Discovery What’s It All About?

We Meet Three Times Per Week In A “Pull Out” Format / Flex (30 minutes) / Course 1 ( minutes) / Course 2 ( minutes) / Flex (30 minutes) / Course 1 ( minutes) / Course 2 ( minutes)

What the Heck Is Flex? / Good Question. Flex is 30 minutes of time for students to pursue an area of interest on their own. Most students visit one of the centers although they may also use the time for class work help, reading, long term project catch up, etc.

What Centers? / Critter Corner / Science / Arts & Crafts / Computers / Puzzles & Games / Critter Corner / Science / Arts & Crafts / Computers / Puzzles & Games

So What Do You Do In Their Courses? You ask good questions… / There are course specific skills taught, but there are commonalities across all courses as well You ask good questions… / There are course specific skills taught, but there are commonalities across all courses as well

Huh? Every course emphasizes thinking, creativity and communication skills and each lesson contains a standard or anchor emphasized by NASD and the State of Pennsylvania.

Ok, and? Individual courses go further and emphasize a skill specific to that course - for example: Individual courses go further and emphasize a skill specific to that course - for example:

/ I-Search: Research and organizational skills / Writer’s Workshop: The writing process / Great Books: Discussion techniques and understanding the author’s purpose / K’NEX: Developing a deeper understanding of science and math through manipulatives / Games: Cooperative learning, teambuilding, logic and strategy development / E Missions: Math and science skills in a real world simulation (NASA Space Mission) You get the idea… / I-Search: Research and organizational skills / Writer’s Workshop: The writing process / Great Books: Discussion techniques and understanding the author’s purpose / K’NEX: Developing a deeper understanding of science and math through manipulatives / Games: Cooperative learning, teambuilding, logic and strategy development / E Missions: Math and science skills in a real world simulation (NASA Space Mission) You get the idea…

Do You Assign Grades? How do You Assess Progress? Well..yes and no. Stay with me here… / Everything a student does in Discovery is assigned points. Students attempt to get the most points they can in any given month. Well..yes and no. Stay with me here… / Everything a student does in Discovery is assigned points. Students attempt to get the most points they can in any given month.

And How Do They Get Points? / Class work / Course Projects / Reflection Sheets / Class work / Course Projects / Reflection Sheets

I Don’t Get It / Class work is anything the student does while they are with me in class. Worksheets, mini quizzes etc.

Uh…ok… Course Projects are usually the end product of a particular course: / I-Search presentation / Speech / Newsletter / E Missions Field Trip Course Projects are usually the end product of a particular course: / I-Search presentation / Speech / Newsletter / E Missions Field Trip

So Far So Good… Students are required to write a Reflection Sheet after each class. These should take no more than 5 minutes. The student should describe the lesson and what he or she has learned. These are nice checks for me to see if the kids are “getting” what I intend as well as helping the student to develop real world writing skills.

How Do We Know How They’re Doing? At the end of each month you will receive a progress report listing the points your child has earned for that month. I will also note how many points he or she should have received if all reflection sheets were turned in.

What Do I Do With The Progress Report? / You sign it, and return it to me. / When I have it back, I will validate the paycheck that was attached and file the report for my records / You sign it, and return it to me. / When I have it back, I will validate the paycheck that was attached and file the report for my records

Paycheck? Paycheck??? / Every point a student earns equates to a Casey Buck. / If a student earns 40 points in a month, his paycheck will be $40. / He or she will then deposit the money into their bank account. / Every point a student earns equates to a Casey Buck. / If a student earns 40 points in a month, his paycheck will be $40. / He or she will then deposit the money into their bank account.

What Bank Account?? / Each student has his own checkbook and must keep track of all monies earned from work that has been completed. Checkbooks must be balanced and accurate records kept. Checkbooks are kept in their mailboxes along with returned work.

Hmmm…then what? The fun part! There are many opportunities for students to spend their money: / Shopping at the “KC Penny” store / Having a private lunch in class / Bringing a friend to Discovery / Having a pizza party Etc. The fun part! There are many opportunities for students to spend their money: / Shopping at the “KC Penny” store / Having a private lunch in class / Bringing a friend to Discovery / Having a pizza party Etc.

Cool! / To buy something, the student must pay for the item by writing out a check correctly, giving it to me, then balancing their checkbook. / PS: All materials are actual Wachovia Bank supplies! / To buy something, the student must pay for the item by writing out a check correctly, giving it to me, then balancing their checkbook. / PS: All materials are actual Wachovia Bank supplies!

Anything Else I Should Know? Yep - Portfolios! / There is a major presentation at the end of the year when each student is assessed as basic, proficient or advanced for Discovery. Each student is expected to review their portfolio binder and their year’s work in front of the class. Parents are invited to be in the audience. Yep - Portfolios! / There is a major presentation at the end of the year when each student is assessed as basic, proficient or advanced for Discovery. Each student is expected to review their portfolio binder and their year’s work in front of the class. Parents are invited to be in the audience.

Uh Oh… / Don’t fret. The kids do really well. I spend two weeks preparing them, providing a rubric and scheduling time to rehearse.

So They Need Binders? Yep. Any three ring binder is sufficient, along with a set of dividers - at least 7.

Could You Summarize All This In One Slide? / I see students 3 times a week in a pull out format / All work is assigned points and is kept in their 3 ring binder / The big ticket items are the major course projects / Writing reflection sheets is vital! / I issue progress reports once a month listing how many points were earned along with a paycheck / Students deposit their paycheck into their account and draw from it using real checks when they want to purchase something / I see students 3 times a week in a pull out format / All work is assigned points and is kept in their 3 ring binder / The big ticket items are the major course projects / Writing reflection sheets is vital! / I issue progress reports once a month listing how many points were earned along with a paycheck / Students deposit their paycheck into their account and draw from it using real checks when they want to purchase something

There You Have It! If you have any questions, please never hesitate to contact me. E Mail: Phone: ext If you have any questions, please never hesitate to contact me. E Mail: Phone: ext. 1708