EXciting Times Exploring New Directions
Welcome to the ExTEND homepage!!!
COMMUNICATION
8th grade students are currently working on their ability to communicate effectively. We are
discussing the importance of being a sound communicator. Whether it is talking to friends or giving
a speech, the ability to convey a message is a basic skill that we all need. Good communication
skills help us to succeed in school and at work, improve relationships with friends and family, and
deal with various challenges.
Students will end this unit by researching a given topic, organizing their thoughts and
information so that they may debate another student. This will allow students to improve critical
thinking and oral communication skills.
MARKETING
7th grade students are currently working on a marketing unit. Students have viewed a variety of
commercials discussed the marketing strategies used to sell these products. We have even
discussed how the layout of stores and product placement encourage the consumer to purchase
more products.
After thoroughly discussing marketing strategies, students will then develop a profitable and
marketable product for a specific company. They will have to create an entire marketing plan to
“pitch” to their company. If the CEO’s of the company accept their plan, students will then create a
commercial using i-movie to promote their product.
CURRENT EVENTS
Throughout the year we will be reading current event articles, analyzing political cartoons and
discussing various events happening all around us. We will discuss and debate many of the events
affecting our community, nation, and world.
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop
questioning."- Albert Einstein
PARENT BOOKLET
We have an ExTEND Parent Booklet!!! If you would like one, just have
your child tell me and I will send one home. The Parent Book has an
overview of how students are accepted into ExTEND, the goals of the
program, and the expected student outcomes.
GEOGRAPHY BEE
Walter J. Baird ExTEND students participate in the
National Geographic Geography Bee every January. The top scoring student
then competes against other students from Tennessee through a written test.
The top scoring students in the state will be invited to compete in the State
Bee.
FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING
Today’s students live in a fast paced and ever changing society.
More than ever before, we face the awesome burden of preparing today’s students
for the uncertainties of the future. We cannot provide all the information
they will need to survive in the future, but we can help them develop thinking
skills necessary to adapt to the ever changing world.
The Future Problem Solving Program (FPSP) does just that. The FPSP
teaches students creative and futuristic thinking skills via an adaptation
of the creative problem solving process. Students in three grade level
divisions(4-6, 7-9, 10-12) work in teams of four guided by an instructor, to
solve problems based on projections into the future.
Many students in the ExTEND Gifted and Talented Program from
Lebanon Special School District have worked very hard on Future Problem
Solving throughout this school year. These students are not only developing skills
in creative problem solving and futures, but also in several other
fundamental areas of education. ExTEND students participating in FPS are learning group
interrelationship skills as they work as a team to find solutions to future
problems; they develop skills of organization and coherence through both
written and oral communication; and they develop higher level thinking
skills that will help them deal with problems of global magnitudes as well
as those on a more personal decision making level.