This first unit has focused on getting students into Renzulli and completing their profiler. Since this is a new curriculum, we explored all of what VAULT students can complete on the program. Students explored the enrichment activities and completed the first project. The first project of the year centered on students exploring who they are, what their interests are, how they can impact the world around them, and what the world around them looks like through current/past events.
The Renzulli Profiler is a tool that helps students learn more about themselves as learners. Rather than being a test that students pass or fail, it gives students an opportunity to reflect on their interests, strengths, learning preferences, and ways of thinking. Students answer questions about what they enjoy, how they approach challenges, and the types of activities that capture their attention. The information helps teachers better understand each student and provide learning experiences that connect with their individual strengths and interests. Most importantly, the Profiler encourages students to become more aware of what makes them unique as learners and how they can use their strengths to grow.
The Brains in VAMS VAULT
As we worked on getting to know our strengths and skills, we explored the idea behind left brain vs right brain.
The students went to various task cards, which asked simple questions that determine if someone is right brained or left brained. The students completed a writing prompt about their results and what they want for the future.
At the end of the activity, we discussed how the common idea that people are either “left-brained” or “right-brained” is actually a myth.
In Honors Reading, GT students are putting collaboration and critical thinking into action! Through “turn and talk” discussions, students work with peers to analyze key story elements, share their thinking, and develop deeper, more meaningful summaries of Peak.
8th Grade Honors History
Our 8th grade Honors history students are currently reading My Brother Sam Is Dead. This provides GT learners with an opportunity to explore the American Revolution through a complex combination of historical events, personal perspectives, and moral dilemmas. The novel encourages students to think critically about conflicting viewpoints, analyze the consequences of individual choices, and make connections between historical events and the experiences of ordinary people.
In Honors Math, students are exploring geometry through transformations, similarity, and geometric relationships. Students investigate translations, rotations, and reflections, explore similar figures and scale factors, and use line and angle relationships to determine unknown measures. These concepts help students strengthen their geometric reasoning and explain how and why figures are related.