Honors Program

[av_one_full first] [av_heading heading=’The Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)’ tag=’h3′ style=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading] [av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”] The Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program supports unique opportunities for high-achieving and underachieving pupils who are identified as gifted and talented. By state definition, gifted students are pupils who possess a capacity for excellence far beyond that of their chronological peers. This capacity includes many and varied characteristics that require modifications of curriculum and instruction. These modifications form the basis of gifted and talented educational services.

The Rio School District serves the gifted students within the district through two options:
(1) Honors classes in the middle school program for the high-achieving students
(2) Differentiated instruction and flexible groupings for gifted and high-ability students are provided at the elementary level

Differentiated Instruction

Differentiation strategies raise the expectations for all students and provide an avenue for individualizing instruction by providing greater depth, complexity, novelty and/or acceleration to the classroom lessons.

Differentiation of instruction is achieved by modifying one, some, or all of the following elements:

• Processes or skills
• Content or subject matter
• Product
• Quantity and pacing
• Flexible grouping

Honors Placement

Rio Vista Middle School offers honors classes in core content areas. Placement in honors classes is not solely based upon GATE identification. We assign placement in honors classes based upon a combination of factors, including previous course achievement, teacher recommendation, standardized test scores (state and local assessments) and student interest.
[/av_textblock] [/av_one_full] [av_one_full first] [av_font_icon icon=’ue81c’ font=’entypo-fontello’ style=’border’ caption=’Frequently Asked Questions’ link=” linktarget=” size=’40px’ position=’center’ color=”][/av_font_icon] [av_toggle_container initial=’0′ mode=’accordion’ sort=”] [av_toggle title=’WHO ARE THE GIFTED? ‘ tags=”] Gifted students are persons of exceptional promise whose capabilities may predict contributions of lasting merit in widely varying fields.  They come from all backgrounds with special abilities and talents ranging across a wide spectrum of human achievement.  These students’ abilities and potential for accomplishment are so outstanding that they require special provisions to meet their educational needs.
[/av_toggle] [av_toggle title=’HOW ARE STUDENTS IDENTIFIED FOR THE GIFTED PROGRAM?’ tags=”] Schools are asked to refer students for district-wide screening for the gifted program.  Most students are referred by a teacher, but parents and others may also refer.
[/av_toggle] [av_toggle title=’HOW CAN I MOTIVATE MY GIFTED AND TALENTED CHILD?’ tags=”] Your attitude is essential to the development of a gifted child.  Reseachers Hall and Skinner tell parents to enjoy their gifted children and to remember that they are, first of all, children. Motivate your gifted child by encouraging trial and error, being enthusiastic and optimistic, recognizing achievement, encouraging goals set by the child, encouraging novel ideas, giving honest evaluation, encouraging independence, and giving constructive criticism.
[/av_toggle] [av_toggle title=’WHAT SHOULD PARENTS EXPECT?’ tags=”] Students in grades 3-8 that demonstrate exceptional abilities will be referred through the GATE process

Teachers will differentiate instruction for GATE identified students

GATE students will have multiple opportunities to engage and work with each other

Students can attend after school site-based enrichment activities (GATE Exploratories).Students can attend district-wide enrichment activities

Teacher Training

Parent Education
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