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Boosting Student Achievement
Now that we have officially rung in the new year, it is time for me to make some new predictions for 2010. And as I look back into my crystal ball, I have 10 predictions for what the coming year will look like—both for Education and content.
What is my fourth prediction for Education?
Curriculum for gifted students will expand, and states will allot money for programs and technology for them.
As a subcategory of Special Education, gifted programs are often put on the backburner in school districts. I know many parents who had to fight for their child to be tested and for courses to be designed for their gifted child. In fact, gifted programs were some of the first to be cut under No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The problem I have with NCLB is that it fails to recognize the potential of gifted students to raise standardized test scores—by giving them an opportunity to participate in programs that will really motivate and challenge them.
When my 11-year-old daughter was recommended for a gifted program (at age 6), we were told to go to the Center for Talent and Development at Northwestern University. Since our school did not have any programs to help her, and she was starting to display signs of boredom in the classroom, we decided to check it out.
The center aims to integrate rigorous coursework with fun learning activities to both interest and stimulate students—courses like Adventures & Fantasy, the Computer Gaming Academy, Robotics, and Poetry Slam. Many of these courses included collaborative learning methods, inquiry-based learning, and self-discovery.
These courses sound great, but we need to find a way to offer these types of classes in mainstream schools and to translate them to every student in some capacity. And unlike NCLB, Race to the Top seeks to boost student achievement through the implementation of more innovative and creative curriculum. With this in mind, and with technology and STEM in the forefront, we are truly poised to focus on children who may not have been left behind, but who were definitely forgotten.
To find out my next prediction for Education, check back next week.
Comments on this Entry
The gifted classes are great ... for the chosen ones. But what about those, that were not chosen? Doesn’t building the elite deepen the division between those privileged and those that are not?
There was once a study, where a class was created and the teacher was told that the kids in that class were special, that they would ask difficult questions, etc. and he needs to help them succeed even furher. The class achieved wonders and then it turned out they were all average kids.
We can all rise to a potential that we believe in.
The resources should go directly to the teachers I think, so they could create tests, that his / her students can pass. Once equipped with the right tools the teachers could challenge the kids, telling them how difficult the test was (the one they have already finished). Every child would feel gifted by the 3rd approach, I bet. And what wonders could that do?
I am afraid it only applies to youg children though, as the older ones already have long-learnt habits…
Jolanta
By Jolanta on 2010 02 09
Maybe I’m not very compassionate but life has taught me that things are never fair or equal and that includes the potential of each person. Some are truly gifted in academics and America needs to find those students and encourage them. I believe we are tracking lower than other countries because of our desire to treat all students equally. If we pull out the truly gifted, and the exceptional and almost gifted, and spend some time and money with them perhaps the innovation and invention that made America a leader in the past would come forth again. We take the challenged kids and put them in a special class and even give them their own aide for 12 years. Imagine what could happen if we did the same with the other end of the spectrum. Financed that same number of gifted students in each school with similar dollars for materials and teachers.
By Kathy on 2010 02 11
