A.C.E. Curriculum Evening
Academic Challenge and Enrichment
The Purpose of A.C.E.
A.C.E. is a multiple-intelligence-based academic enrichment program. As such, it is designed to supplement, and not replace, advanced learning opportunities available within the classroom.
The A.C.E. program’s existence is premised on research that has established that students who are “gifted” (top 10% in one or more intelligence areas as defined by potential and identified through testing) and /or “talented” (top 10% in one or more intelligence areas as defined by performance and identified through observation) benefit from a learning environment that:
1) encourages exploration of academic areas not already covered in the classroom.
2) prioritizes a small-class environment where all students are encouraged to participate and where
material can be presented and discussed in depth and at a quick pace (A.C.E. classes have
traditionally been capped at 18 students, but as our school population has grown, some classes are
larger than this).
3) supports highly-able students in situations where they are not the quickest problem-solver in the
group.
4) encourages students to be “open” about their enthusiasm for various intellectual pursuits, allowing
students to benefit from a support group of peers who also share academic interests at this point in
their lives.
7th Grade A.C.E. Curriculum
Theories of Intelligence: What Does It Mean to be “Smart”?
Introduction to Philosophy
Logical Mystery Tour
Creative Problem Solving based on the Odyssey of the Mind program
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1syDjQlVruA9m-ZDEUpW5GgB-eGwCJuXCrgQWkgdv5Qg/edit?usp=sharing
8th Grade A.C.E. Curriculum
Theories of Intelligence Review
Problems in Topology
Creative Problem Solving
including Packaging Engineering (an egg drop project)
Globalization and Cultural Identity
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1syDjQlVruA9m-ZDEUpW5GgB-eGwCJuXCrgQWkgdv5Qg/edit?usp=sharing
Nuts and Bolts of A.C.E.
Some A.C.E. classes this year are meeting for one semester (every other day for two terms) and some A.C.E. classes are meeting for one term, one period every day. Students who do not take band/orchestra/chorus miss directed studies, while students who are participating in band/orchestra/chorus miss either Art, Music, or FACS. Students can take Computer Science and A.C.E. All students take Tech. Ed., as one of the 8th grade MCAS tests is “Science and Technology.”
Students cannot request in advance of the start of the academic year which exploratory class A.C.E. will replace. However, if a student is particularly interested in enrolling in a specific exploratory class and the computer selects that class to be replaced by A.C.E., students can meet with their guidance counselor during the first few days of school and see if their schedule can be changed. If not, a student can always choose to drop A.C.E.
A.C.E. classes are graded “pass/fail” as a purposeful tool to help students maintain (or regain) a love of learning for its own sake. All A.C.E. work is completed in class, so as not to compete with the demands of core class homework requirements.
All 7th students currently enrolled in ACE will have the option of re-enrolling for next year. 7th grade students who are not enrolled in ACE this year but who would like to be for next year contact me during the Spring.
A.C.E. as a Special Needs Program
Why Your Child is Enrolled in A.C.E.
7th grade students are nominated based on the criteria of intellectual curiosity, above-average abstract reasoning ability, and a high level of intrinsic motivation. Hopefully parent review the curriculum with their child, and the student personally agrees to enroll.
8th grade students choose to continue (or not) after participating in 7th grade ACE. A student who has not participated in ACE as a 7th grader may enroll in 8th grade ACE as long as their 7th grade teachers attest to their work ethic.
Gifted/Talented Education
There are a variety of national and state organizations that advocate for schools to do a better job recognizing and responding to the special academic and affective needs of “gifted/talented” students.
https://padlet.com/aduke21/s8phdw59w8xa990k
G/T students (and adults) are more prone than other types of people to several affective challenges, including perfectionism, emotional intensity, “ownership of the gift,” and underachievement (often due to a lack of study skills). We talk about these four challenges in class. G/t organizations have resources designed to help with each of these as well as others.
What A.C.E. Is Not
A.C.E. enrollment is not a guarantee of future academic or career success!
A.C.E. enrollment does not appear on high school transcripts that are sent to colleges.
A.C.E. enrollment does not affect 8th grade core class teachers’ recommendations for honors classes at the high school.
A.C.E. enrollment is not a division of young adolescents into the intellectual “haves” and the “have nots.” Some high achieving students with busy extra-curricular schedules are content with the academic challenge offered in their core classes. It is also true that abstract reasoning ability and academic interests, like all other abilities, develop at different times and at different rates in different children. A love of and commitment to learning can be delayed or derailed by parental pressure, however well-intentioned.
Academic Enrichment
Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth (CTY): https://cty.jhu.edu/
CTY webinars for families of advanced learners: “Curious about how CTY testing works? Looking for information on anxiety and academically advanced kids? Want to learn about biology, robots, or the human brain? CTY’s free webinars feature experts from around JHU discussing topics in wellness, science, and CTY programs.”
Early access to SAT/ACT through the CTY admissions process.
MIT Educational Studies Program (ESP) esp.mit.edu
"The MIT Educational Studies Program (ESP) is dedicated to sharing the joy of learning and teaching through hosting events for local middle/high school students and the MIT community."
“Splash” (high school, Nov) and “Spark” (7th and 8th grades, March) weekends
“High School Studies Program” offers courses on Saturdays that run for six weeks
Also: https://mitmuseum.mit.edu/program/science-saturday
Academic Enrichment
Cambridge Math Circle: https://www.cambridgemathcircle.org/
“The Cambridge Math Circle was established in 2018 by math and physics PhDs with a combined 40 years of teaching experience at K-12, undergraduate and graduate levels, to give elementary and middle school students in Cambridge and surrounding towns a chance to experience deep, fascinating math and meet others who like solving puzzles and stretching their minds.”
GrubStreet Creative Writing Center https://grubstreet.org/programs/for-teens/
“Are you a teen who likes to write poems, stories, novels, or screenplays? Come find your people! Join GrubStreet’s Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP). YAWP students, ages 13-18, come from high schools all over the greater Boston area. Grub has four types of programs for teens: free Saturday sessions, Teen Writing Classes (most of which take place during school vacations), a three-week Summer Fellowship program, and summer-long Working in the Arts Fellowship program.”
Middle School Model United Nations Club: Kim Holt, 781-219-7619 kimkayholt@gmail.com (outside of school, meets on Sundays, $35 registration fee)