SCHOOLinSITES
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“All About Me”
The first and second grade GATE students were disappointed that Tropical Storm Fay caused our first meeting to be cancelled.
Since then, we began our class with learning about the ancient abacus—the world’s first calculator! They learned that the plural form of abacus is “abaci.” The students made their own abaci using shoe boxes, yarn, and nine beads in each of the number columns (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, EVEN ten thousands, and hundred thousands!). They then learned how to represent written numbers on the abacus. It didn’t take them long to learn how to add and subtract on the abacus, too. They were willing to try some pretty difficult math problems using their abaci.
We will begin focusing on a thematic unit called “All about Me” over the next several weeks. We will learn about our body systems, the five senses, and even be able to name some of the bones of the body! How many bones are in the mix??? 2-0-6, 2-0-6!
“Branches of the Government”
The students are learning about the levels of government (local, state, and federal) and the branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial).
First and Second Grade
Third Grade
First and Second Grade
All about Me—Touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound
Fourth Grade
Responsible Citizenship and Self Direction—Bill of Rights, Preamble
Third Grade
Government Branches and Our Roles as Citizens—Local, State, and Federal Government
Fifth Grade
That’s not Right! How we right wrongs through our government and legal systems.
What is the Preamble? The fourth grade knows and can sing it to you! Just ask…
As part of the Responsible Citizenship portion, the students in Fourth and Fifth grades created a Classroom Constitution that includes a Preamble and Seven Articles. This Classroom Constitution was signed by all the students and the teacher in the class to be put in their folders as a reminder that they had input in what our classroom expectations are for GATE.
Gifted and Talented Education
GATE Classroom Newsletter Page 2
Reminders to Parents
As part of the GATE Standards, students in the program must be self-directed learners. After each GATE day, students are asked to assess their learning behaviors and reflect on their learning experiences. Evaluating their learning quality and effort will enforce self-directed learning.
Please review the student’s GATE folder and sign the Student Self-Assessment after each meeting. This may seem difficult for them at the beginning, but by the end of the year, you will be amazed at their organizational skills and responsibility for their own learning!
Bee-attitudes of GATE
Our abacus used the “Base 10” format for numbers.
[pic]Polite & Respectful
[pic]Responsible & Prepared
[pic]On Time
[pic]"Bearable”
Your child will need to bring his or her GATE notebook each class meeting.
• Tuesday—Fourth Grade
• Wednesday—Third Grade
• Thursday—Fifth Grade
• Friday—First and Second Grade
Reminders to Students
Stock Market Game Workshop
Mrs. Kim will be gone Thursday, September 18, all day. Fifth Grade will move to Monday, September 15th for that week only.
State Representative Mark Williams
Wednesday, September 24th, 9:00 to 11:00. Third Grade GATE. Be thinking of laws you would like to have. Also, be on your best behavior and dress appropriately.
Fall GATE Testing October 27-31
Fall Testing will begin with the 3rd Grade ITBS September 30th and October 1st. GATE Fall Testing will be the last week of October. No classes that week.
Units at a Glance. . .
Our Roles in GATE Education
• Come prepared for GATE each session.
• Self Assess (honestly) your learning each meeting.
• Reflect on your learning experience—How could you have improved your experience? How could the teacher improve your learning experience?
Fourth Grade
They are learning how ideas become bills that then become laws.
We are fortunate that State Representative Mark Williams will visit our class to talk about the legislative process and explain how ideas become laws. The students will have the opportunity to present their cases for laws they want passed!
Kudos to Allie Peagler for initiating this learning experience!
Upcoming Events
Patterson Elementary
Patterson, GA
September 2008
Volume 1, Issue 1
Self Assessments
**NOTE TO PARENTS**
What are our rights as citizens? The fifth grade has been learning about the Bill of Rights (the first Ten Amendments to the U. S. Constitution) and how they protect us as citizens.
They are also learning about the three branches of government: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. They know who is in charge of each branch and what they do for our government.
Through role-playing and teamwork, these students are working through the way the government works and how our legal system supports the citizens.
Fifth Grade
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