Gifted Information and 7G Expectations

Gifted Education

The Rockford Public Schools provides gifted education programs in the most efficient, effective and economic manner so that our children can realize their contribution to themselves and to society. Students who are identified as having the potential to exhibit high academic ability and/or performance will be served in the program.

The Academic Gifted Education Program will provide selected students a curriculum that is differentiated from the standard district curriculum. This differentiation will include:

• Compacting knowledge and skills of the basic curriculum
• Extending the breadth and depth of the curriculum through alternative and enriched course content, thinking process and varied products which address different learning styles,
• Providing an environment of intellectual peers supportive to academic growth and high achievement.

The Characteristics of the Gifted Student

Gifted individuals possess many of the following traits:

• Enjoys the challenge and involvement of intellectual and creative tasks.
• Prefers complex tasks and processes information in complex ways.
• Acquired basic skills rapidly and with a minimum of practice.
• Comprehends advanced ideas, concepts and implications.
• Has an unusual ability to memorize.
• Is an independent thinker and seeks to act independently.
• Is intellectual curious, innovative and playful with ideas
• Has a keen and sometimes unique sense of humor.
• Explores wide ranging and special interests not usually associated with children of his/her age and relates well to peers and adults who have similar interests.
• Employs high intellectual and creative skills in assessing his physical and social environment, in solving problems and in creating products.
• Demonstrates richness of imagery in informal language and brainstorming. Generates many ideas and multiple solutions to problems.
• Formulates abstractions while very young and shows facility in moving from concrete to abstract levels of thinking and communicating.

The above except is from the website of the Rockford Public Schools.

7G Information and Expectations

     The world has become a very different place for a new generation, and it continues to change rapidly. We are in a time where the amount of information available multiplies exponentially and is accessed in ways that didn't exist 20 years ago. Ultimately, today's students will require much different job skills than they did yesterday as the job market changes rapidly. The job skills that will be required of them will include teamwork, problem solving skills, clear communication and listening skills, responsibility, self-management and direction, and high levels of technical literacy.  These, incidentally, will be the same skills they will need to develop to get through high school and college.

     As educators, our goals must include teaching our students to become self-reliant, responsible and prepared for their futures.  To that end, students must be taught to be accountable, to gather and process information, to apply information to new situations, to problem solve, to analyze, to use new technology, and to demonstrate understanding in products or presentation.  We will work to provide students with the skills needed as they head into this new millennium. We have high expectations for all of our students and seek to provide appropriate curriculum and opportunities to meet the specific needs of the gifted learner and to challenge these students to reach their potential. However, as with all learners, appropriate effort must be exerted by the student to ensure success.  

Expectations

• Attendance is important.  As students progress through the grade levels, it becomes more difficult to make up work as more and more information comes from the teacher and not the book.  Absences have a negative effect on learning.
• If students choose to be in activities that take them out of class during the school day, such as peer mediation or PE student leaders, please be aware that we cannot excuse them from class on a test, presentation, or an experiment day. Students are still responsible to turn in assignments that are due that day and for getting assignments that are due the next day.
• On task behavior is essential for learning.  Notes or other distractions will be confiscated by the teacher.
• Safety is important.  For that reason, no backpacks or any items with straps, including purses, are allowed in the room.
• We expect good and appropriate manners from our students.  Nothing less is acceptable. 

Homework

• Homework is essential to learning.
• It reinforces what is taught in class.
• It provides verification of understanding to the student and teacher.
• It prepares students for upcoming lessons.
• It helps students develop self-discipline, responsibility, and organizational skills.
• Homework will be assigned on a regular basis and will be posted daily.  Students are expected to record homework daily in their assignment notebook.  This serves as a record for both the student and the parents.
• We encourage parents to stay involved by checking homework assignments on the website.  It is posted there daily, but as with all technology, there are the occasional technical difficulties.   This is not meant to replace the student's assignment notebook in any way, but can serve as an additional resource for both parent and student. 
• Students should use time given to work in class wisely.  Teachers provide this work time to lessen the amount of time needed at home to complete work.
• Students should plan their time at home to accommodate a daily homework time.  On an average, students can expect about one half hour of homework and studying per night, per class.  We encourage you to plan your family's schedule to allow students the time necessary for their homework.
• Students should plan on studying for tests and quizzes a little each day. We especially encourage students to learn new vocabulary by studying ten to fifteen minutes daily.
• For projects, students should plan their time well so they are not trying to complete a project over night that they have had two weeks to complete.
• All projects are due on the date given.  If a student chooses to hand a project in late, they will lose 20% of the available points the first day and 40% the second day.  Projects will not be accepted more than two days after the due date.
• All typed work must be double spaced, with one inch margins, using Times New Roman font in size 12 and printed in black.
• All work must be neat and will not be accepted if turned in on paper torn from spirals.  Students should write only on front side of paper.
• All work should have answers written in complete sentences, with proper punctuation and spelling. 
• We are happy to make arrangements to stay after school to help a student who needs extra help to understand concepts.  They only have to ask and we will plan a time.  If the student is not studying, however, we cannot study for them.

Make-up Work

• Students are responsible for getting any make-up work and due dates on the day they return in addition to taking tests or quizzes that were announced prior to their absence.
• If students are ill for a protracted period of time and parents would like to pick up homework, please be aware that we need 24 hours notice to gather it together.  We are teaching during the day and need the time after school to prepare it.
• Students are responsible for getting any information presented in class when they are not present.  Do not ask for work prior to a planned absence.  Student learning dictates our pace, and we can't tell you what we will be doing next week with certainty.  Students may make up the assignments that are available when they return.

Computer Usage

• Computer use is a privilege, not a right.  Unacceptable use of the computers, networks, or Internet may result in an immediate loss of that privilege.
• Students may not use computers without appropriate supervision and must have permission for their specific use of the computer.  We will be using computers for labs in science and the Internet for research and other projects in all classes. 
• Students are required to have a signed permission form on file in order to use the computers and Internet.
• Students are only allowed to use certain programs on the computers.  They are not allowed to change settings, modify, delete, download any programs or copy any applications or operating system files.  To do so will result in immediate loss of computer privileges.
• Students should not attempt to repair any problems with the computers. Students must not move (other than the mouse), remove, or disconnect any parts or cables.
• Students should get permission from the teacher to print. 
• We are unable to allow students to use or print from disks that come from home due to virus transport.  They can, however, email attachments to us.

Cheating

• We have NO tolerance for cheating of any kind. 
• Copying someone else's answers on homework or tests is always cheating on the part of both students involved.
• Plagiarism, using someone else’s words as one’s own, is cheating.
• Papers will be confiscated and all students involved will receive zeroes on the assignment or test.
• Parents will be notified and the student may be referred for disciplinary action.  

   Grading

• The school grading scale is used
• 90-100     = A
• 80-89      = B
• 70-79      = C
• 60-69      = D
• 59 + below  = F
• Plusses and minuses may show up on their classroom reports, but not on the report cards. 

Student Progress

• All students will receive detailed progress reports at the middle of the quarter in all four academic classes.  We ask that the signed cover sheet is returned within two school days so that we know parents have received the reports.  The reports are for the parents to keep. If you do not get the reports, please contact us immediately.  Our emails links are available on the homework page.

   Calling Time

Timely communication between the teachers and parents is important. It is often difficult for us to connect with parents during the times we have available to make calls. 

• Parents should feel free to call for information regarding their student.  We are happy to take calls at school during our team meetings in Mrs. Griffin's room.. 
• The best time to reach us is 8:30 to 9:00 AM most days
• Washington 815-966-3370

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