Talent Development in

Grades 4 and 5

By Trinette AtriTD/Catalyst Teacher

October 21, 2011

It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in

creative expression and knowledge. –

Albert Einstein

Our Mission: Our Goal:

To provide gifted students the

opportunity to maximize their

potential, demonstrate their motivation, and

realize their contributions to self

and the global community.

To support the development of a

content-rich educational

experience for students from all

cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds

throughout CMS.

The TD program provides opportunities and resources for

learners to…

attain levels of academic achievement consistent with their abilities

engage in abstract, creative, and affective reasoning

apply insightful questioning develop a capacity to see interconnections

among disciplines practice self-directed learning and independent

problem solving strive for self actualization maximize their leadership potential become active participants in the global

community

The Catalyst Model“Gifted learners are gifted all the

time” – Mary S. Landrum

Therefore, gifted education is not an add on for ninety minutes a week.

The focus of the Catalyst Model is to differentiate instruction for the gifted

and high performing students.

So how does the Catalyst Model work?

• The classroom teacher and TD/Catalyst teacher share responsibility for the education of gifted students

• The TD/Catalyst teacher provides lessons and activities for teachers to use in the heterogeneous classroom or teaches students directly

• The TD/Catalyst teacher provides enrichment and acceleration for students who have shown mastery (90% +) of objectives being taught in the regular classroom through direct or indirect instruction

What are Direct Services?

Direct services, or “face time,” are lessons that are created and taught by the TD/Catalyst Teacher

Direct services can be “pull out” (students pulled into TD/Catalyst classroom) or “push in” (students remain with classroom teacher when TD/Catalyst teacher comes in to co-teach with classroom teacher)

What are Indirect Services?

Indirect services are lessons and activities developed by the TD/Catalyst teacher and provided to the classroom teacher for him/her to use in his/her classroom

Examples are: centers, independent contracts, projects, alternative homework/classwork, lessons

What is the breakdown for direct and indirect

services?Services for TD Certified Students

Direct Indirect

Why the need for direct and indirect services?

• Often there are too many students for one person to reach alone. Differentiation is required in the regular classroom to provide all students with the education they need and deserve.

• Since the TD/Catalyst teacher cannot see all children, all day, every day, the classroom teacher requires activities and lessons from the TD/Catalyst teacher for those students while they are in the regular classroom.

• Without differentiation, everyone would move at the same pace, be evaluated in the same way, and complete the same activities – regardless of their prior knowledge or individual needs

How do I teach gifted and high ability learners?

O Focus on creative thinking, problem solving and logic

O Ask higher level questions during novel studies, rather than lower, “knowledge” level questions (Bloom’s Taxonomy)

O Engage students through project-based learning

O Utilize research-based resources for gifted students (William & Mary, etc.)

O Work in abstract thinking and concepts – symbolism, themes, etc.

O Increase awareness of the global community through novel studies and discussion

O Teach problem solving strategies in math

How do you determine who is in your math and reading groups?

Depends on pre-assessments – math and reading; behavior and ability to work independently; class work; space in the classroom; formative testing; teacher-created assessments – MANY data points

Groups are flexible and can change from unit to unit, novel to novel, and/or quarter to quarter

See both TD certified and catalyst students Direct – 40%, Indirect – 60% services Students can be seen for both or just reading or

just math, depending on their individual needs and the factors listed above

The man who does not read

good books has no advantage over the man

who cannot read them.

- Mark Twain

4th Grade DWT Students are pre-assessed for reading

levels and comprehension using CMS and teacher-created assessments

Students showing mastery on 90% of the objectives pre-tested are placed into DWT group until the class cap is reached

Students will work on novel studies, figurative language, themes/concepts and higher order thinking

Students will also focus on academic writing – that is responding to literary questions through essay writing

Examples of 4th Grade Literature Units & Novels

• SEM-R (School-wide Enrichment Model for Reading) – students pick own appropriately challenging novels

• From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

• Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet• Masterpiece by Elise Broach• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen• Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell• I, Q: Independence Hall by Roland Smith• The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman• Keepers of the School: We the Children by Andrew

Clements• I am always looking for new, exciting novels to add!!!

5th Grade DWT Students are pre-assessed for reading

levels and comprehension using CMS and teacher-created assessments

Students showing mastery on 90% of the objectives pre-tested placed into DWT group until the class cap is reached

Students will work on novel studies, figurative language, concepts/themes, and higher order thinking

Students have been working on essays and academic writing to prepare them for the expectations in middle school

Examples of 5th Grade Literature Units & Novels

SEM-R (School-wide Enrichment Model for Reading) Number the Stars by Lois Lowry Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli The Diary of Anne Frank The Giver, Gathering Blue, and The Messenger by Lois

Lowry (trilogy) Tunnels by Roderick Gordon The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg Sarny: A Life Remembered by Gary Paulsen The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

The essence of mathematics is

not to make simple things

complicated, but to make

complicated things simple.

– S. Gudder

4th Grade Mathematics Enrichment

• Math Superstars (problem solving – often given as weekly homework – given Thurs., due next Thurs.)

• Math Olympiad (problem solving) – 5 contests per year, starting in November in class

• Number Systems study (Roman, Egyptian, Babylonian, Primitive, additive and place value)

• March Madness (decimals, fractions, probability, graphing, measurement conversion)

• K’Nex Math – using building toys to understand geometric concepts

• Hands On Equations (algebra)• Junk Mail graphing project (science, math & writing)

5th Grade Mathematics Enrichment• Math Superstars (problem solving - usually given as

weekly homework – given Thurs., due next Thurs.)• Math Olympiad (problem solving) – 5 contests per

year, starting in November in class• Number Systems study (different base systems)• Geometry and Finances (bridge building – ties in

with science, cooperative learning)• Stock Market Game (decimals, percents and

investing)• Amaze-ing Shapes/Polyhedraville (geometry –

cooperative learning)• March Madness (percents, decimals, fractions,

graphing/data collection, essay, measurement conversion)

• Hands On Equations (algebra)

Opportunities for Gifted Students

O Chess Club O Odyssey of the Mind (OM)O Science OlympiadO Lego Robotics ClubO Duke T.I.P. (Talent Identification

Program)

Middle SchoolNo formal “TD” program in middle

schoolsStudents placed in Honors classes

based on EOG scores and other factors, according to the suggestion of the TD Department

Other options: magnet schools (I.B. – Randolph, Performing Arts – Northwest, Languages – E.E. Waddell)

Questions? You may contact me at

school: (980) 343-3755

Or via email (fastest): trinettej.atri@cms.k12.nc.us

Homework, projects and newsletters or updates will be posted on my

website: http://www.teacherweb.com/NC/OldeProvidenceElementary/MrsAtri