GATE Programs

This course introduces students to issues surrounding identification and programming for gifted students. The aim of the course is to help prepare teachers (and parents) to better understand, work with, and advocate for high ability children and teens. While students will be required to review specific course content, self directed learning will also be encouraged.

Study the particular developmental aspects of gifted students in order to identify their unique social and emotional characteristics. Examine psycho-social concepts related to personality, maturation, and creativity. Through case studies, investigate gifted students' motivation, self-concept, and achievement and analyze the implications of these for classroom instructional strategies. Intervention strategies to meet the psychological and affective needs of the gifted student will also be considered. You will learn to identify the unique requirements of specialized populations of gifted and talented students, such as underachieving students, special needs students, as well as examine gender issues in giftedness.

This course is designed for teachers in either integrated classrooms or specialized GATE programs. Learn key principles and instructional strategies of differentiation of the core curriculum through depth and complexity while developing curricula aligned with the California standards.

This is an introductory course that will explore learning styles and the theory of multiple intelligences. "Multiple intelligences" explains how all students learn. Based on this understanding, develop strategies and appropriate lessons for diverse students.

Learn in detail about parts and elements of the brain, including types of cells, memory systems, attention, learning, and intellectual development. Discuss learning problems that occur in schools today. By the end of the course, you will take with you at least ten instructional strategies that take advantage of how the brain learns best, which you can begin using in the classroom right away.

Explore the questioning techniques and methods used to enhance and prompt critical, creative and logical thinking in a gifted student. Use these strategies in either the integrated classroom or the specialized GATE program. Learn to teach valuable thinking skills through a variety of activities which focus on the student's actually thinking about the thought processes. Contrary to many schools of thought, both creative thinking and logical thinking can be taught and enhanced with various techniques.

Examines issues involved in identifying and meeting the needs of gifted students in the arts, including the following areas: defining artistic giftedness; the relationship of arts education to brain development and the development of critical and creative thinking skills; characteristics of the artistically gifted; identifying and evaluating artistic talent and creativity; arts program planning; developing activities for students in the visual arts, performing arts, and musical arts.

Designed for teachers serving advanced learners. Learn how to communicate with parents of gifted children about relevant issues including socio-emotional growth, academic needs, supporting instructional strategies at home, and developing partnerships with school personnel. Discuss the management of parent volunteers to develop a vibrant, differentiated program using online and traditional resources.