EAGLE Program Newsletters
August 2015 Welcome Back!
Dear Families,
Welcome to a new school year! I hope all families had a wonderful summer break. The time went by very quickly! I celebrated two very special events in my family over the summer – my daughter got married in her hometown of Ottawa Canada, and my son and his wife had their first baby in Adelaide Australia! (Yes, we certainly are scattered!) I can’t wait to hear all the news from my students about their summer adventures, whether that was at home or away! And I am also very pleased to welcome five new GT students from other schools (in and out of state).
This year I will be working at BCES on Mondays all day, the first part of Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and all day Thursdays. My office is in Room 209C and my classroom is Room 275. My role at school this year will consist of: Teaching our identified 3rd-5th grade gifted students in the pullout EAGLE Program; Providing advanced level enrichment for our gifted K-2 students in their areas of strength; Co-teaching with Mrs. Morrison in 5th grade Math lessons (Monday through Thursday); Curriculum support for classroom teachers, such as providing differentiation strategies, ideas, resources and testing; and Teaching advanced level students (both identified gifted and high achieving) in either pullout or push-in enrichment groups for Language Arts and Math (as determined by schedules and available time!). EAGLE lessons are 45 minutes in length, twice weekly. Your child will bring home a Unit 1 Plan and schedule after their first EAGLE lesson next week. (By the way, did you know that EAGLE stands for Engaging All Gifted Learners Everyday?)
For those new to our program, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade EAGLE has its own curriculum. We have five units per year. Some are stand-alone and some are specifically aligned to the Eagle County Schools' Science and Social Studies units of study. I have attached our Eagle Unit Schedule for Grades 3-5. Our work in EAGLE addresses both the social-emotional needs and the academic/intellectual needs of our gifted students. Our units incorporate high-level thinking and build upon and enhance classroom learning, allowing for student understanding at the conceptual level and for students to make connections across the curriculum. We also build self-awareness of students’ gifts, talents, needs and behaviors. I will email more information about EAGLE curriculum in the future, but know that there will be projects, investigations, discussions and of course lots of fun!
I am looking forward to another successful and rewarding year!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
Dear Families,
Welcome to a new school year! I hope all families had a wonderful summer break. The time went by very quickly! I celebrated two very special events in my family over the summer – my daughter got married in her hometown of Ottawa Canada, and my son and his wife had their first baby in Adelaide Australia! (Yes, we certainly are scattered!) I can’t wait to hear all the news from my students about their summer adventures, whether that was at home or away! And I am also very pleased to welcome five new GT students from other schools (in and out of state).
This year I will be working at BCES on Mondays all day, the first part of Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and all day Thursdays. My office is in Room 209C and my classroom is Room 275. My role at school this year will consist of: Teaching our identified 3rd-5th grade gifted students in the pullout EAGLE Program; Providing advanced level enrichment for our gifted K-2 students in their areas of strength; Co-teaching with Mrs. Morrison in 5th grade Math lessons (Monday through Thursday); Curriculum support for classroom teachers, such as providing differentiation strategies, ideas, resources and testing; and Teaching advanced level students (both identified gifted and high achieving) in either pullout or push-in enrichment groups for Language Arts and Math (as determined by schedules and available time!). EAGLE lessons are 45 minutes in length, twice weekly. Your child will bring home a Unit 1 Plan and schedule after their first EAGLE lesson next week. (By the way, did you know that EAGLE stands for Engaging All Gifted Learners Everyday?)
For those new to our program, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade EAGLE has its own curriculum. We have five units per year. Some are stand-alone and some are specifically aligned to the Eagle County Schools' Science and Social Studies units of study. I have attached our Eagle Unit Schedule for Grades 3-5. Our work in EAGLE addresses both the social-emotional needs and the academic/intellectual needs of our gifted students. Our units incorporate high-level thinking and build upon and enhance classroom learning, allowing for student understanding at the conceptual level and for students to make connections across the curriculum. We also build self-awareness of students’ gifts, talents, needs and behaviors. I will email more information about EAGLE curriculum in the future, but know that there will be projects, investigations, discussions and of course lots of fun!
I am looking forward to another successful and rewarding year!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
September 2015
Dear Families,
Another month is winding down, and each grade level is busy finishing up their Personal Portrait Projects. Fifth grade students (who have missed a couple of Eagle lessons) have been asked to complete two pages (GT Characteristics, and GT Sound Off) of their project at home before this Thursday – they are saved in the Google Drive. Other grade levels have completed the work in class. Everyone has had a chance to use the Google Drive and share work with me, either at school, at home, or both!! Our students have worked hard on sharing and documenting their personal characteristics, strengths, challenges, and interests, as well as their thoughts and feelings about being a GT student. Each student will share the project with his/her family during conference week, and when you’re next in the building, check out our bulletin boards upstairs!
Our discussions about personal strengths and challenges in learning have led to goal setting for Advanced Learning Plans. This year, ALP academic goals will be chosen by students (with support from me), written in student-friendly language, and aligned to Colorado Standards in their area of strength. Affective (social-emotional) goals will be written in their area of strength or need, and will align with the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Learning and Development Standards. You will have a chance to read and discuss the two goals with your child, before I enter them onto the official ALP document.
During parent-teacher conference week, I try to attend as many conferences as possible together with your child’s classroom teacher. However seeing as we now have 43 Gifted and Talented students at BCES, there are bound to be some time clashes! In the case that I am unable to attend at your conference time and you would like to meet with me, please email and we can set up a separate conference at another time, either during conference week or the following week. Of course if you prefer an individual conference, please also let me know via email and we’ll set up a time that suits.
In the meantime, enjoy this beautiful fall weather!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
October 2015
Dear Families,
I was pleased to be able to meet with many families during parent-teacher conference week at school. Hopefully families have had a chance to talk with your child about his/her self-written ALP goals. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to have any final input on the goals prior to the completion of the document on our database. Many of our older students wrote their social-emotional goal around dealing with stress/workload management or similar, so I’m planning on addressing these needs in our EAGLE lessons, in the form of regular student discussions and explicit teaching of coping strategies.
All grade levels have started their second EAGLE unit. Units 2-4 are research units, based on the concepts (or ‘big ideas’) of the classroom science/social studies units. I may be making some changes or varying the timing/length of each unit, depending on the number of available lessons and the time-frame of the classroom.
Students have some choice in the research topic they work on, within the framework of the unit concept. Third graders are learning the basics of research and the process we take in EAGLE: writing inquiry questions, finding relevant sources, and recording and presenting information. Fourth and fifth graders are refining their research skills. Please look out for a copy of the grade level unit document in next week’s Monday folder, and the documents can also be found in the links on our BCES Weebly home page.
We use Chromebooks and the Google Drive a lot during our lessons, and students may be asked to complete work at home if needed. I would love it if all EAGLE students could test their log-in username (s number) and password (date-of-birth) at home, so they are able to access their documents. (It will be especially helpful during our final Expo unit!) If you need additional directions for this, please let me know.
Finally, my daily schedule at BCES has changed slightly. I am now working with advanced Kinder math students on Monday-Wednesday mornings from 8:05-8:50am, and my 5th grade math students now participate in pullout groups in the GT classroom each Monday-Wednesday from 9:00am-9:30am.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns about EAGLE Program or anything GT-related, please don’t hesitate to email me. I am also available for face-to-face meetings if you prefer! Please also feel free to provide feedback or ask questions about any aspect of your child’s learning at BCES.
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
Dear Families,
I was pleased to be able to meet with many families during parent-teacher conference week at school. Hopefully families have had a chance to talk with your child about his/her self-written ALP goals. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to have any final input on the goals prior to the completion of the document on our database. Many of our older students wrote their social-emotional goal around dealing with stress/workload management or similar, so I’m planning on addressing these needs in our EAGLE lessons, in the form of regular student discussions and explicit teaching of coping strategies.
All grade levels have started their second EAGLE unit. Units 2-4 are research units, based on the concepts (or ‘big ideas’) of the classroom science/social studies units. I may be making some changes or varying the timing/length of each unit, depending on the number of available lessons and the time-frame of the classroom.
Students have some choice in the research topic they work on, within the framework of the unit concept. Third graders are learning the basics of research and the process we take in EAGLE: writing inquiry questions, finding relevant sources, and recording and presenting information. Fourth and fifth graders are refining their research skills. Please look out for a copy of the grade level unit document in next week’s Monday folder, and the documents can also be found in the links on our BCES Weebly home page.
We use Chromebooks and the Google Drive a lot during our lessons, and students may be asked to complete work at home if needed. I would love it if all EAGLE students could test their log-in username (s number) and password (date-of-birth) at home, so they are able to access their documents. (It will be especially helpful during our final Expo unit!) If you need additional directions for this, please let me know.
Finally, my daily schedule at BCES has changed slightly. I am now working with advanced Kinder math students on Monday-Wednesday mornings from 8:05-8:50am, and my 5th grade math students now participate in pullout groups in the GT classroom each Monday-Wednesday from 9:00am-9:30am.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns about EAGLE Program or anything GT-related, please don’t hesitate to email me. I am also available for face-to-face meetings if you prefer! Please also feel free to provide feedback or ask questions about any aspect of your child’s learning at BCES.
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
November-December 2015
Dear Families,
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
All students in grades 3-5 are wrapping up their current research units. Students have or will present their learning to the group, and complete a self-reflection about their work. I have designed a new EAGLE Unit Assessment-Reflection document, which is similar to the classroom Progress Report. Six areas of our work – Research Skills, Research Content, Craftsmanship, Oral Presentation, Self-Direction, and Collaboration – will be assessed. Each section will focus on the specific skills and accomplishments we expect from EAGLE students at their particular grade level. Please look out for your child’s Unit Assessment and a copy of the work in his/her Monday folder. And also check out our website from time to time - I have added some new photos to our ‘Gallery’, and will add more this week.
After the holiday break, all grade levels will begin new EAGLE units. I will send home the new Unit documents in the first Monday folder of the new year: 3rd will begin Economics, 4th start Colorado History, and 5th will study Colonial America/American Revolution.
There are also a couple of other changes that will occur after the break! Third and fourth grade classrooms will have a schedule change, which will also mean a schedule change for EAGLE lessons. I’ll let you know the new schedule as soon as it is finalized. And as a result of the recent parent nomination testing window, we will welcome several new students to our EAGLE groups.
Wishing everyone a joyous holiday season with family and friends, and a very happy new year! Stay safe.
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
Dear Families,
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
All students in grades 3-5 are wrapping up their current research units. Students have or will present their learning to the group, and complete a self-reflection about their work. I have designed a new EAGLE Unit Assessment-Reflection document, which is similar to the classroom Progress Report. Six areas of our work – Research Skills, Research Content, Craftsmanship, Oral Presentation, Self-Direction, and Collaboration – will be assessed. Each section will focus on the specific skills and accomplishments we expect from EAGLE students at their particular grade level. Please look out for your child’s Unit Assessment and a copy of the work in his/her Monday folder. And also check out our website from time to time - I have added some new photos to our ‘Gallery’, and will add more this week.
After the holiday break, all grade levels will begin new EAGLE units. I will send home the new Unit documents in the first Monday folder of the new year: 3rd will begin Economics, 4th start Colorado History, and 5th will study Colonial America/American Revolution.
There are also a couple of other changes that will occur after the break! Third and fourth grade classrooms will have a schedule change, which will also mean a schedule change for EAGLE lessons. I’ll let you know the new schedule as soon as it is finalized. And as a result of the recent parent nomination testing window, we will welcome several new students to our EAGLE groups.
Wishing everyone a joyous holiday season with family and friends, and a very happy new year! Stay safe.
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
January 2016
Dear Families,
Welcome back for 2016! We have five newly identified students just beginning in our GT program at BCES!
Grades K-2 students are continuing their great work in a reading or math enrichment group with me. Their completed work is sent home in Monday folders.
Grades 3-5 students started their new research units right after the holiday break. Families should have received the unit plan in the Monday folder. Work in these units is due right before mid-winter break – Thursday February 18th. Students have chosen a wide variety of topics that align with the unit concept statements, and I am encouraging all students to think beyond Google Docs and Slides! There are so many possible learning products, and we’ll be discussing them in our groups with a view to students doing a little risk-taking and coming up with unique and creative ways to demonstrate their knowledge!
All students will review their Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) goals this month. The ALP is designed to support students in working towards goals in their area of academic strength and in addressing their social-emotional needs. New students will set goals with me during the next week.
Right after the mid-winter break, our 3-5 EAGLE students will begin work on this year’s GT Expo project. Look out for more details in upcoming newsletters!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
Dear Families,
Welcome back for 2016! We have five newly identified students just beginning in our GT program at BCES!
Grades K-2 students are continuing their great work in a reading or math enrichment group with me. Their completed work is sent home in Monday folders.
Grades 3-5 students started their new research units right after the holiday break. Families should have received the unit plan in the Monday folder. Work in these units is due right before mid-winter break – Thursday February 18th. Students have chosen a wide variety of topics that align with the unit concept statements, and I am encouraging all students to think beyond Google Docs and Slides! There are so many possible learning products, and we’ll be discussing them in our groups with a view to students doing a little risk-taking and coming up with unique and creative ways to demonstrate their knowledge!
All students will review their Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) goals this month. The ALP is designed to support students in working towards goals in their area of academic strength and in addressing their social-emotional needs. New students will set goals with me during the next week.
Right after the mid-winter break, our 3-5 EAGLE students will begin work on this year’s GT Expo project. Look out for more details in upcoming newsletters!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
February 2016
Dear Families,
Grades 3-5 students are finishing up their current EAGLE research projects this week – the due date is Thursday 18th February. I am meeting with groups this week to ensure all students are on track to meet the deadline. Some students choose to complete work at home if needed, so thanks to those families who have supported their child to work on his/her project. If your child is not working at home, it may be that he/she is completing everything in class! I have encouraged students to be a little creative with their learning products this time, so I’m pleased that we have models, posters, videos, iMovies, slideshows, displays, interviews and a puppet show! We will have our oral presentations right after break.
We have had some interruptions to our K-2 enrichment groups lately, with meetings (for me) and special school events. But I’m sure we’ll be back in the regular routine after break. The K/1 math group are racing through the work, and the 2nd reading group students continue to impress me with their wonderful thinking and creativity!
Our annual district-wide 3-5 GT EXPO event, the culmination of all our EAGLE research work this year, will take place on Monday 9th May at June Creek Elementary School in Edwards. Students self-select a topic for research for this project – it is driven by student passions/interests. I will provide lots more information about this event right after break, which is is when we begin to talk about it in detail during our lessons. There are a couple of changes this year!
I hope everyone has a happy and safe mid-winter break! I know many local families either head somewhere a little warmer, or get in some quality relaxation time together at home. Whatever you are doing, enjoy!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
March 2016
Dear Families,
Wow, it seems like there is a lot going on at the moment!
EXPO:
Grades 3-5 students have been working on choosing Expo project topics and writing high quality inquiry questions that will drive their research. As usual, the topics chosen are varied and very interesting! I am very grateful that some classroom teachers have allowed their GT students to use class time during the language arts/reading block to work on their Expo research projects. This is a wonderful opportunity, and one that helps students a lot with time management. For this to be successful, students must be able to be trusted that they are working specifically on their project and using their time wisely. (Please note: unfortunately a couple of older students have abused this privilege. We have decided that anyone who is using a Chromebook inappropriately in class will have the privilege withdrawn, and they will no longer be able to use Chromebooks. Instead, Eagle research will be done at home and in Eagle lessons only).
I have been asked by some families for ideas on ways they can support their child during Expo project time. So here are a few suggestions related to research.
Grades 1-3 will hold parent-teacher conferences in the ‘traditional’ format, while Grades 4-5 will hold student-led conferences. In the latter, teachers and students prepare work and information in a portfolio and students present it independently to their parents. Because of this, I will be providing information to teachers and students about EAGLE work and progress towards ALP goals prior to conference week. (Third grade recently received EAGLE progress reports in the Monday folder, and 4th/5th will receive them at their conference). During conference week, I will be available for any family who wishes to chat informally with me about any aspect of our program (or just stop by to say hi) on Thursday 24th March from 3:00pm-7:00pm in Room 275 upstairs. If that time doesn’t work and you have specific questions, please feel free to email me and we can make a separate meeting time after that week.
BCES GT WEBSITE:
Don’t forget to check out our website every now and then for updated information. I have added quite a lot of photos throughout this year! bceseagle.weebly.com
Have a wonderful week!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
April 2016
Dear Families,
EXPO UPDATE 1:
All groups have been working really hard in every Eagle lesson for the past three weeks, researching and taking notes. Students were given the choice of hand-writing notes in Eagle notebooks, or digital note-taking on a Google Doc on their Drive. Some classroom teachers have also allowed Eagle students to use class time for research and note-taking.
Our Expo project timeline suggests that students should now be finished (or very close to finishing) with their research, so we can allow time for students to categorize and summarize the information and begin working on the final product. Perhaps you can check in with your child to see if he/she feels they have enough research information and have answered all their inquiry questions (I have supported those students who feel they have needed help in finding information, and many students have worked independently). You may like to help them at home if needed.
This week I have given all students a packet of information about Expo products. The front page outlines the guidelines (which I have attached to this email) and the other pages provide a list of possible choices of product (sorry, I don’t have electronic versions). Some of the choices may not be suitable for Expo, but many are unique and interesting, and may spark students to think outside the box! Look out for those packets in backpacks!
Students may have already given some thought to their product(s), especially older students who have participated in Expo in years past, but I would really appreciate it if all students could come along next week with an idea of what their Expo display will look like. This helps us know the way in which research notes will be typed and organized, and the format for printing.
This is such a fun time for Eagle students, and for me!! I love the interactions between students, the amazing new pieces of information I learn from students, and the students’ enthusiasm for learning about their passions and interests! If you happen to be in the upstairs hallway anytime, take a look at the wall outside room 275 for a display of each child’s research topic title – you will see an amazing variety!!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
EXPO UPDATE 2:
All grades 3-5 students have been working so hard on putting together their Expo projects! Students must include research information, supporting visuals, titles and subtitles, and a list of sources used. The past two weeks have involved lots of typing, printing, 'framing' and organizing of information!!
After spring break, we have just one week of school before the Expo, to be held at June Creek Elementary School on Monday May 9th. Students may choose to complete some work at home over break if needed, but it seems that most of our students are on track to finish the work in our EAGLE lesson times. Many students are making models or creating additional display items to complement their trifold information board. If your child needs time to work on this in class, please be sure to send along all the needed materials. Several students have not brought in a trifold board yet - I would appreciate it if you could please send those along either tomorrow (Thursday) or the first day back after break.
For the Expo evening, students are placed into one of two separate presentation sessions: either 5:30pm-6:15pm, or6:15pm-7:00pm. During your child's session, he/she will stand at the display and talk to the passing audience members, answer questions and so on. During the other session, your child will have time to look at all the other students' displays! If your family has a preference for a session time (due to after school commitments etc.) please let me know. via email. Otherwise I will randomly place students into one of the sessions. Students are also encouraged to dress to suit their topic! This is not mandatory, but many students do choose this option if it works for their topic.
So far, the projects look fantastic, and everyone seems to be having a lot of fun working on them! Of course we have a few students feeling a little nervous about the presentation part (first-timers) but Expo is a fantastic night, where everyone is very friendly, supportive and understanding of the work students have undertaken in order to make the event so successful.
So, thanks for your support at home too!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
FINAL EXPO UPDATE
We made it! Our GT students have worked SO hard to complete their Expo projects and they look great! Some students are using the weekend to add some final touches but almost everyone is ready to go!
Here are the venue/time details again:
Date: Monday May 9th
June Creek Elementary School
Miller Ranch Road, Edwards
5:30pm-7:00pm
I have attached the session schedule. All students should check in when they arrive to receive a table place number. Students will be placed at a table with 2 peers from their own school, and school tables will be distributed throughout the computer lab and library (3rd grade) and the gym (4th and 5th grades). The June Creek school building is identical to BCES, so you will easily find your way around! Please arrive a little before the start time if your child is presenting in the first session.
Finally, I will transport to JCES all trifold boards that are at school on Monday. But I won't have room for any 'extra' items (models, display items and so on) in addition to the boards, so I will have students take those home on Monday if they are currently at school. If families could bring those extras in your vehicles I would appreciate it! The projects can be brought back to school on Tuesday so students can (hopefully) share them with their homeroom classes.
I am SO proud of our students. They have really demonstrated self-direction and time management throughout this unit, and their excitement for their topics is very evident!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
May 2016
Dear Families,
This week we held the final EAGLE program lessons for this school year. Wow, the latter part of this year has really flown by!!!
EXPO Project feedback:
All grades 3-5 students completed an Expo reflection sheet and I have also recorded my feedback about their project on those sheets. There are still a few 5th graders who have not returned their Expo project board to school for final checking. If your child has his/her board at home, please send it back to school as soon as possible so I can take a closer look at it!
Third and fourth grade students will receive their Expo feedback sheets in the Monday folder next week. Fifth grade students will receive theirs as part of a booklet I am putting together with their EAGLE program work for this school year - which will be completed soon!
Photos:
Check out the BCES GT website for new photos of classroom work leading up to Expo, and photos from the Expo evening at JCES. Every BCES grade 3-5 student/project is pictured!
Final ALPs:
I will complete all ALP (Advanced Learning Plan) documents over the next two weeks. In consultation with classroom teachers and the students themselves, I will determine whether each child had attained, partially attained or minimally attained their two ALP goals for the year. Families will receive a hard copy of the ALP at the end of the school year.
Thank you!!
I'd like to thank all families for your support and encouragement of not only your own children, but also our gifted program at BCES. I am truly thankful for the wonderful interactions I have with students every single day I'm at school. I love my job!
Have a wonderful summer!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
Dear Families,
Grades 3-5 students are finishing up their current EAGLE research projects this week – the due date is Thursday 18th February. I am meeting with groups this week to ensure all students are on track to meet the deadline. Some students choose to complete work at home if needed, so thanks to those families who have supported their child to work on his/her project. If your child is not working at home, it may be that he/she is completing everything in class! I have encouraged students to be a little creative with their learning products this time, so I’m pleased that we have models, posters, videos, iMovies, slideshows, displays, interviews and a puppet show! We will have our oral presentations right after break.
We have had some interruptions to our K-2 enrichment groups lately, with meetings (for me) and special school events. But I’m sure we’ll be back in the regular routine after break. The K/1 math group are racing through the work, and the 2nd reading group students continue to impress me with their wonderful thinking and creativity!
Our annual district-wide 3-5 GT EXPO event, the culmination of all our EAGLE research work this year, will take place on Monday 9th May at June Creek Elementary School in Edwards. Students self-select a topic for research for this project – it is driven by student passions/interests. I will provide lots more information about this event right after break, which is is when we begin to talk about it in detail during our lessons. There are a couple of changes this year!
I hope everyone has a happy and safe mid-winter break! I know many local families either head somewhere a little warmer, or get in some quality relaxation time together at home. Whatever you are doing, enjoy!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
March 2016
Dear Families,
Wow, it seems like there is a lot going on at the moment!
EXPO:
Grades 3-5 students have been working on choosing Expo project topics and writing high quality inquiry questions that will drive their research. As usual, the topics chosen are varied and very interesting! I am very grateful that some classroom teachers have allowed their GT students to use class time during the language arts/reading block to work on their Expo research projects. This is a wonderful opportunity, and one that helps students a lot with time management. For this to be successful, students must be able to be trusted that they are working specifically on their project and using their time wisely. (Please note: unfortunately a couple of older students have abused this privilege. We have decided that anyone who is using a Chromebook inappropriately in class will have the privilege withdrawn, and they will no longer be able to use Chromebooks. Instead, Eagle research will be done at home and in Eagle lessons only).
I have been asked by some families for ideas on ways they can support their child during Expo project time. So here are a few suggestions related to research.
- Visit the Eagle town library to check out books on the chosen topic
- Help your child find quality websites that suit the topic/inquiry questions and record the URL
- Students are working on research for the next 3 weeks, so if your child has some spare time, have them take some notes! (Students have a choice of either handwritten or digital note-taking.)
- Ensure your child is able to access their Google Drive at home using their email and s number.
- If a visit to a particular venue is relevant for your child’s topic (such as a museum, etc) then have a family outing!
- Cut out relevant articles in magazines or newspapers
- Start collecting items, objects, artifacts related to the topic that might be suitable for information and/or display at the Expo event.
Grades 1-3 will hold parent-teacher conferences in the ‘traditional’ format, while Grades 4-5 will hold student-led conferences. In the latter, teachers and students prepare work and information in a portfolio and students present it independently to their parents. Because of this, I will be providing information to teachers and students about EAGLE work and progress towards ALP goals prior to conference week. (Third grade recently received EAGLE progress reports in the Monday folder, and 4th/5th will receive them at their conference). During conference week, I will be available for any family who wishes to chat informally with me about any aspect of our program (or just stop by to say hi) on Thursday 24th March from 3:00pm-7:00pm in Room 275 upstairs. If that time doesn’t work and you have specific questions, please feel free to email me and we can make a separate meeting time after that week.
BCES GT WEBSITE:
Don’t forget to check out our website every now and then for updated information. I have added quite a lot of photos throughout this year! bceseagle.weebly.com
Have a wonderful week!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
April 2016
Dear Families,
EXPO UPDATE 1:
All groups have been working really hard in every Eagle lesson for the past three weeks, researching and taking notes. Students were given the choice of hand-writing notes in Eagle notebooks, or digital note-taking on a Google Doc on their Drive. Some classroom teachers have also allowed Eagle students to use class time for research and note-taking.
Our Expo project timeline suggests that students should now be finished (or very close to finishing) with their research, so we can allow time for students to categorize and summarize the information and begin working on the final product. Perhaps you can check in with your child to see if he/she feels they have enough research information and have answered all their inquiry questions (I have supported those students who feel they have needed help in finding information, and many students have worked independently). You may like to help them at home if needed.
This week I have given all students a packet of information about Expo products. The front page outlines the guidelines (which I have attached to this email) and the other pages provide a list of possible choices of product (sorry, I don’t have electronic versions). Some of the choices may not be suitable for Expo, but many are unique and interesting, and may spark students to think outside the box! Look out for those packets in backpacks!
Students may have already given some thought to their product(s), especially older students who have participated in Expo in years past, but I would really appreciate it if all students could come along next week with an idea of what their Expo display will look like. This helps us know the way in which research notes will be typed and organized, and the format for printing.
This is such a fun time for Eagle students, and for me!! I love the interactions between students, the amazing new pieces of information I learn from students, and the students’ enthusiasm for learning about their passions and interests! If you happen to be in the upstairs hallway anytime, take a look at the wall outside room 275 for a display of each child’s research topic title – you will see an amazing variety!!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
EXPO UPDATE 2:
All grades 3-5 students have been working so hard on putting together their Expo projects! Students must include research information, supporting visuals, titles and subtitles, and a list of sources used. The past two weeks have involved lots of typing, printing, 'framing' and organizing of information!!
After spring break, we have just one week of school before the Expo, to be held at June Creek Elementary School on Monday May 9th. Students may choose to complete some work at home over break if needed, but it seems that most of our students are on track to finish the work in our EAGLE lesson times. Many students are making models or creating additional display items to complement their trifold information board. If your child needs time to work on this in class, please be sure to send along all the needed materials. Several students have not brought in a trifold board yet - I would appreciate it if you could please send those along either tomorrow (Thursday) or the first day back after break.
For the Expo evening, students are placed into one of two separate presentation sessions: either 5:30pm-6:15pm, or6:15pm-7:00pm. During your child's session, he/she will stand at the display and talk to the passing audience members, answer questions and so on. During the other session, your child will have time to look at all the other students' displays! If your family has a preference for a session time (due to after school commitments etc.) please let me know. via email. Otherwise I will randomly place students into one of the sessions. Students are also encouraged to dress to suit their topic! This is not mandatory, but many students do choose this option if it works for their topic.
So far, the projects look fantastic, and everyone seems to be having a lot of fun working on them! Of course we have a few students feeling a little nervous about the presentation part (first-timers) but Expo is a fantastic night, where everyone is very friendly, supportive and understanding of the work students have undertaken in order to make the event so successful.
So, thanks for your support at home too!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
FINAL EXPO UPDATE
We made it! Our GT students have worked SO hard to complete their Expo projects and they look great! Some students are using the weekend to add some final touches but almost everyone is ready to go!
Here are the venue/time details again:
Date: Monday May 9th
June Creek Elementary School
Miller Ranch Road, Edwards
5:30pm-7:00pm
I have attached the session schedule. All students should check in when they arrive to receive a table place number. Students will be placed at a table with 2 peers from their own school, and school tables will be distributed throughout the computer lab and library (3rd grade) and the gym (4th and 5th grades). The June Creek school building is identical to BCES, so you will easily find your way around! Please arrive a little before the start time if your child is presenting in the first session.
Finally, I will transport to JCES all trifold boards that are at school on Monday. But I won't have room for any 'extra' items (models, display items and so on) in addition to the boards, so I will have students take those home on Monday if they are currently at school. If families could bring those extras in your vehicles I would appreciate it! The projects can be brought back to school on Tuesday so students can (hopefully) share them with their homeroom classes.
I am SO proud of our students. They have really demonstrated self-direction and time management throughout this unit, and their excitement for their topics is very evident!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren
May 2016
Dear Families,
This week we held the final EAGLE program lessons for this school year. Wow, the latter part of this year has really flown by!!!
EXPO Project feedback:
All grades 3-5 students completed an Expo reflection sheet and I have also recorded my feedback about their project on those sheets. There are still a few 5th graders who have not returned their Expo project board to school for final checking. If your child has his/her board at home, please send it back to school as soon as possible so I can take a closer look at it!
Third and fourth grade students will receive their Expo feedback sheets in the Monday folder next week. Fifth grade students will receive theirs as part of a booklet I am putting together with their EAGLE program work for this school year - which will be completed soon!
Photos:
Check out the BCES GT website for new photos of classroom work leading up to Expo, and photos from the Expo evening at JCES. Every BCES grade 3-5 student/project is pictured!
Final ALPs:
I will complete all ALP (Advanced Learning Plan) documents over the next two weeks. In consultation with classroom teachers and the students themselves, I will determine whether each child had attained, partially attained or minimally attained their two ALP goals for the year. Families will receive a hard copy of the ALP at the end of the school year.
Thank you!!
I'd like to thank all families for your support and encouragement of not only your own children, but also our gifted program at BCES. I am truly thankful for the wonderful interactions I have with students every single day I'm at school. I love my job!
Have a wonderful summer!
Warm regards,
Karen Espegren