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History of Gifted Education |
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Friday, 14 January 2011 09:11 |
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Northern’s program of gifted education is one of the oldest and largest in Ontario. How did it begin?
In the spring of 1973 Walter Cebrynsky and the staff generated a plan to combine academic and technological subjects in an inter-disciplinary fashion to challenge gifted students. During the 1970’s Northern teachers were influenced by the work of Dr. Joseph Renzulli who visited the school and presented a holistic definition of giftedness involving the interaction of three clusters of traits: above average intellectual abilities, high level of task commitment, and a high level of curiosity. This definition encouraged a program of study that included wide parameters of thinking, feeling, and exploring which has continued to guide program development and change.
Since September 1998, all students entering the grade 9 Gifted Program must be formally identified through the Toronto District School Board’s assessment of intellectual ability and the Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC) meeting. The assessment consists of a standardized test, the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children.
PRESENT STATUS
Northern is currently a centre for gifted education within the Toronto District School Board and as such we offer a comprehensive gifted program: all of the compulsory subjects as well as many optional courses are offered at the gifted level. We welcome approximately five classes into the program each year. The Gifted Program has a distinct structure and content. The core subject areas use a wide variety of presentation styles and methods of organization. The type of material covered, the pace, the use of technology, and assessment and evaluation strategies are geared to gifted students. Students study in many specialized facilities such as a biotechnology lab, computer assisted design lab, photography, art, and drama studios, and technological shops. There is a diverse pool of staff and resources available to provide an exceptional education program for gifted students. Teachers with Special Education qualifications, the Gifted Program Advisory Committee, as well as the students actively assist with program development to ensure a dynamic program.
For more information regarding the gifted and Advanced Placement courses offered at Northern as well as the Grade 9 Gifted Program, please click on the attachment below.
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Last Updated on Friday, 14 January 2011 09:34 |
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Friday, 09 January 2009 00:37 |
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The Gifted Advisory Committee is an advocacy group which supports and promotes gifted education and the gifted program at Northern. It is attended by parents and guardians of designated gifted students. This sub-committee of the School Council meets approximately six times a year. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 3rd at 7:30 p.m. in the Heritage Room (114). To receive information, sign up for the e-newsletter at http://gac.neighboursnews.ca.
Students in the gifted program who are in grade 9 and 10 have finished their first Interdisciplinary Studies unit and have just begun their second unit. Also, the students have handed in a Topic Selection Sheet to present their idea for the Independent Enrichment Study. Students will be paired with their IES facilitators on December 16th.
Leonila Liko, ACL Gifted Department |
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Last Updated on Monday, 18 June 2012 11:12 |
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