3rd and 4th Grade
G.A.T.E. 10
Curriculum Night
Lovejoy Gifted Association
 The LGA is a not-for-profit advocacy group for
all gifted children in Lovejoy ISD. Membership
is open to all persons interested in the mission
of the organization.
 Academic Enrichment:
http://www.lovejoyisd.net/MP.cfm?P=6566
Mission Statement
We believe in persevering through the rigor of
true learning in order to: expand individual
boundaries, develop character, and thrive in
a competitive world.
Integrated Studies
3rd and 4th grade Teachers
Dallena Nash (LES)
Leslie O’Daniel (PES)
Alison Smithwick (HES)
IS Curriculum Overview
Parallels the standards (TEKS) of a
regular classroom while embedding
rigor, depth, and complexity.
Integrated Unit Studies
• Novels, Non-fiction, Art, Music, Social Studies
IS Curriculum Overview
• Latin Stems
• Grammar
• Writing Workshop
• Approximately 2 hours
Humanity Circles
Humanity” or “Literature” Circles are
flexible groups of students who have read
the same book and meet weekly to
discuss it.
“
Books provided by the school for 3rd grade,
and 4th grade students will provide their
own books in order to make annotations.
3
Universal Theme: Establishing Identities
within Various Communities
Enduring Understandings:
1. We learn about ourselves by studying the lives of
others.
2. My personal qualities can help or hinder the formation
of relationships.
3. What others think about (community) affects how we
think about ourselves.
4. In a culture where we are bombarded with other
people trying to define us, the individual has
responsibilities to various communities, who have
responsibilities to us.
5. Parallels exist between our “growing” up and a
community.
Homework in 3rd IS
 Given to students at the beginning of the week
 Due the following Monday
 Spelling quizzes every Friday
 Schedule time for homework, 30 min. a day
 Communicate homework in the weekly newsletter
 Reading Log-15 minutes of reading daily; due
Mondays
The Benefits of Reading 20
Minutes a Day
4
Theme: There are many universal adversities
which result in universal adaptations.
Journeys
 Esperanza Rising, by Pam Munoz Ryan,
Becoming Naomi Leon, by Pam Munoz
Ryan
 Explorers, Regions of Texas, Native
Americans, Spanish Missions
Discovery
 Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis,
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
 “Texas Rumblings and Ramblings,”-Changes
within Texas
4
Theme: There are many universal adversities
which result in universal adaptations.
Enlightenment
 From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E.
Frankweiler, by Konigsburg, Chasing
Vermeer by Blue Balliet
 Texas Revolution, Civil War, Annexation,
Statehood, and Oil Boom, Industrial Age to
Present-Day Texas
Homework in 4th IS
 Given to students throughout the week, when
needed
 Will also be unfinished work from in-class
assignments
 Assigned chapters to read for their Humanity
Circles
 40 minutes per night
 Communicated in the newsletter
 Reading Log
At-home reading is not fluff, not optional,
and not designed by teachers to torture
your family.  Research has proven it will
grow your child as a reader!
A day in the IS classroom might include:
 Reading Workshop
 A short read-aloud from a companion novel
 Reflection (Reader’s Response Notebook)
 Reading Skill Lessons (Mini-lessons)
 Literature circles
 Ludic Reading
 Writing Workshop
 Writing Process
 Grammar
 Latin
 Mini-lessons
A day in the IS classroom might include:
 Social Studies
 Integrated with Reading and Writing Workshops
 Primary and Secondary Sources
 Collaborative Learning
 Engaged students focused on reading, writing,
conversation, open-ended questioning, and
connecting to the Depth and Complexity icons.
Homework is an extension of what we have
worked on and discussed during the day.
Outcomes of IS
Inspire Confidence
Foster Participation
Build for Success
Make Connections Across Disciplines
Develop Metacognition (awareness of
one’s own thinking and learning
processes) at a Depth and Complexity
level
CONTACT US!
Dallena Nash (LES)
 dallena_nash@lovejoyisd.net
 (469) 742-8138
Leslie O’Daniel (PES)
 leslie_o’daniel@lovejoyisd.net
 (469) 742-8263
Alison Smithwick(HES)
 alison_smithwick@lovejoyisd.net
 (469) 742-8218
TRACK PROGRESS
How will we track student progress?
 Rubric scores-amount of points earned out of the total
points available for the assignment Example : 4/6 on an
assignment.
 Weekly math binder with graded assignments
 Work will go home throughout the week in IS
 Teacher anecdotal notes
 Informal assessments completed in class
 Assessments of learning objectives
Thank you for sharing your brilliant
children with us this year!
Please do not hesitate to contact us if
you have questions throughout the
year, or write it on a sticky note if you
have one tonight.