Partnering for Success

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Partnering for Success

• Gifted Programs in CUSD 303

A Partnership between District 303 and the
Gifted-Talented Resource Group
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What is Gifted?

• Gifted comes in different forms and degrees.
  Gifted children excel or have the potential to
  excel in general intellectual ability, or in
  specific aptitudes (math, literary arts, science,
  creative thinking, visual/performing arts) when
  compared with peers of their age, experience, or
  background.

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What is Gifted?

• Most gifted learners have ability scores between
  130 and 155. Above that range are the profoundly
  gifted - a tiny fraction of the group. Overall,
  the gifted represent about 5-6 percent of our
  population.

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Philosophy

• The gifted and talented program in D303 is
  committed to inspiring and empowering our able
  learners to
• achieve excellence
• maintain passion in their learning
• bring integrity to all activities that touch
  their lives and the lives of others

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What the Gifted Program Looks Like in District 303

• Primary Education Thinking Skills
• Targets grades 1-3 at all elementary schools
• Develops higher order thinking skills in all
  primary grade students
• Convergent
• Divergent
• Evaluative
• Visual/Spatial Reasoning

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What the Gifted Program Looks Like in District 303

• Primary Education Thinking Skills
• Characters introduce thinking styles
• Program builds upon itself to reinforce thinking
  skills
• 30 minute lessons, once per week
• 4-6 week cycle per thinking skill
• 2- 3 weeks of whole class instruction
• 2- 3 small group follow-up sessions
• Flexible group supports capable thinkers in a
  particular thinking strand

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What the Gifted Program Looks Like in District 303

• Acceleration options are also available for
  primary grade students.
• This process is handled on a case-by-case basis
  and originates at the building level.

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What the Gifted Program Looks Like in District 303

• Academically Talented Math (4th/5th grade)
• 8 units of study over a 2-year period
• Tied to Middle School Mathematics' Standards
• Utilizes Problem Based/ Inquiry approach to
  learning.

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What the Gifted Program Looks Like in District 303

• Academically Talented Math
• Emphasis is on problem-solving skills
• Culminating project at the end of each unit
  allows students to fully demonstrate their
  understanding of a unit's content.

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What the Gifted Program Looks Like in District 303

• Academically Talented Literacy (AT Lit), grades
  4-5
• Literacy By Design
• Supplemental units from the Center for Gifted
  Education, at the College of William and Mary
  focus on
• Literature
• Writing
• Oral communication
• Language study

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What the Gifted Program Looks Like in District 303

• Academically Talented Literacy (AT Lit), grades
  4-5
• Small group format in the classroom
• Poems, short stories, novels, and essays are
  introduced, analyzed and discussed
• Persuasive writing
• Independent work

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Middle School Mathematics
8th Grade Connected Math
6th Grade 7th
Grade 8th Grade
Algebra I
Geometry
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Middle School Mathematics

• Key Concepts of 8th grade math --
• Variables and solving two step algebraic
  equations.
• Area of rectangles, parallelograms, triangles,
  and trapezoids.
• Geometric angle concepts.
• Classifying triangles.
• Circumference, diameter and area of circles.
• Measures of central tendency.
• Graphing ordered pairs and lines.
• Patterns and rules in tables.
• Order of Operations.
• Distributive Property .
• Pythagorean Theorem.
• Square roots of square numbers and estimating
  square numbers..
• Subproblems to break a complex problem into
  smaller parts.
• Slopes, rate of change and equations of lines.

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Middle School Mathematics

• Key Concepts of Algebra--
• Review of Basic Algebra
• Rules of Algebra
• Solving Linear Equations
• Graphing Linear Equation
• Writing Linear Equations
• Solving Linear Inequalities
• Graphing Linear Inequalities
• Solving Systems of Linear Equations
• Power and Exponents
• Quadratic Equations
• Polynomials
• Factoring of Polynomials
• Proportion and Ratio Equations
• Radicals and Connections to Geometry

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Middle School Mathematics

• Key Concepts of Geometry --
• Algebra (review of all topics, writing and
  solving equations)
• Graphing
• Ratios (similarity, right triangle trigonometry
  probability)
• Properties of plane figures (area, perimeter,
  polygons, angles)
• Problem solving (diagrams, tables/ lists,
  patterns, subproblems)
• Spatial visualization
• Conjecture, explanation and convincing
  argumentation (proof)

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Middle School Literacy

• Two-period block each day (about 90 min.)
• Blend of reading, writing, thinking, speaking,
  listening
• Some resources and topics are at grade level, and
  some are from next grade
• Additionally, 6th 7th use units from College of
  William Mary Center for Gifted Education (8th
  grade set to implement next year)

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Middle School Literacy

• In-depth literary analysis and interpretation
• Critical thinking
• Developing convincing arguments
• Logical detailed elaboration of ideas in
  writing
• Also, fundamentals reading strategies, elements
  of literature, grammar, spelling, mechanics
  usage, word study

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Middle School Literacy

• Theme of change continues
• Wm. Mary unit is Persuasion at 6th and 1940s
  an Era of Change at 7th
• Reading
• Includes readings such as Declaration of
  Independence, Tom Sawyer, Pied Piper, poetry, and
  essays
• Variety of novels exploring different cultures
• Writing
• Research, personal narrative, essays, analytical
  response to reading
• Speaking
• Debate
• Oral Presentations

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What the Gifted Program Looks Like in District 303
Course Options at the High School Level
What the Gifted Program Looks Like in District
303
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Honors Courses

• Offer high level of expectations for students
  desiring higher level of challenge
• Offered to younger students, prior to AP
  offerings
• Offered when there is not an AP equivalent --
  considered parallel to AP

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AP Courses

• Offer high level of expectations for students
  desiring higher level of challenge
• Cumulative test designed by the College Board
• College credit for students with passing scores
  on the test
• Begin in sophomore year

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• AP Music Theory
• AP Studio Art
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Computer Science
• AP Statistics
• AP Biology
• AP Chemistry
• AP Environ. Science
• AP Physics
• AP Psychology

• AP French
• AP German
• AP Latin
• AP Spanish Language
• AP Spanish Literature
• AP Government
• AP MacroEconomics
• AP US History
• AP European History
• AP English Language
• AP English Literature

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Dual Enrollment

• University of Illinois classes available for
  students who complete the entire math sequence by
  junior year
• Calculus credit from U of I
• North Central Colleges Ledermann Scholars
  program options also being investigated

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Pre-Requisites for Honors and AP

• Depends upon the content area
• Open enrollment to all courses
• English, Math and Science, require a specific
  course sequence
• Move up opportunities in Math and English require
  a summer school class
• Math move-up opportunities require an invitation
  and additional testing

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Screening and Identification

• All students are screened beginning in third
  grade.
• Information from Cognitive Abilities Tests,
  Achievement Tests, and Teacher Rating Scales are
  weighted and combined into an aggregate score.
• Alternate, portfolio process for identification
  can also be used.
• D303 seeks to program for its top 5 in literacy
  and math.

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Nomination and Appeals

• Parents or teachers may nominate students for
  consideration.
• Students in grades 4-8 may nominate themselves
  for consideration.
• Appeals are handled by a building-based committee
  on a case-by-case basis.

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Exit Process

• Students who have been placed into the gifted
  program inappropriately are exited through a
  specific process.
• Students are not exited from the program due to
  non-compliance or poor work habits.

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Partnering with Parents
Resource Fair Early Spring Glimpse the
Future Career Night Fall Advocacy and
Networking Website
http//www.gtrg-d303.org
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Contact Information

• Mrs. Sally Thomson
• sally.thomson_at_d303.org
• 630/443-3352
• Mrs. Peg Sanders
• DSand14_at_aol.com
• 630-584-5484