This is a place to come and find resources and information to help with extending the learning of students.
If you would like to have your child included on our Gifted and Talented register please scroll to the bottom of the page to complete the form.
Our Definition of Giftedness:
A gifted student is a child who has outstanding
abilities or a student who is capable of working at a significantly higher
level than those of his/her age peers in one or more areas.
Another definition, penned by the Columbus Group in 1991, is also very popular and talks about the challenges of ramifications of giftedness.
“Giftedness
is asynchronous development in which advanced cognitive abilities and
heightened intensity combine to create inner experiences and awareness that are
qualitatively different from the norm. This asynchrony increases with higher
intellectual capacity. The uniqueness of the gifted renders them particularly
vulnerable and requires modifications in parenting, teaching and counselling in
order for them to develop optimally.”
What we do:
Children are identified by their outstanding ability, by their teachers, their parents or by psychological assessment. We will endeavour to place children with “like minded” children in a regular classroom. They are placed with a teacher empathetic to their special needs and acceleration is considered on a case by case basis. They are moved with appropriate speed through the curriculum and work in a classroom programme that encourages higher level thinking, inquiry questioning, exploration of personal interests and that may include the opportunity for children to interact with experts beyond the school. They are encouraged to become independent learners using their own unique blend of intelligences.
Enabling Skills, which include, thinking skills and goal setting are taught to all children in the school but particularly enhance the learning of gifted children.
We Believe:
That with appropriate support and intervention all students can learn successfully in a normal classroom however there are times when we offer additional programmes because exceptional learners require exceptions to the normal curriculum. These may take the form of:
We Believe:
That with appropriate support and intervention all students can learn successfully in a normal classroom however there are times when we offer additional programmes because exceptional learners require exceptions to the normal curriculum. These may take the form of:
- Creative writing - Young Writers Workshops
- Inquiry based focus groups
- Arts enrichment
- Music
- Chess, and others as they become available or are relevant to specific needs.
- Leadership roles
- UNSW exams
- ICT workshops
- Philosophy for children
Identification:
We use a range of tools to help identify children to who are gifted and/or talented. In addition to parent information, standardised tests and academic performance we also consider other traits that these children often exhibit.
An able child may...
• Work quickly and accurately
• Learn to read easily
• Show high level of concentration
• Possess extensive general knowledge
• Form hypothesis
• Devise own methods for subtraction, division, etc.
• Approach problem solving from an unusual starting point
• Have ability to deal with abstract concepts
• Have exceptional curiosity
• Be a keen and alert observer
• Dominate discussion groups
• Display intellectual liveliness
• Daydream
• Have behavioural and emotional difficulties
The first way of meeting the child's needs is to differentiate the classroom programme.
Classroom teachers will...
• Examine the specific needs of able children and understand their educational requirements
• Design learning activities that are appropriate to their needs
• Regular monitor and discuss work with the children
• Recommend withdrawal extension/enrichment programmes where appropriate
By sound planning, monitoring and discussion, teachers will endeavour to meet the curriculum needs of able children within the classroom programmes of work. Advanced curriculum objectives may be set, or independent research activities may be followed. Where needed, the classroom programme will be supported by and ALP (Advanced Learning Plan).
Withdrawal Extension/Enrichment Programmes
The school will endeavour to provide for some programmes (within the means of staffing, mentoring, budget, organisation and space) on a withdrawal basis. Through recommendations of class teachers / team groups will be withdrawn to cover a variety of interest focus areas. These may include maths, science, technology, art, etc. After children have been identified, groups will be established and sessions will run for a specified period. Opportunities will be given for inclusion in outside the school activities (e.g., Young Inventionz Exhibition, Cantamaths for senior pupils, Otago Problem Solving, Science Certificates, Technology Roadshow, Science Alive).
The Gifted and Talented Register
Teachers and parents are invited to identify a child as being gifted or talented.
The GATE co-ordinator (one of the Deputy Principals) will manage this data and is responsible for drawing up the register and developing the plans to meet the needs of these pupils.
Please click on the link below to complete a form for your child.
