A Presentation to

1
Advanced Learning Programs in Cobb County
SchoolsGifted Education

• A Presentation to
• CC-GAGC
• January 23, 2006
• Lynn Hamblett and Vicki Skywark

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Mission of ALP

• To develop the academic potential of students
• To prepare students for advanced learning
  opportunities

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Effort-Success Ratio

• In a differentiated classroom, our goal is to
  find just the right balance between success and
  effort for ALL children. Students who
  consistently fail lose their motivation to learn.
  Students who succeed too easily also lose their
  motivation to learn and are at risk for falling
  victim to the twin threats of lethargy and
  perfectionism.

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ALP at all levels is designed to

• Foster independent learning and self-discipline
• Emphasize higher-order thinking, problem solving,
  and communication skills
• Encourage motivation and interest
• Allow for creative application of ideas
• Model and encourage scholastic dialogue

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Elementary Programs

• Gifted resource classes
• Target
• Interdisciplinary enrichment one day per week
• Talent development program, either pull-out or
  push-in
• Guidelines for above-grade acceleration options

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Target Resource Classes

• Only identified gifted students may be served
• Interdisciplinary enrichment, supplementary to
  core curriculum
• One day per week replaces all but Specials

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Target Day

• Activities to develop
• Logical thinking
• Creativity
• Support and extension of Georgia Performance
  Standards
• Unit study 2-3 per year
• Incorporates research and technology

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Target Expectations

• Homework
• Long-term Projects
• Target report card/tallies are teachers method
  of communicating to you
• Good is not good enough when better is expected.

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Expectations/Goals

• Risk-taking
• Critical thinking
• Self-directed learning
• Creative-productive thinking
• Stick-to-it-ness

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Talent Development

• Gifted education specialists work with groups of
  high-potential students to develop talents and
  skills relevant to future academic success
• Specialists may pull students out of regular
  class to attend a Target-like program, or they
  may push in to regular class to work with smaller
  groups

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Acceleration

• Schools are given guidance on research-based
  practices regarding student advancement in a
  single subject or a whole grade beyond their
  age-peers
• Schools use the Iowa Acceleration Scale

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Elementary Continuation Criteria

• Must meet 14 0f 20 indicators on the Target
  Progress Report
• Must maintain satisfactory performance, defined
  as
• E and/or G in grades K-3 in the core subjects of
  reading, English, and mathematics, O and/or S in
  science or social studies.
• A minimum average of 80 in grades 4-5 in the core
  subjects of reading, English, mathematics,
  science, and social studies.

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Advanced Content Courses

• Grade 6 based on grade 5 ITBS scores, with
  qualifying score currently set at 80th ile or
  higher on the relevant subject area test
• Language Arts
• Science
• Social Studies
• Grades 7 8 placement opportunities based on
  additional criteria
• Grade 8 Foreign Language placements guided by
  FL Supervisor
• Math placements are guided by Math Supervisor

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Format of AC Courses

• Meets daily for one period, or the weekly
  equivalent
• Students may be served in multiple areas as
  appropriate
• Includes non-gifted students who meet the criteria

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AC Curriculum

• Differentiated core curriculum
• Focuses on a single subject
• Interdisciplinary connections
• Requires significant use of primary data and/or
  documents
• Incorporates research and technology

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AC Student Performance

• Routine completion of challenging out-of-class
  independent assignments
• Comprehensive interdisciplinary assignments
• Measured by analysis, evaluation, and application
  on a final exam
• Continuation requires an average of 80 or better
  in the class

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Elementary?Middle?High

• The transition from a process-product oriented
  program to a content-based program is gradual
• Student expectations escalate from level to level
• Transition points are critical
• Into gifted program
• 5 ?6
• 8 ?9

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Continued Eligibility for Gifted Services

• Probation
• Discontinuation of services
• Re-entry

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Questions?

• Mrs. Lynn Hamblett, Grades K-5
• Dr. Vicki Skywark, Grades 6-12
• 770.426.3324