PROGRAM OVERVIEW Parent Information Meeting February 16 th, 2016 Rice Lake Elementary School 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Agenda Welcome Information presentation General questions Building tour
Staff Members Odyssey Third Grade Lisa Cisewski Odyssey Fourth Grade Paula Andrzejewski Odyssey Fifth Grade Anna Schneider Gifted Resource Teacher Cheryl Dettmer Social Worker Kate Foley
Programming Goal The goal of the Odyssey classrooms is to meet the academic and social/emotional needs of children who are highly gifted. Because of their academic and cognitive abilities, these children demonstrate a need for in-depth, complex curriculum that is beyond the grade level core curriculum. Level 4 full-time programming for these children will provide differentiated learning experiences and intellectual challenge that will stimulate continuous academic growth.
Our daughter has benefited a lot from the program. Most importantly, she has been challenged academically and her learning needs are being met. She has to explain and show her work a lot more which helps her with problem solving. She has also learned to do research and use various software tools which are important college readiness skills. Last, but not least, having Mrs. Foley host a discussion about various topics on giftedness helped her with self awareness and how to better deal with her social/emotional challenges. Parent of a 3 rd Grade Student 3 rd Grade Lego Robotics
Grade Levels 2016-2017 School Year Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 If you like being challenged, you should definitely come. 4 th Grade Student
2016-17 Odyssey at CMS Odyssey is districtwide programming that will expand to include grades 3-8 over the next 3 years. Gifted Services, Teaching and Learning and Centennial Middle School collaborated in a planning process for the implementation of Odyssey at CMS in the fall of the 2016-2017 school year when our first group of students enter grade 6. The changes in our son are amazing. He isn t complaining about work and comes home sharing what he is learning. He has made many good friends. Parent of a 3 rd Grade Student
Learning Pathways for Odyssey CMS Mathematics Grade 6 (2016-2017) Grade 7 (2017-2018) Grade 8 (2018-2019) Pre-algebra (1-yr acceleration) Algebra Intermediate Algebra Algebra (2-yrs acceleration) Intermediate Algebra Honors Geometry Science Grade 6 Physical Science Life Science Grade 7 Life Science Earth & Space Science Grade 8 Earth & Space Science Honors Chemistry 9 and Honors Physics 9 6 th Grade English 7 th Grade English 8 th Grade English English/Language Arts 6 th Grade Advanced English 7 th Grade Advanced English 8 th Grade Advanced English 6 th Grade Advanced English (Odyssey) 7 th Grade Advanced English (Odyssey) 8 th Grade Advanced English (Odyssey) Social Studies 6 th Grade Social Studies 7 th Grade Social Studies 8 th Grade Social Studies 6 th Grade Social Studies (Odyssey) 7 th Grade Social Studies (Odyssey) 8 th Grade Social Studies (Odyssey)
Odyssey at Rice Lake Students in Odyssey classrooms will be members of the Rice Lake school community. Class size will be aligned with the district grade ranges. Lunch, recess, and gradelevel activities will be integrated with grade level peers when possible. Students in Odyssey classrooms will participate in all-school activities.
Families are encouraged to participate in the Rice Lake parent organization. Siblings of students attending Odyssey will be able to enroll in Rice Lake Elementary if space allows at the requested grade level(s). Transportation of students to Rice Lake Elementary will be the responsibility of the family for those living outside the Rice Lake attendance area. You can share ideas and learn new things. 3 rd Grade Student
4 th Grade Science Investigation Sponges The Odyssey program has been a gift. After years of struggling with boredom in school, it has helped challenge our son for the first time. Keeping him constantly challenged allows him to stay excited about learning. Coming to Rice Lake Elementary and putting him in the Odyssey program was the best decision we made. He is happier and feels like he really fits in there. Parent of a 4 th Grade Student
Odyssey Classrooms Inquiry-based learning to encourage higher level thinking and problem-solving High level of rigor and challenge Opportunity for broader and deeper study Accelerated pace of learning Students of like abilities in classrooms Differentiated instruction to meet the learning needs of gifted students I like when Mrs. A. does all the small experiments for science. I also like the good books Mrs. A. chooses for literacy. 4 th Grade Student
Curriculum Reading/Language Arts Junior Great Books Novel units, Book Clubs Words Their Way, Word Study (Greek and Latin roots) WordMasters Math Grades 3-5 Continental Math League Problem Solving Strategies Grades 3 & 4 Everyday Math 1 year accelerated Grade 5 6 th Grade Big Ideas Everybody around you is at the same level of math and reading as you. 3 rd Grade Student
Curriculum Science Science a Closer Look Foss Kits Above grade level standards Social Studies TCI Grade level standards
Affective Needs Social and emotional development Persistence Resilience Confidence Motivation Intellectual risk taking Independence Curiosity Self-awareness and self advocacy We get discussion group with Mrs. Foley, and we get to talk about being gifted. 3 rd Grade Student
Genius Hour Genius hour is a movement that allows students to explore their own passions and encourages creativity in the classroom. It provides students a choice in what they learn during a set period of time during school. http://www.geniushour.com/what-isgenius-hour/ Choice Units Secrets of Rice Lake (Silverwood Nature Center) Minnesota International Center Art Using the Right Side of the Brain All the World s a Stage Horticulture/Beekeeping/Maple Syrup
Curriculum Students New to Grades 4 & 5 Math Goal: Close any skill gap between students currently in Odyssey and those entering grades 4 and 5 How: Identify key 4 th and 5 th grade standards for a solid foundation Process: Pre assessment in the late spring Summer mastery program Post assessment in the fall
2014-2015 Survey Parents Higher level learning challenges Intellectual risk taking encouraged Homework challenge level and amount Overall perception of Odyssey positive or very positive Students Higher level learning challenges Challenge myself in Odyssey Friends in the Odyssey classroom Choose and explore things of interest Creative thinking and problem solving skills
School Wide Opportunities Student council Peer Mentors Future Problem Solvers Reading buddies Geography Bee Continental Math League Playground buddies Art Enrichment Passport Club Writing enrichment Mentoring Word Masters
Eligibility Criteria Tier A Any one Cognitive Abilities (CogAT) score at or above the 99 th percentile and scores in reading and math at the 99 th percentile on the MAP 2-5 Tier B Any one score at or above the 98 th percentile on the CogAT and a MAP score at the 98 th percentile or higher in reading or math with supporting score at 95 th percentile or higher on MAP 2-5 in the other subject Tier C Any one score at or above the 97 th percentile on the CogAT and a MAP score at the 98 th percentile or higher in reading or math with a supporting score at 95 th percentile or higher on the MAP 2-5 in the other subject
Eligibility Criteria Students scoring at the 97 th percentile or above on three or more areas of the CogAT may be recommended for fulltime programming without qualifying achievement scores. The District Placement Committee will make the final recommendation decision for placement. Our daughter has benefited in so many ways. She has been challenged in every subject which is something that was very new for her. She has done well learning in a fast paced environment. It has also been great for her to be with like-minded classmates. Parent of a 3 rd Grade Student
Eligibility Criteria Students who do not currently attend the Centennial School District are welcome to apply and attend Odyssey. Families must provide the required ability and achievement test scores and teacher feedback. Out of district students meeting the criteria for each tier will be accepted after in district students. When my mom first told me I was like NO WAY am I moving schools. But now I am glad I did. 5 th Grade Student
Eligibility Criteria Families interested in Odyssey should complete the application. Students not wishing to attend Odyssey will receive Level 3 programming which is offered at all elementary buildings.
It is not a stretch to say that the Odyssey Program has been life-changing for our son. He is finally being challenged which has given him the opportunity to be frustrated and to work through that frustration. His attention span is noticeably improving both because the work requires his attention and because he isn t being pulled out of class regularly. He is having a wonderful time. Our greatest fear was that our child would wait until high school or college before having to truly work hard and advocate for his own learning. Thanks to Odyssey, he is able to develop those skills now. Parent of 5 th Grade Student
2016 Timeline February 17 th and 24 th, 2016 Odyssey classroom visits 2:00-3:00 p.m. March 1 st, 2016 Applications close March 1 st 15 th, 2016 Committee review of applications March 17 th, 2016 Placement information mailed to families March 29 th, 2016 Deadline for accepted students to register for Odyssey for 2016-2017 school year
Additional Questions Bryan Carlson Principal, Rice Lake Elementary bcarlson@isd12.org Pat Christiansen District Gifted Coordinator pchristiansen@isd12.org