Venture Program
Gifted Building Services
Philosophy
The academically gifted are a unique population differing greatly from their age group in abilities, talents, interests and psychological maturity. The gifted need to work with content and ideas appropriate for them but beyond most of their age peers. Gifted students need and thrive in an educational program which will increase their involvement and interest in learning.
Purpose
Esquire Hills Elementary is committed to offering a variety of options to gifted students. Esquire Hills recognizes that curriculum for gifted students must be differentiated by faster pace, greater complexity and earlier introduction of knowledge and skills. We also recognize the need for gifted students to explore interests in depth and spend time with their intellectual peers.
Classroom Focus
Cluster Grouping
Students identified as gifted are grouped together in classrooms as much as possible. Cluster teachers are offered training opportunities which help them to involve, excite & entice gifted students in a manner that encourages them to be learners.
Differentiation
Teachers employ many methods to differentiate the instruction for gifted learners within individual classrooms. The following illustrates strategies used as needed.
*Cooperative
learning groups
*Subject integration
*Higher thinking skills
*Flexible projects
*Abstract content
*Conceptual discussions
*Talent/ability grouping
*Curriculum compacting
*Tiered assignments
*Literature studies
Subject Acceleration
If mastery of Grade Level Expectations is evident in math, and when appropriate in reading, students are accelerated in that subject.
Highly Capable Student Plans {HCSPs}
à Teachers who serve our identified gifted students are responsible for creating individual HCSPs.
à Plans are developed carefully based on each student’s talents and interests, in order to meet the academic and social emotional needs of each child.
à Teachers align HCSPs with the Grade Level Expectations and Essential Learning Requirements of Washington state.
à These plans show how curriculum will be adjusted using the options available at Esquire Hills Elementary.
à Plans are shared with parents during Fall conferences. They are working documents and are adjusted as needed throughout the year.
à HCSPs are placed in student cumulative records and follow students to the junior high school.
Enrichment Opportunities for Your Child at Esquire Hills
Accelerated Reader/STAR
ASB
Band
Choir
Destination ImagiNation
Drama Club
Eagle News Network {video production}
Independent Projects
Future Leaders
Mad Science Club
Math Olympiad
Orchestra
Reflections
School Clubs
Young Writer’s Conference