Enrichment and Acceleration In Literacy

Ms. Bartolucci

My background: 

 

*I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from NMSU.

 

*I earned my Master’s Degree in Special Education; Gifted from UNM.

 

*I have taught general education in grades 3, 4 and 5.

 

*I have been teaching gifted since 1997.

Program Components:

Sentence Sleuths- Quick editing activity done two days a week.  The purpose is to quickly assess, teach, and practice conventions. 

Home Reading-  This year we have selected five books for the students to read at home.  First and second graders choose one of these to do a project on and third, fourth and fifth graders choose two to do a project on.  They are welcome to do more and will earn Patent Points for doing so.  Remember they can also earn 20 Patent Points for any book they read at home just by answering the questions on the question sheet and turning it in.  These must be books that they have just finished reading and they must be chapter books at an appropriate level for each individual. 

Writer’s Workshop-  Three  half hour periods each week.  Writer’s Workshop consists of mini lessons on stylistic elements of writing that are part of the six traits approach listed in the APS standards such as perspective, leads, closings, organization etc.  Students learn ways to improve their writing, have time to practice writing and share.  Time is divided between creative writing and technical writing. 

Word Study-  Our challenging vocabulary quizzes and tests provide two benefits. First, by increasing their vocabulary, the students are in turn increases their reading ability.  The harder words you know, the harder texts you can read and understand.  Second, it provides these brilliant students will something they actually have to study and work at.  For so many of them, new skills come quickly and easily.  They then may never learn how to have the self discipline or develop the strategies needed to study.  Somewhere in their educational journey they will come up against something hard and without those skills, they flounder.  We’re trying to help them build those skills now.

Unit Study- Each year I try to pick a theme that will be of interest to the students.  We will begin this year with Inventions.  Two days a week we will do lessons and activities relating to the theme.  Activities include research, hands on explorations, and critical and creative thinking challenges.  We also read a novel that incorporates the theme.  Our word study words come from our novel.

Weekly Brain Strain- Once a week I will present the students with a critical thinking or creative thinking challenge.  Some require keen observational skills, others “outside the box” thinking, and still others problem solving strategies.