Oakhurst Elementary School
GATE Program
2007-2008
PROGRAM GOAL
Provide high quality differentiated learning opportunities that meet the gifted and talented students’ particular abilities and talents.
The California State Department of Education requests that programs for the gifted:
- Differentiate opportunities within the core curriculum for learning commensurate with abilities and talents.
- Provide alternative learning environments.
- Develop sensitivity and responsibility.
- Develop a commitment to constructive ethical standards.
- Develop problem-solving abilities to expand awareness of choices for contributions to his/her environment.
- Develop realistic, healthy self-concepts.
DIFFERENTIATED CURRICULUM
Acceleration/Pacing…The student moves more rapidly through a particular curricular sequence. This may occur through self-pacing or in a class or course for a higher age or grade.
Depth…Depth is elaboration. The student pursues a topic to a greater level of understanding. The student examines topics by determining the facts, concepts, generalizations, principles, and theories related to them.
Complexity…Complexity is extending the content to the study of issues, problems and themes. The student relates concepts and ideas at a more sophisticated level; sees associations among diverse subjects, topics, or levels; finds multiple solutions to problems; and analyzes and evaluates solutions from several points of view.
Novelty…Novelty is primarily student initiated. The student is encouraged to seek original interpretations, reinterpretations or restatements of existing information. The student approaches areas of study in personalized, individualistic, and non-traditional ways.
Source: “Differentiating the Core Curriculum and Instruction to Provide Advanced Learning Opportunities, “California Department of Education Association for the Gifted, 1994.
TRAITS OF THE GIFTED CHILD
Very often parents are the first to recognize that their child is bright for his or her age. There are many checklists of gifted characteristics. In general they contain several common elements.
The child may:
- Ask lots of questions and learn more quickly than others
- Retain information
- Be extremely curious and can concentrate for long periods on subjects of interest
- Have a wide general knowledge and interest in the world
- Enjoy problem-solving, often skipping the intermediate stages in an argument and making original connections
- Have an unusual imagination
- Show strong feelings and opinions and have an odd sense of humor
- Set high standards and be a perfectionist
Source: The National Association for Gifted Children, http://www.nagc.org
PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS
Clustering…Grades 4-5
GATE students are clustered together in the regular classroom and provided appropriately differentiated instruction of the core curriculum.
Enrichment…Grades 4-5
GATE and high achieving students have opportunities to extend the core curriculum or explore a topic not usually offered. This may occur before, during or after-school
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