*PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I MAY BE REACHED AT 255-8744 0r serafin@aps.edu.
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Class information:
In the gifted education program, the following strands are emphasized
within the various subject areas: thinking skills, creativity, interpersonal
skills, self-understanding, interest development, communication, skills of
the independent learner, and aachievement.
Reading- Critical reading skills will be utilized through a study of various
genres (such as world mythology, folklore, fairy tales, short shories,
poetry, drama, fantasy, science fiction, and the works of Shakespere) and an
exploration of literary elements within each work. The students will build
vocabulary, and share ideas, reactions to, and opinions about literature,
compare and contrast works, participate in dramatic presentations and
debates, discuss and respond to the author's craft, and analyze and express
ideas through writing or discussion. The students will be involved in small
group and independent projects.
Additional Language Arts Skills
Communication- The students will be evaluated on their daily participation
and performance. They should engage in class discussions, express ideas,
give appropriate responses to questions, note details, make inferences,
create predictions, draw conclusions, and support their ideas using correct
grammar and usage. Additionally, they should practice active listening
skills.
Study Skills- The students will gather information from a variety of
sources for assignments: dictionaries, thesauruses, encyclopedias, books, the
Internet, etc. They will use conventions for citing references used and use
paraphrasing when compiling information for research.
Math- The students will use the Everyday Math program which includes an
enrichment component, along with additional challenging materials to promote
critical and creative thinking. The students will solve problems involving
number operations, including multiplication and division, algebra, geometry,
measurement, and data analysis and probability. They will be evaluated on
written work and projects.
In developing various critical thinking skills, students may analyze a
problem to determine a solution, arrive at a conclusion by process of
elimination, catch contradictions and inconsistencies, use deductive
reasoning, learn there may be various ways to solve a problem, look for a
logical starting point, organize data so that it can be more easily used,
perceive logical patterns, reason by analogy, weigh given information to
determine truth or falsity, etc.
Current Studies:
5th grade reading- The students have been reading various myths and comparing
and contrasting stories, participating in debates and discussions, and
responding to the literature.They have been studying literary elements such
as plot, character, theme, figurative language, irony, imagery, and
protagonist and antagonist. Currently, they are learning about producing a
play and the various tasks involved (scriptwriting, directing, stage
managing, set designing, adverising, costume designing). They are working on
a parody of the film Jason and the Argonauts.
2nd grade reading- The studets have been reading various folktales and fairy
tales and have examined literary elements such as plot, theme, character,
conflict, and motif. They, too, have compared and contrasted stories and are
working on a play based on a folktale called 'The Men of Fire'. The
performances will take place on Nov. 19th at 10:10 and Nov. 20th at 10:10 and
10:30.Next, they will perform a shadow puppet show.
3rd grade math- The students are currently working on Unit 3 in EDM which
covers measurement (linear measurement, perimeter, and area). They have been
practicing multiplication and division,and geometry projects.
