A program for highly and profoundly gifted children

1
A program for highly and profoundly gifted
children

• A program of the Bloomington Public Schools

2
Expansion plan for 2005-2006

• Two elementary classrooms at Hillcrest Community
  School
• 22 seats at 4th grade
• All 22 seats are open
• 22 seats at 5th grade
• 11 students currently attend
• 11 seats to be filled

3
Elementary Plan

• Maintain the 4/5 multi-age classroom arrangement
• Current Hillcrest configuration
• Fewer difficulties with covering the curriculum
• Teachers in both classes will be able to share
  workload (Science/Social Studies, 4th/5th Grade
  Math)
• Teacher hired will have (at minimum) experience
  with gifted students

4
Expansion plan for 2005-2006

• One class per grade level ON THE TEAM at Oak
  Grove Middle School
• 25 seats at 6th grade
• 16 students currently attend
• 9 seats to be filled
• 25 seats at 7th grade
• 15 students currently attend
• 10 seats to be filled
• 25 seats at 8th grade
• 7 students currently attend
• 18 seats to be filled

5
Process for Selection

• Current DA students must complete and return
  Intent to Return form by 1/21/05
• Current openings will be filled off of the
  current waiting list
• Remaining wait-listed applicants will be
  considered under the same criteria as all other
  applicants for the 2005-2006 new openings

6
Middle School Plan

• Putting classes at each grade level will
• Allow students to be more integrated into the
  Middle School program
• Ease the pressures on one teacher to deliver all
  content areas
• Allow for content teachers to teach the William
  Mary curriculum
• Lower costs of total program
• Not cause a space issue

7
Middle School Plan

• Questions and Answers
• Which teachers will be teaching DA classes?
• One team per grade level will choose to have DA
  on their team. NO teacher will be forced to
  teach DA.
• Will those teachers understand and/or want to
  work with gifted children?
• All teachers teaching DA will be required to
  attend training over the summer and will be
  supported throughout the school year

8
Middle School Plan

• Questions and Answers
• Will the curriculum get watered down with more
  teachers?
• NO! Teachers are EXPECTED to teach the William
  Mary curriculum. Teachers will be allowed to
  infuse the Districts curriculum or outside
  lessons when appropriate and with approval of the
  Department of Gifted Education
• Will non-qualified students be placed in DA
  classes?
• NO!

9
Middle School Plan

• Questions and Answers
• Who developed the Expansion Plan?
• The original plan developed by the G/T Department
  had an expansion plan to 8th grade. The new plan
  was developed by the G/T Department to ensure a
  quality viable program 4-8. After extensive
  discussion and review by the
• Assistant Superintendent, Executive Director
  of Finance, Executive Director of Special
  Services, Director of Curriculum and Instruction,
  the plan was presented to the Superintendent who
  made the final decision.
• Why was it decided to put DA students on the
  team?
• Students felt they wanted more interactions with
  peers at grade level.
• Putting DA on the team does not place the cost of
  the teachers on the DA program.
• There would be a space concern if DA were not put
  on the team, meaning the program would not stay
  at OGMS.

10
Middle School Plan

• Questions and Answers
• Will the Social and Emotional component still be
  important?
• YES! DA students will be in a Prime Time
  together where many of the S/E issues can be
  address.

11
6th Grade - 6 period day

• Classes with DA students only
• Mathematics
• All Year every day
• Honors
• Language Arts
• All Year every day
• William Mary
• Social Studies
• 3 quarters every day
• William Mary
• Science
• 3 quarters every day
• William Mary
• Reading
• All Year every day
• William Mary
• Health / Art
• 1 quarter each every day
• District Curriculum

• Classes with other students
• Music Band/Choir Orchestra
• All year on a skinny with PE alternating with
  FACS or Tech Ed
• Physical Education
• All year on a skinny with Music alternating
  with FACS or Tech Ed
• Family and Consumer Science (FACS)
• 1 semester alternating with Music and PE
• Technology and Innovations (Tech Ed)
• 1 semester alternating with Music and PE

12
7th Grade- 4x4 Alternating Block

• Classes with DA students only
• Mathematics
• All year alternating block
• Honors
• Language Arts
• All year alternating block
• William Mary
• Social Studies
• All year alternating block
• William Mary
• Science
• All year alternating block
• William Mary
• Reading
• 1 semester alternating block
• William Mary
• Art
• 1 semester alternating block
• District Curriculum

• Classes with other students
• Music Band/Choir/Orchestra
• All year on a skinny with WL alternating with
  PE or FACS
• World Language (WL) French or Spanish
• All year on a skinny with Music alternating
  with PE or FACS
• Physical Education
• 1 semester alternating with Music and WL
• Family and Consumer Science (FACS)
• 1 semester alternating with Music and WL

13
8th Grade- 4x4 Alternating Block

• Classes with DA students only
• Mathematics
• All Year alternating block
• Honors-Algebra I HS credit
• Language Arts
• All Year alternating block
• William Mary
• Social Studies
• All year alternating block
• William Mary
• Science
• All year alternating block
• William Mary
• Physical Education
• 1 semester (ex 1 3) alternating block
• District Curriculum
• Health
• 1 semester (ex 2 4) alternating block
• District Curriculum

• Classes with other students
• Music Band/Choir/Orchestra or General Music
• All year on a skinny with WL alternating with
  Art or Tech Ed
• World Language (WL) French or Spanish
• All year on a skinny with Music alternating
  with Art or Tech Ed
• ArtDistrict Curriculum
• 1 semester alternating with Music and WL
• Technology and Innovation (Tech Ed)
• 1 semester alternating with Music and WL

14
How parents can help

• Develop, plan and implement picnic for new
  families-August 2005
• Develop, plan and assist in implementing end of
  the year event-May 2005
• Develop, plan and implement a
  Dimensions Academy Parent Connection
• Fund raise
• Events
• Parent-to-parent support
• Recruitment