project promise a jacob k. javits grant virginia department of education 2004-2008
TRANSCRIPT
Project PROMISE
A Jacob K. Javits GrantVirginia Department of
Education2004-2008
Overview
Participants Goals Curriculum Units Professional
Development Evaluation and data Web site
Participants
Source Division– Prince William County
Public Schools Demonstration Divisions
– Divisions that had a significantly high population of potentially gifted students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds
Greensville County Public Schools Martinsville City Public Schools
Goals
To develop training materials that will assist general education teachers, K-3, to recognize strengths and giftedness in children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds
To develop hands-on instructional materials that will encourage learning behaviors in these children to enable them to work successfully in class and in gifted programs
Why Science?
Science is easily done in hands-on format
Science provides ways for teachers to find evidence of students’ strengths in many areas, both verbal and nonverbal
Science has a focus on questions as well as answers
Curriculum Units
Problem-based, inquiry learning Questioning for critical thinking Hands-on science
– Life Science– Earth Science– Physical Science
Extension/differentiation activities to meet needs of all children
Pre-/post-assessments Virginia Standards of Learning correlations Reflection
Professional Development
Topics included:– Science content knowledge – Questioning strategies for high level
thinking– Strategies for classroom management– Strategies for differentiation and grouping– Strategies for writing lessons and curriculum– Characteristics of giftedness in
disadvantaged populations
Professional Development
Differentiated for teachers’ needs and prior knowledge
Ongoing follow-through and feedback Based upon best practices from research Collaborative model Humor Short, focused sessions Administrators included
Current Data
380400420440460480500
Means
Grade 3 Science SOLs
Did Not Participate 424.47
One Year 485.56
Total 457.79
On the Grade 3 Science SOL test, students in Project PROMISE scored significantly higher than students who did not participate. These results are important because they are actually comparing same-age peers who participated in the project and those who did
not.
Current Data
02468101214
Means
Reading Comprehension
Did Not Participate 10.41
One Year 10.89
Two Years 12.23
Three Years 13.42
Total 10.96
Students who participated in Project PROMISE for two or three years consistently outperformed students who did not
participate on all measures.
Current Data
0246810121416
Means
Vocabulary
Did Not Participate 12.16
One Year 12.37
Two Years 13.22
Three Years 15.25
Total 12.49
The average scores for Project PROMISE participants were higher than the overall average of all students tested.
What We Learned So Far…
Students demonstrated significant gains on test scores
Teachers say students remember more Teachers gained confidence in their professional
capabilities Teachers gained confidence in recognizing areas
of strength in students as well as characteristics of giftedness
The excitement of the students generated excitement in the teachers
It works!
Web site
Grant overview Curriculum units Professional development components Administrators’ information Resources Video clips
For More Information
Web Site– http://www.doe.virginia.gov
Virginia Department of Education– Ruth Grillo, Principal Investigator
(804) [email protected]