River Bend Middle School Spectrum Program September 26, 2018 Kelly - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

River Bend Middle School Spectrum Program

September 26, 2018 Kelly Hoover, M.Ed. khoover@lcps.org Gifted Services grades 6-8 Loudoun County Public Schools

This evening’s presentation is designed for parents of students currently enrolled in SPECTRUM.

Eligibility Information: Gifted Information Night

October 3, 7-8 p.m.

LCPS Admin. Building, Rm 102 A&B

SIGN-IN

Name Child’s Name Your Email Interested in Volunteering?

THANK YOU!

ABOUT ME...

By the NUMBERS...

17 8 4 3 2 1 Years in Education, MS & HS Years Teaching in LCPS Years at RBMS Grades serviced - 6, 7, 8 Clubs: OM & Academic Decathlon RBM ‘18 Ranking @ Academic Decathlon!

What is Spectrum? LCPS’ program for identified intellectually gifted middle school students.

Spectrum Students will... ⬜ Learn through discovery, research & application ⬜ Expand intellectual curiosity ⬜ Develop initiative, creativity & leadership ⬜ Strengthen critical thinking skills ⬜ Pursue special interests

Methods of Instruction

Using deductive reasoning to solve mysteries & other complex problems

7th graders preparing an artifact exchange and deductive reasoning lesson for local elementary school students

Collaboration on multi-faceted projects

Learning To Build Consensus

Math Problem-Solving: Building on each others’ ideas to determine the time needed to catch their suspect if they travel by bike

Internet research to enhance learning

Students investigate food-borne illnesses to determine the cause of symptoms in a recent outbreak.

Students will:

▶ Become divergent thinkers who recognize problems and

solve them.

▶ Construct personal meaning & understanding of

themselves & the world around them.

▶ Develop the capacity to self-assess & take ownership

• f the learning.

3 Goals of LCPS Gifted Program

6th & 7th grade

• Every other day, all grades
• 1/2 of the block, 40 min
• Instead of Resource block

8th grade

• Both Spectrum and Resource
• 40 min of Spectrum

WHEN is Spectrum Class?

Supplies for SPECTRUM

Same for 6th - 8th grade: *Chromebook *Writing utensil *Pencil Pouch *Agenda Book Optional:

▶ Calculator ▶ Smartphone (off until

directed otherwise)

▶ Colored Pencils ▶ Highlighter

▶ A special service for identified students, like those for other special groups ▶ Students expected to be present for the whole SPECTRUM time ▶ No “pulling” a student from SPECTRUM for re-teach or re-test ▶ GIVE FULL EFFORT in SPECTRUM

A note about SPECTRUM time:

“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” –Einstein

Creativity is ENCOURAGED!!

Spectrum students are encouraged to take risks in their problem-solving in Spectrum. Middle School is a great time to try something new!!

6th – Visual Name Enigmas 7th – Personalized License Plates 8th – Riddle Poems

Spectrum So Far…

What am I?

Semester 1

▶ Ethics & Perspectives: Crime-Solving Mystery ▶ Communication & Culture: Dig It! Archaeology

Semester 2

▶ Business & Economics: Food Truck Proposal Competition ▶ Technology & Engineering: Engineering

Design Challenge

Grades 6 & 7 Curriculum

Semester 1

▶ Ethics & Perspectives: Crime-Solving Mystery, Integral

Ethics

▶ Communication & Culture: Independent Study,

Regional or National Contest entry

Semester 2

▶ Business & Economics: Stock Market Game ▶ Technology & Engineering: Engineering Design Challenge

Grade 8 Curriculum

▶ Ongoing, self and teacher unit ▶ Formal semester report to parents ▶ Personalized narrative comments ▶ 4 Skills: Thinking, Research, Interactive, and

Independent Learning

▶ Assessment Report sent: January & June

Assessment

▶ Open to current 8th graders ▶ Academic scholarship, extra-curricular activity,

character, community service, and leadership

▶ Meant to promote academic success and

service

National Junior Honor Society

Creative Problem-Solving Team Contest

Odyssey of the Mind Teams

WEBSITE: www.odysseyofthemind.com

⬜ Hoagies Gifted site: www.hoagiesgifted.com ⬜ JHU-CTY, Duke TIP and SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs

• f the Gifted- sengifted.org)

Outside Resources for Parents

Outside Offerings of Interest to You and Your Child, Now & Later

▶ Clubs: Odyssey of the Mind, Math Counts,

Science Olympiad, Leo Club, Habitat Club

▶ Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

http://cty.jhu.edu school code:2016502

▶ Grade 7: JKCF Young Scholars Program: www.jkcf.org ▶ Grade 8: Thomas Jefferson HSST, AOS, AET

• Ms. Sherri Robinson, School Counselor

TJ & Academies of Loudoun Liaison Spectrum Counselor

Sherri.Robinson@lcps.org

8th graders Considering TJHSST & Academies of Loudoun

• Competitive Entry-Essay & Letters of Recommendation
• Students attend AOS & AET on alternating days
• October 13: PSAT (Only needed for AOS, Calculator Needed)

Location: Academies of Loudoun

• December 8: California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory

(CCTDI)

• January 12: Finalist take California Critical Thinking Skills Test

(CCTST), writing prompt, and interest statement

• March/April 2019: Admission offers on Admissions Portal
• April 2019: Students must accept or decline

Academies of Loudoun: Academy of Science & AET

*Full-Day, Four-year *September 28 NOON– Application Deadline *November 10 – Test Day (ACT Aspire & Quant-Q) *January 18 - Semifinalist Notification *Sat., February 9 – Essay and SIS given *Tues., April 30 - Final Notifications Sent

TJHSST Important Dates

Thank you very much for coming to Spectrum Back-to-School Night and for caring about your child’s education. Odyssey of the Mind Interest Meeting follows in Library, 7pm.