SOAR offers interested and motivated TOCS middle school students the opportunity to study topics of intense interest and to present their research findings in a variety of ways relative to the requirements of two national student contests. (This program will end with the end of third quarter, so participants can rejoin classmates in fourth quarter Exploratories.)
Families, and not screening testing, have chosen inclusion in the program, and families can choose to leave the program at any time. Students having difficulty performing in the program will be counseled, mentored, and encouraged, but will be asked to leave the program should counseling not result in improved performance.
Students will receive individualized and small group instruction in research and media literacy, along with instruction in the writing, performance, and technological skills needed to produce quality products. Success and satisfaction in the class experience will be directly proportional to interest and passion in exploration topic choice, so much of the first month will be spent in topic selection. Much of the final month will be devoted to competition project construction.
Class will tentatively meet for a double afternoon period on both Tuesdays and Thursdays for first through third quarter, but students must accommodate flexibility in scheduling, if extra support is needed or instructor has an infrequent conflict. Students may choose to have their research work culminate in either an entry in the National History Day competition or the Think Quest competition.
To view the SOAR project resources, click on the "SOAR Project Resources" link on the left navigation menu.
Instructor: Diane Tinucci
