EDU 621 - Developing a School Wide Enrichment Program

History of Gifted Education
Reading Assignment: NAGC's History of Gifted Education, Education of the Gifted & Talented - Chapter 1

Assignment: Find out about the gifted program in the school district where you teach.  What grades participate?  What curriculum areas are covered? What are the identification procedures? etc.  Print out a description of the program from your district's webpage, get a copy of any brochures, contact your district office and/or ask a G&T teacher in your district.  Write up a description of the program.  Be prepared to share it with the class on Wednesday, June 9, 2010.   

Definitions of Giftedness
Reading Assignment: NAGC's Webpage "What is Giftedness?" & Education of the Gifted & Talented - Chapter 2
Assignment: There are multiple definitions of giftedness. So, how would YOU define "gifted"?  Which of the definitions do you most closely relate to?  Your definition of gifted/giftedness is due in class Wednesday, June 9, 2010. 

Identifying Gifted & Talented Students
Reading Assignment: Education of the Gifted & Talented Chapter 3

Program Planning
Reading Assignment: Education of the Gifted & Talented Chapter 4
Assignment: View the scenarios & compose a letter in response to a concern facing gifted education.  Your letter is due in class Wednesday, June 16, 2010.   

Acceleration
Reading Assignment: Education of the Gifted & Talented Chapter 5 & A Nation Deceived Vol. 1 

Differentiated Instruction - Differentiating Up

Reading Assignment: Enriching Curriculum for All Students Chapter 5

Assignment: You are an enrichment specialist of gifted & talented students in a pull-out class.  The school district in which you work bases its system of identification on a multi-criteria selection process.  When evaluating the results, you notice that students demonstrate strengths in (subject area - i.e. math, reading, science).  Using your knowledge of gifted education, identify a grade level for which you are prepared to teach, then prepare a response in which you:

• briefly describe how you will plan instruction based on your students' strengths in (subject area), including one modification in each of the following areas - content, process, product & environment.  Do not write a structured lesson plan.

AND

• explain how your response is supported by research as it applies to gifted education.  Do not recite theory, but refer to some.

Your response is limited to a page & 1/2 (150-300 words).  Due in class Wednesday, June 23, 2010. 

Grouping Students
Reading Assignments: Education of the Gifted & Talented Chapter 6 

Curriculum Models
Reading Assignments: Education of the Gifted & Talented Chapter 7

Assignment:  Complete the Adult Interest-a-lyzer.  Due in class, Wednesday, June 23, 2010. 

Schoolwide Enrichment Model
Reading Assignments: Enriching Curriculum for All Students Chapters 2 & 3 

The Enrichment Triad Model
Reading Assignment: Enriching Curriculum for All Students Chapter 6.
Assignment: Based on the Adult Interest-a-lyzer that you completed, develop the idea for an enrichment cluster that you would teach.  Create a flyer with a brief description of the cluster.  On a separate paper list materials that you'd need, activities that you'd cover, & the age group that you'd work with.  Examples will be provided.  To be completed in class. 

The Total Talent Portfolio
Reading Assignments:  Enriching Curriculum for All Students Chapter 4  

Final Project
Design your ideal gifted program & prepare a proposal to present to the Board of Education.  Be sure to include: a) a purpose statement, b) your definition of giftedness, c) identification criteria for students to be included, d) program design, e) how students will be grouped, f) how many teachers will be involved, g) a bibliography listing the research on which your program is based.  Due at last class session.