Asbury Elementary 
Susan Eberspacher
GT Focus Groups--What we're up to in October!
Hello!
Our focus reading and math groups(aka GT groups) are up and running! We have had a great start! At the beginning of each month, I will be writing a newsletter to share what each group will be up to and a question to ask your child about their time with me. My hope is to give you insight into what your student is doing during our focus group and give you a chance to talk about it at home.
In other news, I am pregnant with our fourth(and final!) child who is due at the end of January. We are already planning who the substitute will be in my absence to continue working with my groups. I plan on returning after spring break!
Here’s what we will be up to in October:
1st Grade Reading and Math (Thursdays @ 9) | We are working diligently on our Pet Parade Projects. Students have chosen the pet they will learn about for the rest of this project. Towards the end of October, be on the lookout for a research packet to come home. Students will need your support on researching different information about their pets(cost, food, care) and will have 3 weeks to complete it. Question: Which pet did you choose? What are some pros about about your pet and some cons? |
2nd Grade Math (Fridays @ 10) | This month we started working on a challenging Place Value Unit where students will deepen their understanding of Base Ten by learning about other place value systems(Roman Numerals, Mayan, Base 5). Unfortunately due to testing, I won’t see them this Friday and next Friday we won’t have school. So, we will start getting into this towards the end of the month. Question: What is an example of a proportional model?(base 10 blocks because their size matches their value) What is an example of a non-proportional model?(our coin system because the size does not match their value) |
2nd Grade Reading (Thursdays @ 10) | Students will read the book Owl Moon which is about a child going on an evening walk with their dad to find an owl. We will explore the imagery, rich vocabulary, figurative language, and emotions embedded in this book. Question: What is a metaphor?(comparing two things) What is personification?(giving something human qualities) |
3rd Grade Math (Fridays @ 2:20) | We are working on projects that are extensions of what they are learning in class. They are given 9 projects to work on each month and are expected to do 3 of the projects. For September and October, we are working on multiplication. Students have been exploring multiplication equations, arrays, and square numbers. An example of a project they may have completed is called Array City where they created a downtown cityscape of buildings and had to include arrays in their buildings(like windows or snowflakes). Then they had to identify what the multiplication equation is that goes with each of their arrays. Question: What is your favorite part of EE(exceeds expectation) quality: Extensions, Balance, Proofs or Inquiry? Why? |
3rd Grade Reading (Fridays @ 1:45) | Students have been tasked with helping solve a crime! Someone has stolen a secret chocolate recipe from the owner of Dutch Delights Chocolates. We are working with detectives to narrow down our suspect list and figure out the culprit! Question: Who do you think stole the chocolate recipe? Why? |
4th Grade Math (Thursdays @ 2:15) | We are working on projects that are extensions of what they are learning in class. They are given 9 projects to work on each month and are expected to do 3 of the projects. For September and October, we are working on multiplication and division. They are studying prime numbers, composite numbers, and understanding the connection between multiplication and division. One of the projects they could choose to complete is a venn diagram comparing and contrasting multiplication and division. It’s been challenging for them to think of how the two operations are different and how they have similarities. Question: What is a prime number?(a number with only 2 factors) What is a composite number?(a number with more than 2 factors) Is the number 1 a composite number, a prime number, or something else? Why?(there isn’t a straightforward answer because 1 only has 1 factor) |
4th Grade Reading (Thursdays @ 11:05) | Each week after completing work in class related to it, students participate in a Socratic Seminar. This is a discussion around an open-ended question where there isn’t a right or wrong answer. It allows students to form an opinion using text to support it and then discuss their thinking with others. We are working on poetry in conjunction with their class. A few poems we have discussed are: “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, “Lost in a Book” by Donald Graves, and “As I Grew Older” by Langston Hughes. Question: Which poem did you change your mind about during the Socratic Seminar? Why? |
5th Grade Math (Thursdays @ 1:30) | We are working on projects that are extensions of what they are learning in class. They are given 9 projects to work on each month and are expected to do 3 of the projects. Currently, they are working on adding and subtracting fractions with like and unlike denominators. An example of a project they might choose is “Having your math and eating it too”. In this project, students take a real chocolate chip cookie recipe and cut it in half and triple it. This gives them real life examples of when they would need to know how to add and subtract with fractions. Question: Which project is your favorite? Why? |
5th Grade Reading (Fridays @ 11:05) | Students are researching middle schools they would like to attend. Most of them have chosen 5 schools and will narrow it down to 3 through research. Our hope is that this will give your family a chance to discuss middle school options to make the best choice for your student and your family. Question: Which schools have you chosen to research? Why? |
Let me know if you have any questions!
Susan Eberspacher
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