• Advance Learners Program

    THE PROCESS

    At NExA we practice Inclusion Learning. Where students of all abilities are in the same classroom. In order for a student to qualify for Advanced Learning at NExA they must be in the 95% of peers on nationally normed tests. (We use cogAT, iStation, iReady). 

     

    Once students are identified for the Advanced Learning Program the student and parents meet with the ALP teacher and the Core Teacher to set up an Individualized Learning Plan. ILP processes are student-centered and result in a customized plan that recognizes the student’s individual characteristics and is reflective of the student’s learning environment. Students take an active role in assessing, reflecting on, and planning based on their academic, career, and personal goals. Although the process is student-centered, the ILP is shared among parents, counselors, and teachers, as a means of supporting the student’s academic development. If you have any questions about the process please contact bweinberger@cdaschools.org

     

    HOW PROJECT BASED LEARNING MEETS ALP STUDENTS NEEDS

    Project-based learning is ideal for the gifted student, focusing on student choice, teacher responsibility, and opportunities for differentiation. PBL’s can challenge students with various abilities and interest while covering multiple educational disciplines in one project. The in-class modifications allow teachers to support students of all ability levels. Advanced learners can drive problem solving of real problems in the community creating positive relationships between school and community. 

     

    Here are a few examples of how we meet the needs of gifted students in the General Education Classroom. (Suggestions from the National Association for Gifted Children)

    • Offering students the most difficult problems first
    • Pre-Test volunteers- if they show mastery they can move on
    • Vertical Enrichment
    • Projects that speak to students interests
    • Enable gifted students to work together
    • Planned Tiered Learning
    • Connecting to a community Mentor
    • Use Technology 
    • Independent Projects 

     

    IDEAS FOR PARENTS

    ·     Use phrases like “you worked hard” or “you caught on fast” instead of “you’re so smart” 

    ·     Encourage your child to take on challenges, gifted students are often used to catching on quickly and may be risk averse.

    ·     Find a passion and dig in. It has been said the it takes 10,000 minutes of a topic in order to become a master.

    ·     Write Haikus: A frog jumps into the pond, splash! Silence again. This is Basho Matsuo’s famous haiku. Use haiku as a way to challenge gifted students to summarize chapters, current events, biographies or vocabulary words. Haiku are student-friendly yet force them to be concise and purposeful with their word choice.

    ·     Reach out to your childs teachers, no matter the subject they are a wealth of knowledge and are always willing to help

    Haiku Idea and more From: https://www.weareteachers.com/teaching-gifted-students/

     

    Links for Parents

    https://www.nagc.orgNational Association for gifted and talented

    https://www.nsgt.orgNational Society for the gifted and talented