Gifted and Talented Education
Excelsior's GATE Program Highlights
Excelsior's GATE Program Highlights![]()
Excelsior's GATE Program Highlights
- GATE Cluster Classes - GATE students are placed in clusters with other GATE-identified students in a class taught by a GATE-certified teacher who has received a minimum of 30 hours of professional development experience specific to the needs of gifted and talented learners.
- Differentiated Math Instruction - In 4th and 5th grades, enrichment opportunities are provided for students GATE and high achieving students through differentiation within the grade level standards. For 6th grade students, an accelerated math class is offered. Students in the accelerated class will complete much of the 7th grade content, on a pathway to completing the Integrated 1 course in 8th grade.
- Junior Great Books - 4th and 5th grade GATE students are offered the opportunity to participate in Junior Great Books. The junior great books groups are facilitated by the school librarian and engage students in student-centered discussions around high-quality literature.
- Leveled Reading Groups - Our 4th grade students participate in leveled reading groups throughout the school year so that all students can be challenged with literature that supplements their language arts curriculum.
- Ivy League - Our 6th grade students participate in “Ivy League” once a week. GATE and high achieving students are grouped together so that differentiated instruction can be provided during language arts each week.
- Author Study - Our 5th grade students participate in an extensive Author Study. Students read multiple books by the same author and us graphic organizers to analyze the author's works to create a critique of the author's style, and a short story written in the style of the author. The range of authors studied allows for our GATE students to work together as they interact with complex literature.
- Challenge Units - Grade level Challenge Units are designed to include components that are open-ended and allow for individual student challenge and initiative.
- Differentiated Reading Groups - Students at all grade levels participate in reading groups which allow for differentiation in the content and complexity of the text being explored.
- GATE Extension Projects - Each GATE student is offered the opportunity to develop a GATE Extension Project proposal with the school principal. The extension projects allow students to engage their natural curiosity by creating a research plan to learn more about a high-interest topic of their choice.
- Chess Club - This year Excelsior offers an after school Chess Club that meets on Wednesday afternoons. The club is principally designed to meet the needs of our GATE students, but all students are welcome to participate. Two sessions of Chess Club will be offered during the school year.
