Islip School District

Maud Sherwood ElementaryCommack Road Elementary

Mrs. JohnsonMrs. Singleton

What does it mean to be What does it mean to be “gifted”?“gifted”?

Ability to handle Ability to handle abstractionabstraction

Power of concentrationPower of concentration Ability to memorize and Ability to memorize and

learn rapidlylearn rapidly AltruismAltruism Humor (sometimes Humor (sometimes

inappropriate)inappropriate) CommitmentCommitment Inquisitive natureInquisitive nature NonconformityNonconformity StubbornStubborn

Self-directionSelf-direction Leadership qualitiesLeadership qualities CreativeCreative InnovativeInnovative Diverse interestsDiverse interests Advanced vocabularyAdvanced vocabulary Keen observationKeen observation CuriosityCuriosity ConcernConcern Overdeveloped sense of Overdeveloped sense of

justicejustice

…in addition to all of the “normal” attributes of kids!!

Advantages of “Pull-out” Advantages of “Pull-out” ProgramsPrograms

Gifted students make the greatest progress Gifted students make the greatest progress when they are grouped homogenously and when they are grouped homogenously and offered a differentiated curriculumoffered a differentiated curriculum

Opportunity to interact with students with Opportunity to interact with students with similar, unique interestssimilar, unique interests

Students are exposed to wider and deeper Students are exposed to wider and deeper knowledgeknowledge

Departure from ‘regular’ curriculumDeparture from ‘regular’ curriculum Does not separate gifted students from peersDoes not separate gifted students from peers

““Go confidently in the direction of Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Life the life you have your dreams. Life the life you have

imagined.”imagined.”

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau

Curriculum & Curriculum & InstructionInstruction The The EXCELEXCEL curriculum is created to be curriculum is created to be

sufficiently rigorous, challenging and sufficiently rigorous, challenging and coherent to meet the needs of diverse coherent to meet the needs of diverse students. students.

The goal of the The goal of the EXCEL ProgramEXCEL Program is to is to produce well educated, knowledgeable produce well educated, knowledgeable students who have worked hard to master students who have worked hard to master substantial bodies of knowledge; who substantial bodies of knowledge; who thought clearly and critically about that thought clearly and critically about that knowledge; and who can demonstrate knowledge; and who can demonstrate presentational skills used for authentic presentational skills used for authentic purposes.purposes.

Content:Content: Content is related to broad-based themes. Content is related to broad-based themes. All curricular areas are integrated into the unit of study.All curricular areas are integrated into the unit of study. Curriculum allows for an in-depth learning within an area of Curriculum allows for an in-depth learning within an area of

study.study.Process:Process: Activities evoke higher level thinking.Activities evoke higher level thinking. Curriculum is open-ended and encourages self-discovery.Curriculum is open-ended and encourages self-discovery. Group interaction and proof of reason is encouraged to help Group interaction and proof of reason is encouraged to help

students strive for supporting answers with evidence: more students strive for supporting answers with evidence: more than one right answer.than one right answer.

Learning process allows students “ownership” of their learning.Learning process allows students “ownership” of their learning.Product:Product: Encourages the development of products that challenge Encourages the development of products that challenge

existing ideas and produce new ideas.existing ideas and produce new ideas. Encourages the development of products that use newly, Encourages the development of products that use newly,

learned techniques.learned techniques. Evaluate student outcomes by using appropriate and specific Evaluate student outcomes by using appropriate and specific

criteria through the use of self and group reflection, student criteria through the use of self and group reflection, student portfolios and show cases.portfolios and show cases.

Logic ProblemsLogic Problems The Math DetectiveThe Math Detective by Terry Husted by Terry Husted Clue Me InClue Me In The Adventures of the Speckled BandThe Adventures of the Speckled Band

by Arthur Conan Doyleby Arthur Conan Doyle ““The Tell Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan PoeThe Tell Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe The Mystery of Harris BurdickThe Mystery of Harris Burdick

by Chris VanAllsburgby Chris VanAllsburg Bartholomew and the OobleckBartholomew and the Oobleck

by Dr. Seussby Dr. SeussOobleckOobleckDactyloscopyDactyloscopy

The Fine Art & Science of FingerprintingThe Fine Art & Science of FingerprintingCrime Lab ChemistryCrime Lab Chemistry

ChromatographyChromatographySimulated Blood InvestigationSimulated Blood Investigation

-Perform blood typing test-Perform blood typing test-Determine the Rh factor of blood samples-Determine the Rh factor of blood samples

The Science of CryptologyThe Science of Cryptology

Can you decipher this message?Can you decipher this message?

srehpic dna sedoc fo dlrow terces srehpic dna sedoc fo dlrow terces eht ot emocleweht ot emoclew

Welcome to the secret world of codes and ciphers

Codes and CiphersCodes and Ciphers

Learn the historic development of codes and Learn the historic development of codes and ciphersciphers

Learn to decode and encode secret messagesLearn to decode and encode secret messages Distinguish between codes and ciphersDistinguish between codes and ciphers Promote creative and critical thinking skillsPromote creative and critical thinking skills Stimulate divergent thinking and deductive Stimulate divergent thinking and deductive

reasoning abilitiesreasoning abilities Recognize and use alternate forms of Recognize and use alternate forms of

communicationcommunication Understand the application of codes used by Understand the application of codes used by

various professionsvarious professions

““I arise in the morning torn between I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.”makes it hard to plan the day.”

E. B. WhiteE. B. White

Passion for PoetryPassion for Poetry

Rhyme and Rhyme and soundsound

ImageryImagery Figurative Figurative

languagelanguage Comparison and Comparison and

contrastcontrast ShapeShape IntrospectionIntrospection ReflectionReflection

Metaphors Metaphors SimilesSimiles PersonificationPersonification OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia AlliterationAlliteration Self-image Self-image Emotional ForceEmotional Force

Passion for PoetryPassion for Poetry

We must stop trying to define poetry and We must stop trying to define poetry and move towards teaching poetry creativelymove towards teaching poetry creatively

Poetry should be integrated with other Poetry should be integrated with other subject areas as much as possiblesubject areas as much as possible

Successful poetry units help students Successful poetry units help students develop a lifelong personal relationship develop a lifelong personal relationship with poetry with poetry

Create a safe and open environment, as Create a safe and open environment, as students share without fearstudents share without fear

BubbleologyBubbleology BridgesBridges Soma CubesSoma Cubes GeoboardsGeoboards Geodesic DomesGeodesic Domes Oriental Brush PaintingOriental Brush Painting Mousetrap RacecarsMousetrap Racecars

EXCEL-lent Upcoming EventsEXCEL-lent Upcoming Events

Fourth Grade:Fourth Grade:

Marine Archeology “Underwater Marine Archeology “Underwater Mystery” with Mr. Bret CurlewMystery” with Mr. Bret Curlew

Fifth Grade:Fifth Grade:

Cooper Union Engineering ExperienceCooper Union Engineering Experience"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the people to "If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the people to

gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea."teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea."- Antoine - Antoine De Saint-ExuperyDe Saint-Exupery

SchedulesSchedules

Fourth GradeFourth GradeThursdaysThursdays10:20-12:20 10:20-12:20 10:00 bus @ SES10:00 bus @ SES10:10 bus @ CRES10:10 bus @ CRES

Fifth GradeFifth GradeTuesdaysTuesdays10:20-12:20 10:20-12:20 10:00 bus @ SES10:00 bus @ SES10:10 bus @ CRES10:10 bus @ CRES

EXCEL OnlineEXCEL Online

EXCEL EXCEL identificationidentification

calendarcalendar scholarship scholarship

opportunitiesopportunities competition competition

opportunitiesopportunities needed needed

supplies supplies Summer Summer

opportunitiesopportunities

student student collaboration collaboration

curriculumcurriculum assignmentsassignments competitionscompetitions upcoming upcoming

eventsevents

http://juliacjohnson.pbworks.com/

Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers

Yes, your child is responsible for work Yes, your child is responsible for work missed while attending EXCELmissed while attending EXCEL

Once a child enters EXCEL, they Once a child enters EXCEL, they remain in the program unless there is remain in the program unless there is a specific reason for removala specific reason for removal

Question for Question for you you : Would you prefer : Would you prefer to have documents such as to have documents such as permission slips available through permission slips available through the e-board?the e-board?

Islip School DistrictEXCEL Program