Enrich, Extend, Excite
What is Happening in Mrs. Bradford's Room?
Mrs. Bradford, Who is That?
This year, I've kept teachers up-to-date with Teacher's Toolbox, a newsletter similar to this. I thought it would be nice to share some of the great things we've been doing in the ELP classroom and throughout the school with you. This will be a monthly newsletter. If you ever have questions about ELP, please, contact me.
What is ELP?
The K-2 Enrichment serves students demonstrating specific ability aptitude (high in a specific area).
Curriculum:
This year’s foci:
Visual/spatial/creative thinking (K, 1st, 2nd)
Mathematics (1st, 2nd)
Next year’s foci:
Visual/spatial/creative thinking (K, 1st, 2nd)
Language Arts (1st, 2nd)
Identification:
About 5% of students at each grade level are identified for each focus area.
Students are identified following an in-class lesson and assessment activity that is designed to elicit higher order thinking.
Student responses are scored with a rubric. Teacher input is also given consideration.
Participation changes with each focus area.
Near the end of 2nd grade, all students take a shortened version of the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). Students take this electronically. Some students are then recommended to take the full CogAT. Students who score 97% or above on the full CogAT will qualify for the grades 3-6 ELP program. (This cut-off may possibly change slightly since students in 3-6 will not be taking Iowa Assessments in the fall, and therefore we will not have that data available for adding mid-year qualifiers.)
The 3-6 Intensive Serves students demonstrating general ability aptitude (high in multiple areas).
Curriculum:
Curriculum correlates to Iowa or Common Core Standards.
Units are multi-disciplinary and focus on developing higher order thinking skills.
Units span approximately half of the school year.
Identification:
Students are screened for ELP each spring.
Students may enter the ELP screening process through parent, teacher or score nomination. (In past years, students were score-nominated by having an Iowa Assessment composite score of 99%.)
Eligibility is based on a blended assessment process to identify students on a point system. Points are based on CogAT Age Percentile Composite and, in the past, on Iowa Assessment Core Composite or Complete Composite. This year will be a transition year since we are switching from Iowa Assessments to ISASP, from a previously normed test to an as-yet un-normed test, and from fall testing to spring testing.
Once students are identified for ELP, they will remain at that status unless their needs change.
Students may be nominated and screened on successive years if they have not qualified.
Acceleration: Whole grade and subject specific acceleration are in the Iowa City Community School District Academic Acceleration Guidelines and Procedures. To help provide accelerated learning in the general classroom (Universal Tier), differentiation to better meet needs of advanced learners would include curriculum compacting.
* Enrichment services are provided through 6th grade in elementary schools having fewer than 3% of the school population identified for intensive ELP services.
What are We Up to in ELP?
3rd Grade ELP
We have explored sunlight and solar energy, how light travels and the electromagnetic spectrum, and now how light behaves.
4th Grade ELP
We've discussed what architecture means to us, the needs & benefits of architecture, variety of architecture, and now are working on spatial thinking activities. We will begin working with Tinker Cad and Sketch Up in the near future.
5th Grade ELP - Lincoln
Gliders
This unit is coming to a close soon. It has focused on how engineers are inspired by nature's talents to create things that benefit people (addressing challenges & opportunities for change in our world). Students will begin inventing during this next week based off of challenges and opportunities and nature's talents they have been identifying throughout this unit.
5th Grade ELP - Mann
Indomitable Drops
This unit is coming to a close soon. It has focused on how engineers are inspired by nature's talents to create things that benefit people (addressing challenges & opportunities for change in our world). Students will begin inventing during this next week based off of challenges and opportunities and nature's talents they have been identifying throughout this unit.
6th Grade ELP
Futures Unit
Learning the PMI (Plus, Minus, Interesting) strategy used to encourage the examination of ideas, concepts, and experiences from more than one perspective.NEW....Enrichment Groups
Writing Enrichment Club
Reading Enrichment- Book Club
Math Enrichment
Technology Enrichment Club
Genius 1/2 Hour - Passion Project Enrichment
ELP Teacher at Lincoln & Mann
Email: bradford.diane@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/Domain/2948#calendar24222/20180821/month
Location: 1355 Barrington Road, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: 319-688-1130