Welcome, GATE parents!

Welcome, GATE parents! Thurston Middle School: 2012-2013 Amy Cochren: Thurston GATE coordinator

Unique School Community • Property tax funded school district • High percentage of proficient and advanced students • Generosity of School Power and PTA • Small district and class sizes • Advanced curriculum and opportunities

Strong Growth of Thurston • Consistency of staff • Whole-child approach • Investment in professional development • Investment in our students’ 21st century needs • District and School Board focused on excellent education for all

PTA and School Power • Generous grants and support allow students and teachers to have the best. • We are able to continue to grow and wish while surrounding schools are making funding choices.

Opportunities Given: • Classroom sets of computers (4-6) • Teacher requests • Funding for Track and Field Day, Renaissance Day, Science Camp, Oral History Luncheon, etc • Mandarin Chinese after-school program • Foreign Language promotion • Zero period opportunity

GATE Student Involvement • Student Choice • Development of Interests • Promotion of Strengths • Development of Weaknesses: find a challenge area whether it is in work ethic, communication, responsibility, involvement on campus, leadership, etc

Middle School vs. Elementary • Rotation of six classes • Opportunity of zero period • Choice of electives • Offering of academic competitions • Availability of leadership groups (PALs, ASB) • Choice of clubs • Grouping in clusters

Daily Classes • science • social studies • math • language arts • physical education • elective • zero period = extra elective

Cluster Grouping • Math and Language Arts • Opportunity to work with other gifted students and gifted and talented teachers • Differentiation in teaching and learning strategies

Teachers of GATE • Recognize and nurture behaviors of gifted • Create conditions in which all students are stretched to learn • Provide grouping opportunities for gifted students to work within clusters • Are flexible in their teaching style and comfortable in allowing kids more flexibility in their learning behaviors

Teachers of GATE • Techniques in Questioning • Strategies of Assessment • Tiered Assignment Options • Compacting of Curriculum • Facilitation of Leadership • Characteristics of Gifted

Gifted Characteristics • Have a strong sense of justice • Possess strong problem-solving abilities • Display a keen sense of humor • Demonstrate more intense emotional or physical sensitivity • Learn rapidly without repetition

Characteristics (cont) • Possess a large store of information about a variety of subjects • Desire to question authority • Develop more of a global awareness • Are passionate in their interest areas • Insatiable curiosity

Teachers will differ the … • Acceleration • Depth • Novelty • Complexity

Communication home? • I was offered choices for a project or assessment. • I was placed in tiered-grouping in order to work on a more complex concept. • I was encouraged to work toward more advanced standards .

Or, will they share… • My teacher varied his/her questioning strategies because I was in a GATE cluster. • My class spent more time on an advanced concept than a non-GATE class .

Middle School Students • experience physical growth and intellectual growth but brain development continues into the 20’s • focus increases on peer acceptance of how they see themselves • want more control in their choices but benefit in earning that

Individual Learning Plans • Sixth Grade: Ms. C to meet with students at an ESP in November; language arts’ teacher to collect ILP • Seventh Grade: Ms. C to meet with students • Eighth Grade: language arts’ or math teachers available; end of the year with counselors Don’t be afraid to communicate with us if your child needs a more thorough plan!

Language Arts • Promotion of a solid foundation in grammar, reading comprehension, literary analysis, and writing applications • Focus on depth and acceleration with “Above and Beyond” challenges • Differentiated choice in independent reading and writing objectives

Language Arts’ Clubs • Spelling Bee Club • Mythology Club • Vocabulary Club

Electives • Sixth Grade Wheel • Physical Education • Foreign Language • Drama • Multi-Media • Year Book • Leadership • Art • Choir and Instrumental Music • Home Economics

Math Acceleration • Summer testing • Pre-Algebra • Algebra • Geometry • Cluster grouping

Clubs: See Thurston Homepage • Spanish Club • French Club • Geography Club • Science Olympiad Club • Spelling Bee Club • SAT Vocabulary Club • Mythology Club • Math Club

Clubs: continued • Weightlifting Club • Running Club • Buddy Club • Broadway Club * A club can be created by a parent with a teacher sponsorship!

Grade 6: Individual Learning Plan • Sixth grade students will attend an ESP meeting in November. • We will goal set and discuss opportunities. • Students will receive an ILP form to bring home. • Ms. Schaeffer or I will conference with students when the ILP is returned.

Grade 7: Individual Learning Plan • Seventh grade students will meet with me during language arts’ class. • We will goal set, and students will receive the ILP to bring home. • I will conference with seventh grade students that return the ILP. (optional return)

Grade 8: Individual Learning Plan • Eighth grade students will meet with Ms. Silver during language arts’ class. • They will goal set, and students will receive the ILP to bring home. • She will conference with those students who return the ILP form. (optional return)

California Association for the Gifted • What is it? Support organization for parents of gifted • Resources? Suggested reading; Quarterly publication ; workshops ; annual teacher and parent convention www.cagifed.org

Any ideas? • A club you might like to sponsor? • An after school activity? • A field trip? We have hosted workshops and trips, but attendance is difficult due to busy schedules!

Communication Home • Principal’s weekly update • School website • Teacher blogs • Aeries’ online grades • School calendar • GATE blog • Newsletters: fall and spring

Welcome, GATE parents!