Curriculum Design
Curriculum design within the Valley Park Gifted Program (VPGP) is developed to meet the academic and social/emotional needs of gifted learners. To accomplish this, curriculum is centered on a discipline based, conceptual approach, where students and teachers begin with the end in mind. Each unit focuses on a real-world problem or product to create. When possible, students are given access to tools utilized by professionals which helps to approximate problems, processes, and solutions encountered by practicing experts. The curriculum itself is presented in a flexible manner that encourages students to take the time needed to delve into the material and take ownership of their learning. The process of learning is the main goal of the units presented in the VPGP. While working on this process, students are required to use critical thinking, problem-solving, information processing, and communication skills. The autonomous nature of the end product allows students an avenue to demonstrate their unique talents and abilities.
Instruction: What really matters? |
Social/Emotional Needs:This is the most fundemental aspect of teaching gifted students. The need to feel accepted, understood, and valued for their uniqueness is essential. If a lack of physical and emotional safety exists, it soon becomes impossible to teach anything else.
Indispensable Takeaways:After the social/emotional needs of a child have been met, we can focus on the future. What is it that we want our students to take with them? With an outstanding ability to learn information, it is indispensable that gifted individuals develop tools that will help them apply the information that they have gathered. These tools are the skills that are honed during gifted instruction.
Curricular Needs:Now that we have identified our focus on our essential components, we have to turn our attention to the method for delivering the information. Curriculum is the mode of delivery. Not only should curriculum be rigorous, it should also be interest based, and centered on real-world context. Using a real-world context promotes abstract thought, and allows students to sample different
proffesions/disciplines. |