Elementary Programs

Schoolwide Cluster Grouping for Gifted Students in Grades K-6

In the Schoolwide Cluster Grouping Model, gifted students are clustered into mixed-ability classrooms at each grade level. The cluster teachers have received training in understanding, planning for, and instructing gifted students. In this model, gifted students receive differentiated curriculum and instruction in all content areas on a daily basis.

Classroom compositions are carefully structured with two main goals: 

• To ensure that there is a balance throughout the grade level
• To reduce the learning range found in any given classroom. 

This system provides opportunities for teachers to more readily respond to the needs of all their students through enrichment, enhancement and mild acceleration opportunities targeted to develop the following skills through learning in the content areas:

• Logical thinking

• Reasoning skills

• Critical and creative thinking

• Problem-solving 

Gifted students receive instruction that is differentiated in content, process, product, learning environment, and assessment:

• Content – Complex, abstract ideas presented in a variety of disciplines, including interdisciplinary curriculum

• Process – Higher-level thinking through Bloom’s Taxonomy and the Multiple Intelligences

• Products – Alternative methods of demonstrating mastery with a range of complexity

• Learning environment – Student-centered, flexible grouping based on readiness, interests, and abilities

• Assessments – Pre-assessment and testing out-of-grade level curriculum.

Cluster teachers receive support from the onsite Gifted Specialist and the District Cluster Differentiation Coach:

• With scheduling

• Professional development in gifted education

• Planning and implementation of differentiated curriculum and instruction through monthly Gifted Cluster teacher meetings and during other staff development times. 

Content Replacement with Gifted Specialists (Grades 4-6)

Students receive content replacement in lieu of the regular grade-level curriculum provided in their homeroom classes, and content enrichment in addition to instruction provided in the homeroom or gifted cluster class. The curriculum in these content areas is accelerated to an appropriately challenging level.

Professional learning at my site, in a perfect world, would look like the model that is used in (our) gifted meetings. Each session, there are typically about five of us that do table talks to teach and inform our colleagues on what we are doing in the classroom. We provide handouts and resources so the ideas can be taken right into the classroom."
– Pinnacle Peak Elementary School Gifted Specialist Nancy Stanton

The Content Replacement Program

Gifted Specialists provide content replacement and content enrichment to gifted students in each elementary school for grades 4-6. Students receive enriched, enhanced, and accelerated instruction in mathematics and/or language arts, depending upon their area(s) of identification and needs. 

Curriculum in these content areas is paced and accelerated to an appropriately challenging level. 

In language arts, students:

• Receive instruction through grammar and literature. 

• Move beyond the regular language arts curriculum using advanced levels of analysis and critical thinking. 

In math, students:

• Pursue topics such as probability, logic, statistics, algebra, and geometry 

• Participate in mathematical competitions

• Develop advanced problem solving skills

Curriculum Content Replacement classes may include:

• Accelerated Mathematics with advanced problem-solving instruction

• Michael Clay Thompson’s grammar and vocabulary instruction materials

• Socratic Seminars

• Junior Great Books

• Classic and contemporary literature:  College of Williamand Mary ELA

• Project-Based Learning (PBL)

• Core knowledge integrated curriculum

• Tasks developed with depth and complexity:  Depth of Knowledge

• Math Olympiad, Continental Math, and Noetic competitions

Content Replacement Curriculum (PDF)

Comprehensive Gifted Self-Contained Kindergarten

Learn About Self-Contained Kindergarten

Comprehensive Gifted Self-Contained Grades 1-6

Self-Contained Gifted Curriculum (PDF)