Buena Vista GATE Parent Information

Meeting

2010-2011

Introductions

Jack Young, Principal

Kim Medeiros, Elementary Administrator & GATE School Site Coordinator

Michelle Palas- GATE Parent Advisory Committee

GATE Department: (909) 418-6390 ask for Mari Fedrow or Joni Stallings

The World’s Biggest, Highest, Longest Roller Coaster

Parenting a gifted child is like living in a theme park full of thrill rides… Sometimes you smile. Sometimes you gasp. Sometimes you scream. Sometimes you laugh. Sometimes you gaze in wonder and astonishment. Sometimes you’re frozen in your seat. Sometimes you’re proud. And sometimes the ride is so nerve-racking, you can’t

do anything but cry.

Helping Gifted Children Soar, 2000

What Does it Mean to be “Gifted”? Gifted and talented children are those identified by

professionally qualified persons who by virtue of outstanding abilities are capable of high performance. Children capable of high performance include those with demonstrated achievement and/or potential ability in any of the following areas:

Intellectual ability

High Achievement

Creative or productive thinking

Visual and performing arts

U.S. Department of Education, Marland Report (1972)

Problems Associated With Characteristic

Strengths in Gifted Children

Possible Strengths Possible Problems

Inquisitive, intellectual curiosity Strong-willed, may ask embarrassing questions, expects the same in others

Acquires and retains information quickly

Impatient with slowness of others, dislike routine and drill, may resist mastering foundational skills, may make concepts unduly complex.

Love of truth, equity, and fair play Difficulty in being practical, worries about humanitarian concerns

Thinks critically, has high-expectations, is self-critical and evaluates others

Critical or intolerant toward others, may become discouraged or depressed, perfectionistic

Problems Associated With Characteristic Strengths in Gifted Children (continued)

Enjoys organizing things and people into structure and order; seeks to systematize

Constructs complicated rules or systems; may be seen as bossy, rude, or domineering

Ability to conceptualize, abstract, synthesize, enjoys problem-solving and intellectual activity

Rejects or omits details; resists practice or drill; questions teaching procedures

Creative and inventive; likes new ways of doing things

May disrupt plans or reject what is already known; seen by others as different and out-of-step

- James Webb

Gifted Kids’ Bill of Rights

You have a right to…

Know about your giftedness. Learn something new everyday. Be passionate about your talent area without

apologies. Have an identity beyond your talent area. Feel good about your accomplishments.

Gifted Bill of Rights (continued)

Make mistakes. Seek guidance in the development of your

talent. Have multiple peer groups and a variety of

friends. Choose which of your talent areas you wish to

pursue. Not to be gifted at everything.

-Del Siegle

How Can You Support Your Gifted Child?

Learn more about what it means to be gifted (start with the recommended resources).

Understand that gifted children often have unique social and emotional needs.

Attend GATE parent advisory meetings at our school site.

Attend local conferences related to gifted education.

Participate in the PLUS group

California GATE Programs

In October 2001, the California State Board of Education adopted standards for Gifted and Talented Education (GATE).

A copy of the California GATE standards can be reviewed on the Internet at:

http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/gt/

Standards are divided into eight categories and include structure, program design, identification, curriculum and instruction, social and emotional development, professional development, parent and community involvement, assessment, and budgets.

GATE Identification

Ontario-Montclair School District uses and accepts multiple sources of data in order to seek out and accurately identify students for placement into the GATE program. Identification tools include:

NNAT2 (Third Grade Testing) CST scores Teacher and Parent Input

GATE Identification (Continued)

Once a student has been formally identified for the GATE program, he or she is identified for the duration of his or her educational stay in OMSD.

Parents who choose to enroll their students into the program must submit a formal permission slip to the GATE department via the school site.

GATE Programs (Continued)

All GATE Teachers will: Provide opportunities for students to meet or exceed

the California grade level standards in all content areas.

Utilize a variety of student assessment data to carefully plan and monitor instruction.

Implement a variety of instructional models to provide appropriate differentiation to meet the needs of gifted learners, including Depth and Complexity, acceleration, independent study and enrichment.

Parent Support/Resources

Please visit these websites for a detailed list of books, organizations, articles, and other websites that relate to gifted education.

Gifted Organizations California Association for the Gifted, www.cagifted.org National Association for Gifted Children, www.nagc.org Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted, www.sengifted.org http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/ great website for students and parentsA Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children, James Webb (2007)