Hi! My name is Barbara Morelock.

Welcome Back!!!

The 2007 - 2008 school year will be exciting and yet sad as we prepare to move into our new building. In the Gifted and Talented Program one of our chief focuses will be writing. We will complete a wide variety of writing projects.

Another chief focus for this year is math. All students in the Gifted and Talented Program will participate in "First-in-Math," an online math program with goals being set for each grade level. Please, check your child's grade level on my site for specific information. Those students in grades one through four qualified for enrichment in math will receive instruction by me once per week while all students in grades four and five will be invited to participate in a Mathematics' Competition Club hosted by me during a lunch bell once per week.

Students will be assessed in the following areas: Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking, Communication (oral, written, and visual), and Independent Study/Research. A project grade sheet will be sent home with the completion of each unit of study. Gifted report cards are sent home with the second and fourth quarter grades. Please, feel free to e-mail me or leave me a message at any time. I will respond as quickly as possible.

Eileen Kues and Mary Glynn Auer will once again be working with me to extend enrichment opportunities to students in grades one through three who have been identified gifted in reading, language, social studies, and/or science one bell per week. Please, direct any questions or concerns directly to them as they will be assessing your child's work. Your support is necessary for your child to benefit fully from these enrichment programs.

Program Highlights:

• Enrichment with the Librarian - Students in grades one through three, working with the librarian, will be reading books investigating American history from a child's perspective. Developing skills in comprehension and communication are major goals of the study, while completing critical and/or creative thinking projects serve to demonstrate and extend understanding.
  
  

• Enrichment with the Art Teacher - Primary students being serviced by the art teacher will continue to study specific authors, learning what is necessary to produce quality children's "picture books." They will also have an opportunity to create their own "picture" book once other goals have been met. These books will focus upon a content area of study and may or may not require research depending upon the student's grade level and/or desires. Activities will include discussions, reading, writing, art, and may include some work beyond the regular class time. Commitment and preseverance are essential ingredients in this ambitious undertaking.
  
  

• First-in-Math - Working at your own pace while completing games and earning stickers is an exciting aspect of this program. Not only does the student develop basic skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; but also develops problem solving skills in various math concepts such as decimals, measurement, algebra and etc. While geared toward students in grades three through eight, many younger students gifted in math find the program exciting and challenging.
  
  

• Brain Bowl - This is an academic quiz team for 4th through 6th graders that meets once or twice a week and competes once a month against other teams in the district. Last year we competed twice online and did exceptionally well.

• Chess Club - The last Tuesday in October is the kickoff day for the club, which is open to all students in grades 1 - 6 with tournaments in the spring.

• Geography Bee - Students interested in competing will meet periodically throughout the fall and will be able to obtain practice materials online.ul>
  
  Please, investigate the categories in the column to the left at least once a month to learn more about what your student is studying and goals and/or due dates that have been set. Included are some fun/educational sites, informational articles for parents, special activites, and more..
  
  Please, let me know that you have read this page by e-mailing me at morelob@cpsboe.k12.oh.us. Your student will receive a free pencil or eraser cap just for reminding you to read and to respond to this homepage once per quarter.
  
  Students, have you been stretching your minds lately??? You will be sharing your summer homework during the first few weeks of school. So, be prepared to have some fun.