Our Reading Program: Google classroom is used on a daily basis for discussion purposes and sharing opportunities. Gifted and talented students across the district have elaborate discussions on google classroom involving philosophical topics related to our unit of study. This provides a peer group for the students.
- Greek Mythology: One of the hidden benefits of studying Greek myths is to explore virtues. With these classic stories, the lines between righteous and immoral behavior are clear-cut, so that even young children can recognize examples of the 4 cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. Also, we used Greek Myths to find heroes and villains. In Greek mythology, the lines between good and evil are VERY clear cut. Monsters are monsters, while heroes are heroes. When you take a look at Heracles (Hercules is his Roman name), there' s no doubt in children' s mind that he' s a good guy, performing noble deeds. Medusa, on the other hand, is definitely a monster, poised to wreck havoc on anyone who crosses her path. Lastly, Greek Mythology helped us connect the dots in the world around us. Embarking on a study of astronomy? Many constellations and celestial bodies have their basis in Greek myths, while the US space program is named after Apollo. In chemistry, the element niobium is named after Niobe, daughter of King Tantalus. Examining the ocean? Famous researcher Jacques Cousteau named his vessel Calypso, a nymph, thought to be the daughter of the Titan Atlas. Visiting Yellowstone National Park? Iris Falls is named for Iris, the mythological Greek goddess of the rainbow. Without a knowledge of Greek myths, terms like Pandora' s box, Achilles' heel, Herculean feat, the Midas touch, and nemesis don' t make much sense at all. Students will be given the opportunity to create their own Greek Gods, mythology stories & plays.
- Topics We Cover:
- The Nature of the Gods
- The Power of Music
- Teamwork
- Heart and Soul
- Self-Love (Vanity)
- Wisdom vs. Intelligence
- Greed
- Mind over Matter
- Fathers and Sons
- Greek Mythology is the focus for many of our topics but we also implement targeted readings from short stories, poetry, and nonfiction sources. Students engage in an inquiry process that moves from lower order to higher order thinking skills. Starting with basic literary understanding, students learn to critically analyze texts by determining implications and consequences, generalizations, main ideas, and/or creative synthesis.
Our Math Program: Students will work with curriculum standards that describe the mathematics skills and concepts needed to develop for success in higher education and the 21st-century workplace. The curriculum unit from the Center for Gifted Education provides gifted and advanced learners challenging activities related to the CCSS for Mathematics. The content for grades 4 & 5 includes operations and algebraic thinking, numbers and operations in Base Ten, fractions, measurement and data, and geometry. Students will explore the concepts in depth and learn how to apply these skills to real-world situations.
Expectations
- Students will be required to sign the academic program contract.
- Students are expected to complete assignments throughout the week by the due dates-more details for expectations on this.
- GT teacher collaborates with the classroom teacher. GT students need to show a level of motivation and determination to complete assignments. It' s not extra work it' s different work.
- Once students are selected for the program in order to remain in the program students must sign the academic program contract agreeing to:
- -I will display a high degree of concentration in my work.
- -I will be respectful during class.
- -I will do my best work.
- -I will use my time wisely to meet my due dates.
- -I will work on my assignments outside of GT class to meet the due dates.
- -I will do my best to stay on task at all times.
- -If I am working in a group, I will contribute to the assignment and stay on task.
Link to Mrs. Quimby' s blog http://mrsquimbygt.blogspot.com/search/label/Math