Elementary Talent Development TD Program Eastover Elementary 2013

Elementary Talent Development (TD) Program Eastover Elementary 2013 -2014

What is the mission of CMS’s Elementary Talent Development Program? To provide appropriate intellectual opportunities that help gifted students realize their potential and connect them with their complex world.

What are the goals for the Talent Development Program? To support the development of a content-rich educational process throughout CMS which 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

What is the Catalyst Model? • It is a model used in CMS to ensure that the needs of high-ability learners are being met. • The Talent Development Teacher and Regular Classroom Teacher meet regularly to collaborate and plan instruction.

Everyone works collaboratively to meet the needs of the gifted learners. TD Teacher Classroom Teacher Catalyst Model District Support Talent Development Department 6

The focus of the Catalyst Model is to differentiate instruction for the gifted and high performing students.

Why the Catalyst Model? • Gifted students are not just gifted for 90 minutes a week; they are gifted ALL of the time! • They need to be challenged and accelerated on a consistent, regular basis!

What will the Catalyst Model look like at Eastover this year? • Ms. Betler will collaborate, co-plan, and co-teach with general education teachers to effectively meet the needs of gifted and other high-ability learners. • Differentiated activities are integrated into the regular classroom to complement and supplement the standard curriculum.

What are DEPs? • DEPs are Differentiated Education Plans. • Each gifted student has one that is updated annually. • The plan outlines how academic content, the learning environment and the learning process is differentiated to meet the individual needs of the learner. • It also lists special programs the learner will participate in this year, such as Chess Club and Math Olympiad.

What kinds of teaching strategies will be used with gifted students? • • • Curriculum Compacting Tiered Lessons Contracts Novel Studies Literature Circles Socratic and Paidaea Seminars • • Learning Centers Integrated Research Projects Technology Enhanced Lessons Independent Studies

Any questions? • Please contact Eastover’s Talent Development Teacher, Nancy Betler. Nancy. Betler@cms. k 12. nc. us