Welcome to Jackson R2’s ALERT Program: Grades 1-5 Staci Beussink, Gifted Facilitator

What is ALERT? Advanced Learning Enrichment Research & Technology

Program Components Only tested ONCE  Automatically enrolled from year to year My program: Elementary 1-4 (& West Lane 5th) Middle School 5-7 (Mrs. Glisson) Junior High: 8th grade science (Mr. Brummel) HS: Advanced, dual credit coursework Program Components

Class Schedule Each student attends once a week, for ½ day – a morning or afternoon session Session depends on the school’s location, regular class schedule, and transportation Classes may be one grade level, or a mix of two grades

Transportation Morning Session: North, Millersville, and Gordonville students ride/switch bus into town their morning of ALERT. South and Orchard students check in at school first and ride ALERT bus over. (Check with home school to find the bus # into West Lane) Parochial students are provided their transportation through IC and St. Paul. Afternoon Session: Students are picked up and dropped off at their home school.

Class Info Class supplies 1 inch view binder 5 tab dividers “take-home” folder to transport papers Emergency Contact Information Sheet - Family Directory - Preferred Email Address – notes, reminders & newsletters - Email Message for class cancelation

Units of Study Thinkercises & Warm-Up: A Brain-Up and way for me to give you quick feedback All projects are done in class Topics of study vary from year to year, based on student interest 2-3 major units of study each year Most all school supplies are provided, occasionally may ask help in securing specific items for projects Grade levels may be combined for units

Performance Standards

Assessing Performance

1st & 2nd Grade Introducing project-style products to demonstrate learning and expression of ideas and creativity Projects are typically individual, students may be grouped together as a “team” but will each have their own activity to complete. Identifying learning strengths and multiple intelligences Scaffolded activities that teach organization through checklists, scoring criteria and expectations “Book” Research primarily Technology – Internet terminology & search engines, intro to PowerPoint, Word, web page design

3rd & 4th Grade Implementing project-style products to demonstrate learning and expression of ideas and creativity Projects include more partner/team collaboration, students are typically grouped together as a “team” to share and adapt ideas Using learning styles and multiple intelligences to select product choices that utilize their strengths Semi-scaffolded activities that teach organization through checklists, scoring criteria and expectations Research – both “paper” and technological Technology – Internet key words, reliable sources, search terminology; implement PowerPoint, web page design, Word, Excel

5th Grade Implementing project-style products to demonstrate learning and expression of ideas and creativity Projects are now almost exclusively individual, may include occasional partner/team collaboration Using learning styles and multiple intelligences to select products that utilize their strengths Activity choices that require organization through checklists, scoring criteria and expectations Research– both “paper” and technological Technology – Internet key words, reliable sources, citation, search terminology; implement PowerPoint, web page design, Word, Excel

Special Project Every 3-4 years we publish a small cookbook of family favorites to practice word processing skills, editing, grammar. And of course for fun! We compile and type ourselves. To raise money for our technology, last year we published a cookbook and hope to finish selling so that we can purchase 1-2 more computers this year!

St Jude Math-a-Thon Every 2 years we participate in a Math-a-Thon for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Since 2005, we have collected sponsors and donations in five fundraising events that have raised $18,000+ from the efforts of our ALERT students and families!

Standards-Based Report Cards What does it mean for you and your child? Formative Assessment Customized/alternate/tiered lessons Choices in demonstrating MASTERY (3)

ALERT Summer School? Believe it or not, YES! Two alternating summer units are offered Crime Investigations & Mysteries Don’t Myth Out! Greek Mythology & Heroes

Program Needs Your support and advocacy for gifted education! Be vocal but be positive! www.mogam.org Be involved in your child’s regular classroom too!  Expose your child to as many different learning experiences – help those neural dendrites make connections, those new paths enable learning! Continued updating & replacing our ALERT technology resources – Ideas or suggestions?

Thank YOU! ALERT Website: Located under www.jacksonr2schools.com Under West Lane Elementary, Employee Listing, “visit website” next to my name Email Address: sbeussink@jackson.k12.mo.us