1. The “Creekside Kids” Team C U R R I C U L U M N I G H T September 8, 2014
HAG Vision Statement
The aim of the Highly Academically Gifted Program is to develop future leaders who have the intellectual skills, attitudes, and character traits needed to meet the challenges of a complex, rapidly changing world.
HAG Mission Statement
Instructors will create a rigorous academic environment that provides numerous and varied interdisciplinary learning challenges utilizing the following instructional strategies: differentiation, shared inquiry, acceleration, enrichment, technology, and reflection.

2. 5th Grade Expectations for All
Greater maturity in all areas – academic, behavior, work/study skills & habits
Increased independence in doing assignments, organizing tasks, etc.
Using the Student Planner to keep track of assignments
Responsibility for Tuesday packet communications
Cursive handwriting on some work
Proofreading to correct writing mechanics (capitalization, punctuation, spelling, grammar)
Heading a paper (name, date, subject, assignment) and organizing work with problem numbers
Studying for tests, quizzes, and reviewing nightly in all subjects

3. HAG Expectations HAG Expectations include all regular 5th grade
expectations, PLUS:
Advanced content, skills, concepts
Accelerated pace & greater complexity
Developing advanced information and communication skills
Learning to cope with challenge; developing effective work habits, asking questions, etc.

4. Academically Gifted Student Progress Report
Purpose – Provide insight on the goals, strengths, and areas for growth for each child
Goals / Objective Area –
Risk-taking
Creative and critical thinking
Problem Solving
Time Management
Motivation & Self-Discipline
Task Commitment
Interpersonal Relationships
Reflective Thinking
Speaking and Listening
Two times during the school year – Fall and Spring

5. Math Topics include: The Number System Algebraic Expressions
Equations, Inequalities, & Applications
Rate & Ratio
Area, Volume, & Application
Statistics & Distributions
Rational Numbers
Geometry
Probability
Percent
Superstars, 24 Challenge, … and more!

6. Literature Works that may be read: A Single Shard, by Linda Sue Park
The View from Saturday, by E.L. Konigsburg
A Wrinkle In Time, by Madeleine L’Engle
Out of the Dust, by Karen Hesse
Al Capone Does My Shirts, by Gennifer Choldenko
The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Cay, by Theodore Taylor
The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare
Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes
Wonder, by R.J. Palacio
Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine
Drizzle, by Kathleen Van Cleve
Bull Run, by Paul Fleischman
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg, by Rodman Philbrick
The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis
and others…

7. Social Studies Units include:
Native Americans & Explorers of North America
Colonial America
American Revolution & U.S. Government
The Growing Nation
The Civil War
Reconstruction
Economics, Geography, Culture, and Civics & Government taught within historical contexts.
Financial Literacy 2nd semester

8. Science Topics include: Earth Systems, Structures and Processes
Matter: Properties and Change
Energy: Conservation and Transfer
Ecosystems
Forces and Motion
Evolution and Genetics
Structures and Functions of Living Organisms
ExploraVision, Engineering is Elementary Kits, Science Fair, and RiverXchange will be a part of Science this year.

9. Language Arts Topics include: Note-taking Summarizing Presenting
Narrative Composition
Expository Composition
Persuasive Composition
Poetry
Writing Mechanics, Cursive
Grammar
Greek & Latin Roots
Language Arts (roadmaps)

10. Technology Possible tools include: Livebinders Edmodo Glogster Word
Technology will be integrated throughout the curriculum.
Possible tools include:
Livebinders Edmodo
Glogster Word
PowerPoint Excel
Museum Box Prezi
Flip Charts Wikis & Blogs
… and a wide variety of education search engines and databases
User safety, as well as ethical and scholarly use, will be emphasized.
Teacher web pages, Technology class

11. Homework
Homework Policy #6154 adopted October 2009 explains the purpose, characteristics, guidelines, and completion time schedules.
Average Time Estimate, excluding reading:
Elementary gr. 5: minutes daily
Middle Schools gr. 6-8: minutes daily

12. Other Information Arrival 8:00 (morning work)
Dismissal 2:45 (send notes)
Power School
Make-up Tests (Wednesdays)
Tuesday Packets
Family Life (Spring)
Field Trips (Trinity Center
December , 2014;
others under discussion)

14. Visit the website at www.wsfcsvolunteers.com.
All Volunteers must submit an online registration form.
Previously approved Level 2 volunteers, will need to login, update, and re-submit.
Visit the website at
New Volunteers and Level 1 Volunteers
Click “New Volunteer? Click Here to Register.” This will open the form.
Level 2 Volunteers
1. Login using your First Initial and Last Name as your login (JSMITH) (no spaces, all capitals). Use your birth date as the password (mm/dd/yyyy).
2. Update your information (required information has an asterisk) including the schools you volunteer at. You will need your driver's license number.
3. Select at least one school*.
4. Select at least one volunteer interest
5. If your SSN is not visible you will need to add it and select the appropriate Unsupervised volunteer interest, you will be re-approved.
6. Make note of your NEW login and password for future updates. Changing your login AND password is required to complete the update once your have logged in.
7. Click submit to complete the update.

15. Together, we can make it
terrific year for your fifth grader!