Students Entering Kindergarten – 3rd Grade:
The Edgewater School District is committed to enriching the learning experience of all students. In grades K – 3, every student has the opportunity to be challenged and enriched through whole-class lessons.
Whole Class Instruction:
Lessons provided during whole class instruction aid in the early identification of gifted learners
Various skill levels are presented to allow observation of individual achievement of skills during early stages of development
Behavioral checklists are used for each thinking skill which allows for detailed identification of students’ strengths
Every student has an opportunity to show his or her potential
All students benefit from the higher-level thinking skills lessons and activities
Higher-level thinking skills presented in the enrichment program such as convergent analysis, divergent synthesis, and critical evaluation are the problem-solving strategies that are critical for all children to know and feel comfortable using throughout their lives
Students Entering Grades 4 – 6:
Currently Enrolled Students:
Eligibility for enrichment is evaluated on a yearly basis. All students enrolled in the Enrichment Program for the prior school year will be given a cognitive abilities test for the upcoming school year to determine continued eligibility in the program. Additional criteria that must be met for continued eligibility includes:
Advanced proficiency score on state tests in both mathematics and language arts literacy
Parent and teacher recommendation
Report card grade requirements
Newly Identified Students:
Students are identified at the end of the year by meeting the report card grade requirements and receiving teacher recommendation. These students will then be evaluated with a cognitive test and determination of enrollment will occur in the Fall after state testing scores are reviewed. If all of the requirements are met eligibility in the program is granted.
Students New to the District:
Students who are new to the district in September of a given year qualify to take the cognitive test for enrichment eligibility at mid-year (after second marking period) if they meet the following criteria:
Student scored in the high advanced proficient range on previous year's state testing in both mathematics and language arts literacy
Student obtained grade criteria: all O’s or A’s in the first and second marking period
Student has parent and current teacher’s recommendation (effort, works to potential, etc.)
Program Resources
Resources used in the enrichment program include, but are not limited to:
PETS (Primary Education Thinking Skills) Program – a systematized enrichment and diagnostic thinking skills program that is aligned with the taxonomy of Benjamin Bloom and correlates activities with multiple intelligences as defined by Howard Gardner.
Junior Great Books – a program of higher literacy that provides students with many opportunities to interact with thought-provoking stories as they develop their reading, writing, oral communication, and critical-thinking skills.
Letters About Literature - a national reading and writing program that asks students to write letters to authors whose books have made a difference in their lives. State and national recognition is awarded for outstanding personal and reflective writing about the importance of written works in the lives of young readers.
Readers’ Theater - a dramatic presentation of a written work in a script form. The focus is on reading the text with expressive voices and gestures that make comprehending the text meaningful and fun for the students.
STEAM-based projects/presentations (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics)
Lego Club School Edition
Appeals:
Decisions about entrance into the Enrichment Program reflect a demonstrated need for additional services. Multiple measures are employed that utilize both quantitative data (formal test scores or assessments) and qualitative data (teacher observations of students' behaviors, characteristics, and achievement). Although we stand behind our identification process, parents may reach out to the enrichment teacher to request information or appeal a decision. If necessary, a meeting may be scheduled with the parent, gifted coordinator, and/or district administrator to discuss the matter. After reviewing all the data, the administrator will reject or affirm the district’s decision and communicate that information to parents. If you have further questions, please contact the teacher of the gifted, Lori Rattner at lrattner@edgewaterschools.org.
