Gifted Program at Eastridge
Vicki Erickson, Gifted Facilitator
Click here for the 1st Quarter Gifted Newsletter
Click here for the 2nd Quarter Gifted Newsletter
Specialist Support Time...
Each week, specialists have time in their schedule to work with students who are identified gifted or are high achievers. Specialists visit with classroom teachers to find an area of need or to choose a topic or theme. Students work with specialists to develop a project of interest based on that need or topic/theme. Specialists working with each grade level 2nd semester are: Ms. Erickson - grade 4, Miss Forsberg - grade 1, Mrs. Lahman - grade 3, Mr. Reeker - grades 2 & 5.
1st Grade 
First graders are getting insights into athletes who have overcome tremendous odds, and still became sports heroes. Working with Ms. Forsberg, they are doing reports on sports heroes other than the usual, Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm or whomever. Instead, they are getting to know people like Bethany Hamilton (surfer girl that got her arm bitten off by a shark but is still surfing today), Kenny Walker (deaf football player at UNL that went on to play pro football), Lance Armstrong (overcame cancer and still riding today), just to mention a few. Ms. Forsberg is helping the students learn the important life lesson that really great things are accomplished when you press on even under difficult circumstances. Pictured is Whitney S., Tomas H., Riley S., and Devin B.
In literacy, first grade is doing literature circles using chapter books. After completing Junie B. Jones and the Barbershop Guy and doing chapter questions, the students came up with a huge poster and a skit to share the book with classmates to get everyone interested in reading it! The students also created their own literature circle by individually reading The Emperors New Clothes and deciding on with their own vocabulary words from the text, and also questions that used inference and higher level thinking skills. They had an opportunity to “be the teacher” by presenting these questions to the rest of the group for discussion. Pictured above is Abigail C., Elise R., Katherine L., Whitney S., and Devin B.
2nd Grade
Gifted and high achievers are working with Mr. Reeker on projects connected to the theme of "It Amazes Me!". Students will research a topic of interest and then create a book using technology about the topic.
3rd Grade
After reading a variety of poetry, third graders have been honing their own skills as poets, with some outstanding results! The following is a poem by Austin Kingsley (Mrs. Knuth’s room) that was inspired by the poem “How to Torture Your Teacher” by Bruce Lansky.
I’ll Hypnotize My Teacher
by Austin Kingsley
I knew I would do something awesome and new,
I would hypnotize my teacher, that’s what I would do.
So I went to school so very delighted.
I pranced and skipped; I was so excited!
When I got there I did what was planned.
She got hypnotized and obeyed our commands.
With all that excitement, I stopped and thought, “Was it the right thing to do?”
Well, I know I wanted to do something awesome and new,
So I guess it WAS the right thing to do.
It's Amazing to 4th Graders!
Students worked with Mr. Reeker to develop research projects based on the reading theme, It's Amazing! Students used internet to research and then developed a final product. Josie K. studied the platypus making a poster. Aedan M-H focused on Hurricanes creating a poster including a chart. Will G. and Camille H. each researched tornadoes and twisters with each producing a poster. Will also attempted a tornado in a bottle. Mrs. Hall provided time for the students to share their products with the class.
5th Graders
Gifted students created individual projects related to reading themes of communication or pioneer/Native American people with Mr. Reeker. Following a research model, students studied a topic of choice relating to one of the themes. Students then made a product demonstrating the knowledge they gained on the topic in a format that was a strength for them. From posters to Powerpoints, students shared their information with classmates. Those participating include: Emily R., Paige B., Arianna M., Emma P., Sam B., Sam C., Katie R., Anna P-N. and Robin R.