Departments

Gifted Education Services

What we do

Our beliefs
Our practices
Four layer service delivery model

Our Beliefs

We believe that...

• the education of gifted/highly able students is the responsibility of all teachers, counselors, administrators, and parents;
• parent involvement is a necessary and important part of the services provided by the gifted education staff;
• gifted/highly able students need both direct instruction and opportunities for independent learning;
• gifted/highly able students need differentiated instruction;
• gifted education services that support the essential curriculum should focus on advanced content, processes and products;
• gifted academic services will prepare the highly gifted/highly able students to become lifelong learners who strive to reach their potential.

[top]

Our Practices

• Charles County Public Schools is committed to recognizing and serving the needs of gifted/highly able students.
• Gifted Education Resource Teachers coordinate enrichment activities, collaborate with classroom teachers to provide ongoing curriculum enhancement, and conduct staff development.
• Progressive teaching strategies include differentiated instruction, use of advanced resources, model lessons, and collaborative teaching, to emphasize the unique social, emotional, and academic needs of gifted/highly able students.
• High Schools have an accelerated & enrichment facilitator who serves as a resource for disseminating information of interest to gifted/highly able students.
• The Scholars Course of Study provides a rigorous academic sequence of courses at the middle and high school levels. Advanced placement and honors level classes in a variety of subjects are offered at all county high schools.

[top]

Four Layer Service Delivery Model

Gifted education services at elementary and middle schools provide a variety of instructional enrichment opportunities for students. Gifted education resource teachers collaborate with regular classroom teachers to enhance the essential curriculum to meet the needs of gifted/highly able students.

Students at the elementary and middle school levels receive services from the gifted education staff in a variety of ways. There are opportunities that support the essential curriculum such as guest speakers, trips outside the school site and collaborative planning with classroom teachers that reach "All" students. "Many" students receive services associated with various enrichment/special interest groups. Curriculum compacting, small group instruction, information regarding specialized programs such as Center for Talented Youth (Johns Hopkins University) and Maryland State Department Summer Centers, individualized learning contracts, and acceleration would be services provided to "Some/Few" students.

[top]