Watching video from the Apollo space programme one can't help but notice how things have changed since those days in the early 1970s. Banks of small round rectangular screens, dot matrix printers, a myriad of switches and dials each with a specific task to perform and a design aesthetic that says functionality in mild mannered green. What is missing beside the sort of computing power we carry in our pockets today are women. In the 70s science and engineering was what men did and from a quick look at the statistics there continues to be much room for change.
From a parent's perspective (and sometimes from the child's), this can seem like we are "de-gifted" the child.
The most important thing is that you have the "data" that shows what the student needs and that you are matching this with an appropriate service.
Be very explicit with what the differentiation is and how it is addressing the needs
A major shift with RTI is that there is less emphasis on the "label" and more on the provision of appropriate service.
When a child has met all the expected benchmarks
independent reading
reading log
small group for discussions using similar questions.
long-term solutions might include forming a seminar group using a
program like "Junior Great Books."
Ideas for differentiating reading for young children can also be found at:
http://www.k8accesscenter.org/training_resources/readingdifferentiation.asp
http://www.appomattox.k12.va.us/acps/attachments/6_6_12_dan_mulligan_handout.pdf
enrich potential
to plan appropriate instruction, based on data that show the learners' needs.
additional enrichment and challenge in their area(s) strength.
Tiers 2 or 3
As the intensity of the needs increase, the intensity of the services also increases.
our ability to nurture potential in students prior to formal identification
appropriately scaffolded activities through Tier 2 support.
, with high-end differentiation and expectations, we are able to support the development of potential in all students.
This body-of-evidence can be used to support the nomination process and formal identification when appropriate.
likely to be of particular benefit for culturally and linguistically diverse, economically disadvantaged, and twice exceptional youngsters who are currently underrepresented within gifted education.
Tier 1 include:
Tier 2 include:
Tier 3 include:
universal screening
Aspergers
gifted children with learning disabilities?
If we provide enrichment activities for our advanced students, won't that just increase the acheivement gap?
Educational opportunities are not a “zero sum” game where some students gain and others lose.
the needs of all learners.
One is focusing on remediation, however the second approach focuses on the nurturing of potential through creating expectations for excellence that permeate Tier 1 with extended opportunities for enrichment for all children who need them at Tier 2. With the focus on excellence, the rising tide will help all students reach their potential. This is the goal of education.
make sure that the screener is directly related to the curriculum that you are using and that it has a high enough ceiling to allow advance learners to show what they know.
recognizing that students who are above grade level, or advanced in their academics, also need support to thrive
all students deserve to attend a school where their learning needs are met
seek out ways to build the knowledge and skills of teachers to address the range of needs
This includes learning about differentiated instruction within Tier 1and creating additional opportunities for enhancements and enrichments within Tier 2.
first
This often means that the district views the school as a “high-needs” school and does feel that many children would qualify for gifted education services (thus no teacher allocation is warranted). If this is the case, then this is a problematic view as it perpetuates the myth that some groups of children are not likely to be “gifted”.
These five differentiation strategies are as follows:
Curriculum Compacting (pre-assessment of learners to see what they know)
The use of Tiered Assignments that address: Mastery, Enrichment, and Challenge
Tiered Learning Centers that allow children to further explore skills and concepts
Independent and Small group learning contracts that allow students to follow area of interest
Questioning for Higher Level thinking to stretch the minds of each child.
RTI was,
first proposed as a way to help us better identify students who continue to need additional support in spite of having appropriate instructional opportunities to learn.
The primary issue is the need for measures of potential as well as performance.
an IQ measure
portfolio
that sometimes occur outside of school
children with complex sets of strengths and needs require a comprehensive evaluation that includes multiple types, sources, and time periods to create the most accurate and complete understanding of their educational needs.
a "diamond" shaped RTI model
confusing
use the same icon to represent how we address the increasing intensity of academic and behavioral needs for all learners.
English Language Learners?
Differentiated instruction is part of a strength-based approach to Tier 1, providing enriched and challenging learning opportunities for all students. However, a comprehensive RTI approach for gifted learners will also need strong Tier 2 and 3 supports and services.
Tracking, or the fixed stratification of children into learning levels based on limited data (placing children in fixed learning groups based on a single reading score), is the opposite of RTI.
off grade level trajectories
this may includ
assess the slope and speed of learning and plot the target from there.
content acceleration and content enrichment.
independent or small group project of their choice.
renzullilearning.com.
additional learning opportunities that both challenge the learner and address high interest learning topics.
Work to establish a classroom culture in which it is understood that, with every task they perform, students know there is a strong possibility that they will have to share out their results in front of their peers.
Small changes of routine increase the motivation to attend to the task at hand.
The A-Z Sentence Summary:
Total Participation Techniques frame the context so that all students are responding to higher-order prompts in low-risk settings.
The Chalkboard Splash:
he "Pause, Star, Rank":
we need to be conscious of the amount of work we give the students.
"There are just so many distractions in the life of a teacher. Planning, marking, assessments, eating, family-life, and so on. Yet, being aware of the tendencies that creep into life that distract away from the priorities takes courage in being able to step back and look at what possible makes you, or your students, underperform within your role."