Gifted/ Enrichment
Contact:
Mary Anne Kirsch – Gifted Coordinator
kirschm@epcusd401.org
Christina Barbaric – Gifted Specialist Elm Middle School
barbaric@epcusd401.org
Description:
The Elmwood Park Schools’ Gifted Program is designed to fit into the Joseph Renzulli all school enrichment model. We feel strongly that all students should be challenged. We believe that children can be different in what they know or how they learn. We must provide for those differences.
The regular classroom teacher, supported by the gifted specialist, is the primary source for the implementation of the program basically through a differentiated curriculum – the modification of the regular curriculum (based on abstractness, complexity, and critical and/or creative thinking) to make it more appropriate for identified students. One or more of the following may be modified:
· Content – what is being taught
· Process – the methods used and the thinking/working procedures students are expected to use
· Product - the tangible outcomes which result from the interaction of content and process
The work students do is not in addition to the regular work assigned, but may be at difficulty level commensurate with the identified student’s achievement and ability. Additional designs which may be employed are enrichment – educational experiences which supplement content in depth, breath, or intensity, or acceleration – advancement through curriculum in a shorter time frame. Honors classes and Advanced Placement (AP) classes are available to qualifying high school students.
Students are identified in grade four. Students may be added to the selection pool through teacher, parent, or self nomination. Criteria used for identification include teacher observation and assessment (Renzulli Behavioral Checklist), the ninth stanine scores on the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), the nationally normed percentile (90th and above) on the ISAT test, other related achievement scores (if available), and a parent observed behavior checklist. Transfer students may be screened at any time after transfer materials are reviewed.
Identified students in grades 4,5, and 6 participate in a pull out program taught by the gifted coordinator targeting thinking skills and math and reading enrichment.
Web Links
Puzzles and more...
Word Problems for Kids, grades 5-12...
Problem Solving for Kids...
Word Origins Game
SAT Word Puzzles
Math Games
Parents
Hoagies Gifted Educational Page
www.hoagiesgifted.org
Parenting Gifted Kids
http://www.prufrock.com/client/client_pages/parent_introduction.cfm
Illinois Association for Gifted Children
www.iagcgifted.org
Kids Source
www.kidsource.com/kidsource/pages/ed.gifted.html
Recommended Reading
The Survival Guide for Parents of Gifted Kids By S. Y Walker
You Know Your Child is Gifted When.... By J. Galbraith
The Kids' Survival Guide (Teens) By J. Galbraith
The Gifted Kids' Survival Guide (Ages 10 and Under) By J. Galbraith
Perfectionism By M. Adderholdt, Ph.D.
Helping Gifted Kids Soar By C. Strip, Ph. D. with G. Hirsch
Guiding the Gifted Child By J. Webb Ph. D, E. Meckstroth, M.S.W., & S. Tolan, M.A.
Smart Boys By B. Kerr, Ph.D., S. Cohn, Ph. D.
Smart Girls By B. Kerr, Ph. D.
Being Smart About Gifted Children By D. Matthews, Ph.D.