3rd and 4th Grade End of Year

This week is our Workles Auction and Movie Day for 3rd and 4th Grades.  Your child should have brought home a letter about each.  Just in case they didn't, I have posted copies of the letters here.  The letters explain the requirements to participate in the Auction and the Movie.

4th Graders will need to be prepared on Tuesday, June 2nd.
3rd Graders will need to be prepared on Wednesday, June 3rd.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

3rd Grade Movie Permission Slip

3rd Grade Silent Auction

4th Grade Movie Permission Slip

4th Grade Silent Auction

There will also be lunch in the classroom for those students who mastered 100% on their Khan Academy.

I look forward to a fun time with the students.

Last Week of Home Extension Work - All Grades

This will be the last week of regular GT classes.  Below are the expectations for each grade level.

• 4th Grade - Students will come on Tuesday, 5/26/2015 - Students should have finished their book Bridge to Terabithia in order to watch the movie in class the last week of school.  Students should be working on achieving 100% mastery on 4th Grade Khan Academy in order to eat lunch in the classroom the last week of school.   
• 3rd Grade - Students will come on Wednesday, 5/27/2015 - Students should have finished their book Night of the Twisters in order to watch the movie in class the last week of school.  Students should be working on achieving 100% mastery on 3rd Grade Khan Academy in order to eat lunch in the classroom the last week of school. Students should have shown you the Silent Auction paper for the last week of school.
• 2nd Grade -  Students should be working on achieving 100% mastery on Early Math Session of Khan Academy in order to eat lunch in the classroom the last week of school.
• 1st Grade -  Students should be working on achieving 50% mastery on Early Math Session of Khan Academy in order to eat lunch in the classroom the last week of school. 
• Kindergarten - Please watch the video below to learn about Jackson Pollock and action painting.  We will be doing action painting in class this week.  Please be sure to dress your child in clothes you don't mind getting dirty.  Mrs.  Bunnell's class will come on Thursday, 5/28 and the other classes will come on Friday 5/29.  

GT Expo Projects and Next Week's Classes Info - All Grades

Good morning,

Thanks to everyone who supported us last night.  The kids love telling what they learned and it's great practice for their public speaking skills.  I will get the pictures posted next week.

For next week, I'd like each student and their family to write a small reflection of their Expo experience.  You can post it on our facebook, email it to me, write it down, or however you want.  Please feel free to share whatever comes to your mind, but if you are feeling stuck, here are a few questions to prompt you and your child.  I'd like to hear from students and parents.  Reflection is a great tool!

• What did you enjoy the most about the Expo?
• What was the hardest part for you?
• How will this experience help your child in the future?
• If you had more time, what would you have done differently?

Third and fourth grade students should be finished with their books by the week of May 18 so be sure you are reading.  1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders should also be working on reaching their Khan Academy goals.  Kinder students, we are learning about our last author next week.  I will post your video homework soon!

Classes Next Week:

Kindergarten:  Bunnell on Thursday; All others on Friday
1st Grade - Monday
2nd Grade - Garcia & Soto on Monday; Jenkins & Richie on Wednesday
3rd Grade - Wednesday
4th Grade - Tuesday

Here at the links to your children's projects that are posted online.  There are three or four projects that we will have to post from school.

Videos

Mrs. Pogue's You Tube Channel

Each grade level has it's own play list to make finding your child's project easier.  Right now all videos are public.  If you would like me to change your child's work to unlisted (where only people with the link can access it), please let me know.

1st and 2nd Grade Slide Shows - Over the next couple of weeks, we will make their slide shows into videos

1st Grade

2nd Grade

If your child is in 3rd or 4th grade and they did a google slide show, they have access to their slide show in their google drive.  I am also going to help them turn their slide shows into videos.  I think this adds an extra bit of creativity and personality to the slide shows, as well as another skill learned.

GT Expo This Friday Night May 8, 2015 6:30 pm - All Grade Levels

This Friday night is our annual GT Expo.  Students need to be in the cafeteria at 6:15 wearing their best school clothes and/or church clothes.  Third and fourth grade students may also dress in costume for  their Genius Hour project if they would like.  For example, if they researched being a veterinarian, they can dress the part of a veterinarian.  I would like all of the students to be in their places before the parents and guests enter the cafeteria.

The purpose of the GT Expo is for students to get to show off their work and practice their public speaking skills.  Please make time to talk to as many students as possible.  They have all worked hard.

At 7:00 pm, I will be calling students by grade level for their snacks.  At the conclusion of the evening, you may take your student's projects home.

As usual, I would like some families to volunteer.  Here are the shifts available:

Set up 3:30 - 5:30 (2-3 families needed)
Serve Snacks 7:00 - 7:30 (4 adult volunteers needed)
Clean Up  ((2-3 families needed)

Please let me know if you can help.  If you have teen age children who would like to volunteer for service hours, I would welcome their help, too.

Thank you so much and feel free to email me with any questions you may have.

3rd & 4th Grade News & Home Learning

Third and fourth grade students were given a book to read today for GT class.  The book needs to be finished by Monday, May 18th.  Third grade is reading Night of the Twisters  and fourth grade is reading Bridge to Terabithia.

Students should also be working on achieving mastery of all their grade level skills on Khan Academy.  I will be hosting lunch in my classroom again for those students who reach that goal.  Lunch will be the week of May 26.

The next two weeks we will be busy finishing up Expo projects.  Please be sure your child has everything they need.

Have a great weekend!

Grade Level Updates Grades 1-4

This week is STAAR testing so our schedule will not be normal.  I will be getting students when I can and when it works with their classroom teachers.  Here is an update of what is going on in your child's grade level:

1st Grade:  At home, Students should be working towards 50% mastery of Khan Academy skills for Early math.  At school, we are working on our projects for the GT Expo.  We are doing all of our work in class.   Thank you for helping get the research completed at home.

2nd Grade:  At home, Students should be working towards 100% mastery of Khan Academy skills for Early math.  At school, we are working on our projects for the GT Expo.  We are doing all of our work in class.   Thank you for helping get the research completed at home.

3rd  Grade:  At home, Students should be working towards 100% mastery of Khan Academy skills for 3rd Grade.  We also made plans for GT Expo projects and some of the children need to get a few items from home.  Please ask your child about his or her plan.  We will work on projects in class, but students will need supplies by Monday, April 27th.

4th Grade:  At home, Students should be working towards 100% mastery of Khan Academy skills for 4th Grade.  At school, we are working on our projects for the GT Expo.  Most students have been coming to the GT classroom every spare moment they have.  Please check with your kiddo on their progress.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Parent News

Week of March 30 - All Grade Levels

Next week, ALL grade levels will come to class on Wednesday, April 1st.  Below you will see your student's time as well as what they need to do to be prepared for class:

• Kindergarten:  We will have class at 9:00 am.  We will be playing a game to reinforce abstract and realistic art as well as primary and secondary colors.  Your child will enjoy the game more if they can recognize the words ABSTRACT, REALISTIC, PRIMARY, AND SECONDARY.   For review, you can go back to previous kinder blogs to see the video on primary colors and look at abstract and realistic art.  The following week, we will be moving on to learning about specific artists, and their techniques.
• 1st Grade:  We will have class at 10:00 am.  Students will be typing their work that we did on their contienents this past week.  
• 2nd  Grade:  We will have class at 12:30 pm.  Students will be typing their work that we did on their contienents this past week.  If your child was not prepared last week, they are behind.
• 3rd Grade:  We will have class at 8:00 am.  Students need to be thinking about the best way to present their information so we can begin planning.  Talk to them about what they can create to show what they've learned from their genius hour.  We will be doing as much as possible in class, but it is helpful if you discuss some ideas at home.  
• 4th Grade  We will have class at 1:30 pm.  Students who have started their genius hour products will work on those.  Students who have not started their products will be making their plans.  Ask your child what stage of the process they are in.  I'm super excited that everyone completed their research charts and is ready to get started.

As usual, please let me know if you have any questions about assignments.

3rd and 4th Grade Genius Hour Projects due week of March 23

I need all students to have their research charts on their google drives completed by their class day the week of March 23rd.  Some students are almost finished, others will need to work a lot this week in order to get finished.  If your student was one of the ones that need a lot of work, I helped him or her find reliable sources and there are links copied in their research chart so all they have to do is click the links, read the articles, and type in the answers to the questions.  They shouldn't have to go to any other search engines.  Students who have trouble with internet access may ask to have their research chart and sources printed out so they can hand write at home, they may come after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays to work, and/or they may stay in during their recess time to research.  In order to finish our products, this research must be completed next week.  We will start working on the technology project and the visual in class.  They cannot do either of these pieces without their research completed.

Here is a general timeline:

At Home:  Research Complete by their class day the week of March 23rd
At School:  Work on Technology Projects - weeks of 3/23, 3/30, 4/6
At Home:  Plan for the visual project and gather supplies (more information coming next week)
At School:  Work on visuals - weeks of 4/6, 4/13, and 4/20

Please let me know if you have any questions and how I can help.

Leprechaun Traps - 4th Grade Integrated Reading and Writing Lesson

Today we are going to create a Leprechaun Trap.  What is a Leprechaun trap you ask?  Let's start off by reading a story about one.

Read About It

Discussion Questions

Do you think you can create a Leprechaun Trap? or will the Leprechaun trap you?

Make a plan for your trap and write an expository paper on how to trap a Leprechaun.  Even though your paper is expository, it doesn't have to be completely true :)

4th Grade Challenge Math: Would You Rather

Would You Rather…

Buy a fancy 5-year eco-lightbulb for $9.79?

Or pay 70 cents per lightbulb, but replace them every 5 months?

Whichever answer you choose, please justify your reasoning using mathematics using the Would You Rather Template.  Be sure to copy the template and rename it Would You Rather.Your Name.  You need to also ensure that your assignment is in the folder that is Shared with Mrs. Pogue.  If you do not have this folder set up, please let me know so I can help you.

4th Grade Classwork for March 3rd

What is Pi?

Pi Day Infographic

History of Pi

Check this out:

Miles of Pi

Why do you think they chose the Number Pi out of all the numbers in the world?

Is every possible number, no matter how big, found somewhere in the infinite digits of Pi?

How about learning Pilish?

Pilish

Try your hand at Pilish poetry

4th Grade for the Week of March 2

Please have your fourth grade student spend at least thirty minutes, but hopefully an hour, on their research chart for their Genius Hour project.  They should have a chart in their Google Drive. Some students have already completed their chart and are working on their project plan.  We have been working on this in class.  I am encouring the children to dig deeper into their topic so they learn significant information and not just surface level facts.  Of course each child's topic is different and the depth and complexity of the topic also varies.  They should complete their time on their research chart by Tuesday, March 3rd.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Reading About Recycling

Today you're going to participate in a literature circle using an informative text.  You are going to learn to think about your text through coding.  Here are the codes we will use today:

However, instead of a pencil, you are going to use post-it notes.  Write the codes on your post-it note and attach it to the page you are reading.

1.  Before reading:  Talk to your group about your predicitions for the information that will be in the book.  Also talk to your group about what background information you already have about the topic of the book.

2.  During Reading:  Use the post-it notes and codes as you read.

3.  After Reading:  Come back to the group and share your post its.

4.  Respond to the following 1-2-3-4 Non Fiction Response:

• What is the ONE big idea of text? (the big idea should be supported throughout the book.)
• What are TWO conclusions you can make about recycling from reading this text?  Cite your evidence from the text.
• Does the author think recycling is important?  How do you know?  Cite at least THREE proofs from the text that support your conclusion.
• What are FOUR new facts that you learned about recycling from reading this book?

4th Grade Classwork 2.17

Math 

Today we are going to work on classifying quadrilaterals using parallel and perpendicular lines and angles.

Click here to get started

Instead of drawing the shapes on geoboard paper, I would like you to take a picture of the items with your iPads.  You will use the pictures to create a Haiku Deck to define the quadrilaterals you created.  Use  definition of quadrilaterals if you need to.

When you finish the quadrilateral project, then choose one of the following "Would You Rather" math problems.  You will need to do some research no matter which problem you choose.  You will also need to justify your answer using mathematical language.

Let me know when you finish and we will see what's next!

Reading

Today we will read poetry and informational text about Abraham Lincoln.  

Poetry about Abraham Lincoln

Informational Text about Abraham Lincoln

After we read and discuss the text, we are going to write questions for each other to answer and justify using evidence from the text.  We will use this type of graphic organizer to organize our thoughts.  non-fiction graphic organizer

4th Grade Learning Extension for Week of February 2, 2015

This week I have two challenges for you.  I would like you to respond to these challenges in our journal.  These are both important and fairly simple.  I'm looking for 100% participation.

• Think about your Genius Hour project.  Did you choose a topic you are TRULY passionate about?  If you are TRULY passionate about this project, then you would want to read and learn about it all the time, even without being asked to.  Write a journal reflection on your Genius Hour topic considering if you LOVE this idea or not.  It is still ok to change.  Really think about what your passion is.  Your reflection should be at least one paragraph and should tell your honest feelings about your topic.  We will be discussing this in class.
• Please bring to class a motivational quote for our Quotable Quotes wall.  Talk with your family.  Maybe your family has a saying.  Write your quote in your journal and it's source.  For example.  
• You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself any direction you choose. - Dr. Seuss
• After you write down your quote, write a short explanation of why you think your quote would be good for our Quotable Quotes wall.

Due Dates:

• Mrs. Martinez' Class is due on Thursday 2/5/15
• Mrs. Padgett and Mrs. Montgomery's class is due on Friday 2/6/15

I would recommend doing your assignments early so you don't have to worry about it next week on mock testing days.

Have fun!  Learn Lots!  Grow Dendrites!

4th Grade Classwork

Welcome back to GT class!  I've missed you all so much!

Today we will be:

• Checking our Math GPS 46
• Exploring measurment reasonableness
• Learn to do measurement conversions
• Creating a word cloud using TagXedo
• Working on our Genius Hour Projects

We will be busy and I need you to be ON TASK!  and help each other!

When you arrive, please get your iPad.  On a new google document in your google drive, please type ten adjectives that describe you.  Think Character Traits.  If your parents responded to the survey, Mrs. Pogue will give you another word.  On your list, also type your name.

When you are finished typing your list, you will need to go to a computer.  On the computer, you will need to get on your google drive, look in your shared folder for the Tagxedo document, open it, and follow the directions.

I will be calling you in small groups to work on math.  We will also play Kahoot to check your GPS work.

Tagxedo

This week, we are going to create word clouds with a new app I learned about this weekend at EdCamp Rockwall.  It's called Tagxedo.  I'm super excited about my students using it for the first time.

Click here to get to Tagxedo and create your word cloud.

4th Grade Christmas In-Class Project

Good afternoon!

What a whirlwind of a week!  Coming back from a holiday and then having a sick kid!  We did have a great class today!  Next week, fourth grade GT will meet on Thursday as I will be out on the 1st and 2nd Grade GT field trip on Tuesday.  We will begin our Christmas Card Project and participate in Hour of Code.  Below you will find the information about the Christmas Card Project.  Please don't forget to bring your items!

You'll also want to continue working on Khan Academy at home.  Remember your goal is 50% mastery to eat lunch in the classroom the last week before Christmas break.  So far one person has reached that goal and a few are following close behind.

As usual, please fee free to ask if you have any questions.

Next week in GT class, we are going to do a special Christmas card project.  In order to make your Christmas card more personal, I will need you to bring in some items from home.  You will need to bring 6 - 10 items that tell about you, your likes, your dislikes, your hobbies, your accomplishments, your family, etc.  

For example, for myself I could bring:

• A picture of my family
• My Coca Cola Christmas ornament to show where I went on vacation this year
• A book because I love to read
• One of my willow tree angels because I collect them
• My grandmother’s Christmas ornament because I like to decorate like she did
• A baseball because my family and I visit baseball stadiums around the country

The items you bring will need to fit in a box or bag that you can carry on your own - so they don’t need to be very big or very heavy.  Also, I wouldn’t bring anything too valuable.  If you like to play video games, I would just bring the video case or the video game controller.

It will be fun – so don’t forget!!

4th Grade Family College Presentations

What a fantastic day of learning all about what these wonderful children hope to be when they grow up!  I hope they learned from the process and from each other.  I was most pleasantly surprised with how many out of state colleges were researched!  These kids can aspire to do anything they want as long as they work hard.

Below is a padlet showing the research topics from each student and some links to presentations and/or videos.  I've also included some pictures of the students presenting.

Created with Padlet

University of South Florida

Juliard

Ohio State University

TX A&M University at Corpus Christi

Kansas State University

University of Miami

Harvard

Texas A&M University at Galveston

Texas A&M University

University of Michigan