GATE:
Mrs. Mazza
Teaching in:
Bowne-Munro, Chittick, Lawrence Brook and Warnsdorfer Schools
CLASSES:
Third Grade TAG, Fourth Grade TAG and Fifth Grade Verbal
SECRETARY'S PHONE, DOTTIE CLARK:
(732) 613-6764
I have been teaching GATE in East Brunswick since early 1994. I earned my
Master's degree in Education at Rutgers Graduate School of Education with a
4.0 average in 1992. Since graduating, I have earned an additional 60 graduate
- level credits. Before working in East Brunswick Public Schools, I worked in
business for many years, and also was the Director of a social service agency.
Before college, I even worked in radio. I have taught pre-school through
eighth grade, as well as adults in a business environment.
I have three adult daughters, two granddaughters, a husband and a new puppy! I
enjoy the challenge and discovery of traveling almost anywhere! Ask me about
Alaska, the Grand Canyon, Maine, Ireland, England, Nova Scotia, Yukon,
Montreal, Quebec, Wyoming, Oklahoma, California, South Dakota, North Carolina,
Tennessee, Florida and the Yucatan, where I was able to tour ancient Maya sites.
Photography is one of my favorite pursuits, and I will sometimes use photos
that I have taken to further students' learning in the classroom.
My vision is to guide highly capable students to greater accomplishments in
learning, while supporting their growth as caring people. Research has shown
that gifted and talented students need more opportunities to:
* pursue advanced level work
* be exposed to higher level thinking skills
* use enrichment centers
* pursue a self-selected interest
* work in groups with students having common interests
* move to a higher grade for specific subject area instruction
* work with students of comparable ability across classrooms at the
same grade level
* work on an advanced curriculum unit on a teacher-selected topic
* participate in competitive programs focusing on thinking skills/problem
solving
* receive concentrated instruction in critical thinking and creative
problem solving
The district has a series of formal program components for students with
special abilities and talents. Formal components are characterized by
specific identification procedures and regularly scheduled instructional
time. In keeping with the most recent research, the school system defines
intellectual giftedness as a blending of outstanding intellect, motivation
and creative thinking. For the formal components of the program, the
district uses multiple criteria to identify students who may be gifted. The
criteria includes standardized test scores, grades, writing samples and
recommendations by teachers. Students are screened each year for the
following year’s program.
We in the GATE department are continually striving to find new opportunities
for our students to grow as highly capable individuals.
