Enrichment

Math Apps

At the elementary schools, Math Apps is a pull-out program for grades 2, 3, and 4. This group meets weekly to extend and challenge participating students in the area of mathematics. We explore problem solving techniques, visual spatial activities, logical reasoning and participate in the Continental Math League (CML) Competition. Annual screening takes place in the spring for grades 3 and 4, and during the fall for students in grade 2 or new to the district. Second grade Math Apps begins second quarter. Requirements for inclusion are based on a variety of criteria, such as high levels of success on standardized academic assessments, current performance, and teacher recommendation. All recommended students are screened on an annual basis. Current participants are automatically included in this process.

At McKelvie, Math Apps students are selected for the program in the spring of 4th grade by several tests that include core skills, concepts and word problems. Math Apps students meet during their enrichment period once during every six day rotation. Students are expected to complete homework each week, participate actively in class and to maintain at least an A- on their report card each quarter. Topics that are covered include logic, problem-solving strategies, inductive and deductive reasoning, patterns and functions, and variables.

Math Plus

This math class is offered to fourth grade students who meet district criteria based on their Grade 3 Math Apps screening results. New students to the district may be tested in the fall. The class covers the 4th grade curriculum and provides additional math enrichment activities for participating students.

At McKelvie, this class is offered to fifth grade students who meet district criteria for participation.  Screening occurs in the spring of 4th grade.  The class covers the 5th grade curriculum and provides additional math enrichment activities for participating students.

Readers Group

This weekly pull-out class for highly engaged students from grades 2 (last half of the year), 3 and 4 focuses on extending and deepening their ability to critically analyze literature. Participation requires high levels of success on standardized academic assessments, current performance, and teacher recommendations.  Continued inclusion requires participation, student motivation and preparedness. 

Writers Group

This weekly pull-out program is for students in grade 3 and 4 who demonstrate above average writing skills, creativity, and a high level of commitment to working on writing projects of their own choice. Students may enter this program at any time throughout the year if they meet these expectations. Continued inclusion requires participation, student motivation and preparedness. 

At McKelvie, Writers' Group highly motivated students are recommended by their Language Arts teacher. These students are looking for any opportunity to do more writing and many keep journals at home on their own. Some examples of the genres covered are mysteries, poetry and fiction. Students are expected to work on assignments outside of class and share their writing with the whole class or a small group. Students meet during their enrichment period once during every six day rotation.

Reading and Math Problem Solving (Grade 2)

Students extend their problem-solving abilities through a variety of Reading and Math activities.

Mystery Festival (Grade 2)

Students become crime lab scientists to solve a make believe mystery.

Invention Convention (Grade 3 & 4)

Students become inventors and apply critical and creative thinking skills to bring their ideas to life.

Explorations with Inspirational Math (Grade 3 & 4)

Students investigate recent concepts in brain-based research that prove math is accessible to everyone.

Wisdom Work/Passion Project/Genius Hour - optional by teacher (Grade 4)

Students participate in project-based inquiry using student generated questions.

Geography & Immigration (Grade 4)

Students explore world geography and heritage culminating in a celebration of cultural diversity.

Engineering Tasks (Grades 1-4)

Students build structures from various materials.

{Currently suspended by National Geographic} Geography Bee (Grade 4)

Elementary schools register, obtain questions, and follow all the rules of the National Geographic Society's Bee (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee/). Each grade 4 classroom conducts their own classroom geography bee. The top ten scorers compete in the School-wide bee in January. After completing a written test, the school winner may qualify to represent their school at the state level in March.

{Currently suspended by National Geographic} Geography Bee

McKelvie school registers, obtains questions, and follow all the rules of the National Geographic Society's Bee (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee/). Each homeroom in grades 5 and 6 conducts their own classroom geography bee in December. The top ten scorers compete in the School-wide bee in January. After completing a written test, the school winner may qualify to represent McKelvie at the state level in March.

Spelling Bee

Word and vocabulary study lists are made available to all interested students. Each homeroom in grades 5 and 6 conducts their own classroom spelling bee in November. The class winners then take a written vocabulary test and the top fifteen students compete in the school-wide bee in December. The school winner goes on to represent McKelvie at the state level.  (Scripps-Howard Spelling Bee Program)

Book Club

At McKelvie, books club is open to any interested reader who would like to participate. Readers meet one day per week to read aloud and discuss a book of the students' choosing. Students read on their own at home in between meetings.

Geography Club

Geography Club at McKelvie meets one day out of the six day rotation at lunch/recess. Any interested 5th or 6th grade student is welcome! Using maps, board games, dry erase boards, paper and pencil, students work on questions similar to those in the National Geography Bee. Students also compete in oral quizzes from the National Geographic website.

You Be The Chemist Challenge

The YBTC Challenge is a fun and interactive academic competition that engages students in learning about chemistry concepts and their real-world applications. In teams of 4, students take a multiple-choice quiz to qualify. Winning teams then create a video exploring chemistry concepts related to an identified theme for the state competition. 

National History Day

National History Day (NHD) is an educational program which encourages middle and high school students to celebrate their skills as historians and exposes them to the processes, sources, and complexities of historical research. Working as individuals or in groups, students choose a topic relating to a nationally established annual theme. Students investigate their topic, develop a thesis, and interpret primary and secondary sources to apply it to the national theme. These students then bring history to life in meaningful ways by presenting their project in one of the four formats. 

Scripps Spelling Bee

All students are given the opportunity to participate in the Scripps Spelling Bee. After a qualifying round, the top students move on to the school spelling bee. The school winner then goes on to represent Lurgio at the state competition.

How often do enrichment programs meet?

• • At McKelvie, math enrichment and writing enrichment meet once in every 6 day schedule (roughly once a week)

  • At the elementary level, Math Apps, Readers Group, and Writers Group meet once a week if not interrupted due to holidays/events.

Are any of the enrichment groups offered the equivalent of a gifted and talented program?

• • No. Students are identified for specific enrichment programs based on their interest, motivation, and ability in that particular area.

What is Math Apps?

• • Math Apps is enrichment that occurs in addition to students’ daily math classroom instruction. It is geared to students who quickly and consistently learn grade level mathematical concepts and gives them opportunities to apply mathematical thinking in a variety of ways.  Math Apps is independent of their daily math curriculum.

What is Math Plus?

• • Math Plus is offered to qualifying students in grades 4 and 5.  Students who pass a placement assessment are invited to participate.  These students cover the same standards as their grade level peers and may spend more time deepening their conceptual understand and working with more advanced applications.

Are Math Apps, Readers Group, and Writers Group programs graded?

• • No and participation does not impact classroom grades.

Is Math Plus a graded program?

• • Yes. At the elementary level, student grades are entered by the Enrichment Teacher and appear on quarterly report cards. At McKelvie, the math plus students are graded by their pod math teacher and their grades appear on quarterly report cards.

Will any of the enrichment allow my child to move through the curriculum faster than their peers?

• • No. Enrichment offers students the ability to work on learned concepts at a deeper level. It is NOT acceleration.

What is math Excel?

• • Math Excel, which begins in grade 6, offers students their first opportunity for acceleration.  Acceleration is defined as a course covering more than grade level expectations.  All students are allowed to take a placement assessment at the end of grade 5 to qualify for Math Excel.  Students who demonstrate the ability to cover both grade 6 and grade 7 standard curriculum are invited to participate.  Participation does not depend on, nor is influenced by, participation of prior years in math enrichment programs.

What is my child missing in their regular classroom during enrichment programs? 

• • At the elementary level, students usually miss reteaching and practice time of standard classroom material.   

  • At McKelvie, students come out of their “WIN” or What I Need period. (All students have a WIN period every other day when some of the opportunities available are : the math tutor, reading support,  extra help from pod teachers, organization time or homework.)

Do students need to make up work in enrichment if they are absent?

• • It depends - students should check in with their enrichment teacher when they return to school.

Do students need to make up work missed in their classroom while attending enrichment?

• • Students should check with their teachers to determine expectations.

Is the work in enrichment expected to be done outside of school?  What is homework like?

• • At the elementary level, third and fourth grade students in enrichment programs may have homework they are expected to complete outside of school.  Math enrichment students may have an activity or task, reading enrichment students may have reading and/or response work, and writing enrichment students may have writing work.

  • At McKelvie, yes, students have homework they are expected to complete outside of school. Math Enrichment students have a task to reinforce the class lesson. Writing students work on a piece in order to practice a skill or genre. This varies by grade level and subject area.

What is the difference between enrichment push in programs versus pull out programs?

• • Push in programs are generally full class/grade level activities, such as engineering, family history, or mystery units. Pull out programs are targeted, small group classes which focus on one particular academic area, such as reading, math, or writing.

What are typical class sizes for enrichment classes?

• • At McKelvie, classes range from 8 to 18 students. The Math Plus class size varies due to the number of students that qualify.

  • At the elementary level, class sizes vary from year to year.  Typically they range from 4 to 18 students. 

If my child isn’t eligible at the start of the year, will they need to wait until next year for possible admission?

• • At the elementary level, to enter math apps or math plus, students must wait until the following year to be re-screened. Reading and writing admissions are rolling and ongoing throughout the year, based on teacher recommendation and student performance.

  • At McKelvie, after the first quarter, and then each quarter thereafter, students may be recommended by their homeroom/pod teachers based on the student’s academic performance and motivation in writing and/or math.

Is it typical/normal for children to transition in and out of programs?

• • Yes.  Children learn at different rates therefore it is totally normal for students to transition in and out of enrichment programs.

Do students get screened every year?  Do they need to re-qualify?

• • Yes. All students who are currently involved in enrichment programing are automatically included in screening for the subsequent year. Newly recommended students are also screened. In order to participate in enrichment programing, students need to re-qualify annually.

When are screenings done and when do programs start?

• • Screenings occur at a various times. Generally, math screenings take place in the spring for admission in the following year for grades 3 and 4, and during the fall for students in grade 2 or new to the district. Screening for reading and writing programs are ongoing throughout the year. Start times vary from program to program and by grade level.

What is the screening process used to select students for Enrichment Programs (Math Apps, Readers Group, Writers Group, etc…)?

• • Students are assessed using multiple criteria - including but not limited to standardized test scores, oral and written screening tests, classroom performance, report card grades, motivation and teacher recommendation.

How are scores from the NH state testing (NH SAS) used in the enrichment selection process?

• • They are not. The Smarter Balanced assessment is actually testing for college and career readiness. 

My child scored a “level 4”  on the NH SAS assessment report. Does that mean that my child is not being challenged in school?

• • No, it does not.  A Level 4 shows that your child is meeting grade level expectations and is on track for being college and career ready.