Service+Learning+Project

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 * REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE :    Using technology to save the Earth! **

**A fun unit using the technologies listed in our Wiki!**
By Kira Dolley

As one of the three teachers in "It Takes a Village" am interested in getting all students invested in the world. (After all, what is a village without the Earth that it relies upon!) As a future TAG (Talented and Gifted) teacher I want all my students to know about the world's issues and be involved as civic, diverse, and equitable citizens. And in this way, I want students to use technology to think about ways to solve some the world’s problems (i.e. global warming, pollution, world hunger, obesity, etc.). By using all the technologies listed, as well as incorporating a few more fun activities, students can become civic/equitable/diverse stewards of America and society.

HOW DOES TAG (Talented and Gifted Education) COME INTO PLAY?
While reading the __Handbook of Gifted Education__ by Nicholas Colangelo and Gary A. Davis, I came across an article by Joseph S. Renzulli entitled //The Schoolwide Enrichment Model: Developing Creative and Productive Giftedness//. In Renzulli’s article, he talks about a program that has been implemented in many schools and school districts; each are trying to promote the creative potential of young people. These schools and school districts were essentially trying to answer the question: How can we help children learn to think creatively, and value opportunities for quiet reflection and creative work of their choice? They developed a model called The Schoolwide Enrichment Model. This model seems to encompass everything that myself, Lisa, and Lori of “It Takes A Village: the Wiki” stands for—**// “ //****// In the present day, it ["it takes a village"] refers to parents, teachers, community workers, coaches, etc. all taking a vested interest in helping to mold students to be productive citizens that help to benefit the community.” [See Home Page ]. //**In creating the Service Learning Project portion of “It Takes a Village: the Wiki” I found that it follows the same direction the Schoolwide Enrichment Model does. Joseph Renzulli's model directive states: “The present reform initiatives in general education have created a more receptive atmosphere for flexible approaches that challenge all students. Accordingly, the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) has been expanded to address three major goals that we believe will accommodate the needs of gifted students, and at the same time provide challenging learning experiences for //all// students. These goals are:
 * To maintain and expand a continuum of special services that will challenge students with demonstrated superior performance or the potential for superior performance in any and all aspects of the school and extracurricular program.
 * To infuse into the general education program a broad range of activities for high-end learning that will (a) challenge all students to perform at advanced levels and (b) allow teachers to determine which students should be given extended opportunities, resources, and encouragement in particular areas where superior interest and performance are demonstrated.
 * To preserve and protect the positions of gifted education specialists and any other specialized personnel necessary for carrying out the first two goals.”

=== **Since I am teacher in a general education classroom, I find myself teaching students with different talents and skill levels. It is often daunting to teach a varied set of students daily with the goal to make each of their education meaningful, engaging, and most of all challenging. Often with the mantra of “teach to the test/[Maryland Standardized Achievement Test]" rolling off administrator’s tongues and looming over every educator’s head, most schoolteacher’s are forced to eliminate differentiation for academic rigor.** **I have found that in seeing a problem there might come a solution! The unit presented __Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: Using technology to save the Earth__ is a unit that seems to meld** **differentiation and academic rigor into lessons suitable for a general education class populated by all skill levels. **  ===