Flexible Grouping!

Today we embark on a new path in the field of Gifted & Talented Education in our school district with the advent of Flexible Grouping!  These high ability groups will function like a PACE group, but will allow students who fall in the top 85% or higher in their class the opportunity to receive the proper challenges of the curriculum that they need, but are not currently receiving PACE services.

We are changing the culture- from one of exclusivity to more inclusive and the goal is to help as many students as we can via this process.  The statistics show that flexible, high-ability groups work and the students' scores on tests are higher as well, because they are being challenged.  The goal of these groups is to give high-ability students the materials and curriculum necessary to help them see their potential and learn from this type of community.  Hearing different perspectives from peers is vital to that process!

I am excited to be starting these groups in Language Arts and the good thing is we have been doing this in Math for a number of years and it has been successful!  Math Olympiad is the same flexible, high-ability group in the area of Mathematics and students have really prospered from this experience.  As with any new adventure there will be bumps in the road, areas for improvement, but ultimately we are making a difference in students' lives and that is what matters!

Thankful!

As we get closer to the Thanksgiving holiday, let me remind you what I am truly thankful for.  I am thankful first of all for a wonderful family, who is supportive of my endeavors and appreciates the things I am doing in this world.  Without my students I am nothing, so I thank you for driving me and giving me inspiration every single day!  You make it FUN to come to work each day and it is an honor to be able to teach you!  To my friends and colleagues, thank you for always believing in me, and trusting that going "outside the box" is sometimes a good and necessary thing to do in education!  Finally, thank you to all the parents, past, present, and future; you have always been in my corner and without your support none of this  is possible!

So, take a moment this week and reflect on what you are thankful for.  No matter how big or small it might be, it will be worth the time and effort you put in, because without faith, family, and friends we would never get to where we want to be in life!  Have a safe and relaxing extended weekend with family and friends and let's finish 2010 with a bang!

Humbly Yours,

Mr. Washuleski

My Animoto!

Students,

  Now you can go to Mr. Washuleski's Student Page on the PACETeachers Wiki and see two of my Animoto videos that I created!  Check them out and feel free to create your own 30 sec. video at www.animoto.com

Language Arts PACE- Podcasting Scripts

Attention Language Arts PACE Students,

  Please go to the following link for instructions on how to create a podcast and wav. file on the Audacity website and also remember to complete your scripts for the podcasting session by the next time that we meet for Language Arts PACE!




http://www.jtoolkit.com/audio/Audacity_Guide.pdf

Happy Election Day!

Today as many adults do their civic duty and vote, students in PACE have many democratic decisions to make concerning their education! Do you want to stay where you are, or do you want change? The choice is yours, and only YOU have the power to make that change. Let's make it a fantastic week as we start Math Olympiad and remember, "Be good to each other, but more importantly, be good to yourself!"

Mr. Washuleski