Kelly Hoover, M. Ed.
Gifted Education Teacher, LCPS
*This evening is addressed to parents of students who are currently enrolled in SPECTRUM.
*To learn about ◦ eligibility process for gifted services for your child who is
not currently in SPECTRUM, please attend
Gifted Informational Night
When: September 20, 2016, 7PM
Where: Seneca Ridge Middle School AUD
*
Please sign-in
Name
Child’s Name
Your Email
Interested in Volunteering? Check the box
If so, what day is best? Mon/Fri/Sat
THANK YOU!
Allows students to respond to their surroundings in their own unique ways.
Challenges students beyond regular curriculum.
A chance to explore topics of interest in depth.
Prepares students for future of lifelong learning.
Middle School Life SPECTRUM
Anoop advises:
“Focus on the now, you’re only going to get 3 yrs in middle school until you go to high school and are loaded with work. Explore your interests now and take up a hobby.”
You’ll learn logical thinking skills,
group skills, and experience fun
competition. You will NOT be bored!
Middle School Life SPECTRUM
Spectrum taught me leadership & teamwork.
You might [be stumped by a problem] like in the warmup but it’s ok because you’re all there to learn. You also might have clashes between your peers but it is important to learn to overcome those hurdles.Stay organized. It is a useful skill for
now and all your life.
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 of the learning.
Education
*B.A., College of William & Mary
*M.Ed., UVA, Educational Leadership, Gifted Ed
Experience
*15 yrs in education, 12 yrs in gifted, 5 yrs LCPS
*3rd year at RBMS
*Former Educational Adviser, Young Scholars Program, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
• Toured > 40 U.S. colleges
• Summer @ Montpelier www.Montpelier.org/dig
6th – Who Knew? Intro activity
7th – Personalized license plates
8th – Riddle Poems
Same for 6th - 8th grade:
* Composition Book (not a spiral)
*Pocket folder labeled SPECTRUM, w/ paper
* Writing utensil
*Agenda Book
Optional: Calculator Smartphone (off until
directed otherwise by me)
All the below also provided by teacher: Colored Pencils Highlighter
6th & 7th grade:
•Entire year, every other day
•1/2 of the block, 42 min
•Instead of 42 min of resource block
8th grade:
◦Both Spectrum and 42 min Resource
◦Students have Resource after Spectrum
Semester 1
Technology & Engineering: Team problem-solving challenge, using math and critical thinking
Communication & Culture: Dig It! Archaeology unit
Semester 2 Business & Economics: Entrepreneurship
Ethics & Perspectives: Survival Scenarios, independent study (time permitting)
Looking to have a small group of parents who are willing to “dig deep” in the archaeological site…
Bring Shovels, Water Bottles and a smile!
Technology & Engineering: Contests, Independent study projects
Business & Econ: Stock Market Game
Communication & Culture: Lifestyle Auction, Resume-writing
Ethics & Perspectives: Mystery Illness / Dilemma
Open to current 8th graders
Academic scholarship, extra-curricular activity, character, community service and leadership
Meant to promote academic success and service
LCPS gifted service is a special service for identified students, like those for other special groups.
It is the students’ responsibility to be present for the whole SPECTRUM time. Teachers are asked not to “pull” students from SPECTRUM.
Students are expected to GIVE FULL EFFORT in SPECTRUM
Students may have devices in my classroom for instructional use.
Chromebooks available if needed for research or word processing.
Think: Is it
◦True?
◦Helpful?
◦ Inspirational?
◦Necessary?
◦Kind?
Using deductive reasoning to solve mysteries & other complex problems
Learning to build consensus
Collaboration on culture & communications projects
Internet research to enhance learning
No Homework
“Don’t let the cat
out of the bag!”
Chance to be with intellectual peers
Safe place where it’s okay to be “smart” and excited about learning
Ongoing
Formal semester report to parents
Personalized narrative comments
4 Skills: Thinking, Research, Interactive, and Independent Learning
Assessment Report sent home in January & June
Ms. Sherri Robinson, School Counselor
TJ Info Night: Sept 21, 6PM
RBMS AUDITORIUM
September 19 – Applications available
October 14 – Application Deadline
Test Prep sessions: 4 classes Must be an 8th grader to participate
Oct 6, Oct 13, Nov 2, Nov 16 after school
*December 3 – Test Day
*January 13 – Semifinalist Notification
*Sat., January 28 – Essay and SIS given
*April 30 – Final Decisions sent home
If students cannot attend, see sample test on TJ’s website
Located at Dominion High School
Competitive Entry-Essay & Letters of Rec
Students attend AOS on alternating days with their home school
Deadline for Part I of AOS application -Thursday September 22 at 11:59pm
See Handout for important dates
Oct 15: PSAT administered at Dominion HS for AOS applicants.
Jan 9th: Finalists will be notified. Submit Part II.
Feb 12th: Absolute deadline to submit Part II.
Yes. However, keep in mind that the acceptance letters are sent at different timeframes.
Creative Problem-Solving Team Contest
Solve problems from building machines to presenting their own interpretations of literary
classics.
WEBSITE: www.odysseyofthemind.com
Hoagies Gifted site: www.hoagiesgifted.com
CTY Imagine Magazine and Cogito.org (for young scientists) Website
Art of Problem Solving Courses www.artofproblemsolving.com
Clubs: Odyssey of the Mind
Math Counts
Science Olympiad Leo Club
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
Friday Sept. 30, 3:30-7:30 Foxcroft Jump Into Game Design – for girls only
Grade 7: JKCF Young Scholars Program (www.jkcf.org)
Grade 8: Thomas Jefferson HSST, AOS, AET
Check out the website: www.stepuploudoun.org
“A Call to Action” for Youth
Win prizes up to $1,000 for community
leadership and service
“Science Fair” displays and “Elevator Pitches”
You will now go to your child’s
“Facetime/Homeroom”.
Email is best way to reach me:
I look forward to working with your child in the upcoming year(s)!!
Thank you very much for coming to the Spectrum
Back-to-School Night and for caring about your child’s
education.
NAGC – National Association for Gifted Children www.nagc.org
VAG – Virginia Association for the Gifted www.vagifted.org
SENG – Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted www.sengifted.org
Davidson Institute for Talent Development, www.davidsongifted.org
Duke Talent Identification Program, www.tip.duke.edu
ACA - American Counseling Association, www.counseling.org