3 rd and 4 th Grade G.A.T.E. 10 Curriculum Night

Lovejoy Gifted Association  The LGA is a not-for-profit advocacy group for all gifted children in Lovejoy ISD. Membership is open to all persons interested in the mission of the organization.  Academic Enrichment:

Mission Statement We believe in persevering through the rigor of true learning in order to: expand individual boundaries, develop character, and thrive in a competitive world.

Integrated Studies 3 rd and 4 th grade Teachers Dallena Nash (LES) Leslie O’Daniel (PES) Alison Smithwick (HES)

IS Curriculum Overview Parallels the standards (TEKS) of a regular classroom while embedding rigor, depth, and complexity. Integrated Unit Studies Novels, Non-fiction, Art, Music, Social Studies

IS Curriculum Overview Latin Stems Grammar Writing Workshop Approximately 2 hours

Humanity Circles  “ Humanity” or “Literature” Circles are flexible groups of students who have read the same book and meet weekly to discuss it.  Books provided by the school for 3 rd grade, and 4 th grade students will provide their own books in order to make annotations.

3 Universal Theme: Establishing Identities within Various Communities Enduring Understandings: 1. We learn about ourselves by studying the lives of others. 2. My personal qualities can help or hinder the formation of relationships. 3. What others think about (community) affects how we think about ourselves. 4. In a culture where we are bombarded with other people trying to define us, the individual has responsibilities to various communities, who have responsibilities to us. 5. Parallels exist between our “growing” up and a community.

Homework in 3 rd IS  Given to students at the beginning of the week  Due the following Monday  Spelling quizzes every Friday  Schedule time for homework, 30 min. a day  Communicate homework in the weekly newsletter  Reading Log-15 minutes of reading daily; due Mondays

The Benefits of Reading 20 Minutes a Day

Theme: There are many universal adversities which result in universal adaptations. Journeys  Esperanza Rising, by Pam Munoz Ryan, Becoming Naomi Leon, by Pam Munoz Ryan  Explorers, Regions of Texas, Native Americans, Spanish Missions Discovery  Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis, Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli  “Texas Rumblings and Ramblings,”-Changes within Texas 4

Theme: There are many universal adversities which result in universal adaptations. Enlightenment  From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by Konigsburg, Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet  Texas Revolution, Civil War, Annexation, Statehood, and Oil Boom, Industrial Age to Present-Day Texas 4

Homework in 4 th IS  Given to students throughout the week, when needed  Will also be unfinished work from in-class assignments  Assigned chapters to read for their Humanity Circles  40 minutes per night  Communicated in the newsletter  Reading Log

At-home reading is not fluff, not optional, and not designed by teachers to torture your family. Research has proven it will grow your child as a reader!

A day in the IS classroom might include:  Reading Workshop  A short read-aloud from a companion novel  Reflection (Reader’s Response Notebook)  Reading Skill Lessons (Mini-lessons)  Literature circles  Ludic Reading  Writing Workshop  Writing Process  Grammar  Latin  Mini-lessons

A day in the IS classroom might include:  Social Studies  Integrated with Reading and Writing Workshops  Primary and Secondary Sources  Collaborative Learning  Engaged students focused on reading, writing, conversation, open-ended questioning, and connecting to the Depth and Complexity icons. Homework is an extension of what we have worked on and discussed during the day.

Outcomes of IS  Inspire Confidence  Foster Participation  Build for Success  Make Connections Across Disciplines  Develop Metacognition (awareness of one’s own thinking and learning processes) at a Depth and Complexity level

CONTACT US!  Dallena Nash (LES)   (469)  Leslie O’Daniel (PES)   (469)  Alison Smithwick(HES)   (469)

How will we track student progress?  Rubric scores-amount of points earned out of the total points available for the assignment Example : 4/6 on an assignment.  Weekly math binder with graded assignments  Work will go home throughout the week in IS  Teacher anecdotal notes  Informal assessments completed in class  Assessments of learning objectives TRACK PROGRESS

Thank you for sharing your brilliant children with us this year! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions throughout the year, or write it on a sticky note if you have one tonight.