Gifted Programming Information

K-4 Elementary Challenge Programming

Instructors:

Elizabeth Santucci (Eagleville/Worcester) Darlene Balaguer-Piernock (Arrowhead/Woodland)

Programming Description:

Challenge (gifted) programming is a special part of the overall educational programming for children identified by a Certified School Psychologist as mentally gifted. Identification is based on a multi-criteria evaluation that includes building level evaluations of academic performance and teacher observations, along with a norm-referenced achievement and reasoning quotients assessment administered by school personnel. If a child meets the minimum requirements at the building level gifted screening, individual achievement and intelligence testing is performed by a school psychologist. A teacher may refer students for screening and/or this screening may be requested in written form by a parent or via an oral request to a child’s classroom teacher or the building School Counselor or Gifted Specialist. Once a student is identified, a team of parents and school personnel called a “G.I.E.P. Team” meets and agrees upon individual goals and specially designed instruction for that student.

The main purpose of the pull-out Challenge classes are to motivate each student to achieve to their highest potential by working to meet the goals and outcomes agreed upon by the G.I.E.P. Team. Students will participate in high interest independent and group activities which foster the development of the 4-C's: critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication as well as problem solving skills, research/technological skills, divergent thinking, leadership skills, public speaking skills, organization/study skills, and goal setting. Younger Challenge students meet for approximately one hour per week, and students in grades 3-4 meet for a total of 2 ½ hours per week.

Programming Highlights:

Grades K – 2: Younger Challenge students may meet individually or meet in multi-grade groups (determined by enrollment and student need) and participate in a variety of interdisciplinary units based upon their interests. Students will meet up-to 1 hour per week. Samples of previous units include the “The Scientific Method,” “Optical Illusions,” “The Human Body,” “Independent Study,” and “The Solar System.” Sample products developed include oral presentations, research projects, and utilizing technology to present information.

Grade Three: Third graders meet for 2 ½ hours a week. Sample topics of study may include: Mathematics/Science units called “Logic/Patterns,” “Manipulatives,” and “Inventions.” The humanities units may include “All About Me,” “Junior Great Books,” and “Mysteries,” Third graders may look forward to attending a field trip to the Mercer Museum (as permitted), and participating in an invention party where they share original “Rube Goldberg” style inventions with parents and fellow classmates.

Grade Four: Fourth graders meet for 2 ½ hours a week. Sample interdisciplinary units may include “Geometric Constructions,” “Aerodynamics,” “Logic,” “Artifact Box,” “Architecture,” and “I-Search for Independent Study.” Highlights of fourth grade Challenge may include making and flying tetrahedron kites, visiting the American Helicopter Museum (as permitted), receiving and decoding an Artifact Box from a partner school, and participating in researching a topic of their choice and presenting the information according to the levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Multi-Grade Level and Extension Opportunities:

Students may also work on cross grade level activities, such as virtual field trips, Project-Based Learning activities (ex: The UNLESS Contest) and independent research projects. The Gifted Specialists will work with classroom teachers to provide additional resources as needed.