FUTURA Developing the Intellect through Inquiry and Investigation Show this slide as people enter. 2017-2018 Systems

Meet the Teacher Elizabeth Bowers *

What is FUTURA? Facilitating Understanding Through Utilizing Real Life Applications *

LCPS Gifted Education Goals #1 To become divergent creative thinkers who recognize problems and solve them. #2 To construct personal meaning and understanding of others and of the world around them. #3 To develop the capacity for self assessment. (ownership of the learning)

Cardinal RidgeFUTURA Center Monday – Assist in other schools Tuesday – Cardinal Ridge 5th  Wednesday – Cardinal Ridge 4th Thursday – Little River 5th Friday – Little River 4th Our classroom is Room 128 Mixing 4th and 5th - Our curriculum is open ended and isn't leveled academically.  It spans several grades and subject areas.  This gives our students the opportunity to work with students from other grades and possibly other schools.   *

Cardinal Ridge Elementary School Student Behavior Management Guidelines   Hallway Stairs Cafeteria Playground Bathroom Arrival Dismissal Bus Respect Yourself I will: keep my hands to myself use walking feet keep my hand on the rail use walking feet and each step stay seated raise my hand to ask for help play safely walk into and out of the building stay in the recess boundaries wash my hands with soap and water and use paper towels to dry them use a quiet voice go to my assigned area when arriving go to my assigned area after school face forward Respect Others walk quietly walk in a straight, single file line walk on the right side eat only my own food stay in my seat line up quietly keep my hands and feet to myself play fair and think of others enter and leave quietly give others privacy quietly move through hallways, the cafeteria, and stairways stay in line and listen for the teachers’ directions Respect Property keep my hands to myself at my side avoid items hanging on the wall clean up my trash from the table and the floor keep rocks and twigs on the ground use the equipment for the right purpose share the recess equipment return the recess equipment to its proper place place all trash in the trash can use only what I need report bathroom problems to an adult go directly to my bus or parent/guardian from the class line not eat or drink on the bus keep our bus clean keep my device in my backpack

FUTURA Expectations Productivity Commitment to the task Collaboration

Tentative Daily Schedule Take Bus to FUTURA center 9:00-9:15 Arrive at FUTURA center 9:15-10:00 Interest Development Centers 10:00-12:05 Systems Investigations 12:05-12:35 Lunch 12:40-12:55 Recess 1:00-1:40 Creative Problem Solving 1:45 Take Bus back to home school Students are actively working/learning the entire time they are in FUTURA. There are no specials during FUTURA. *

Cardinal Ridge Elementary School    If your child is going to be absent, please call your home school as well as Cardinal Ridge Elementary School *571-367-4021

Lunch Students may bring their lunch from home or buy at the FUTURA center. Lunch accounts are interconnected with your child’s home school. Please make sure they have money in their account if they plan to buy lunch at FUTURA. There are no snacks in the rooms at Cardinal Ridge. Make sure students eat a good breakfast. *

Interest Development Centers FUTURA students have the opportunity to choose activities based on interest and learning style while working at their pace. Students learn task commitment and time management skills. Reflect on individual accomplishments and set goals. *

Class Systems Investigations   Examples of possible topics include: Weather, Solar, Economic, Judicial, Body, Ecosystems

Essential Understandings of Systems Systems have design Systems can change Systems have boundaries Systems have a function Systems have parts that interact

Binder Your child is responsible for bringing his/her binder each week. FUTURA *

Assessments A performance assessment is given at the end of each semester. (late January and again in June) Informal assessments are ongoing. Students are often asked to complete self-assessments on various products. This allows them to reflect on their learning. A copy of the FUTURA Assessment can be found in your child’s binder. *

At home, FUTURA students may need to: Homework Policy Home School Homework - Students have two days to make up any missed assignments. At home, FUTURA students may need to: Continue FUTURA research Bring in materials for certain lessons Renzulli – Coming Soon!

Bring Your Own Technology FUTURA students will have the opportunity to participate in BYOT. Information was sent home with the students. This is a family decision. It is not mandatory.

Please Check The FUTURA Website

Cardinal Ridge Elementary Communication Cardinal Ridge Elementary 571-367-4021 or e-mail me: Elizabeth.bowers@lcps.org Check the FUTURA website for newsletters. Check the binders for project information and grades on projects. *

Guest Speakers elizabeth.bowers@lcps.org Parent Experts Wanted! This year’s theme is Systems. Please contact me if you have experience in any of the following topics and you would like to share information with the class. If you feel that you have an expertise that can connect to Systems in another way please let me know, as well. Thank you so much for considering this. Information from the real world helps FUTURA students make more in-depth connections. Image result for system -Solar System/Space Technology -Biology/Body Systems -Computer Systems -Weather Systems -The Environment -Economics/Stock Market -Legal System with Mock Trials elizabeth.bowers@lcps.org When you contact me please let me know your child's name, school, and grade. I will arrange with you a convenient date and time that corresponds with your child's FUTURA day.

Thank You For Your Support We look forward to a great year of FUTURA. Please feel free to visit the classroom briefly after the presentation (CRE parents until 6:45PM). Due to the confidential nature of gifted students, please refrain from taking pictures in the classrooms. Bowers: RM 128