1. As you enter… Please find a seat Fill out an index card with the following: – Your child’s name and class period – Your name(s) and email address(es) – On the back of the card, please tell me something I should know about your child or that you would like to share (yes…you can brag)

2. Helena Middle School Overview of gifted classes Ms. Luci Tucker ptucker@shelbyed.k12.al.us 205-682-5300 251-377-6404 Blog: http://podcasts.shelbyed.k12.al.us/ptucker/

3. How is GRC at HMS different than GRC at HIS? GRC in middle school is offered through an academic format…ELA (English Language Arts) ELA is a graded core academic subject area in middle school; thus, GRC is a graded class GRC meets daily for one class period

4. Grading Starting this school year, grades are divided into categories and will be weighted. Three categories…gold, silver, and bronze…will be used, with gold activities weighted more heavily (ex: tests, projects) and bronze activities weighted the least heavily (ex: homework, bellringers, etc.) Progress reports will be sent home in the middle of the nine weeks and a nine weeks report card will be sent home at the end of each 9 week grading period.

5. Reading Logs and Independent Reading Projects In order to instill and promote the habit and love of reading, I have a two-fold program for independent reading. This includes a reading log and one-pagers. Reading logs will count as homework points (bronze) and one-pagers will count as project grades (gold). Reading logs and one-pagers are generally the only homework I assign.

6. Reading Logs – 1. Students are to read and document a MINIMUM of 100 minutes every week on a reading log. This is to be signed by an adult in order for the student to receive credit. – 2. Whenever a student finishes a book, he/she may check a new book out from the school, public, or classroom library; regardless of whether we have started a new reading log or not. – 3. Reading logs are collected every Friday.

7. One-pagers – ONE one-pager is due each nine weeks – Two different formats of one-pagers will be available each nine weeks. A student will need to complete ONE of the two formats – One-pagers are the chance to reflect on the book and some specific characteristic about it.

8. Camp McDowell Environmental camp located in the Jasper, Alabama area Dates: April 13-15, 2016 Cost: approximately $175 Objectives: – Increase student’s appreciation, knowledge and understanding of environmental science – Encourage a sense of responsibility for the environment – Foster cooperation and a community feeling

9. As you exit… Please place the pens back in the baskets on the tables Please drop your index card into the box on the desk near the door