching them to visualize and use visual-spatial reasoning to solve problems. Students learn to flip, rotate, and slide shapes to help solve visual problems, and use their imaginations to visusualize solutions.
3rd Grade
Reading students have finished up their respective rodent novels "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" or "Poppy". They have created and are now evaluating and judging each others board game projects that were assigned over break.
Math students have finished up Unit 4 and begin on Unit 5 in EVERYDAY Math 4th Grade. This unit focuses on extending multiplication skills, estimation, and multiplication strategies.
4th Grade
Reading students are finishing up "The View from Saturday" and our gathering information about the 4 areas of expertise of the main characters in the story. They are then taking that information and using technology to share with peers.
Math students are working on mathematical problem-solving from math competitions, are reading a mathematical theme novel called "The Toothpaste Millionaire", and as an extension will be exploring the Stock Market.
5th Grade
Reading students are learning various approaches for reading the works of William Shakespeare. They have been given short scenes from variouis plays such as The Tempest, Macbeth, and A Midsummer Night's Dream and have auditions on Friday.
Math students are working on Unit 6th of EVERYDAY math which focuses on creaating compass and straight edge constructions, and using a compass to create circle graphs.
That's all for now. If you have questions about GTD Services at Irving School, I can always be contacted at ppacker@op97.org
All my best,
Mr. Packer
Monday, December 19, 2011
December 9-December 23
Hello everyone,
I hope you are enjoying this holiday season with family and friends, and able to find time for yourselves.
Here's what's been going on in the world of GTD Services at Irving School.
Kindergarten
Kindergarteners have continued to work on sometimes, always, and never and learning the correct terminology that goes with PROBABILITY: certain, not certain, and maybe. We are using our skills by listening to three stories, voting on a favorite, and then talking about the choice someone would make who didn't hear the stories if they were to join the class and vote, based upon the results already gathered and organized in a bar graph.
1st Grade
Some 1st graders had been selected to work on deductive reasoning skills based on their group work in learning about Dudley the Detective. These students have been working on organizing information into Venn Diagrams to find the solution to a "mystery". Before and after break, DOT will be making a return as students go on an adventure with DOT at the Grocery Store and learn to think.
2nd Grade
Some 2nd grade students had been selected to work on language skills based on their group work in learning with Yolanda the Yarnspinner. These students learned to play with words and create riddles and puns, as well as write a group ONOMATOPOEIA poem. Before and after break students will be introduced to Max the Magician who teaches students to a visualize a problem in order to come up with a solution.
3rd Grade
Math students have been working very hard on their MULTIPLICATION facts, learning how to add and subtract decimal numbers, and learning about the metric system and base 10. These students also participated for the 1st time for Irving School in the ICTM Math Contest in a team and individual event.
Language Arts students have been reading one of two books "Poppy" by Avi and "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien, answering comprehension questions, and have an assignment due AFTER break to create a BOARD GAME based on the plot of the book (see sidebar for assignment).
4th Grade
Math students finished their data collection project "The Average 4th Grader" of which they constructed a paper replica which will be hung in the 3rd floor hallway. 4th Grade students also participated in the ICTM contest.
Language Arts students have been reading "The View from Saturday". A novel about 4 students from diverse backgrounds brought together by fate to represent their school at the state Scholastic Bowl.
5th Grade
Math students have been working on Unit 4, introduction to Algebra concepts, converting fractions/decimals/percents, and using a full circle protractor to create pie graphs. These students aslo particpated in the ICTM competition, as well as the second round of the Math Olympiad competition.
Language Arts students completed and shared their Poe projects and are excited to begin a new unit on William Shakespeare, learning about Elizabethan times and reading about the Bard and his works. HUZZAH!
May you all have a joyous holiday season and the happiest of New Years.
All my best,
Mr. Packer
I hope you are enjoying this holiday season with family and friends, and able to find time for yourselves.
Here's what's been going on in the world of GTD Services at Irving School.
Kindergarten
Kindergarteners have continued to work on sometimes, always, and never and learning the correct terminology that goes with PROBABILITY: certain, not certain, and maybe. We are using our skills by listening to three stories, voting on a favorite, and then talking about the choice someone would make who didn't hear the stories if they were to join the class and vote, based upon the results already gathered and organized in a bar graph.
1st Grade
Some 1st graders had been selected to work on deductive reasoning skills based on their group work in learning about Dudley the Detective. These students have been working on organizing information into Venn Diagrams to find the solution to a "mystery". Before and after break, DOT will be making a return as students go on an adventure with DOT at the Grocery Store and learn to think.
2nd Grade
Some 2nd grade students had been selected to work on language skills based on their group work in learning with Yolanda the Yarnspinner. These students learned to play with words and create riddles and puns, as well as write a group ONOMATOPOEIA poem. Before and after break students will be introduced to Max the Magician who teaches students to a visualize a problem in order to come up with a solution.
3rd Grade
Math students have been working very hard on their MULTIPLICATION facts, learning how to add and subtract decimal numbers, and learning about the metric system and base 10. These students also participated for the 1st time for Irving School in the ICTM Math Contest in a team and individual event.
Language Arts students have been reading one of two books "Poppy" by Avi and "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien, answering comprehension questions, and have an assignment due AFTER break to create a BOARD GAME based on the plot of the book (see sidebar for assignment).
4th Grade
Math students finished their data collection project "The Average 4th Grader" of which they constructed a paper replica which will be hung in the 3rd floor hallway. 4th Grade students also participated in the ICTM contest.
Language Arts students have been reading "The View from Saturday". A novel about 4 students from diverse backgrounds brought together by fate to represent their school at the state Scholastic Bowl.
5th Grade
Math students have been working on Unit 4, introduction to Algebra concepts, converting fractions/decimals/percents, and using a full circle protractor to create pie graphs. These students aslo particpated in the ICTM competition, as well as the second round of the Math Olympiad competition.
Language Arts students completed and shared their Poe projects and are excited to begin a new unit on William Shakespeare, learning about Elizabethan times and reading about the Bard and his works. HUZZAH!
May you all have a joyous holiday season and the happiest of New Years.
All my best,
Mr. Packer
Friday, October 28, 2011
October 24-October 28
Here is what’s happening in the world of GTD Services at Irving School.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten students have been working on using their imaginations and creating recognized pictures to go with statements using a certain number of shapes. For example “Using 3 shapes, make something that goes with the phrase ‘My Mom bought a new shovel”. We have done this with two different sets off shapes. As part of our school beautification, the Kindergarteners and Mr. Packer have been planting tulip bulbs in front of the school. Ask your child about bulbs and what we did.
1st Grade
Students in 1st grade have been good detectives, using the skills they learned from Dudley the Detective. When solving problems they are to look at ALL of the clues, not jump to conclusions, and come up with the one correct answer. We have practiced using our observation skills to solve problems and are currently working on reading clues, finding important words, and using logic to solve problems.
2nd Grade
2nd Grade students are learning to write colorful and exciting sentences and stories, playing with words, and staying on the topic through Yolanda the Yarnspinner. The kids have created sentences using a limited number of words and are currently working on creating “That’s Good/That’s Bad” stories.
3rd Grade
Math students are working on Multiplication facts recall by several means. We are taking daily timed tests (1 and 3 minute intervals), we are counting by a given number out loud, and playing a game called “Snap It Up”.
Reading students are working on their very own “Just So Stories” written in the style of Rudyard Kipling and using Google Docs. Their rough drafts are due on Tuesday November 1.
4th Grade
Math students continue to work on the Average 4th Grader project. They have gathered data measurements from a sample group at Irving and are getting data collected at Whittier school from 4th grade students there. They are compiling the data in an Excel Spreadsheet and using the “Average” function to figure out the averages. Once done, a drawing of the “Average 4th Grader” will be constructed.
Students in the Reading group finished reading “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” and are working on finding an organization to raise awareness of their purpose (The Children’s Leukemia Foundation”
5th Grade
Math students are getting ready to present their Data Projects next week and are beginning Unit 3 on Algebra.
Reading students continue to read the short stores of the master of the macabre, Edgar Allen Poe.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten students have been working on using their imaginations and creating recognized pictures to go with statements using a certain number of shapes. For example “Using 3 shapes, make something that goes with the phrase ‘My Mom bought a new shovel”. We have done this with two different sets off shapes. As part of our school beautification, the Kindergarteners and Mr. Packer have been planting tulip bulbs in front of the school. Ask your child about bulbs and what we did.
1st Grade
Students in 1st grade have been good detectives, using the skills they learned from Dudley the Detective. When solving problems they are to look at ALL of the clues, not jump to conclusions, and come up with the one correct answer. We have practiced using our observation skills to solve problems and are currently working on reading clues, finding important words, and using logic to solve problems.
2nd Grade
2nd Grade students are learning to write colorful and exciting sentences and stories, playing with words, and staying on the topic through Yolanda the Yarnspinner. The kids have created sentences using a limited number of words and are currently working on creating “That’s Good/That’s Bad” stories.
3rd Grade
Math students are working on Multiplication facts recall by several means. We are taking daily timed tests (1 and 3 minute intervals), we are counting by a given number out loud, and playing a game called “Snap It Up”.
Reading students are working on their very own “Just So Stories” written in the style of Rudyard Kipling and using Google Docs. Their rough drafts are due on Tuesday November 1.
4th Grade
Math students continue to work on the Average 4th Grader project. They have gathered data measurements from a sample group at Irving and are getting data collected at Whittier school from 4th grade students there. They are compiling the data in an Excel Spreadsheet and using the “Average” function to figure out the averages. Once done, a drawing of the “Average 4th Grader” will be constructed.
Students in the Reading group finished reading “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” and are working on finding an organization to raise awareness of their purpose (The Children’s Leukemia Foundation”
5th Grade
Math students are getting ready to present their Data Projects next week and are beginning Unit 3 on Algebra.
Reading students continue to read the short stores of the master of the macabre, Edgar Allen Poe.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
September 26-September 30
Hello everyone,
Happy Fall! Here's what's happening in the area of GTD services at Irving School.
Kindergarten
Mr. Packer has been going into the Kindergarten classes and using an activity called "Smart Snips". Smart snips, level 1, requires students to use their imaginations and recall to create everyday pictures with just four shapes (triangle, square, rectangle, skinny rectangle). Some of the creations were a pine tree (2 shapes), a robot with a big nose (2 shapes), a robot with a big nose (4 shapes), and my house is nice (2 shapes and 3 shapes).
1st Grade
Mr. Packer has been visiting the 1st grade classes with his friend "Dot". Dot goes on adventures and asks the kids to think. This time Dot's adventure was the first day of school. Using visual cues and logical thinking, the kids are asked to analyze the situations that Dot is in, or identifying which pictures go with which scenarios.
2nd Grade
Mr. Packer introduced the kids to the planet Zooley a couple of weeks ago. On the planet Zooley, the zoo and all of it's inhabitants are exactly the same as here on Earth, but given names in the Zooley language. Using clues from the questions, students have to answer the questions and identify the animals in the cages using patterns, size, shape, and number to help them. They learned a very helpful vocabulary word "appendages".
3rd Grade
Math-3rd Grade math students are finishing up Unit 1 on geometric terms and shapes and will be taking the test on Monday of next week.
Reading-students are continuing to learn how to complete different types of projects through the use of Rudyard Kipling's short stories from "Just So Stories". We did improv skits based on "How the Camel Got His Hump" and will be creating cartoons based on "The First Letter".
4th Grade
Math-we are beginning to gather data for our project "The Average 4th Grader". We learned to create spreadsheets to organize the data, and we are in talks with Whittier for assistance in gathering as much data as we can.
Reading-students are learning about Japan, Hiroshima, and the atomic bomb in order to build background for the story we began "Sadako and the 1, 000 Paper Cranes"
5th Grade
Math-we are continuing to work on our Data Collection projects and have begun Unit 2 (large numbers, multiplying by powers of 10 (positive and negative), and operations with decimals.
Reading-we are finishing up our "If I Were a Book" books and will begin reading and discussing stories written by Edgar Allen Poe. The first story will be "The Masque of the Red Death".
If you have questions or need more information regarding the GTD Resource services at Irving School please contact me at ppacker@op97.org
All my best,
Mr. Packer
Happy Fall! Here's what's happening in the area of GTD services at Irving School.
Kindergarten
Mr. Packer has been going into the Kindergarten classes and using an activity called "Smart Snips". Smart snips, level 1, requires students to use their imaginations and recall to create everyday pictures with just four shapes (triangle, square, rectangle, skinny rectangle). Some of the creations were a pine tree (2 shapes), a robot with a big nose (2 shapes), a robot with a big nose (4 shapes), and my house is nice (2 shapes and 3 shapes).
1st Grade
Mr. Packer has been visiting the 1st grade classes with his friend "Dot". Dot goes on adventures and asks the kids to think. This time Dot's adventure was the first day of school. Using visual cues and logical thinking, the kids are asked to analyze the situations that Dot is in, or identifying which pictures go with which scenarios.
2nd Grade
Mr. Packer introduced the kids to the planet Zooley a couple of weeks ago. On the planet Zooley, the zoo and all of it's inhabitants are exactly the same as here on Earth, but given names in the Zooley language. Using clues from the questions, students have to answer the questions and identify the animals in the cages using patterns, size, shape, and number to help them. They learned a very helpful vocabulary word "appendages".
3rd Grade
Math-3rd Grade math students are finishing up Unit 1 on geometric terms and shapes and will be taking the test on Monday of next week.
Reading-students are continuing to learn how to complete different types of projects through the use of Rudyard Kipling's short stories from "Just So Stories". We did improv skits based on "How the Camel Got His Hump" and will be creating cartoons based on "The First Letter".
4th Grade
Math-we are beginning to gather data for our project "The Average 4th Grader". We learned to create spreadsheets to organize the data, and we are in talks with Whittier for assistance in gathering as much data as we can.
Reading-students are learning about Japan, Hiroshima, and the atomic bomb in order to build background for the story we began "Sadako and the 1, 000 Paper Cranes"
5th Grade
Math-we are continuing to work on our Data Collection projects and have begun Unit 2 (large numbers, multiplying by powers of 10 (positive and negative), and operations with decimals.
Reading-we are finishing up our "If I Were a Book" books and will begin reading and discussing stories written by Edgar Allen Poe. The first story will be "The Masque of the Red Death".
If you have questions or need more information regarding the GTD Resource services at Irving School please contact me at ppacker@op97.org
All my best,
Mr. Packer
Sunday, September 18, 2011
September 12-September 16
Hello everyone,
So good to see so many of you at Open House night. Thanks for stopping by.
This past weeks GTD Resource direct and push-in services began. Push-in services are for kids in K-2 in which I go into the classrooms and work with the kids on "Thinking Skills". I provided different activities which requires the kids to use logic and problem-solving, and teaches them strategies for using these skills. Direct services for students in 3-5 are for students who meet District 97 Guidelines for services and are in the area of Math and Reading.
K-This past week and upcoming week in Kindergarten I am getting to know the kids and letting them get to know me by going into the classrooms and observing and participating in the activities that the class is working on that time. I go into the Kindergarten class 1/2 hour a week.
1st Grade-This past week I went into the classes and introduced the kids to my friend DOT. DOT is just that, a DOT, who goes on adventures and requires the children to use observation, prior knowledge, and logic to answer questions regarding the situation that DOT is in. Currently "DOT Goes to School" and we are working orally.
2nd Grade-Building on skills learned in 1st Grade last year, we reviewed some of the characters we met (Dudley the Detective, Isabel the Inventor, and Sybil the Scientist) and what they taught us about problem-solving. I then introduced a problem to the kids call "Zooley". Zooley requires logic to solve.
3rd Grade-
Math-we began working on geometry skills, working on vocabulary, and doing activities with line segments and triangles.
Reading-getting to know the kids, we worked identifying literature we liked and disliked and we began to talk about Folklore and read "How the Leopard Got Its Spots" by Rudyard Kipling.
4th Grade-
Math-we reviewed concepts like square numbers and square roots, looking for and identifying patterns.
Reading-we are working on "If I Were a Book" books. Some very fun and creative ideas coming out of this.
5th Grade-
Math-working on Unit 1 (Data Collection and Organization)
Reading-same as 4th Grade
That's all for now until next week.
All my best,
Mr. Packer
So good to see so many of you at Open House night. Thanks for stopping by.
This past weeks GTD Resource direct and push-in services began. Push-in services are for kids in K-2 in which I go into the classrooms and work with the kids on "Thinking Skills". I provided different activities which requires the kids to use logic and problem-solving, and teaches them strategies for using these skills. Direct services for students in 3-5 are for students who meet District 97 Guidelines for services and are in the area of Math and Reading.
K-This past week and upcoming week in Kindergarten I am getting to know the kids and letting them get to know me by going into the classrooms and observing and participating in the activities that the class is working on that time. I go into the Kindergarten class 1/2 hour a week.
1st Grade-This past week I went into the classes and introduced the kids to my friend DOT. DOT is just that, a DOT, who goes on adventures and requires the children to use observation, prior knowledge, and logic to answer questions regarding the situation that DOT is in. Currently "DOT Goes to School" and we are working orally.
2nd Grade-Building on skills learned in 1st Grade last year, we reviewed some of the characters we met (Dudley the Detective, Isabel the Inventor, and Sybil the Scientist) and what they taught us about problem-solving. I then introduced a problem to the kids call "Zooley". Zooley requires logic to solve.
3rd Grade-
Math-we began working on geometry skills, working on vocabulary, and doing activities with line segments and triangles.
Reading-getting to know the kids, we worked identifying literature we liked and disliked and we began to talk about Folklore and read "How the Leopard Got Its Spots" by Rudyard Kipling.
4th Grade-
Math-we reviewed concepts like square numbers and square roots, looking for and identifying patterns.
Reading-we are working on "If I Were a Book" books. Some very fun and creative ideas coming out of this.
5th Grade-
Math-working on Unit 1 (Data Collection and Organization)
Reading-same as 4th Grade
That's all for now until next week.
All my best,
Mr. Packer
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