Gifted and Talented Education Program GATE at Cimarron

Gifted and Talented Education Program (GATE) at Cimarron Ave. Elementary School GATE Coordinator: Christina Smith-Corleone

Cimarron Ave. Elementary’s GATE Program strives on providing our students with a safe, creative, and unique curriculum environment to be different! Be The Difference Be the Difference Even when no one is there to observe , look or listen Be the difference where ever you walk, drive or roam Be the difference everywhere including school, Your job or at home Be the difference even if you have to stand alone! Be the difference, live the example that you want to see Be the difference for yourself, friends and your family Be the difference, make a huge impact on society! It all starts with making a decision right now Telling yourself, I will be the difference in someone’s life Someway somehow So, with many others running from responsibility It’s obvious that making difference must start with me So, as I realize that my life has purpose and significance I commit today to being the difference! “Continue to be, strive to become more and more, the difference that you are looking for. ” n By Jerome Vincent Carter n Inspiration 52

Purpose Our program purpose at Cimarron Ave. Elementary School is aligned with the district. We create rigorous educational opportunities which allow students to flourish in stimulating academic and social environments. Our students learning and talent is our top priority. At Cimarron Ave. we have

Cimarron Ave. Elementary is a School for Advanced Studies! Student Outcomes n Continuous progress based on ability and performance n Accelerated student performance n Development of independence and self direction n Acceleration across disciplines n Increased use of technology n Success in making original contributions to a field of study n College admission

What Does A G. A. T. E Cluster Here at Cimarron Elementary Look Like? n n n Learning is tailored to meet students’ individual needs across curriculum areas. Students may be engaged in cooperative group activities based on their learning styles and academic needs. There are many opportunities for students to get out of their seats and participate in reader workshops and theater. In math you may see students involved in rigorous concept tasks that have them use critical reasoning skills to solve word problems and equations. In science students are engaged in hands-on experiments that require them to form hypothesis and conduct experiments to draw conclusions. G. A. T. E clusters target differentiation which includes creativity, depth and acceleration which achieves higher engagement of students and stronger achievement in school.

What separates us from other schools in addition to our rigorous curriculum program? Our Academies and GATE Portfolios! Academies At Cimarron, we have day and after school academy classes solely for our gifted students. Academies are special classes outside the typical curriculum where gifted students get additional chances to be innovative and engage in rigorous hands on activities and technology.

Academies at Cimarron Mad Science Academy During school hours the students in the gifted program participate in mad Science 23 times during the school year. “Mad Science® is the world’s leading science enrichment provider. They deliver unique, hands-on science experiences for children that are as entertaining as they are educational (website: http: //www. madscience. org ). ” Gifted students take fascinating field trip classes right here at Cimarron! Second graders learn about Dinosaurs and Weather. Third Graders experience Photosynthesis and Matter. Fourth Graders get to dive in to Mineral mania Magnets, and Ecosystems. Fifth Graders become chemists and get involved in Chemistry, Body basics and Photosynthesis.

Academies at Cimarron Drama/Theatrics Academy For students identified gifted in Theater Arts, they meet with the coordinator as well as Arts Prototype drama teacher and guest actors to learn monologues, skits, and oral presentations to perform throughout the school year. While learning acting techniques they also increase their reading fluency while learning about people of their culture. Student in photograph is portraying African American pianist Andre Watts. Students in photograph are portraying Muhammad Ali, Betsy Coleman, Gregory Hines, Oprah Winfrey, and Barack Obama.

Academies at Cimarron Math Jeopardy Academy This academy takes place after school for an hour, one day a week usually for three to four weeks. Gifted students are able to demonstrate their math skills while engaged in one of America’s TV games. Reader’s Theater Academy This academy takes place after school for an hour, one day a week usually for three to six weeks. Gifted students are able to demonstrate their reading and acting abilities while they engage in theater activities.

Academies at Cimarron Technology Renzulli Academy This academy takes place after school for an hour, one day a week usually for four to six weeks. Students get to safely explore the web, word processing and become more computer literate. The Renzulli Learning System, an enrichment computer program that guides students through learning activities that are based on personal profiles that students create. This profile assesses students’ strengths, interests and learning styles so that they are linked to enrichment activities that fit their needs. The Renzulli Enrichment Database features more than 13, 000 carefully screened enrichment activities covering diverse skills and topics, organized into 14 engaging types of learning activities such as virtual field trips & projects.

Academies at Cimarron Technology Thinking Blocks Academy This academy takes place after school for an hour, one day a week usually for three to four weeks. Students are able to demonstrate their mathematics and high level thinking abilities on this rigorous yet fun and exciting internet based math program.

GATE Portfolios Classroom Teachers facilitate completion of portfolios for each identified gifted student. Portfolios showcase student learning, assignments, and projects throughout the year. At the end of the year each student may take his or her portfolio home for keepsake. There are two forms of the portfolio based on gifted identification. Form I Intellectual/ Specific Ability Identified n n n n n All about Me/Inspiration 52 Reading Writing Math Science Social Studies Art GATE Academies Academic/GATE Goals Form II Theater Arts Identified n n n All about Me/Inspiration 52 Reading Writing Art GATE Academies Academic/GATE Goals

Portfolios cont… art Work Samples are included for the following possible reasons… n n n n writing Improvement Favorite Assignment Work Sample Student is Proud Of Interesting Assignment Creative Assignment Academic Goal- Choose an area that you need to improve in or would like do better in. Discuss what your plan is to do better. G. A. T. E Goal- Discuss how you would like to demonstrate your gift next year. Write about the activities you would you like to do that will demonstrate your gift. Are there any G. A. T. E academies you would like to participate in?

Coordinator Contact Information: Miss Smith-Corleone Cimarron Ave Elementary School, Room 10 Email: csmithcorleone@yahoo. com (323)757 -1226