Three fundamental differences distinguish the gifted from more typical learners: learning at faster rates; finding, solving, and acting on problems more readily; and manipulating abstract ideas/making connections more easily.
(VanTassel-Baska, J. and Stambaugh, T., 2006).
1. What is the Academy’s Curriculum?
In many schools, ‘curriculum’ may be defined as the set of purchased materials used by teachers to enable students to meet Colorado content standards. At AcademyACL, the “curriculum” is AcademyACL’s specific, intentional plan to create an engaging, supportive and challenging learning environment that consistently graduates students who meet and surpass Colorado standards by nurturing their individual needs and passions. This curriculum includes content, instructional methodologies, and assessment based on five categories of best practices in gifted education, general education, and brain development studies aligned with Colorado and national content standards.
Our Curriculum…
Teachers at the Academy will use a variety of supplementary materials and Academy-designed materials to meet the needs of their students, all organized around the Integrated Curriculum Model.
Our Curriculum…
- Capitalizes on student interest & builds upon standards.
- Focuses on critical, logical, & creative thinking skills.
- Uses thematic learning & integrated subjects, and includes visual-spatial techniques.
- Joins the arts, language, & technology to core subjects.
- Supports daily physical activity & good nutrition for critical brain development.
Teachers at the Academy will use a variety of supplementary materials and Academy-designed materials to meet the needs of their students, all organized around the Integrated Curriculum Model.
2. What is the Integrated Curriculum Model?
AcademyACL will use the three-fold Integrated Curriculum Model (ICM) of advanced academic content guided by Colorado standards-based pre-assessments; differentiated process and product with authentic student research; and universal themes such as systems, patterns, and change to connect ideas throughout the core and encore (‘specials’) disciplines school-wide. This is a research-based model used extensively in the College of William and Mary (W&M) curriculum units.
Advanced content is used for all students, at increasing levels of complexity, depth, and acceleration. Ideas are connected across the program by universal themes (such as systems, patterns, and change) so that core and encore (‘specials’) classes complement and reinforce each other to increase student learning. The learning process and product is tailored to each child: AACL uses standards-based pre-assessments and ongoing evaluations of each child to tailor and re-tailor materials and teaching to meet each child’s needs and develop each child’s unique potential.
Advanced content is used for all students, at increasing levels of complexity, depth, and acceleration. Ideas are connected across the program by universal themes (such as systems, patterns, and change) so that core and encore (‘specials’) classes complement and reinforce each other to increase student learning. The learning process and product is tailored to each child: AACL uses standards-based pre-assessments and ongoing evaluations of each child to tailor and re-tailor materials and teaching to meet each child’s needs and develop each child’s unique potential.
3. What supplementary materials will teachers use?
AcademyACL teachers will have a checklist of the skills and content required for student-mastery at each level of instruction, and, in addition to Academy-designed materials, will have a variety of supplementary materials to use. These materials may include published material such as Project M3 Math from William & Mary, Everyday Math, Math Their Way, and Singapore Math; Michael Clay Thompson’s grammar, poetry, and language guides; language arts and literature units from William & Mary; Junior Great Books; and science and social studies units from William & Mary and videos from The Futures Channel, National Geographic, and other visual media. The focus on all supplementary materials will be using high-quality, research-based units that are designed for advanced learning, creative and complex thinking, and project-based instruction that can be adapted according to the Integrated Curriculum Model.
4. How will teachers differentiate curriculum?
Students will be able to transfer between divisions and classrooms easily as needed, and have Personal Learning Plans.
