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

1st

Pastabilities! Noodling Around the Italian Culture

2nd

Science Matters, Animal Life Cycles/Mealworms, Money, Information Please

3rd

Interdependence, Traveling Through the Nifty Fifty, Pele’s Peak/Volcanoes

4th

Go With the Flow, Ancient Egypt, Invention Convention

5th

Claymation/Technology Fair, Science Fair, Human Body

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 Real-World 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 SystemRewards

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 ScheduleTime 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