Junior School (3-6) » Gifted & Talented

Gifted & Talented

  • K - Year 6 Gifted Education Specialist
    Mrs Gail Laird
    P: (02) 9327 9472

The Junior School (K - 6) employs a full-time Gifted Education Specialist. Enrichment opportunities are provided to students who display high levels of ability, interest and motivation. Classroom teachers also provide enrichment for individuals.

Differentiation

The needs of gifted children in the Junior School are primarily met through differentiation of class teacher and specialist programs across all areas of the curriculum.

Gifted and Talented classes

Withdrawal groups and team teaching

The Junior School Gifted and Talented Specialist works with class teachers to create either in-class team-teaching sessions where gifted students receive targeted small group teaching, or withdrawal classes where identified students complete specially designed units of work.

Special Classes

The Junior School provides 'A' classes which are taught by the gifted education specialist teacher and which modify both curriculum and teaching strategies. Students in these classes are encouraged to become self-directed learners and to take on major long-term assignment work. Junior School Mathematics classes are grouped by ability, allowing teachers to cater for more able students.

Acceleration

Acceleration is the process whereby students work at a level advanced beyond their age or cohort. Repetition of concepts is avoided and the curriculum is re-sequenced to provide stimulation for minds capable of grasping concepts more quickly than others. When a student is exceptionally talented in a particular area, provision may be made for him to be accelerated a year or even years, and, if he is particularly talented in all areas, he may be accelerated completely into the year above. This is only done after consultation with all concerned and with considerable attention to his social and psychological development, as well as his academic capability. His progress is carefully monitored.

Identification

Students with special abilities are normally referred to Gifted Education Specialist by the class teacher, although parent nominations are often sought for particular programs.