Opportunities for GATE and Advanced Learners

Opportunities for GATE and Advanced Learners

Teachers in the Etiwanda School District address the needs of G.A.T.E and advanced learners by providing: 

  • A learning environment that promotes high levels of achievement through qualitatively different learning opportunities. 

  • A structure where students participate in enrichment and advancement activities in the regular classroom.

  • Advanced studies and enrichment activities in literature, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and computer education during Universal Access (UA) Time.

Instructional Strategies

Teachers in the Etiwanda School District are encouraged to use evidence-based models of curriculum and instruction to address the needs of gifted and talented students. Curriculum has been carefully selected and is designed to be responsive to the diverse needs of students. Our educators utilize a range of instructional strategies to ensure specific student outcomes and measurable growth.

Teachers in Etiwanda actively engage in grade level planning meetings, data analysis, professional learning, instructional coaching, and staff meetings. These practices provide opportunities for reflection and collaboration on students’ developmental differences and instructional needs. Teachers utilize materials and instructional activities tailored to match students' varying abilities, interests, and learning needs. This is achieved through the implementation of differentiated instruction, tiered lessons, and Universal Access (UA) time.

To further support our teachers, District and school administrators collaborate to create and implement a comprehensive professional development plan. Annual plans include training on the implementation and interpretation of assessments and data and employing effective instructional practices. By enhancing the quality of instruction, we strive to meet the needs of all learners, including those who are advanced.

Teacher Professional Learning

Teachers from every school in the District have opportunities to participate in advanced coursework centered on meeting the needs of GATE learners. District mentors, who have already completed this coursework are available to support participating teachers throughout the course of study. Coursework is offered through the UC San Diego Extended Studies Department.  

In an effort to meet the needs of the advanced learner population through the creation of a rigorous learning environment, participants will partner with the District team members to:

  • Create equitable practices throughout the district.

  • Meet the needs of GATE/Advanced learners.

  • Expand teacher understanding of the unique needs of advanced learners.

Project Based Learning for Grades 3-5

Grade 3-5 teachers in the Etiwanda School District are provided with optional Project-based learning activities to engage GATE and advanced learners during Universal Access (UA) time. The activities offer students opportunities to learn by engaging in meaningful real-world projects. Students will apply critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills to solve high-level problems or answer complex questions. These activities are uniquely designed for students designated as GATE or advanced learners as the activities are challenging and will require dedication and persistence. Each of the projects will take students several UA sessions to complete. Two units of study are provided for Grade 3 teachers and three units are provided for Grade 4-5 teachers. Teachers may also elect to engage GATE and advanced learners in alternate advanced level curriculum during UA time. Please contact your child’s teacher for more information. 

What is this project about?`

What can I expect my child to learn?

What is expected of students?

Grade 3
Project #1:

How can we as historians uncover and share stories about our community?

Students will explore and research historical communities showcasing their knowledge through the design, creation, and presentation of an interactive map/pathway highlighting their chosen community.

Explore different variations of communities while comparing and contrasting categories such as important actions, events, places, people, elements, etc.

Investigate the role of a historian

Acquire a deeper understanding of primary & secondary sources as well as text features

Develop a timeline of community events that supports the creation of a historical pathway or map

To examine the importance of uncovering a community’s accurate and interesting history

Reflect on peer feedback to guide visitors through a community tour

Effort! Patience! Attentiveness! Respect! Appreciation for the ideas of others!

Grade 3

Project #2:

How can you design an appealing and challenging mini golf course?

How are geometry and mini golf related?

 

How can different types of lines and angles increase the complexity of the mini golf design?

 

Students will explore features of miniature golf courses that are appealing to players, as well as examine the importance of geometry when designing a miniature golf course. Knowledge will be showcased through the development of a 9-hole miniature golf course design. Students will also create a mini prototype to test functionality and challenge levels, all while reflecting in a way that supports growth in communication and collaboration.

Discover the many variations of mini golf

 

Explore features of miniature golf courses that are appealing to players.

 

Examine the importance of geometry when designing a miniature golf course, and how different types of lines and angles increase the complexity of the mini golf design

 

Acquire a deeper understanding of points, line segments, lines, rays, and angles.

Develop a 9-hole miniature golf course design.

 

Create a mini prototype to test functionality and challenge levels.

 

Reflect in a way that supports growth in communication and collaboration.

 

Effort! Patience! Attentiveness! Respect! Appreciation for the ideas of others!



Grade 4
Project #1

What would the world be like if people couldn’t get along?

How can playing games help you effectively communicate and collaborate with others?

Students will build upon their knowledge of vocabulary and various thinking, learning, and collaboration styles through the exploration and design of different types of games. 

Explore different learning styles through research and self-identification.

Investigate game design.

Acquire a deeper vocabulary through word analysis.

Develop and create a vocabulary game that supports multiple learning styles

To examine the importance of communication and develop the ability to overcome possible challenges.

Reflect in a way that supports growth in both communication and collaboration.

Effort, patience, attentiveness, appreciation for the ideas of others.

Grade 4
Project #2

What does it take to make a super successful business?

How do businesses make choices that will positively affect their success?

 Students will examine the specific steps it takes to bring a successful business to life through developing and testing a student-created business plan. 4th graders will reflect on the importance of effective marketing strategies, and present a business pitch to a target audience.

Explore various motivating factors for entrepreneurs through research and self-assessment

Investigate possible business ideas along with strategies to overcome competition challenges

Acquire a deeper understanding of costs versus benefits

Develop and test a business plan

To examine the specific steps it takes to bring a successful business to life

Reflect on the importance of marketing a business and present a business pitch to a target audience

Effort! Patience! Attentiveness! Respect! Appreciation for the ideas of others!

Grade 4
Project #3

What is the history of simple machines?

  What are simple machines? What jobs or functions can these simple machines do? 

 Which machines and functions were the most creative and why?

 Students will explore the application of simple machines in solving real-life problems or tasks. 

Through reflection and creative prototyping, students will conceptualize and design a machine or combination of machines to address a specific challenge.

Examine the importance of simple machines and how they function together to complete a task.

 Explore how a lever, wheel, axle, pulley, inclined plane, screw, and wedge work and how they all relate to simple machines

 Acquire a deeper understanding of using multiple simple machines simultaneously and determine which are the most useful.

Investigate how to move various objects through the use of simple machines.

 Develop and construct a new kind of simple machine and illustrate it within a cartoon or comic strip to show how it works to complete a task

 Reflect on the importance of testing the simple machine and its functionality to determine what functioned as expected and what needs to be reworked

 Effort! Patience! Attentiveness! Respect! Appreciation for the ideas of others!

Grade 5
Project #1

What characteristics are necessary to be a good astronaut? 

How can these required characteristics help you  do your job well? 

This project offers students opportunities to explore authentic situations within  science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) career fields that reveal the interconnectedness of each of these disciplines. 

Explore authentic situations within the STEM field that reveal the many ways that science, technology, and math work together to help us understand the universe.

Investigate spacecraft design including both successes and challenges.

Acquire a deeper understanding of famous astronauts and their accomplishments.

 Develop a space vehicle prototype that could travel into space.

To examine our own unique characteristics as well as those necessary to become an astronaut.

Reflect in a way that supports growth in career readiness skills.

Effort, patience, attentiveness, appreciation for the ideas of others.

Grade 5
Project #2

How can we design a tiny house while thinking like an architect?

How are tiny homes planned and built?

Why do architects use floor plans to design a house before the building process?

 

Students will be provided opportunities to examine and analyze existing tiny home floor plans to inspire creativity during their own design process. 5th graders will reflect on all parts of the design process including floor plan sketches & blueprints, drawing rooms and furniture to scale, and create a professional rendering of their tiny home

Examine and analyze existing tiny home floor plans to inspire creativity during the design process

Investigate facts about architect blueprints as well as define key architectural terms to understand how architects speak.

Acquire a deeper understanding of how architects draw rooms and furniture to scale

Develop a blueprint of a student created tiny home

Reflect on the design process (floor plan sketches, perimeter and area calculations, and professional renderings) using a project rubric

Conduct a self interview to uncover tiny home needs and to refine your tiny dream house over time

Effort! Patience! Attentiveness! Respect! Appreciation for the ideas of others!

Grade 5
Project #3

What are the important qualities of an effective leader? Why are these qualities important?

  What is a democracy? What are the features/elements of a democracy?

  In what ways are your animal kingdom and the United States government the same and different?

Examine the important qualities of an effective leader and why these qualities are important.

 Explore the features and elements of a democracy.

 Acquire knowledge about the functions of the three branches of the U.S. government and which government organizations provide services to its citizens.

Develop a democratic animal kingdom that mirrors the organizational structure of the U.S. government.

 Demonstrate the power of persuasion by advertising the animal kingdom effectively.

 Reflect on the ways the animal kingdom and the United States government are the same and different.

 Effort! Patience! Attentiveness! Respect! Appreciation for the ideas of others!