2016-2017 is Going to Be a Great Year!

I am so excited to get back to seeing students each day, exploring their passions, and tackling new projects. The first few weeks of school were spent on identification testing, but we are now back in the swing of regular classes!

We being each year with a brainstorming session: What do YOU want to learn this year? Each grade level throws out ideas on what projects they have enjoyed, what they are curious about, and what they want to learn more about. During this session, there are no bad ideas. We write everything down!

After the list is completed, we use it to write our individual W.I.Gs (Wildly Important Goals). These kids have some big goals, and I couldn't be more excited to provide support in their efforts to achieve them.

Which brings me to our classroom motto. For the last three years, Clarke TAG has been living by this motto - Experiment, Fail, Learn, Repeat. I know I've written about it before, but it is integral to the success of our program. "Failure" can be scary, especially to students who are used to having all the answers. However, failure is how we learn! We don't give up in this class, but instead figure out where we went wrong and push forward. I love seeing my students tackle problem after problem and not letting the "fails" get them down.

So, will be learn about ALL of the things on our list this year? Probably not. But will we try, and try again? Absolutely!

Welcome to the 2016-2017 TAG year!

Mini-Mini Golf Reminder

Mini-Mini Golf Course

Where: Mrs. Fitzpatrick’s TAG room

When: Tuesday, March 29, 2016 11:55a.m.-12:40p.m. 

and 3:10-3:45 p.m.

Who: You!

What: Mini-Mini Golf Course made by 5^th grade    

                       TAG students

Cost 1 penny

For more information ask a 5^th grade TAG student.

        

Fancy Words: Using the Kingore Observation Inventory

What is a fancy word? Does it refer to something that has sparkles and lace? Or maybe it talks about something elaborate and decorative?

In an effort to get a better idea of the strengths of the current second grade, students will be engaging in several activities geared toward the Kingore Observation Inventory (KOI). According to the KOI 2nd edition by Bertie Kingore, the KOI is "and instrument to assist educators in identifying and serving students with gifted potentials." There are seven areas that are focused on: advanced language, analytical thinking, meaning motivation, perspective, sense of humor, sensitivity, and accelerated learning. 

Throughout the semester, we will be doing several activities that hit upon these seven areas, and this week we have been looking at advanced language...and "fancy words!" 

Using the book, Fancy Nancy's Favorite Fancy Words, students engaged in a discussion about what fancy meant. Answers ranged from a pretty bride to a disco ball. At first, the boys were a little concerned that we were talking about "girly stuff", but soon realized sparkles and lace weren't the focus at all! We were talking about special words that are not used as often as their plain counterparts. 

Excursion = trip

Understated = plain

Wardrobe = your collection of clothes

After much discussion, students went to work on their own trying to come up with fancy vs. plain words. This activity not only challenges the students to think hard about their vocabulary, it also give me a way to better assess their strengths and plan future lessons. 

Kia ora! (That is my fancy way of saying goodbye in Maori!)

The Last of the Commercials

These students are SO excited about their arcade! We have had some technical difficulties, but they keep working through everything that gets thrown their way. It makes me so proud of their determination!

Arcade Date: December 22, 2015
Time: 7:45am-8:10am and 11:45am-12:40pm
Price: 1 cent! (We use pennies as weights in other projects throughout the year.)

RJ's Grinch vs. Santa

Garrett's Money Truck vs. Cops

Molly's Race to the Top

Riley's Game

Khalil's Tiger Feed

Arcade Commercials Continued

Come to the TAG arcade: Friday, December 18! 

Hours: 7:45 am-8:15 am and 11:45 am-12:40 pm. 

Spencer's John Cena vs. Randy Orton

Zach's Reverse Pacman

Nate's Cookie Dough Tapper Da Bomb

Aiden's Tap Cake

Jenna's Save Me Octo!

Calhoun's Destructo

TAG Arcade

Over the last few weeks, the fifth grade has been learning more and more about computer and game code, and they are getting ready to show it off! Each student has coded an original game that will be displayed during the TAG arcade in the upcoming weeks. Students are building booths for their games and using iMovie to create advertisements for their games. Throughout the next week, I will post these commercials as they are completed.

Here is the first ad for Dumb Unicorns by Cooper R.

More information on time and date of arcade to come!

ABC Authors

At the start of each year, each class brainstorms a massive list of "Things We Want To Learn!" This list is very different in second grade compared to fifth. After we have made the list, it is then my personal challenge to cover as many of those interests as possible throughout the year. While I can't guarantee each item will be covered, the use of topic choice seems to help reach some of the more unique interests.

The creative second grade students had a list ranging from volcanoes, ice cream, and water to inventors, Minecraft, and family. Where were we to go with all of these interests? Book writing, of course! Each student was able to use topic choice and write an ABC book about their interest. After rough copies and editing, students used Storyjumper to create a unique final copy.

If you are unfamiliar with Storyjumper, it is worth a look. It is a completely free, online book making program. During conferences one parent compared it to how she make photo books online! Students may use pre-made scenes and props, or they can illustrate and upload their personal touches.

The final product is a published book the student can take and add to their library! We print the free version at school, but if parents are interested, they can purchase a soft or hard cover version.

These students worked, created, and are now "published" authors! How neat is that?

A page from Aryanna's book.

A page from Paige's book.

A page from Xandria's book.