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

2. What is ALERT?
Advanced
Learning
Enrichment
Research &
Technology

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

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

7. 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

8. Performance Standards

9. Assessing Performance

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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!

14. 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!

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

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

17. Program Needs
Your support and advocacy for gifted education! Be vocal but be positive!
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?

18. Thank YOU! ALERT Website: Located under www.jacksonr2schools.com
Under West Lane Elementary, Employee Listing, “visit website” next to my name
Address: