1. Fremont Unified School District
GATE Parent Night
FUSD Attendance Areas
November – December 2011
Presenter: John Schroeder, GATE Program Specialist

2. Who Are The Gifted?
According to the National Association of Gifted Children: Gifted individuals are those who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude or competence in one or more domains.

3. Who Are The Gifted? Levels of giftedness:
Moderately Gifted full scale IQ of 130 is the cut off
Highly Gifted IQ above 140
Profoundly Gifted IQ above 170
Less than 5% of the population are gifted
May be gifted in one area only
No one child exhibits all of the characteristics
“Gifted” does not guarantee academic success

4. Characteristics of the Gifted
Intellectual Personality
Research ability Insightful
Academic acceleration I-N-T-E-N-S-E
Intellectual curiosity Need to understand
Rapid learning rate Need for mental articulation
Abstract reasoning Perfectionism
Vivid imagination Keen sense of humor
Passion for learning Perseverance
Moral concerns Empathy and sensitivity
Concentration Active self-awareness
Keen sense of justice Question rules/authority
Analytical thinking Non-conformity

5. Identification Categories
Intellectual
Cognitive ability testing
Specific Academic
CST scores
Professional Judgment
Multiple criteria
Leadership
Out of District

6. GATE Testing 3rd grade testing January 30 – March 16
4th and 5th grade testing on March 17 or 24 at the District office
Cognitive Abilities Test
Test measures a student’s potential to learn
Tested in January through March at the school site
Tutoring is not recommended
Results are mailed home in June

7. My Child Qualified: What Now?
Elementary School
Happens during the school day!
Placed in a GATE cluster
GATE Certified teacher
Offered differentiated curriculum

8. Differentiation
Providing learning opportunities that are compatible with each student’s needs.
Primary purpose of GATE differentiated instruction: CHALLENGE and INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION

9. Differentiated Instruction
Student Centered
Best Practices
Different approach: NOT MORE OR LESS
A way of thinking and planning
A blend of whole-class, small group, and individual instruction 9

10. Dimensions of Differentiation
Acceleration/Pacing
Depth
Complexity
Novelty 10

11. Acceleration of Pacing
Moving students faster through the curriculum and not expecting them to do what they already know what to do

12. Depth
Having students become true experts in a given area; giving them an opportunity to find out about certain subjects in great detail.

13. Complexity
Exploring the connections and relationships between things, comparing and contrasting.

14. Novelty
Allowing students to exhibit their creativity in the creation of original projects that challenge their thinking in new and unusual ways.

15. Ways to Differentiate Process/Activities Scholarly Habits
High Order Thinking Skills
Open-ended Questioning
Extension Menus
Tiered Activities
Projects 15

16. Ways to Differentiate Product - Write and illustrate own books
- Socratic Seminars and Debates
- Presentations, Videos, and Speeches
- Posters
- Projects: Models, Dioramas, Portfolios
- Possibilities are limitless! Subject to teacher
approval.

17. Ways to Differentiate Assessment - Rubrics - Observation
- Conferencing
- Projects- Choices

18. This is NOT Differentiation
Student receives additional work of same difficulty
Student taught what he already knows
Student assigned work that demands only lower level thinking skills
Student spends much time assisting less able peers
Student’s assignments designed for older children 18

19. What if My Child Does Not Qualify…..
Specific Academic
- 2 out of the last three years scores
- English language Arts and Math Only
Professional Judgment
- Two year waiting period
- Multiple Criteria
- Committee decision

20. Performance Level Ranges
Advanced
Proficient
Basic
Below Basic/
Far Below Basic
7th grade Math
Algebra
7th grade English
8th grade English

21. Recommendations

22. History/Social Science
No changes to the current program
Continue to focus on implementation of rigorous and differentiated units of study

23. Science Two Pathways to qualify as a 7th grade student: Pathway 1:
Advanced CST scores in ELA and Math in
5th or 6th grade
AND
A or B grade in 6th grade Science
GATE
identified
Two Pathways to qualify as an 8th grade student:
To continue as an 8th grade student:
Advanced CST scores in English and Math in 7th grade AND
A or B grade in 7th grade Science
A, B, or C grade in 7th
grade Honors Science
Two Pathways to qualify as a 9th grade student:
To continue as a 9th grade student:
Advanced CST scores in English and Math in
8th grade AND
A or B grade in 8th grade Science OR
A grades in 7th and 8th grade Science
A, B, or C grade in 8th

24. English Two Pathways to qualify as a 7th grade student: Pathway 1:
Advanced CST scores in ELA in 5th or 6th grade AND
A or B grade in 6th grade Reading and Writing
GATE
identified
Two Pathways to qualify as an 8th grade student:
To continue as an 8th grade student:
Advanced CST scores in English in 7th grade
AND
A or B grade in 7th grade English
A, B, or C grade in 7th grade Honors English
Two Pathways to qualify as a 9th grade student:
To continue as a 9th grade student:
Advanced CST scores in English in 8th grade
A or B grade in 8th grade English OR
A grades in 7th and 8th grade English
A, B, or C grade in 8th grade Honors English

25. Math Two Pathways to qualify as a 7th grade student: Pathway 1:
Advanced CST scores in Math in 5th or 6th grade AND
A or B grade in 6th grade Math
GATE identified
Two Pathways to qualify as an 8th grade student:
To continue as an 8th grade student:
Advanced CST scores in Math in 7th grade
AND
A or B grade in 7th grade Pre Algebra
A, B, or C grade in 7th grade Honors
Pre Algebra or
Honors Algebra
Two Pathways to qualify as a 9th grade student:
To continue as a 9th grade student:
Advanced CST scores in Math in 8th grade
A or B grade in 8th grade Algebra OR
A grades in 7th and 8th grade Math courses
A, B, or C grade in 8th grade Honors Algebra or
Honors Geometry

26. Honors Classes Junior/Senior High Level
- Placement in Pre-Algebra or Algebra I
in 7th grade is determined by how well they
performed on the placement test as well as
on CST/grades
- Many and varied classes
- What is best for the child

27. Honors Curriculum Differentiated from the core curriculum
Curriculum objectives reflect higher level
critical thinking and problem solving
Lessons incorporate one or more of the following dimensions
- Depth
- Complexity
- Novelty
- Acceleration of pacing

28. Advanced Placement College curriculum Much information to cover
Not differentiated
AP testing
College limits
make careful choices

29. Your Best Source of Information:
FUSD website:
TGIF Parent Group:
Website:

30. Other Resources CAG www.cagifted.org NAGC: www.nagc.org
Gifted Communicator magazine
GATE library at the District Office
Johns Hopkins CTY Talent Search
EGPY at Stanford

31. Questions?

32. “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you’ll land among the stars
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you’ll land among the stars.” Les Brown