Reply to What's your impression of gifted/talented services in Arlington elementary schools?

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Reply to "What's your impression of gifted/talented services in Arlington elementary schools?"

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[quote=Anonymous]
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Anonymous wrote:

I am not the OP, but I am interested in the bolded part above. The gifted resource teacher at my sons' school said that Swanson does differentiate in middle school. She had a name for it, but I can't remember what it was. It sounded to me like it was a full program that was almost like tracking in that if your student was labeled as gifted they would go through middle school with other kids who were also gifted. She said that is also trickling down to the elementary school level where the gifted students would be put in classes together as well. I know Arlington's gifted program is subject specific so I am not sure how that would all work, but she thought it was important that my son was identified by the time he got to middle school for this reason (he's in 4th now).

This resource teacher is lying. There is no such program in APS middle schools. There are different levels of math only. In every other subject, students are designated as gifted, but get nothing for it, except that the classroom teacher is aware of it, and will try their best to offer enrichment to those students in a regular classroom. There is one GT resource teacher per middle school. Think about that: one person is supposed to provide a full program to some 200-300 designated kids in each middle school? Not.

I really don't think she was lying as she has nothing to gain from doing that. In a way, putting those kids together in one class would make it easier for the gifted teacher - she could hit them all in one full swoop. It was surprising for me to hear her say that, but she said our school is moving that way, and I know of another N. Arlington elementaries where they are doing the same thing.

Is your child in the gifted program and are they are Swanson?

Yes, she does have something to gain by lying, which is to create a public perception that there is a viable gifted program in Arlington middle schools. And your suggestion that it is easier to put them in one class for her is ridiculous--gifted teachers in middle schools do not actually teach classes or pull students out, they come into classes and help the general ed teacher. Even the gifted math classes are taught by general ed teachers, not by the gifted resource teacher.

I completely disagree with you. If you have an entire class of gifted students, the general ed teacher along with the gifted teacher is going to be able to do different types of activities in that class. They could do a whole class activity that used more higher order thinking skills, or some other type of "gifted" activity. It would also allow the gifted teacher to just come into one class rather than trying to split her time to work with 4-5 students in 4-5 classes. [b]It is easier for the general ed teacher, too[/b], if all of her students are working at a similar level. I am not saying this is PC or something that schools would admit to doing because it is tracking, but it does make sense to me. And as a PP stated, it is something that Williamsburg does or used to do so it is not ridiculous at all.

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It would only be easier for the gen ed teacher if the gifted teacher was actually helping to plan the lesson. But if it is up to the gen ed teacher to do extra planning to incorporate the gifted teacher's presence, it's not easier for them at all.

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