Elementary ACE

Acceleration - Challenge - Enrichment

Overview

The ACE program provides academically talented children in grades 4 & 5 with appropriately challenging learning opportunities. ACE services high-ability children who require signification accommodation such as:

  • A differentiated curriculum in order to be appropriately challenged.
  • Instruction that is broader, deeper and faster-paced.
  • An enriched academic program that allows them to practice deeper critical thinking.
  • Instructors who understand their asynchronous development and unique social and emotional needs.
  • Time each day with intellectual peers.

Students are accelerated in various subjects. These decisions are made carefully, and on an individual basis since these decisions will impact the rest of a student’s school career. Classroom teachers foster learning through independent study units, novel studies, higher level questioning and discussion, vocabulary building extensions, and math problem solving.

ACE Math is a mathematics replacement program for identified students in grades 4 – 5. Students meet daily with the ACE specialist and receive math instruction that is accelerated by 1 to 2 grade levels. The program focuses on problem solving and higher-order thinking skills.

ACE Reading replaces the reading portion of the language arts curriculum for identified students in grades 4 – 5. Students meet daily with the ACE specialist and receive instruction in vocabulary and literary analysis. Novels, short stories and nonfiction materials used in ACE Reading are accelerated by 1 to 2 grade levels. Critical thinking is emphasized.

Requirements

District 26 has identified placement in the ACE program as appropriate for students who are significantly advanced in literacy and/or math. To be eligible for acceleration, the student must have superior academic performance at their current grade level. Data is reviewed for all students as they enter 4th grade. Students that move in to district outside this window are considered on an individual basis.

Process

All students take MAP Reading, MAP Math, and CoGAT. The scores are applied to a matrix by district teachers and coordinators. Recommendations are made prior to entry in 4th grade.

Advanced English Language Arts Program Information Grades 6-8

The Advanced English Language Arts Program is designed for students who excel in English and language arts. The literature program includes the development and application of critical thinking skills in the area of comprehension. Students read novels, short stories, and poetry and interpret their reading through discussion and written response. The advanced vocabulary-grammar study is a systematic approach focusing on Greek and Latin stems. Learning these stems requires the students to internalize meanings and learn a new way of thinking about the etymology of English words and their usage. The advanced students are expected to have mastered proper conventions of writing (grammar and punctuation) and are challenged to use their higher level thinking skills and new understanding of vocabulary to meet increased expectations in the genre writing curriculum as well as in research and technology-based projects. The intent of the Advanced English Language Arts Program is to engage students with a quicker pace and higher level materials.

Advanced Math Program Information

Grades 6-8

6th Grade Advanced Math: One of the main goals of 6th grade advanced math is to build a strong foundation of mathematical knowledge to best prepare them for pre-algebra. To do so, we use the Holt McDougal math series which is guided by the new common core standards. The advanced math curriculum will be taught at an accelerated pace allowing for the supplementation of challenge exercises, problem solving, and equation solving practice. 6th grade advanced math makes students go beyond simple computation, really making students understand the mathematics on a deeper level.

7th Grade Pre-Algebra: In Pre-Algebra, students are introduced to the language of algebra, properties, equations and inequalities. They will apply linear algebra to problem solving with rational numbers, geometry, probability, data and statistics. Students are also be introduced to the set of real numbers, including Pythagorean Theorem, squares and square roots.

8th Grade Algebra: 8th Grade Algebra is an honors level high school algebra course that uses a traditional algebra curriculum. Students who do well in this class and pass the placement test administered in the spring will take an honors geometry course in high school during their freshman year.

Placement Process:

All fifth, sixth, and seventh graders are tested in the spring to determine their mathematics class placement for the next grade. Middle school students whose needs are not being met in their current placement are able to move to a higher or lower level class.

The following criteria are used to determine placement:

  • Spring MAP scores (both math and reading)
  • Cogats (5th grade)
  • Math League Test (6th and 7th grade)
  • Extended Response
  • Math Grades