1. Essentials for Quality Gifted Education Understanding Middle School Gifted Students

2. Today’s Goals Examine the nature and needs of gifted middle school students Examine the nature and needs of gifted middle school students Examine the relationship and impact of national reform movements on gifted middle school students Examine the relationship and impact of national reform movements on gifted middle school students Examine curricular and instructional strategies for gifted students Examine curricular and instructional strategies for gifted students

3. Essential Questions…………. In what ways are gifted students different from typical students during their middle school years? In what ways are gifted students different from typical students during their middle school years? Why do gifted students need differentiated accommodations and services during middle school? Why do gifted students need differentiated accommodations and services during middle school?

4. Needs of Typical Middle School Students Meaningful interpersonal relationships Meaningful interpersonal relationships Personal and social values system Personal and social values system Psychologically healthy self-esteem and identity Psychologically healthy self-esteem and identity Increasing independence from and in their families Increasing independence from and in their families Positive role models Positive role models Supportive adults Supportive adults Appropriate intellectual stimulation to ensure growth Appropriate intellectual stimulation to ensure growth

5. Connections……………… Turn to your neighbor and discuss the following questions: Turn to your neighbor and discuss the following questions: What are some characteristics of middle school “gifted” students? What are some characteristics of middle school “gifted” students? How can these characteristics have both a positive and negative side? How can these characteristics have both a positive and negative side?

6. Needs of Middle School “Gifted” Students Physical Development Issues Physical Development Issues Social/Emotional Issues Social/Emotional Issues Academic and Intellectual Issues Academic and Intellectual Issues Family/Home Relationships Family/Home Relationships

7. Group Activity Review the assigned material on an issue facing middle school “gifted” students. Review the assigned material on an issue facing middle school “gifted” students. Create a 3-5 minute presentation to share with the group regarding what you learned. Create a 3-5 minute presentation to share with the group regarding what you learned.

8. So What? Students identified what they think schools should do in grades 5-8: Students identified what they think schools should do in grades 5-8: Encourage creativity Encourage creativity Encourage independent learning Encourage independent learning Help smart kids not to feel alone Help smart kids not to feel alone Make academics equally as important as sports Make academics equally as important as sports Eliminate the “nerd” attitude Eliminate the “nerd” attitude Respect student’ learning abilities Respect student’ learning abilities Push students to reach their limits Push students to reach their limits Allow students to learn at their own pace Allow students to learn at their own pace Schatz, E., & Schuster, N. (1996). Teens with Talent: Developing the Potential of the Bright, Brighter, and Brightest. Boulder, CO: Open Space Communications.

9. Essential Questions…………. What impact have national reform movements had on the middle school experiences and the achievements of gifted students? What impact have national reform movements had on the middle school experiences and the achievements of gifted students?

10. National Reform Movements A Nation at Risk, 1983, U.S. Commission on Excellence in Education A Nation at Risk, 1983, U.S. Commission on Excellence in Education No Child Left Behind Act, 2001 No Child Left Behind Act, 2001 Turning Points: Preparing American Youth for the 21 st Century, 1989, Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development Turning Points: Preparing American Youth for the 21 st Century, 1989, Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development Turning Points 2000: Educating Adolescents in the 21 st Century Turning Points 2000: Educating Adolescents in the 21 st Century Meeting the Needs of High Ability and High Potential Learners in the Middle Grades, 2004, National Association for Gifted Children and National Middle School Association. Meeting the Needs of High Ability and High Potential Learners in the Middle Grades, 2004, National Association for Gifted Children and National Middle School Association.

11. Turning Points 2000 & Gifted #1 Teach a curriculum grounded in rigorous public academic standards that is relevant to the concerns of adolescents and based on how students learn best. #1 Teach a curriculum grounded in rigorous public academic standards that is relevant to the concerns of adolescents and based on how students learn best.

12. Turning Points 2000 & Gifted #2 Use instructional methods designed to prepare all students to achieve higher standards and become life-long learners. #2 Use instructional methods designed to prepare all students to achieve higher standards and become life-long learners.

13. Turning Points 2000 & Gifted #3 Staff middle schools with teachers who are expert at teaching young adolescents and engage teachers in ongoing, targeted professional development opportunities. #3 Staff middle schools with teachers who are expert at teaching young adolescents and engage teachers in ongoing, targeted professional development opportunities.

14. Turning Points 2000 & Gifted #5 Govern democratically through direct or representative participation by all school staff members, the adults who know the students best. #5 Govern democratically through direct or representative participation by all school staff members, the adults who know the students best.

15. Turning Points 2000 & Gifted #6 Provide a safe and healthy school environment as part of improving academic performance and developing caring and ethical citizens. #6 Provide a safe and healthy school environment as part of improving academic performance and developing caring and ethical citizens.

16. Turning Points 2000 & Gifted #7 Involve parents and communities in supporting student learning and healthy development. #7 Involve parents and communities in supporting student learning and healthy development.

17. So What? Become an advocate for the concerns and needs of gifted students and their families. Become an advocate for the concerns and needs of gifted students and their families. Don’t allow the minimum competencies of NCLB and state/local testing to limit gifted students’ learning opportunities. Don’t allow the minimum competencies of NCLB and state/local testing to limit gifted students’ learning opportunities. Ensure that identification and placement are equitable and responsive to the needs of diverse gifted students. Ensure that identification and placement are equitable and responsive to the needs of diverse gifted students.

18. Essential Questions………… What elements should distinguish effective curricula for gifted students in middle school? What elements should distinguish effective curricula for gifted students in middle school? What instructional strategies are most effective for gifted students in middle schools? What instructional strategies are most effective for gifted students in middle schools?

19. Connections……………… Get into groups by content area. Get into groups by content area. Share examples of student products or lesson plans Share examples of student products or lesson plansTHEN Complete self-analysis of core subject areas. Complete self-analysis of core subject areas. Plan next steps. Plan next steps.

20. Masterful teaching is an art. We must select and combine paint colors from the almost unlimited palette of learning outcomes, while ensuring that there is integration between the planning and selection process, the teacher’s skills, and the learner.

21. Resources Rakow, Susan. (2005). Educating Gifted Students in Middle School. Waco, Texas: Prufrock Press. Rakow, Susan. (2005). Educating Gifted Students in Middle School. Waco, Texas: Prufrock Press. Making Middle Grades Work: Site Development Workshop Planner. (August 2007). Atlanta, Georgia: Southern Regional Education Board. Making Middle Grades Work: Site Development Workshop Planner. (August 2007). Atlanta, Georgia: Southern Regional Education Board.