Briarlake Elementary School

Welcome to Curriculum Night 2012!

This session: DISCOVERY

Instructors: Ms. Melissa McMillan

Ms. Tanya Fields

Moving Students Forward in the 21st Century

Even when they’re gifted, they’re still kids.

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.

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.

2012-2013 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

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

• 100-90 = E• 89-80 = S• 79-70 = N• 69 and below = U• Conduct S, N or U

• 40% for participation• 30% for tests/quizzes• 25% for projects• 5% for homework

Continuation Policy Change

If students do not maintain an 80% average in their content area classes, 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 2012-2013

•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 Schedule

Time McMillan Fields

7:45-8:30am To Be Determined ESOL

8:30-9:15am To Be Determined ESOL

9:15-10:00am 4th Grade- Cernoch 4th Grade Discovery – Pittman

10:05-10:50am 3rd Grade- all classes 3rd Grade Discovery – TBD

10:55-11:40am 2nd Grade- all classes 11:00-11:30 = Lunch Duty

11:30-12:00 = Lunch

11:45-12:15pm Lunch Duty 12:00-12:20 = Planning

12:20-1:05pm 5th Grade- Chalkley and Bouda

5th Grade Discovery - Laster

1:05-2:15pm Lunch and Planning ESOL 1:15-2:00

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