The following letter went home with students in 3rd – 5th grades about SEM…

Greetings Stoddert Families,

Welcome back to Stoddert for another wonderful year! My name is Cedric Scott and I am excited to work with you and your 3rd through 5th grade child as the Schoolwide Enrichment Teacher.  I know we will have a successful, productive year and I look forward to being a part of the academic progress your child will make.

The Schoolwide Enrichment Model, SEM, is a class structure that provides enriched and rigorous learning experiences to all students with the overall mission of creative productivity. The SEM aims to identify and enhance gifted behaviors by focusing on the interests of students. The SEM differs from a traditional gifted program, which selects students based on standardized test scores, IQ tests, and/or teacher recommendations. The SEM thrives on developing the talents in children with the belief that all students possess giftedness that will flourish if provided with advanced opportunities to display their personal strengths.

In class this year, your child will have a fun and engaging time while still gaining valuable and relevant knowledge. They will be exposed to various different educational experiences that will make them think outside of the box and require them to work to their full potential. Students will participate in project based learning through research, critical thinking skills, and exposure to new topics in order to ultimately develop a project, product, or service within the area of personal interest.

For any additional questions, comments, or concerns regarding the Schoolwide Enrichment Model or your child’s progress, please feel free to email me at cedric.scott@dc.gov. I look forward to communication with you as we work together to ensure your child’s success!

Sincerely,

Cedric Scott

*****

SEM Student Accountability Checklist

As I work on my SEM project, am I…

Clear about why I am doing this work?

On task?

Following directions?

Monitoring my volume?

Focused on my work?

Asking for help if I need it?

Using appropriate resources?

Citing my sources (websites/books)

Finding information that I plan to use for my final project?

Working responsibly with others?

Respecting myself, my partner or group, and my teachers?

Using my time and materials wisely?

Planning for my final project?

IF YOU ARE DOING THESE THINGS, YOU ARE DEFINITELY ON THE PATH TO SUCCESS. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK! 

*****

Schoolwide Enrichment Model Rubric Teacher Name: Mr. Scott Student Name:     ________________________________________

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1 Quality of Work

	Provides work of the highest quality that is well thought out and shows maximum effort.	Provides high quality work that shows evidence of thought and effort.	Provides work of good quality that shows little thought/effort.	Provides work of low quality that shows very little to no thought or effort.
Time-management	Always uses time wisely to work toward project completion.	Usually uses time wisely to work toward project completion.	Sometimes uses time wisely to work toward project completion.	Rarely uses time wisely to work toward project completion.
Focus on the task	Consistently stays focused on the task and what needs to be done. Very self-directed.	Focuses on the task and what needs to be done most of the time.	Focuses on the task and what needs to be done some of the time.	Rarely focuses on the task and what needs to be done.
Completion	Project is submitted on time and 100% complete.	Project is submitted, but mostly complete.	Project is submitted, but somewhat complete.	Project not submitted; Very incomplete.