The Challenge Lab In Service 2008[1]

Challenge Lab

Th e C h a lle n g eLa b

A place to go beyond mastery of basic skills

Spicewood ElementaryLeeAnn Harkins

A classroom where students can come to ◦ extend learning, ◦ participate in independent study, ◦ and engage in challenging educational games

after they have achieved an academic goal.

It is designed to meet the needs of gifted and high ability students.

Any student who achieves Any student who achieves an academic goal may come an academic goal may come during open lab timeduring open lab time

Identified GT students will Identified GT students will come during scheduled come during scheduled group timegroup time

High achievers who need High achievers who need extra challengeextra challenge

Students with a passion for Students with a passion for a topic to study in deptha topic to study in depth

Special Interest GroupsSpecial Interest Groups Grades K - 5Grades K - 5

To add value to students’ education To give classroom teachers smaller groups to

reinforce concepts To support classroom curricula in depth and

complexity To offer more options for students needing

more challenge

Identified GT Identified GT StudentsStudents

•Will come during Will come during scheduled groupsscheduled groups•Will meet once a Will meet once a week during their week during their lunch for affective lunch for affective lessonslessons

Open Lab TimesOpen Lab Times•Teacher has passes to Teacher has passes to useuse•It is ok to have It is ok to have several names on one several names on one passpass

FridaysFridays•Lab time is congestedLab time is congested•Reward visits are Reward visits are typicaltypical•Save research or more Save research or more structured activities for structured activities for another dayanother day

The Lab will be closed during scheduled times, but drop-ins are encouraged during scheduled open lab time

Study groups (identified GT) Lunch bunch (identified GT) Pre-arranged times for small groups during

open lab time

What kind of GT things will be going on in the Challenge Lab?

Study Groups for the identified GT students1st Grade – Animal Nature2nd Grade – The Ripple Effect3rd Grade – Math Around Town4th Grade – Enigmas5th Grade – Architecture

We will be using the Texas Performance Standards Project for our pull-out program, and it is aligned with the TEKS. We will be using the Independent Investigation Method procedures toteach research skills and incorporating “Project Wild” ideas. Also, we will be developing high quality products. Lunch Bunch – affective lessons for GT students

It’s not easy being green!

The IIM system teach great research skills, while emphasizing the importance of avoiding

plagiarism!

GT students will produce high quality, innovative products!

Everyone needs to learn to think outside the box!

What kind of things will be going on in the Challenge Lab for ALL students?

Open Lab time for students who achieve an academic goalExtension activitiesAppropriate core subject games and puzzlesHands-on activitiesProblem solving activities

Special Interest Groups (more on that in a moment)

Research on a particular subject

Leadership opportunities

Technology Club

Chess Club!

Leadership Opportunities

It important to know that we are using a model, and the model is working successfully.

I am excited and willing to help generate enrichment ideas for your students.

I can help you with differentiation through the use of (not limited to)◦ Compacting◦ Pre-Assessment◦ Creating menus.

I can develop a special interest project for your high achieving students.

Together we will brainstorm how the students will utilize the Lab; your Challenge Lab Folder contains examples.

During the first week of school the “Lab team” will meet to continue work on scope and sequence.

During the second week of school each classroom will visit the “Challenge Lab” for an orientation session to introduce the program.

Our goal is to have the “Challenge Lab” open the third week of school.

Challenges are what makes life interesting, overcoming them is

what makes life meaningful.

- Joshua J. Marine