Friday, August 31, 2018

GT LEADers in Action
Learning Experiences for Academic Discoveries
Back to School 2018-2019



Welcome back to another year of GT LEAD at Cannon Elementary. I have spent the week introducing myself and my program to the new scholars of LEAD, and there have also been lots of smiles and hugs from my returning students! What a fabulous and rewarding job I have!

We will follow a shortened schedule the first two weeks (for most grade levels), but soon we will begin with this schedule:
1st Grade –  Mondays (11:30-1:00)
2nd Grade – Mondays (8:00-10:00)
3rd Grade – Wednesdays (Dual 8:00-10:00, Nondual 12:30-2:30)
4th Grade -  Tuesdays (Nondual 8:05-11:30, Dual 12:30-dismissal)
5th Grade – Thursdays (Dual 7:45-11:15)
              Fridays (Nondual 11:30-dismissal)

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GT LEAD Curriculum Night
Thursday, September 6
GT LEAD Curriculum Night will be held on the same night as Cannon's Curriculum Night, Thursday, September 6. An overview of the GCISD GT LEAD program will be presented in two repeated sessions at the following times. You are welcome to attend either session, but these grade levels are suggested:
Grades 3-5 5:30-6:15
Grades 1-2 6:30-7:15

Here is the presentation I will follow: Curriculum Night
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Your child will need to bring the following supplies as soon as possible:
1st Grade
  • Ziplock baggies box (any size)
4th Grade:
  • One container of Bleach wipes
2nd Grade:
  • Package of colored tissue paper
5th Grade:
  • One package of a craft item to add to our class supplies of problem-solving/engineering resources (i.e. rhinestones, twine, beads, stickers, etc. --the possibilities are endless )
3rd Grade:
  • Fine tip black Sharpie
Please also save recycled treasures, such as bottle caps, corks, tiny wood pieces, foam peanuts, sticks, etc.  We waste nothing and love to build. PLEASE MAKE SURE THEY’RE DRY & CLEAN!!!




Wednesday, May 30, 2018

GT LEADers in Action!
May 2018

     Thank you so much for a fantastic year with your young scholar.  I truly have the best job in the world, at the best campus in the world, in the best district in the world, with the greatest kids in the world!!!  (Dare you to "diagram" that sentence!)
     Enjoy being with each other this summer, as it goes very quickly.  I will watch my tiny baby graduate from Grapevine High School tomorrow.  His college plans are to play baseball at Eastern Oklahoma State College in the fall.  Emma will be a junior next year at GHS, and she is still dancing with the Fillies Dance Team.  Hopefully, my husband, Mike and I will get some much-deserved time off together.  Pepper, our black lab, just watches it all!
     I wish you a joyful and restful summer, and again, thank you for all your love and support of the GT LEAD Program!
Melanie Gable


Highlights From GT LEAD
Next year, this will be our house!  We call it the mansion.


Sometimes gifted kids use courage to be unique and special.

Passion projects are the best!

Have a happy summer, everyone!

I wonder how Mrs. Gable will decorate her room next year???

Check out the brilliance in this collection of scholars.

We made "forced connections" as we connected these treasures with our treasured memories of GT LEAD.

Watching the construction developments and engineering have been awesome live action. 



My amazing 5th grade GT LEADers!  Watch out middle school....really cool kids are coming your way.

Signing the stage in gold paint is a well-deserved privilege once the SPARK Talk is shared! 
And yes, the stage will relocate to the new school!
HAPPY SUMMER, ALL!!!

Monday, April 2, 2018

GT LEADers in Action!
April 2018

Math Telescoping:  
Summer Telescoping dates are Wednesday, June 20th (register by May 23).
The application and informative video can be found on the district's website under Mathematics. Follow this link for more information.
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What's Going On in the Classroom?
Welcome, Kindergarten, to GT LEAD!  We are so proud to have you in the program!
The future looks bright!!!
Graduating Class of 2030
1st Grade has experienced a variety of lessons, including 3D geometric structures, Lego partner shares, Attribute block designs and Fuzz Frenzy creations.  The smiles are endless!

2nd Grade has been learning about the brilliant brain and its six main parts.  They will be sharing research presentations next week on stage, so we can decide which portion of the brain is the most important and vital to life.
3-D sculpture, became 2-D design, became 3-D model
Young scholar sharing a fantastic coding book she wrote.
3rd Grade celebrated two winning teams for the GCISD Love Your Device contest!  The district invited young scholars to create posters or videos that inspire others on how to properly take of their ipads.  Additionally, these students created prototypes of protective covers to add an extra layer of support for their digital device.   We are so proud of their innovation and inspiration!
     Beau, Dalton & Elyssa won Best Elementary Digital Poster
     Yandel & Marlee were awarded Honorable Mention

Third grade is also focusing on various career options available to them in the future, particularly in the STEM fields.

4th Grade is working hard in their study of Rube Goldberg and marble runs.  These scholars have reviewed the components of simple machines and are implementing this engineering into their team's marble run.  The ultimate goal is to keep the marble(s) in motion for as long as possible.  Let the slowest race begin!



5th Grade wrote in secret code describing what they love most about STEM.  Scholars used pigpen, reversed alphabet, NATO and other codes to reveal their message. 
Scholars also "claimed" their topics for the upcoming SPARK Talks, which involve combining a passion with a problem in the world.  Research has begun, and the unanswered questions continue to build.  Presentations will be in April and May.

5th Grade Field Trip:  BATTLEBOTS!
On Monday, May 7th, 5th grade students will attend a full day Battlebots class at the Founder’s Building of Grapevine at 701 S. Main Street from 9:00 am-2:00 pm.  Students will need to bring a sack lunch with a drink, and the cost of the day is $30.  CASH ONLY! Please contact me if there is a financial need because scholarships are available. Deadline to turn in money is Friday, April, 13th.



Researching our passions just doesn't feel like "work!"

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

GT LEADers in Action!
January 2018


GT LEAD and Aspire Academy GT Testing for Grades 1-4

The parent nomination window for GT LEAD and the Aspire Academy for grades 1-4 is currently open until  February 16, and parents wanting their child tested need to complete a Parent Inventory/Permission-to-test form found below.  It is also available on the district website under Advanced Academics. 
Testing will begin February 26.  If you were unable to attend the parent information meeting on Feb. 1, here is the presentation:

GT Grades 1-4 Parent Mtg

GT Parent Inventory/Permission to Test

NOTE:  5th grade and Kindergarten testing for GT LEAD and the Aspire Academy is completed, and the district will send out letters shortly with the outcome of the GT Placement Committee's decision. 
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What's going on in the classroom?

1st Grade experienced mathematical combinations are less complex when data is set up in an organized way with the book, Caps For Sale.
Love!

We were inspired by the Snowflake Man's unique giftedness in Snowflake Bentley by J. Martin. 


2nd and 3rd Grade constructed prototypes of digital device cases that support the GCISD contest "Love Your Device." We submitted our ideas to the district, and maybe we'll have a winner or two from Cannon!


4th Grade witnessed first-hand the pouring of our new school's concrete foundation and developed questions on topics they want to learn more about from the construction engineers.  
Mrs. Blizzard shared some of the extraordinary features our new school will have, using architect renderings. 

Scholars filming exciting progress made on the job site.......live action engineering at its best! 

5th Grade wrote goals for their final four months of elementary gifted education.  They were excited to read what younger scholars set as their mark.

Re-engineering shoes for something awesome and original!

Identifying ordinary and complex problems in the world and identifying who is impacted by these issues. 
Two talented GT LEAD artists being recognized for their gifts. 


Friday, December 1, 2017



GT LEADers in Action!
December 2017


Kindergarten Gifted and Talented Identification Meeting
The two week window for nominating your child for gifted and talented testing opens on Monday, December 4 and lasts until Friday, December 15.  Please contact the homeroom teacher or myself if you are interested in having your child tested, which will begin after the winter holiday break in January.  A digital parent survey and permission-to-test form will be shared through email, or you can pick up a paper copy from the Cannon front office. GT LEAD classes for these young scholars will begin in February and will be 45 minutes each week. 
The district presentation from the parent meeting in November is now available on the district website under Advanced Academics, or you can click on this link.  

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5TH Grade GT LEAD/ASPIRE/Middle School 
Gifted and Talented Meeting

There will be a meeting on Tuesday, December 12 at  6:00 pm at the Professional Development Center, at 5800 Colleyville Blvd., Colleyville  for parents who are interested in the Middle School GT program for their:
  • current 5th grader (non-GT identified) student testing for the gifted and talented program, or
  • current 5th grader (Identified GT) student testing for the Aspire Academy, or
  • current 5th grader (Identified GT) student looking for their placement options for Middle School.
There will be one district-wide meeting, and the presentation will be put on the Advanced Academics website.  The referral window for parents to refer their child for gifted testing is December 4-15, and please contact either your child's homeroom teacher or email me if you are planning to do so.  The actual fifth grade testing will occur January 10-17th. 

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What's Going On in the GT LEAD Classroom?

1st Grade
Creative Engineering!

We really love learning!
2nd Grade
Young archeologist identifying artifacts to recreate an extinct species

3rd Grade
Cubelet's Robotic Blocks have unlimited, modular potential.


4th Grade
LittleBits circuits allow us to add various preprogrammed components to our circuits.
Clever, cozy learning spots

Thank you, Ft. Worth Cowgirl Museum, for loaning us this amazing collection of authentic artifacts!
5th Grade
Dyson Corporation Breaker Space
Innovative Protypes Using Electrical Circuits

Arduino technology allowed us to program our own circuits!

Rubik's Cube coding is cool. By the way, we made this with our eyes closed.

We've created a breadboard that blinks a light-emitting diode and another one that uses a potentiometer. 
Christmas lights will never be same with these talented scholars!