VALLEY SPRINGS MIDDLE AIG PROGRAM

KEITH BUFFAIG TEACHER

AIG STUDENTS NEED:

• FASTER PACING• COMPLEX TASKS• ABSTRACT THINKING• SOCIAL SUPPORT• TIME WITH OTHER GIFTED STUDENTS IN AN

ACADEMIC SETTING• PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES• PRESENTATION OPPORTUNITIES

MEETING THESE NEEDS

• WEEKLY ENRICHMENT CLASS WITH AIG TEACHER (50 MINUTES)

• ABILITY GROUPING IN LANGUAGE ARTS & MATH

• EXTRA-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES• AIG FIELD TRIPS

AIG PROGRAM GOALS

STUDENTS WILL:– SET GOALS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL– LEARN TO SEE & MEET THE NEEDS OF OTHERS– SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME LEADERS– STRIVE FOR HIGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT– BECOME INTRINSICALLY MOTIVATED– MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THEIR HOMES,

SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES

MY AIG CLASSROOM

• SET HIGH EXPECTATIONS & DON’T ACCEPT LESS

• ADDRESS DIVERSE LEARNING STYLES

• BE STUDENT CENTERED• TEACH CREATIVE

THINKING SKILLS• STRENGTHEN IDENTITY

• PLAN FOR FLEXIBILITY• TEACHER ROLES

SHOULD INCLUDE: INSTRUCTOR, FACILITATOR, COACH, SPECTATOR

• ADDRESS & ALLOW SOCIAL INTERACTION

• MAKE REAL-LIFE CONNECTIONS

GRADE LEVEL THEMES

• 6TH GRADE: BUILDING BRIDGES

– CITIZENSHIP– FAMILY ISSUES – SELF DISCOVERY– SOCIETAL CONFLICT (prejudice)– PHILOSOPHY

GRADE LEVEL THEMES

• 7TH GRADE CONFLICT

– PERSONAL CONFLICT– NATIONAL CONFLICT– LEADERSHIP– MEDIA-ADVERTISING-MARKETING

GRADE LEVEL THEMES

• 8TH MY PLACE IN THE WORLD

– MOTIVATION– POLITICS– RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY– EDUCATION & CAREER

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

• SOCRATIC SEMINAR• TECHNOLOGY• CRITICAL THINKING• SIMULATIONS• INVESTIGATION• EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING• PROBLEM BASED

LEARNING• REFLECTION THROUGH

WRITING• DRAMA• BIBLIOTHERAPY

• LITERARY ANALYSIS• LITERARY

INTERPRETATION• ARTS• WHOLE CLASS DISCUSSION• COOPERATIVE LEARNING• DEBATE• ADVANCED RESEARCH &

INTERPRETATION• GAMES OF INTELLECT• CLASS RESEARCH PROJECT

SAMPLE LESSONS

• 6TH GRADE: – DECISIONS! DECISIONS! PREJUDICE– INFORMAL DEBATE– MYSTERIES & ETHICAL DILEMMAS

• 7TH GRADE: – FIVE RESPONSES TO CONFLICT– THE RISE & FALL OF EMPIRE THROUGH PAINTINGS– NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST CHALLENGE

• 8TH GRADE: – PBL PROJECT: RECRUITING PRESENTATION FOR VSMS– THE TRAVELER’S GIFT NOVEL– MOCK TRIAL

PARENT RESOURCES

• CONTACT MR. BUFF & BCS AIG STAFF• AIG WEB PAGES• WEEKLY AIG NEWSLETTER• AIG PARENT LIBRARY• AIG WEBSITE INDEX• DISCUSS CURRENT EVENTS & AIG CLASS

TOPICS AT HOME WITH STUDENT