Gifted and Talented Program Overview @

Hilton CSD

The Elementary Reach Program

Reach History • 1978 – Title IV C Federal Grant

– Pull out program grades 2-4 – Team approach grades 5-6

• 1987 – one teacher for the district• 1989 – a teacher for each of 3 elementary

buildings• 2004 NYS mandated Gifted and Talented

Extension certificate; all teachers are certified• Primary staff development is through the GT

Consortium & complimented by individual work• Today, 178 students in Grades 3-6 (about 10%)

Goals of the REACH Program

“a needs based academic program”•Thinking and Problem Solving

Skills– Higher Level Thinking– Critical Thinking– Creative Thinking & Problem Solving Skills– Metacognitive Thinking &

other scholarly Habits of Mind* – Faster Paced Instruction– Social and Emotional Need

*Part of Hilton’s Instructional Framework, based on Dr. Arthur Costa & Bena Kallick’s work

Goals of the REACH Program

“a needs based academic program”• Home Communication Connections

- Educating parents of Hilton’s gifted and talented students- Providing networking opportunity for parents

Program Design-How does it look?

• Grades 3-6• Identification: All students are identified by using

a district wide screening process in the spring– Teachers &/or parents nominate

student to be screened. Surveys weighted 1/9 each

– Quantitative data from the OLSAT, Otis Lennon School Ability Test, results weighted 1/3

– Qualitative instruments, each weighted 1/9, include Torrance Creativity Test, analytical/math problem solving, spatial reasoning (blocks), and a writing sample.

ProgramDesign cont’d

• Admission: Students who earn at least 27 points is admitted. A student with less than 27 points may be monitored if the GT committee sees compelling evidence to include the student.

Program Design-How does it look?

• A combination of some push in and mostly pull out services based on the needs of the students and classroom teachers

• Enrichment provided is matched the curriculum currently being covered in the regular classroom (and balanced with student interest) so that all students make continuous progress

Gifted and Talented Program Overview @

Hilton CSD Part 2:

The Secondary Program

7-8 Merton Williams Middle School9-12 Hilton High School

7-8 Academic

• Staff Development/Differentiation– Retired GT teacher consults with teacher

teams (no other specifically trained GT staff)– Workshops with Jann Leppien, Sandra

Kaplan, Jay McTighe– University of Virginia DI Institute– Hilton Summer DI Institute– Clustering on 2-year teams

• Student offerings– Additional Student Clubs– Project Adept

7-8 Identification

• Identify Elementary Reach students and their needs before they enter 7-8 with 6th Grade Reach Placement Cards that are shared with Merton Williams 7-8 staff.

7-8 Social/Emotional• Increased awareness with staff

development.

9-12 High School Academic

• Staff Development/Differentiation– No specifically trained GT staff– Workshops with Jann Leppien, Sandra

Kaplan, Jay Mc Tighe– University of Virginia DI Institute– Hilton Summer DI Institute

• Student offerings– Self-selected IB Program or

AP Courses

9-12 Identification• Communication occurs between MS & HS

counselors during the 8 – 9 transition• Counselors communicate regarding students

receiving services outside of the school setting• Placement cards capture student needs for high

school counselors

9-12 Social/Emotional• High end learners are participating in group and

individual counseling sessions• Increased awareness with staff development

Questions