Elementary Gifted Change
Points to Ponder
Introduction
Elementary Gifted Education is moving to home school based classes for the 2010 – 2011 school year. As the new curriculum is being created, parents may wish to contact their home school principals and other administrators to offer input and discuss the impact of the change on their children. This document is meant to provide parents with general categories of concerns, along with a few specific points which they may want to have addressed by administration. It is intended to provide a starting point for parents to build on and tailor as they choose. It is not intended as a boilerplate document.
Grouping of students
How and with whom will the gifted students be grouped at each home school?
• Will gifted students be grouped together for homeroom?
• Will there be opportunities for all 3 grades of gifted students to work together in a classroom?
• Will there be opportunities for gifted students to work with their gifted peers at other schools on projects? i.e. a virtual classroom?
• How many children will be in their class(es)?
• What will determine eligibility for gifted classes?
• What would determine that they are no longer eligible for gifted classes?
• Will they have mainstreaming for some classes? If so which ones?
• How long will the plan made for this year remain in place?
• How will field trips be handled?
Gifted Curriculum
What will be the difference in gifted curriculum vs. standard curriculum in grades 3, 4, and 5, by subject?
• What subjects will the designated gifted teacher teach?
• Who will be teaching the other subjects?
• What grade levels will be taught in math? And reading?
• Will there be differentiation in subjects not taught by designated gifted teacher? How?
• Will the designated gifted teacher also be teaching Young Explorers?
• How long will the plan made for this year remain in place?
• How will you determine if change in rigor is needed?
• What external or internal resources will be made available for children who are exceptional in specific subjects?
• Will there be opportunity for differentiation in science? Social studies?
Measurement
How will the outcomes of the gifted instruction be measured in the home school programs?
• How will the success of the program be evaluated?
• Are there metrics other than SOL scores to evaluate the program’s success?
• Could a survey or matrix be created to evaluate the program?
Continuum/Accountability
Who is responsible for gifted program content and results? How will continuity in instruction from year to year be assured?
• Who in each elementary school is accountable for gifted education from K-5th grades ?
• What will the role be of the gifted coordinator be on a day to day basis?
• Will the teachers of gifted students be able to specialize in a subject across the three grade levels so that gifted students have the same teacher for a subject in their 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade years?
Social-emotional wellbeing
• What sort of guidance will be provided for students returning to their home schools?
• What sort of feedback will be provided to parents through the transition?
See the forum thread here of you'd like to add your own questions or comments.
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Wouldn't most of these questions apply to "Parents of any Goochland Student"?
ReplyDeleteCertainly many of these questions would, and GEPA highly supports parents' involvement in their children's curriculum and contact with their teachers and administrators. If these questions help other parents, that's wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHowever, these questions were designed specifically toward the parents of elementary gifted children, because those children are facing a complete change in their schooling --- different schools, different teaching methodology, potentially even different curriculum. However, no information has been provided to date to those children or parents except that they are going to be moving back to their "home" schools. So needless to say, these families have a lot of questions.