Welcome to the Parkside Middle School Gifted Website!
SIGNET will begin September 28th, 2009
SIGNET is an acronym for SCHOOLS INVOLVED in GIFTED in EDUCATION TODAY. Students, parents and interested guests are encouraged to use this website to learn information about Parkside SIGNET and how this program encourages and challenges gifted education at the middle school level.
The Gifted Education Resource Teacher is John Nicholas, who was the 2003 University of Virginia Curry School Middle School Teacher Of The Year. Parkside SIGNET students are discovering who they are through creative thinking, problem solving and social action.
The Gifted Education Resource Teacher is John Nicholas, who was the 2003 University of Virginia Curry School Middle School Teacher Of The Year. Parkside SIGNET students are discovering who they are through creative thinking, problem solving and social action.
This information was designed by Matthew Thoresen. 2007
OVERVIEW
SIGNET is an acronym for Schools Involved in Gifted Needs in Education Today. SIGNET became a part of the Prince William County Gifted Education Program in 1976. At Parkside Middle School, identified students are involved in a pullout program for two periods one day during the week. 6th graders attend on Mondays, 8th graders attend on Wednesdays and 7th graders attend on Tuesdays.
SIGNET addresses the following needs:
SIGNET addresses the following needs:
To be challenged by activities that enable them to operate cognitively and effectively
To be challenged through opportunities for divergent production
To be challenged through group and individual work which demonstrates process/ product
To be challenged by experiences which promote understanding of human value systems
To be challenged by the opportunity to see interrelationships in all bodies of knowledge
To be challenged by special courses in their area of strength and interest which accelerate the pace add depth of content
To be challenged by the opportunity of applying their abilities to real problems in the world of production
To be taught the following units:
A. Critical thinking
B. Creative thinking
C. Research
D. Problem-solving
E. Coping with exceptionality
"Parents can only give good advice or put [their children] on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands." Anne Frank
Students participating in the gifted program at Parkside Middle receive services in the form of classes, contests, and centers. This year's class was on social action. Students participating in gifted resource capitalized on the altruism and creative thinking skills characteristic of the gifted. They transformed their creative thinking into actions that might make a difference in their neighborhood, city or state. With the recent tragedies that have afflicted us and real stories about real kids and teens that are making a difference at home and around the world, it has become necessary to take social action.
Students are taught:
Students are taught:
· Step by step guides to social action power skills such as letter writing, faxing emailing, Internet search, fundraising and media coverage.
· Ideas for working government, including tools for lobbying local, state and federal lawmakers.
· Real social action tools including petitions, proclamations, letters and news releases.
· To research up to date resource guides with addresses, phone numbers and web sites for other social action groups, federal and state government offices, and awards and recognitions for kids.
There are many centers to choose from in Signet. Signet has centers for every interest. Some centers include building roller coasters, Veterinary science, Interior Design, making zoos or even making your dream company. In the centers, there are three different levels. You start with the novice level, and work your way up if you want to continue with that center after finishing a level. Otherwise, after you finish a level, you can do a different center.
