An Exciting Addition to
MOT Charter's Curriculum
is Coming Next Year!
Next year we will be starting a new course in the 7th and 8th grades. The course is an integrated STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) course offered by Project Lead the Way called "Gateway to Technology." It is comprised of 6 modules covered in two years--all focused on real world problem solving and critical thinking skills. Each module involves hands on project design and building.
Year 1 Modules: "Design and Modeling" "Automation and Robotics" "Energy and the Environment"
Year 2 Modules: "The Magic of Electrons" "The Science of Technology" "Flight and Space"
Studies have shown that students participating in rigorous STEM courses in middle school outperform peers on state standardized tests and students who participate in STEM courses in high school earn higher GPAs than their peers in their freshman year of college.
Five sections of Gateway to Technology will be taught by Terry Angelus. One section (7th grade) will be taught by Andrea Popham. Mrs. Popham will serve as the 7th grade homeroom teacher. Ms. Angelus will utilize one block to fulfill her Lead Mentor responsibilities, work with teachers in the classroom, and provide additional support to new teachers.
Students will continue to take approximately 60 hours of Business Education in 7th and 8th grade through the related arts rotation, replacing Wellness and Technology.
We are very excited about the possibilities this opens up for all of our students. For students who struggle in math, reading and science, this provides additional opportunities to work with the subject matter in a different context. Students who need extra challenge will be limited only by their own motivation and interest in extending their knowledge. In addition, Gateway to Technology, along with Business Education, provides our students with exposure to a broad and exciting range of college and career possibilities.
OTHER CHANGES FOR NEXT YEAR
Third Grade
Third Grade will be self-contained next year. The current second grade students were the first to experience self-contained classrooms in 2nd grade. The overall experience has been great, offering the teachers and students more flexibility to meet the needs of students and reducing the negative impact of transitions between classrooms. We feel that Third Grade students will similarly benefit from being with a single teacher for Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies.
Good-byes
Mrs. Stevenson (1st Grade) and Mrs. Hancock (3rd Grade) have decided to stay home with thier children next year. Mrs. Rogers-Newman (5th Grade) has also let us know that she will not be returning next year. We wish all of them the very best!
