General+Info

//**Ms. Kristin Baker, Teacher of Gifted and Talented**// How to reach me during the school year: bakerk@mansfieldelementary.org I check email daily, and will respond promptly.

908-689-3212 ext. 2161 … This will connect you to my voicemail.

** If you need to reach me during this time please email me or leave a message with Mrs. Heymann at extension 1181. **
= =  The MTES Gifted and Talented Program consists of a variety of formats and components to meet student needs. **//Program design will vary to meet emerging needs of students.//** **//Program design is subject to ongoing revision, to optimize effectiveness.//**


 * **Differentiation in the regular classroom**, managed by the classroom teacher and supported by the G&T teacher. This can function in a variety of ways, such as…
 * The teacher may pretest, and then substitute more challenging materials.
 * There may be alternate practice activities or homework assignments.
 * The teacher may differentiate for her entire class, providing challenges beyond what is required at that grade level.
 * Examples:
 * Differentiated spelling lists or additional challenge words
 * Access to a "Challenge Box"
 * Technology enrichment such as using Glogster or Moviemaker to address grade level content
 * Wordmasters in grades 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6; format varies to meet the needs of the class.
 * //In-class differentiation is used most in lower grades, to avoid any “gaps” in basic skills while providing appropriate challenges within a consistent environment.//


 * **Team teaching in the regular classroom**, which may include varied levels of challenge based on student readiness. For example…
 * Novel-based language arts units
 * __The Year of the Panda__; __Frindle__ in grade 3
 * __The Big Wave__ in grade 4
 * __Island of the Blue Dolphin__ in grade 5
 * ** Wordmasters Challenge ** : a national competition for students in grades 3-8 which encourages growth in vocabulary and verbal reasoning, used in grades 2-6.
 * //Team-teaching often includes other children from the cluster classroom. Depending on the content being addressed, the teachers may work together with the entire class, or may break into smaller groups to target instruction to student needs. Team-teaching allows us to offer additional challenges for those students who may not yet qualify for G&T eligibility.//


 * **Pull–out units to extend grade-level curriculum content**, such as…
 * ** Continental Mathematics League: ** a national competition for students in grades 2-9+ which focuses on problem-solving and analytical reasoning; practice materials help develop communication of mathematical thinking, used in grades 2-6.
 * Supermath in grades 4, 5 & 6 includes children who have been recommended by administration or classroom teachers, although they may not participate in other aspects of the G&T program. Parents may request that their children be considered for recommendation.
 * Please see Do they have to make up the work? and Grades
 * Thematic units are typically offered to all academic G&T students at a particular grade level.
 * **Phabulous Physics** is recurring theme, with concepts developed sequentially in units that may include the following topics:
 * Forces acting on stationery objects: Dead load vs. live load; distribution of weight in Bridges, grades 2 & 3
 * Forces acting on objects under stress: Pringle Project,grade 3
 * Newton's Laws of Motion: Rollercoaster Derby, grades 3 & 4
 * Infrastructure: Principles of Livable Communities
 * Four Forces of Aerodynamics: Magic of Flight, grade 5
 * Forces acting on stationery objects: Tension and Compression in Architecture, grade 6
 * Fibonacci, Phi, and Me: Ratio and proportion as found in the natural and constructed world, in grade 6
 * //Pull-out units in upper grades, particularly grades 5 & 6, may be considered **semi-replacement**; please see Do they have to make up the work? and Grades.//


 * **Accelerated replacement or semi-replacement classes**, i.e. “Math Boot Camp” and “Math Marines” in grades 4 - 6, may be formed to meet the needs of clusters of students who demonstrate mastery of curriculum standards well beyond grade level, for whom regular classroom instruction would be inappropriate.
 * Math Boot Camp and Math Marines classes follow and extend the state-required grade level mathematics curriculum.
 * Increased emphasis is placed on critical thinking, problem solving, and communication of mathematical thinking.
 * Students are expected to be responsible and productive within an environment of greater autonomy.
 * // Such placement decisions are made collaboratively with administration and grade level teachers. //

**//Program participation is often customized for individual students.//**
 * Students may elect to decline participation in a particular unit if it is not of personal interest.
 * Teachers or parents may determine that it is not appropriate for a child to participate for a particular unit or period of time, due to academic pressures or general stress. Such decisions are typically temporary, with a specified time frame for review.
 * All G&T 6th graders plan their unit selections at the beginning of the year, with input from teachers and parents; these plans can be revised if appropriate.