Saint Timothy Catholic School Advanced Academics Math and Language Arts

The Mission To provide a more rigorous curriculum To use an on-going assessment so that all students have access to advanced academics at the point where they are developmentally ready. To assist classroom teachers with individualized instruction and differentiation.

The Ultimate Goal of the program is to: Advanced Math Program Throughout this presentation the AA teacher stands for Advanced Academics Teacher. The Ultimate Goal of the program is to: To establish a clear middle school math track so that students who meet the established Diocesan Math benchmarks can take: Pre-Algebra in 6th grade, Algebra in 7th grade, and Geometry in 8th grade.

Advanced Math Program For each chapter in math, for grades 3-4-5: Students and parents are notified by the homeroom teacher of the date of the Math chapter pretest. The 3-4-5 teachers give an assessment prior to the anticipated start of the chapter. The 3-4-5 teachers and the AA teacher meet to identify eligible students based on the assessment.

Advanced Math Program The grade 3-4-5 teachers set the pace for the chapter. The AA teacher is responsible for lesson planning, grading and parent communication during the chapter for those students in the accelerated class.

Advanced Math Curriculum The grade level unit is compacted so that students review and master grade level skills. This will prevent gaps in student knowledge. Students then complete the correlated unit one level together. At the conclusion of the accelerated unit, students return to the regular classroom, take the next assessment, and the cycle begins again.

Student Assignments Students work on accelerated material when appropriate and are in the regular classroom for grade-level math when needed. The ultimate in differentiation and individualized instruction! All assignments will be posted on my Teacher Web page.

Inclusion The emphasis is placed on logical and critical thinking. Students will be encouraged to participate in school competitions. I will also be working with the First and Second grade students in their classrooms.

Advanced Writing Program The Ultimate Goal To encourage and enhance composition and creative writing skills, so that students will learn to enjoy writing and be better prepared for middle and high school challenges. The AA teacher means the Advanced Academics Teacher.

The Advanced Writing Program This program is voluntary. The AA teacher will send out an email to the 3-4-5 grade parents and students listing the assignments for each quarter and the requirements. Parents send an email to the AA teacher if their child wants to participate. At the beginning of each quarter, students remain in the classroom for instruction on the elements of a particular type of writing.

Student Assignments Students participate in an approximately six week writing program, “6 + 1 Traits of Writing” Designed to challenge students with a variety of writing and publishing opportunities. The AA teacher is responsible for lesson planning and parent communication during the unit for those students in the accelerated class.

Advanced Writing Curriculum Quarter One will focus on writing Descriptive Paragraphs. Quarter Two will focus on Informative/Narrative Paragraphs. Quarter Three will focus on Expository/Persuasive Writing. Quarter Four will focus on Informative/Play Writing.

Inclusion Students will participate in writing contests throughout the year. Assignments will be posted on my Teacher web page. The students will publish selected works at the end of the year in a Literary Magazine. I will also be working with the first and second grades in their classroom as well as working on the Adventures of our Traveling Tigers.

Questions… Questions are always welcome. Please feel free to contact me at: handerson@sttimothyparish.org Or, contact Mr. McLaughlin at: jmclaughlin@sttimothyparish.org