LEAP Gifted and Talented Pilot at Highland Elementary School Principal Michele Dewitt Director of Teaching and Learning Zena Stenvik
L.E.A.P. Learning, Enlightenment, Acceleration, Progress LEAP is a multi-age classroom pilot at Highland Elementary serving qualifying gifted and talented students in grades 3-5.
Governance Questions: 1. Approval to end the 2 year pilot phase of LEAP at Highland Elementary and establish LEAP as a program.
Teacher Professional Development • Hormel Foundation Gifted & Talented Education Symposium • Support from Karen Westberg, PhD Univ of St. Thomas • MN Dept of Ed Gifted and Talented Series • MEGT (MN Educators of the Gifted and Talented) Workshops
Curriculum Development • June 2015: Collaboration among all district elementary schools GT teachers along with district staff to create a multi-year plan, curriculum, resources and assessments. • Additional curriculum development time will occur again in the summer of 2017. • Quarterly curriculum planning time
Parent Communication Parent Newsletter Classroom Website Email/Phone Parent Survey
Parent Survey: Overall results show positive feedback. In your opinion, to what extent does participation in the LEAP program influence enthusiasm for learning?
Parent Survey: In your opinion, to what extent does participation in the LEAP program influence a student to value the process of learning?
Parent Survey: In your opinion, to what extent does the LEAP program provide enough challenge for gifted students in reading?
Quote from Parents “This program has been very beneficial for my child. We have seen a lot of growth academically and emotionally. Our child loved the passion projects.”
Quote from Parents “LEAP has been an incredible program for our child. She loves school and her LEAP friends.”
Student Survey: The LEAP program provides enough challenge for me in reading.
Student Survey: The LEAP program provides enough challenge for me in math.
Student Survey: The LEAP program challenges me to do my best.
Student quote “I like LEAP because it challenges me in different ways.” “I think LEAP is challenging and fun.”
Student quote “I think LEAP is a great place to learn.” “It makes me a better learner and I like how it challenges me.”
Academic Results NWEA MAP Assessment Results are based off of 26 million grade-level students nationwide for the 2016-17 academic year. 88% of LEAP students made high growth LEAP Reading 12% of LEAP students made medium growth 100% of LEAP students made high growth LEAP Math
Academic Results: MCA Spring 2017 Partially Does Not Exceeds Meets Meets Meet Standards Standards Standards Standards Reading 9 6 1 0 Math 14 2 0 0 Science 4 1 0 0 (Grade 5)
LEAP Model Research Grouping often is the “most effective and efficient means for schools to provide challenging coursework, access to advanced content and providing them with a peer group.” Grouped gifted students were shown to have significant gains in testing over non-grouped peers. Students could also explore the content more deeply. Research has found that mathematically talented students were able to grow their conceptual understanding, including a greater ability to explain their reasoning, when taught within a gifted peer group.
Replication: Things to consider • Costs savings, including retention and attraction of students • Opportunity for support and academic challenge for GT students • Student and parent survey results • Consistency among schools • Vertical Alignment with grades 6-12
Next Steps • Establish LEAP as an educational program at Highland Elementary • Continue to study LEAP to determine the feasibility of replication. • Possible Implementation at one or two elementary schools, depending on the results of the study and the feasibility
Governance Questions: 1. Approval to end the 2 year pilot phase of LEAP at Highland Elementary and establish LEAP as a program.
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