5th Grade G/T ScienceSloan Creek Intermediate School

Introductions

Nina Hopkins

5th Grade G/T Science Teacher (2016-2017)

Stephani Kranz

K- 6 Science Coordinator

Brie Smith

Director of Advanced Academics

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What’s New?

G/T sections of science beginning in 5th grade (services have traditionally started with Pre-AP in 6th grade)

G/T Science 5th Grade

What’s Different?

• Classroom conversations and learning experiences

• The opportunity to work with similar ability peers

• The instructional strategies used in class

What’s Different?

• Socratic Seminar

• Elements of Depth and Complexity

• Emphasis on inquiry-based labs and projects

• Pre-assessment

• Compacting (as appropriate)

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What’s Not?

• All 5th grade students attend science class every day

• Instruction is based on 5th grade TEKS

• Students attend 5th grade camp

• Students take the 5th grade STAAR (test)

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Curriculum Examples

• Students explore change over time (elements of depth and complexity) while studying Earth Science- Land

• Before beginning a unit on Mixtures and Solutions, students take a pre-assessment to determine understanding and mastery of skills. Students then engage in workshops differentiated by level of readiness

Curriculum Examples

• While discussing changes in environments, students participate in a Socratic style seminar

• Students look for trends and patterns in food webs

• When studying force, motion, and energy, students are given a set of materials and challenged to create functional circuits

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When Do Services Start?

• Services will begin the first day of the 2016 school year

• Students identified as G/T in math will automatically be provided G/T services in science, unless otherwise requested

• Students will attend a G/T section of science every day

Next StepsIf your student is currently receiving G/T services for math, you do not need to do anything. Your child will automatically be scheduled for the G/T section of science.

If your student is currently receiving G/T services for Integrated Studies (IS), you may refer your child for math/science. Additional testing is required and students must meet district criteria. Referrals are due April 1.

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Where Can I Find the Referral?

• Referrals are available online in the PowerSchool Parent Portal

• https://powerschool.lovejoyisd.net/public/

Other FAQs

Is There More Work?

• Students that are appropriately placed should not report that there is more work

• Students will be required to apply their thinking/learning in different ways

• If your child reports excessive time spent on G/T science, please let the teacher know

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Can My Child Participate in G/T Math Only?

Yes.

Identified students may opt to participate in G/T math only.

Or, they may participate in both G/T math and G/T science.

What Will My Child’s Day Look Like?

• 9 class periods every day (includes lunch)

• 44-minute class periods

• Science, STEM- art- music rotation, lunch, PE, social studies, math double-block, English double-block

• Contact the SCIS counselor, Kelly George, with specific questions- kelly_george@lovejoyisd.net

Questions?

Please call or email Brie Smith

469.742.8032 brie_smith@lovejoyisd.net

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5th Grade G/T ScienceSloan Creek Intermediate School

March 2016