Fremont Unified School District

GATE Parent Night

FUSD Attendance AreasNovember – December 2011

Presenter: John Schroeder, GATE Program Specialist

Who Are The Gifted?

According to the National Association of Gifted Children: Gifted individuals are those who demonstrate outstanding

levels of aptitude or competence in one or more domains.

Who Are The Gifted?

• Levels of giftedness:• Moderately Gifted full scale IQ of 130 is the

cut off• Highly Gifted IQ above 140• Profoundly Gifted IQ above 170• Less than 5% of the population are gifted• May be gifted in one area only• No one child exhibits all of the characteristics• “Gifted” does not guarantee academic

success

Characteristics of the Gifted

Intellectual PersonalityResearch ability InsightfulAcademic acceleration I-N-T-E-N-S-EIntellectual curiosity Need to understandRapid learning rate Need for mental articulationAbstract reasoning PerfectionismVivid imagination Keen sense of humorPassion for learning PerseveranceMoral concerns Empathy and sensitivityConcentration Active self-awarenessKeen sense of justice Question rules/authorityAnalytical thinking Non-conformity

Identification Categories

• Intellectual– Cognitive ability testing

• Specific Academic– CST scores

• Professional Judgment– Multiple criteria

• Leadership• Out of District

GATE Testing

• 3rd grade testing January 30 – March 16

• 4th and 5th grade testing on March 17 or 24 at the District office

• Cognitive Abilities Test– Test measures a student’s potential to learn– Tested in January through March at the school site– Tutoring is not recommended– Results are mailed home in June

My Child Qualified: What Now?

Elementary SchoolHappens during the school day!

• Placed in a GATE cluster• GATE Certified teacher• Offered differentiated curriculum

Differentiation

• Providing learning opportunities that are compatible with each student’s needs.

• Primary purpose of GATE differentiated instruction: CHALLENGE and INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION

Differentiated Instruction

• Student Centered• Best Practices• Different approach: NOT MORE OR

LESS• A way of thinking and planning• A blend of whole-class, small group,

and individual instruction

Dimensions of Differentiation

• Acceleration/Pacing• Depth• Complexity• Novelty

Acceleration of Pacing

Moving students faster through the curriculum and not expecting them to do what they already

know what to do

Depth

Having students become true experts in a given area; giving them an opportunity to find out about certain subjects in great

detail.

Complexity

Exploring the connections and relationships between things, comparing and contrasting.

Novelty

Allowing students to exhibit their creativity in the creation of

original projects that challenge their thinking in new and unusual

ways.

Ways to Differentiate

• Process/Activities–Scholarly Habits–High Order Thinking Skills–Open-ended Questioning–Extension Menus–Tiered Activities– Projects

Ways to Differentiate

• Product - Write and illustrate own books - Socratic Seminars and Debates - Presentations, Videos, and Speeches - Posters - Projects: Models, Dioramas, Portfolios - Possibilities are limitless! Subject to teacher approval.

Ways to Differentiate

• Assessment - Rubrics - Observation - Conferencing - Projects- Choices

This is NOT Differentiation

• Student receives additional work of same difficulty

• Student taught what he already knows• Student assigned work that demands

only lower level thinking skills• Student spends much time assisting

less able peers• Student’s assignments designed for

older children

What if My Child Does Not Qualify…..

• Specific Academic - 2 out of the last three years scores - English language Arts and Math Only

• Professional Judgment - Two year waiting period - Multiple Criteria - Committee decision

Performance Level Ranges

Advanced Proficient Basic Below Basic/Far Below Basic

7th grade Math

600 414 413 350 349 300 299 150

Algebra 600 428 427 350 349 300 299 150

7th grade English

600 401 400 350 349 300 299 150

8th grade English

600 395 394 350 349 300 299 150

Recommendations

History/Social Science

• No changes to the current program

• Continue to focus on implementation of rigorous and differentiated units of study

ScienceTwo Pathways to qualify as a 7th grade student:Pathway 1: Pathway 2:

Advanced CST scores in ELA and Math in 5th or 6th grade ANDA or B grade in 6th grade Science

GATEidentified

Two Pathways to qualify as an 8th grade student:Pathway 1: Pathway 2:

To continue as an 8th grade student:

Advanced CST scores in English and Math in 7th grade ANDA or B grade in 7th grade Science

GATEidentified

A, B, or C grade in 7th grade Honors Science

Two Pathways to qualify as a 9th grade student:Pathway 1: Pathway 2:

To continue as a 9th grade student:

Advanced CST scores in English and Math in 8th grade ANDA or B grade in 8th grade Science

ORA grades in 7th and 8th grade Science

GATEidentified

A, B, or C grade in 8th

grade Honors Science

EnglishTwo Pathways to qualify as a 7th grade student:Pathway 1: Pathway 2:

Advanced CST scores in ELA in 5th or 6th grade ANDA or B grade in 6th grade Reading and Writing

GATE identified

Two Pathways to qualify as an 8th grade student:Pathway 1: Pathway 2:

To continue as an 8th grade student:

Advanced CST scores in English in 7th grade ANDA or B grade in 7th grade English

GATE identified

A, B, or C grade in 7th grade Honors English

Two Pathways to qualify as a 9th grade student:Pathway 1: Pathway 2:

To continue as a 9th grade student:

Advanced CST scores in English in 8th grade ANDA or B grade in 8th grade English

ORA grades in 7th and 8th grade English

GATE identified

A, B, or C grade in 8th grade Honors English

MathTwo Pathways to qualify as a 7th grade student:Pathway 1: Pathway 2:

Advanced CST scores in Math in 5th or 6th grade ANDA or B grade in 6th grade Math

GATE identified

Two Pathways to qualify as an 8th grade student:Pathway 1: Pathway 2:

To continue as an 8th grade student:

Advanced CST scores in Math in 7th grade ANDA or B grade in 7th grade Pre Algebra

GATE identified

A, B, or C grade in 7th grade Honors Pre Algebra or Honors Algebra

Two Pathways to qualify as a 9th grade student:Pathway 1: Pathway 2:

To continue as a 9th grade student:

Advanced CST scores in Math in 8th grade ANDA or B grade in 8th grade Algebra ORA grades in 7th and 8th grade Math courses

GATE identified

A, B, or C grade in 8th grade Honors Algebra or Honors Geometry

Honors Classes

• Junior/Senior High Level - Placement in Pre-Algebra or Algebra I in 7th grade is determined by how well they performed on the placement test as well as on CST/grades - Many and varied classes - What is best for the child

Honors Curriculum• Differentiated from the core curriculum

• Curriculum objectives reflect higher level critical thinking and problem solving

• Lessons incorporate one or more of the following dimensions - Depth - Complexity - Novelty - Acceleration of pacing

Advanced Placement

• College curriculum• Much information to cover• Not differentiated• AP testing• College limits• make careful choices

Your Best Source ofInformation:

• FUSD website: http://www.fremont.k12.ca.us/parentresources/GATE

• TGIF Parent Group:Email: feedback@giftedinfremont.orgWebsite: http://www.giftedinfremont.org/

Other Resources

• CAG www.cagifted.org• NAGC: www.nagc.org• Gifted Communicator magazine• GATE library at the District Office• Johns Hopkins CTY Talent Search• EGPY at Stanford

Questions?

“Shoot for the moon. Even if

you miss you’ll land among the

stars.” Les Brown