CHALLENGE PROGRAM

Stretching Strengths

Mission Statements“Continuous Improvement: Everyone, Every Way,

Every Day”

Cecil County Public Schools:Our mission is to provide an excellent Pre-Kindergarten through graduation learning experience that enables all students to demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required for lifelong learning and productive citizenship in an ever-changing global society.

School:Vision Statement Rising Sun Middle School will strive to maximize the full potential of

each student by incorporating and utilizing the diverse talents and strengths of our total school community

Challenge Program:The mission of the challenge program is to identify students with exceptional creative talents and intellectual abilities and to nurture their unique potential, through the collaboration of all stakeholders.

PhilosophyThe Cecil County Public School system acknowledges that some students have exceptional creative and/or intellectual abilities, promise and potential. The success of these students as independent learners, creative producers and collaborative problem solvers depends upon the development and nurturing of their talents. Each of these students is unique; there is no single gifted student profile. The Challenge Program facilitates appropriate adjustments to content, processes, products and/or pacing, encouraging students to stretch their strengths and develop their talents. A continuum of services is provided, and all staff members work to match the needs of the learners with appropriate educational services. The best practices for gifted students are the best practices for all students.

Role of the Challenge Resource Teacher (CRT’s)

The Challenge Resource Teachers act as consultants and collaborators, helping classroom teachers plan and teach lessons that will challenge all students appropriately through differentiation of the curricula.

Particular attention is paid to extending the depth and complexity of the learning outcomes in developing and adapting units and lessons.

Challenge Resource Teachers(CRT’s)

As an advocate for meeting the academic and affective needs of the gifted and talented students, the Challenge teacher coordinates and monitors the services provided for each student in the Challenge Program by communicating with students, teachers, guidance counselors, administrators, and parents.

Focus Areas for CRT’s

Support &Collaborate

Professional Development

Communicating Opportunities to

teachers, parents, and students

Student Identification and

Monitoring

Support and Collaborate

Includes:PlanningCo-teachingProviding resources

To support:Robust Differentiation which considers six variables

and is concept-driven.ContentProcessProductStudent ReadinessStudent InterestStudent Learning Style

Example of a Differentiated Lesson

Language Arts

Objective: Analyze the characterization of a narrative text

AdvancedWhat redeeming qualities does the villain ofthe story/book exhibit? What is the “shadowside” of the hero character in the book/story?

BasicIdentify characteristics of the hero and villain andprovide examples from the book/story to supportyour ideas. Summarize what makes each charactereither a hero or a villain.

AccommodatedChart characteristics of a villain and a hero from a story/book.

Further Example

Example of Differentiation in Instruction

Objective: Identify and explain relationships between and among characters, settings and events

Advanced

Basic

Accommodated

Content Process ProductStudents will explain

how the characters and events would change if

the setting were different.

Students will explain how the setting

impacts the characters.

Students will identify the characters and the

setting of the story.

Challenge-level reading materials

On-level reading materials

Below-level reading materials

Students will rewrite a scene from the story

putting the characters in a different setting.

Students will write an explanation about why the author chose that particular setting for

the story.Students will write a

description of the relationship between the character(s) and

the setting.

Snapshot of Continuum of Challenge Services

Cluster groupingAccelerated math courses 8th grade honors science and LA coursesForeign languageIndependent studyIntegrated fine arts programConferencingDiscussion groups: affective domainCollege tours and other field tripsEnrichment opportunities (Destination Imagination®, Lego® League, Chess Club, E-Cybermission, and other contests…)Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth programsMaryland Summer Center programs

Professional DevelopmentCRT’s receive and provide professional

development on:

Characteristics and needs of gifted learners

Robust Differentiation

Concept Based Instruction

Parallel Curriculum

Ascending Intellectual Demand (AID)

Use of technology for instruction

Communications

ICab (Instructional Cabinet)

SIT (School Improvement Team)

Parent Meetings/ GT Parent Advisory Council

Survey Data

Record Keeping and Conferencing

Team/Department Meetings

Student Identification and Monitoring

When a student enters middle school a team begins the process of observation and evaluation of the student’s performance to determine whether or not the challenge resource teacher will be monitoring your child’s progress during the school year. The identification process is an ongoing process and students are reevaluated each year.

Identify services to be provided.

Identifying Students Needing Challenge Services

Identifying Students' Strengths Form completed for total class groups by: •classroom teachers •special area teachers

Additional Data compiled by Challenge Teacher: •standardized test scores •report card grades •portfolio •original product •ELL •handicapping condition •long-term problem solving (DI, etc.) •JHU Talent Search

Nomination made by: •parent or student •guidance counselor •community member •other person knowledgeable about the student

Meeting of the Challenge Placement Team to

recommend appropriate services for students

Does the student need services beyond

the differentiated classroom?

Continue flexible grouping in differentiated classroom(s) & monitor

performance

No

Yes Fine Arts: •Music •Drama •Art •Dance

Cluster Grouping

Mentorship: •within school •outside school

Independent Study

Identify the area(s) of strength to be

addressed.

Subject Area: •Math •Science•L. A. •Soc. St.

Reading Extensions:Jr. Great Books,

Touchstones

Enrichment Opportunities

Activity

Discussion Groups:Affective Domain Conferencing

Acceleration: •by subject •by grade

Bright Learners vs. Gifted Learners*

Knows the answers Asks the questions

Is interested Is highly curious

Is attentive Is mentally and physically involved

Has good ideas Plays with divergent ideas

Works hard Plays around, yet tests well

Answers the questions Discusses in detail, elaborates

Top group Beyond the group

Listens with interest Shows strong feelings and opinions

Learns with ease Already knows

6-8 repetitions 1-2 repetitions for mastery

Understands ideas Constructs abstractions

Enjoys peers Prefers intellectual peers

Grasps the meaning Draws inferences

Completes assignments Initiates projects

Is receptive Is intense

Copies accurately Creates a new design

Enjoys school Enjoys learning

Absorbs information Manipulates information

Technician Inventor

Good memorizer Good guesser

Enjoys straightforward, sequential presentation

Thrives on complexity

Is alert Is keenly observant

Is pleased with own learning Is highly self-critical*Typical characteristics, but not found in all gifted learners. Adapted from work by Janice Szabos

Parent ResourcesBrochure and hand outs

Website: http://media.ccps.org/challenge/index.html

County-wide Challenge Parent Meeting to be held on October 9, 2008 at CCPS offices, 801 Elkton Blvd. Elkton, MD 21921 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Gifted and Talented Parent Advisory Council (GT PAC)See Challenge website for information or contact Kathy Ann Joseph at kathyann@sandyhillcamp.com

Coffee with the Program Facilitator coming in OctoberChallenge Resource Teacher: Lorraine Carcoura lcarcoura@ccps.orgRising Sun Middle and Cherry Hill Middle School

Volunteer Opportunities

Lego’s League Destination Imagination® E-Cybermission® Chess Club Internet Science and Technology

Fair