Letters for sixth grade GT pull out will be going home this week. Eligibility for GT is based on test results and grades, as well as teacher and parent evaluations.
0 Comments
I'm happy to be back! I hope that you are too. I have been doing a lot of planning and preparing. Below is some of what's in store for the upcoming months, but please keep in mind that there are likely to be changes.
Tutorial activities tentative schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: Advanced Studies Projects Mondays: Robotics Thursdays: Science Discussion and Activity (Note: Students must sign-up in advance with Ms. Collins to take part in tutorial activities. Sign-ups are not available yet. Check back later for more details.) After school The Future City Club will meet once a week on Thursdays, through the end of January Chess Club possibly starting up after school on Wednesdays. Sixth Grade GT Pull-out Classes: Reading the Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien; The Joy of Math Class; Architecture and Energy; LEGO Robotics; and Scratch Computer Programming. 7th and 8th Grade Pull-out Classes: Reading the Time Machine by H. G. Wells and Creating a Play; Chain Reaction Machine Making; Advanced Scratch Computer Programming; Current Events Discussion Group; Alcumus Advanced Math Group; and Reading the Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkein. I don't have any start dates for GT pull-out classes yet, but I assure you that I am working on it. Expect the 7th and 8th grade pull-out classes to begin in late September. 6th Grade GT should start in October. Independent Work: Advanced Studies Projects and Advanced Math using Alcumus will be offered as options as well. Students must write a proposal and get approval from Ms. Collins for this option. Please feel free to send me an email [email protected] or call me at school, 413-525-5480 x1250 with any questions or concerns. Students are welcome to visit me in my classroom during tutorial, Tuesday - Friday, if they have any questions. Ms. Suzanne Collins
This time of year there are always a lot of questions about the GT pull out program. Here are some things that you should know:
How does a student become eligible for the GT pull-out program? Eligibility is based on advanced test scores, good grades, parent checklists and teacher recommendations. I review 6th, 7th and 8th grade MCAS scores and grades every fall to see who may qualify for the program. Upon student, parent or teacher request, I will review grades after the second or third marking term. Parents may also request that their child take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) as another possible route into the GT pull out program. Click here to get a copy of the form requesting CogAT testing. Once a student becomes eligible for GT in middle school, they remain eligible for GT pull out services throughout middle school. Click here for a copy of the permission slip for kids who are eligible for GT services. If you think that you should be eligible, email me so that I can review your records. Sixth Grade GT I have not sent any letters home for 6th graders. I am still compiling MCAS, CogAT and 5th grade report card data. 7th and 8th Grade GT You should have received a letter, sent home through advisory, if you are eligible for GT this year. Those who were eligible for GT pull out classes in 6th or 7th grade, are still eligible. If you were eligible in 6th or 7th grade, and you didn't receive a letter, please talk to me. What if a student doesn't qualify for the pull out program?
Questions? Please talk to me and ask questions: that goes for students, parents and teachers. [email protected] Ambassadors to Outer Space
At the start of the year, I do some activities that help me get to know my students. In this activity, students use brain storming techniques to list traits that would be important for humans who were sent as ambassadors to alien worlds in outer space. I was very impressed with the list of traits these sixth graders came up with last year. |
Ms. Suzanne Barricelli Collins
STEM Teacher at Birchland Park Middle School. Archives
June 2014
Categories
All
|