Gifted Program?

Question

I was thinking about gifted classes today and I realized I knew nothing about other school's gifted programs.

I am "gifted" in writing and reading. I don't know how they determined this. I kind of remember a test when I was in second grade where I just read this lady a story about early America. Apparently that was the test. I don't think they tested everyone so I'm not sure how I was chosen since there were plenty of people with high grades.

I was in the gifted program for five years. Apparently my school doesn't have a highschool program so last year, my freshman year, was my first year without gifted. It was ok, but I felt like there was some weird insider thing I was missing out on.

My first years of gifted were called "Enrichment" and focused on marine biology? Which makes no sense to me. Then they grew to become more reading/writing oriented.

What is the gifted program like at your school? Does it carry through highschool? Pros? Cons?

Answer 1

I have been in the "gifted" program since the first grade. In grade school, they sent us to a special school once a week called ACE, or the Academic Center for Enrichment. Mine focused on marine biology too, then Australia, then paper airplanes and their flight patterns, on to reading and Shakespeare, etc. In junior high, there were Pre-AP classes which substituted for ACE. I think the program was great, myself. I learned a lot about cultures around the world, zoology, and it was in the first grade in Mrs. Schley's class that i gained my intense love for reading. The only cons were that it was only once a week.

Answer 2

Our school had a gifted program. I was part of it the whole way through school.

It was more of on an individual basis and carried up to graduation. In accordance with PA laws we were considered to have "special educational needs" (just like those students who were mentally or physically handicapped). Everyone had their own Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) and it was reviewed yearly. They helped by moving people into harder classes or college classes in their stronger areas. Also they created opportunities to pursue other interests (I was a photography buff, and I ended up photographing for the wrestling boosters, taking video for the JH football team, and working for the yearbook 2 years instead of just one. They also let me go along on field trips with other classes if the teachers wanted pictures taken.) I was also given the opportunity to take a trial run of the SATs in 8th grade - that was interesting.

The program was far from perfect. Despite the testing that I had to go through to qualify for the program, no one noticed that I was dyslexic until I started taking college classes.

Answer 3

We have a gifted and talented program, the only bad thing is that it takes up ur class time and you have to make up work. It goes till 12th grade but it is very hard to stay in it during high school.