Transcript Welcome! 6th grade SWAS orientation night

Welcome!
To the
Eastview
th
6 grade SWAS
orientation night
What does it mean to be gifted?
Gifted students are described as students who demonstrate
an outstanding ability to reason and learn in more than one
content area.
In our SWAS program, students must exhibit motivation and
demonstrate their learning in many different ways, however,
they may not always earn straight A’s. Our purpose is to
challenge and develop their abilities in the classroom.
Behavior expectations: Students are expected to contribute
to class discussions and activities in a positive manner.
How is SWAS different than the
normal middle school experience?
Students still follow the district and Common
Core curriculum guidelines; however, the
curriculum is enriched in the following ways:






Grouping with peers of similar cognitive abilities
Opportunities for integrated projects
Supplemental material at AP levels
In-depth investigation of topics
Teachers use proven, research-based gifted techniques
Engaging, problem-based learning opportunities
Content
 Teachers use a variety of teaching materials
at levels that are appropriate to all students
needs, interests, and abilities
 Higher level materials are used for students
to gain knowledge, comprehend materials,
and apply what they learn
 Materials will involve more
advanced and complex concepts
Process
 SWAS provides challenging activities that allow
students to utilize higher level thinking skills:




Application
Analysis
Evaluation
Synthesis
 In SWAS students practice social skills and
teamwork through group interaction. In depth
conversations with peers are required.
 In SWAS students are guided in managing their
time and workload (i.e. long term projects and
readings) as well as independent work.
Products
 Students will demonstrate knowledge learned in a
variety of ways: Socratic seminars, essays, letters,
game boards, mini books, science investigations,
brochures, posters, etc. that allow creative
thinking.
 Projects will help students apply themselves at
different levels
 Students will use higher level thinking skills
 Project assessment will be subjective and based
on the objective of the lesson
We will synthesize rather than
summarize….meaning:
• We might create our own test rather than take a test.
• We might design a informational brochure based on what
we read rather than just report information.
• We might analyze poetry and look for personal meaning or
create new poetry from what we have learned.
• We might take what we learn and create a song,
journal/diary rather than answer comprehension questions.
• Instead of a book report, we can use the character, theme,
and plot to create a game.
• We might design a new scene of a story based on
information we read instead of writing details that describe
the setting.
• We might retell a story or report research information using
different perspectives.
Social Studies
 Curriculum includes:
 Geography, Cultures, Latin America, Africa, Middle East, and
Asia
 Learning strategies
 an assortment of strategies used to enhance individual, partner,
and group work
 Cornell Note-taking , marking the text, Socratic seminars
 Enhancement of learning
 through processing and analyzing information (vs. memory
and repetition)
 Products
 include project based assessment, exams, peer and teacher
grading, Document Based Questioning, debates, self-evaluation
Language Arts
“Choices” – district curriculum guide / CC










Relevant short stories, novels and plays
Author analysis
Vocabulary and Comprehension strategies
Research projects
Poetry analysis and presentations
Self reflection and awareness
Debates/argument / class discussions
Rhetorical analysis / argument
Test prep
Writer’s Notebook
Science
 The SWAS science curriculum follows the curriculum map
set by the district. SWAS students extend their learning to
a deeper level that requires critical thinking and application
skills.
 The units of study include:
–
–
–
–
Scientific Inquiry
Properties of Matter
Life Science
Environmental Science
 The learning process includes inquiry based hands on
activities.
 At the end of each unit SWAS students choose a project to
demonstrate their knowledge.
Student work samples
Social Studies – board games
Student presentations
Some of our current SWAS
students are here to talk with you
about what they’ve experienced as
7th grade SWAS students here at
Eastview. Please welcome Anna,
Regan, Alyssa and Hannah!
Thank you for joining
us tonight……..
We will see you at
registration in August!