WELCOME!

2/3 High Ability

Parent Information

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Sarah Williams, teacher

stwilliams@tsc.k12.in.us

Updated April 2026

Meet Ms. Williams!

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Hometown: Michigan City, Indiana

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Four Older brothers...

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Steve, Jimmy, me, Danny

Eric, not pictured

And one ornery cat….

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Cleo is our unofficial class mascot.

B.A. from Purdue university

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• Including GT and Reading endorsements

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Master’s Degree and Administrator’s License from Indiana wesleyan University

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THis is year 33!! <gasp>

• Gifted/Talented. Grades K-6, Michigan City - 3 years
• 4th Grade, Michigan City - 1 year
• 2nd Grade, Michigan City - 4 years
• 3rd Grade, Michigan City - 5 years
• 2nd Grade, Hershey - 1 year
• 2/3 High Ability, Hershey - 19 years and counting

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I love teaching kids of any grade,

but my High Ability kids have my heart!

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My philosophy...

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expectations...

• Increased demand compared to general ed. classrooms
• Expectation that some work will be completed at home

(projects, reading, etc.)

• Weekly homework assignment sheet
• Daily group work & discussion, and independent work
• One project each semester with required presentations

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Curriculum...

• Accelerated pace
• We delve into topics deeply, stretching both vertically and horizontally to gain as much knowledge as we can
• Student interest plays a part in what we study
• Integrated, cross curricular, sometimes project-based
• We take 2 years to complete standards for grade 2 & 3
• We work as a class as much as possible; with the exception of math (and state testing), we do not separate 2nd & 3rd grade learning….we learn together!

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math

• No placement testing; students remain “on grade level” �but we move through curriculum at an accelerated pace that fits students’ needs�
• Math in Focus (MIF) - problem solving based
• We pace through the MIF curriculum fairly quickly, usually finishing around Spring Break. Then we do “Ms. Williams Math,” where I push the kids up a grade level and we further explore different math concepts and skills, really stretching our math muscles.

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Reading & Language arts...

• AR: quarterly goals; part of reading grade
• Book Clubs: begin with leveled readers and then move to

chapter books by 2nd Quarter; both fiction and non-fiction

• Science of Reading
• Wordly Wise: vocabulary program
• Spelling: traditional, 20 words/week, tests on Fridays
• Writing: Narrative, Informational, Opinion/Persuasive, Poetry

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Science & social studies...

• Unit/Project based
• Some of our Science units:
• Biomes, Matter, Elements of the Periodic Table, Wolves, �Body Systems, Space, Weather, Plants, Simple Machines
• Some of our Social Studies units:
• Pioneers, US Regions, Government, Economics, Elections, Geography, US Monuments/Symbols
• Junior Achievement
• Time for Kids (social studies)

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chess!

Chess is a game of intellect and is very appropriate for High Ability children. It fosters and develops creativity, problem solving, critical thinking skills, decision making skills, and concentration. Plus, it’s fun!

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• In-class play to learn the basics
• Chess ladder and tournaments
• Mr. Schnepp, coach

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Other cool stuff...

• Weekly Online Newsletter
• Private Facebook page �
• Follow us on Instagram� @ms.williamshighability �
• Class Motto and T-shirts

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faqs

• Homework? Weekly assignment sheet with study &� reading assignments – no paperwork

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• Specials? Yes - art, music, P.E., library, & lab just like� all Hershey Panthers�
• Lunch & Recess? 12:25 - 1:15 daily (subject to change next year)

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• Field Trips? Yes....curriculum related; � usually just us, 2 trips/year

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• Cursive? Yes! Starts in January

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2025-26 Class motto!

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2026-27 Class motto!

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ANY questions

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Email me!!

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stwilliams@tsc.k12.in.us