AIG-8th+grade

Are you ready for high school and the rest of your life? This year work habits, skills and study habits must be refined. You have to start figuring out who you are and what you want to be. You will be facing big challenges in Math or Algebra. You will be stretching your brain in language arts and social studies. You will study serious science. This year holds more tests, challenges and obstacles than any other. This year also holds more joy, fun and rewarding learning! You are in for a treat - so jump in your seat - it won't be an easy slide but a wild, wildcat ride!

AIG students are organized into cluster groups so that the teachers can focus on meeting the needs of our brightest learners in their strongest subjects and in all of their classes all day. This provides us with a nice blend of differentiation strategies in different classes throughout the day. Teachers will be using a wide variety of tools to challenge your learner to grow!

AIG is happening everyday in every class through our commitment to meet every student's needs. Chatham County Schools uses a differentiation model to tailor common core instruction to appropriately challenge and engage every child in our very diverse population. If at any time your student is not adequately challenged please **//__reach out to your child's teacher__//** or me the AIG specialist. You can reach me via e mail at __ stracymiller@chatham.k12.nc.us __

In class differentiation: Mrs. Miller works with Mrs. Crayton and Mr. Chutz to differentiate curriculum to meet the needs of the AIG learners in core classes. Mrs. Miller is in classes co-teaching many Thursdays working with core instructors as planned.

All Horton Instructors use data to drive instruction. Students are assessed and outcomes are used to pinpoint instruction and opportunities right where they are needed. Accelerated reader has leveled books and personalized goals. Class works offers specific linear remediation or advanced curriculum individualized for each student based on their own individual assessment. Groups are flexible and change based on mastery of curricular goals. = MATH/ READING & WRITING ENRICHMENT = Twice a week Mrs. Miller pulls out students for math problem solving and writing/ reading challenge. We work on activities designed for groups or partners and we LOVE THE CHALLENGE!!!! Sixth grade AIG students come to Mrs. Miller twice a week for a class session from NF reading time. This logic/ thinking skills based enrichment is used for many goals of the AIG program: 1- Incorporating critical problem solving skills. 2- Using thinking skills, deductive and inductive reasoning to solve problems. 3- Observing gifted children's behaviors. 4- Teaching and modeling 21st century skills. and more... Students who are consistently achieving and demonstrating a need for highly gifted differentiated lessons will have the opportunity to come to Mrs. Miller's room for focus. Students who are on or below grade level/ not demonstrating a need for more will remain with the core teacher for remediation, practice and reteaching.

= EDMODO - join our edmodo class. = There will be many assignments, websites, games and challenge activities posted on our class site. This is available 24/7 and is web based. At any time in any class or at home if your child has free time, needs a new interest item, needs a challenge or wants to do a little more academics the edmodo is there. It is updated weekly and assignments are completed, turned in and graded online.

= GHOSTBUSTERS & History challenges... = October brings the FIRST of the history challenges this year. In order to expose children to new primary resources, encourage family chats about history, develop independent study skills, build non-fiction reading skills and connect to eminent people in history in honor of JFK's great statement, " One person can make a difference and everyone should try." We want our gifted learners to know that individuals have changed the world and made history. Connection is key in our people study.

October - GHOSTS - old and ancient dead guys. November/December - still in development (Presidents, Native American History, Great Authors...) January - (Peace on Earth) Nobel Peace Prize Winners. February - Black History Month March - Women's History Challenge

We usually have 5 special months. Themes change and flex each year. Jump into history and enjoy the challenge.

__**SPELLING BEE**__ Class level rounds are later in the year. Spelling strength is a gift and we want to see you soar in our upcoming bees! Good LUCK!!!


 * __YOUNG AUTHORS__ ** - Writers you can tell your story. Books are due to Mrs. Ledford after Christmas Break.

__ **QUIZ BOWL TEAM** __ - on the way to VICTORY! Eighth grade quiz bowl team tryouts will happen in November :-) Our lessons at this point are how to work as a team; how strong, smart people  can relate well to strong, smart people; loading knowledge and building connections;  studying the design of the quiz bowl game. We will be working together during focus time  until the competition date. REMEMBER check out... Are you smarter than a fifth grader,  Jeopardy, Who wants to be a millionaire, knowledge games and websites and more -  FUN, Brain building TV and games.

$$$$$ __**STOCK MARKET GAME**__ $$$$$$$ - SPRING!!! Math Cross Class Challenge is going to STUDY THE STOCK MARKET!!!! We will participate in this integrated thematic enrichment opportunity as a grade level. Children will be on teams and will trade real stocks at live time prices with fake money through a simulation run by the North Carolina Council on Economic Education. You can trade 24 hours a day at home, in homeroom, in any class, anywhere during the game. [] We will be participating in the capitol challenge Januuary - May 2014. He who makes the most profit wins. More information coming soon!

__ AR * AR * AR * AR * AR * AR * AR * AR * AR * AR * AR * __ ACCELERATED READER CHALLENGE - NEW and IMPROVED! This year AR is truly differentiated to each individual. Students have already taken a STAR reading assessment and will be give individual reading point goals. AR is still filled with student choice as it is based on self-selected reading. Your child will learn about his/her very own zone of proximal development or ZPD. This is a range of book levels that will best fit his/her individual reading level and help them grow stronger. Each student will be reading daily and taking book specific AR quizzes for points. Reading, reading logs and points are constantly monitored and percentage of goal met is always being tracked! Children are competing to meet their own goals, do their part to meet a class and a grade level goal. Exciting incentives, prizes, privileges and rewards are included in this wonderful challenging program! READ * READ * READ! It is good and good for you!!! __ AR * AR * AR * AR * AR * AR * AR * AR * AR * AR * AR * __ Early Bird Prizes for those who plan ahead and Doubler recognition for those who keep reading!!! Dessert/ Donuts for doublers or Recess for readers for those who double or more than double their goal! More incentives always being developed. READ & you will see!

__ **BATTLE OF THE BOOKS** __ ! - Mrs. Ledford is looking for readers! 6th- 8th graders with a passion for reading, join BOB and jump in and read. There is a special section of books in the library for BOB and to begin you just read and take the AR test to show your skills to Mrs. Ledford. We need to get battle ready. READ * READ* READ! Competition will be early in the new year. Check with Mrs. Ledford for more details! Yes! you can take the AR tests and get the points :-) YEAH!!!

__**AMERICA ANSWERS**__ - is the national quiz bowl and it will be in April. We are stepping up to make a team. We will practice at lunch twice a week. [] [] [] Watch: "Are you Smarter than a Fifth grader?" "Jeopardy" and other thinking shows!

__ **National Junior Honor Society -** __ Our 6th induction to NJHS will be November this year at HMS. We are very proud of our inductees and encourage all of you to consider applying for membership. Our organization is dedicated to SCHOLARSHIP, leadership, character, service and citizenship. If you are interested in being active in a group that is actively making Horton a better place - apply. Contact Mrs. Miller or any of the faculty council members for information.

stracymiller@chatham.k12.nc.us

__**SCIENCE OLYMPIAD - Mr. Walgate -**__ The most wonderful academic/scientific adventure here at HMS! Science Olympiad is a new team challenge afterschool science enrichment club and a small group of students have dived right in. The team will compete officially in February but there is much to do before then. Children with adult mentors ( MENTORS NEEDED!!!) are building impressive machines and competition ready items at club meetings after school Interested young scientists Contact Mr. Walgate for information.