Transcript Briarlake Elementary School

We all
have our
moments.

Briarlake Elementary School
Welcome to Curriculum Night 2014!
Discovery Instructors:
Ms. Melissa McMillan
Ms. Tanya Fields
Moving Students Forward in the 21st Century
What is Discovery?
• Discovery is the name given to the gifted
program at the elementary level in the
Dekalb County School District.
• Discovery falls under the umbrella of
Exceptional Education and is funded by the
state.
• Discovery is taught by a certified Teacher
of the Gifted for a minimum of 225
minutes per week.
Why should we look after our
gifted children?
This statement by the National Association for
Gifted Children answers this nicely. "Each person
has the right to learn and to be provided
challenges for learning at the most
appropriate level where growth proceeds
most effectively.....Providing for our finest
minds allows both individual and societal
needs to be met."
Let's work together to foster our talented youth!
Gifted Program Goals
• To bring gifted children together to
experience a variety of challenging
activities.
• To support teachers in the area of
educating gifted children.
• To educate and support parents of the
gifted.
Gifted Delivery
• Resource Model - Students are served
outside of the regular education classroom
for a minimum of 225 minutes per week by
a certified Teacher of the Gifted. During
this time, students experience
interdisciplinary enrichment or extension
activities.
Gifted Curriculum
• Georgia Performance Standards
• Common Core Standards
• Each interdisciplinary unit correlates to the
Georgia Performance Standards and/or the
Common Core Standards for that grade level, and
possibly, the next grade level.
2014-2015 Enrichment Units
Grade Level
Units
Pastabilities! Noodling Around the Italian Culture
1st
2nd
Science Matters, Animal Life Cycles/Mealworms, Money,
Information Please
3rd
Interdependence, Traveling Through the Nifty Fifty, Pele’s
Peak/Volcanoes
Go With the Flow, Ancient Egypt, Invention Convention
4th
Claymation/Technology Fair, Science Fair, Human Body
5th
Curriculum Extras
• Academic Competitions
*Social Studies Fair (5th Grade)
*Academic Bowl (5th Grade)
* Science Fair (5th Grade)
* Geography Bee (4th/5th Grade)
*Spelling Bee (4th/5th Grade)
*Essay/Poetry/Art Contests (all grades)
*Science Olympiad (3rd-5th Grade)
*Math Tournament (3rd-5th Grade)
*Technology Fair
*Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl (4th/5th Grade)
21st Century Skills
• Inventive Thinking
-Self-Direction
-Curiosity
-Risk Taking
-Higher Order Thinking
and Sound Reasoning
• Effective Communication
-Teaming and
Collaborating
-Interpersonal Skills
-Personal Responsibility
-Social and Civic
Responsibility
-Interactive
Communication
21st Century Skills
• High Productivity
-Prioritizing, Planning,
and Managing for
Results
-Effective Use of RealWorld Tools
-Ability to Produce
Relevant, High
Quality Products
Grading System
• 100-70 = Pass
• 69-0 = Fail
• Conduct S, N or U
Grade Category Weights
• 0% Pre-Assessments
• 25% Assessment During
the Learning
• 45% Guided, Independent
or Group Practice
• 30% Summative
Assessments
Continuation Policy Change
If students do not maintain an 80% average in their
content area classes or in their Discovery class,
they will be placed on probation in Discovery,
and will have the next semester to improve their
grade.
If they have not raised their grade by the end of that
semester, they will not attend Discovery classes
until their progress report reflects that their
grades meet the minimum 80% requirement.
Classroom Management System
Discovery Expectations for 2014-2015
•We agree to BE SAFE.
•We agree to BE RESPECTFUL.
•We agree to BE RESPONSIBLE.
Classroom Management System
Rewards
The last Friday of each month is Choice Day. Students who
have had an action plan, phone call home for behavior, or a
visit to the office for that month, may not participate in
Choice Day.
Consequences
1. Verbal warning
2. Time Out (in class)
3. Time Out/Action Plan
4. Phone call home
5. Office visit
Discovery Schedule
Time
Class
8:00-8:45
5th Grade- Alvan
8:50-9:35
1st Grade
10:30-11:15
4th Grade- Russo
11:15-12:00
2nd Grade
12:35-1:20
3rd Grade
1:20-2:10
5th Grade- Francis
1:25 – 2:10
4th Grade – Spencer – with Ms. Fields
Useful Websites
• www.gifteddekalb.com This is the Dekalb
County School System web page for gifted.
• www.gagc.org Georgia Association for
Gifted Children
• www.nagc.org National Association for
Gifted Children
• http://fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us/~melissa_a_mcmillan/
Ms. McMillan’s personal web page
• www.MsFieldsClass.com
Ms. Fields’ personal web page
Questions and Answers