Navigating the Cluster Classroom

Unlocking the Mystery of Program Collaboration

Unfolding the MapWelcome!District Goals (5 minutes)Needs Assessment (5 minutes)Collaboration & Solution Seeking (15

minutes)A Map for Success (15 Minutes)Collaborating for Excellence (15 minutes)

X Marks the Spot

District Goals:Student EngagementData Driven InstructionProfessional Collaboration and Growth

X

Orienting the CompassWhich areas tend to be the most difficult when

working with gifted students in a cluster classroom? Scheduling & Management 104346 Using Data to Differentiate (Data) 104351 Organizing differentiated activities(Engagement) 104376 Communication (Collaboration) 104401 Other

104423

Text your response to 37607.

Charting the Course TogetherTeachers have said: We’re not sure what curriculum is being covered while students are at

ALPHA. We feel that we have to catch students up when they return because

they seem lost. It is really hard not to introduce new concepts when ALPHA students

are gone. What are we supposed to do on those days? The ALPHA students haven’t always mastered the grade level

curriculum. We aren’t sure what else to do with the ALPHA students. What

resources are there? The ALPHA parents and students can be intense and we want to make

sure we are meeting their needs. ALPHA students panic and think they have too much work and as a

result their parents panic. (Sometimes they can’t see the relevance of what we are doing in the cluster classroom.)

Sometimes ALPHA friends unintentionally act condescending towards classmates, teachers, and curriculum.

Charting the Course TogetherParents have said: Our kids are stressed easily by things that seem minor to us but are major to

them. Please consider rearranging seats, changing groups, announcing field trips, reviewing for major assessments, etc. when the ALPHA students are present.

Homework duplication on ALPHA nights is unreasonable and is very frustrating. ALPHA students worry incessantly that they’ve missed content while at ALPHA. We aren’t always sure what is going on in class and feel especially lost when

our kids aren’t sure what’s going on either. Sometimes scheduling is confusing and students end up eating lunch at both

campuses, missing holiday parties, field day, assemblies, etc. because they’re at ALPHA.

Sometimes teachers and/or administrators have acted as if going to ALPHA is a privilege and that ALPHA students “get” to do something special or that they are playing over at ALPHA and not really working. This attitude is frustrating for parents and students.

Solution SeekingPossible Concerns Possible SolutionsMisunderstandings/

MiscommunicationHomework StressesScheduling NightmaresAttitude IssuesContent &

DifferentiationOrganizationOther

Newsletter, Weebly, Wiki, Email

3/5th ruleCommunication, review,

RTIOpenness and

understandingPBL, DesCartes, MISD

curriculum, colleagues, 2.0Pocket charts, stations,

contracts, ALPHA meetings

Mystery UnveiledThe ALPHA curriculumOn a two year cycle… but continuously updatedTEKS on grade level and up to two years above

grade level with a focus on depth and complexity.Project based learningToshiba Exploravision ProgramWilliam and Mary CurriculumMath OlympiadFilm AcademyShakespeare StudyMath and science reviews are based on TEKS

related to units/ OIs studied at home campus.

Learning Stations & Contracts

T icket to L earn N ame________________________________(F awaz) A pril 2-6

“Must-Do” A ssignments/ T asks B rainwork

S core

C lasswork

S core

C omments & G oals

M onday — M easurement Review

S cience L ap B ook-S un/ S olar S ystem

Vocabulary review begins- Fashion Week 2012 is next week.

T uesday— M easurement Review

S cience L ap B ook-S easons/ E arth’s M ovement

Wednesday- M easurement Review

S cience lap B ook- C atch U p

Science project due tomorrow. Measurement quiz and fact fluency quiz tomorrow.

T hursday- M easurement Review

S cience lap B ook- C atch U p

Quiz Score

Fashion Week 2012 project given today. Fact Fluency Scores: × ________ ÷ ________

F riday- G ood F riday/ B ad Weather Make U p D ay

N o school today. E njoy your day off!

NA

NA

NA

A bove and B eyond Weekly B ehavior Report

M ath S tars N ewsletter or B onus S tations

M ath C hallenge Project

Problem S olving S tars- B lue C ards

L ogic C hallenges

H ands O n A lgebra

Homework: M ultiplication and D ivision F act Practice, L earning.com, Reading, S pelling Practice, S cience Project (D ue on A pril 5)

My goal for this week:

S tations Monday T uesday Wednesday T hursday Friday

M itten M atch O range, B lue, Red

NA

S tudy Island M easurement Red, O range, B lue

NA

C ustomary M easurement “G o F ish” or T emperature

matching puzzles. Red, O range B lue

NA

http:/ / www.mrnussbaum.com/ mathcode.htm Pink, Y ellow, Red, O range, B lue

NA

A rea & Perimeter Q R code adventure Pink, Y ellow

B ring your technology with Q R code reader app NA

Versatile C hallenges

Pink, Y ellow, B lue, O range NA

C lip & C over & Royal Playroom Problem

A ll groups NA

Number of Times I Was Asked to Correct My Behavior: Monday ______ Tuesday ______ Wednesday ______ Thursday ______ Friday ______ Specific behavior I need to work on: ____________________________________________________

Professional Collaboration for Student Success!

Charting a course

TOGETHER!

Animoto video

A Map for Success Activity

Northern LightsWhat we’ve uncovered:We need to share ideas, communicate, and

collaborate.Resources are available in many forms.Sensitivity to student needs and perceptions is

vital.Organizing our schedules, providing

meaningful differentiated activities will help students engage.

We are on the same team.

Bon Voyage!

Thank you for joining the journey. Best wishes as you navigate the GT cluster classroom this

year.

For additional support feel free to contact me anytime.

Kristin [email protected]

Unlocking the Mystery of Program Collaboration