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                                                                                                                       February 2010

 

Hello, Educators Guild Members!

Now that Spring semester is underway, you are probably thinking of ways to continuously improve student achievement. One cost effective option you may want to consider is ability grouping, also referred to as clustering.  According to Best practices of schools that nurture excellence, “ability grouping involves providing instruction to select groups of students with similar abilities. This approach sometimes is rejected as contrary to mainstreaming and the idea of "least restrictive environment." This should be clarified, because ability grouping does not restrict any individual based on disability and, in fact, provides a less restrictive environment for high-achievers.”

 

While there is a lot of opposition to ability grouping, research shows this option is beneficial for gifted students.  For more information regarding the benefits, here are some links:

An Analysis of the Research on Ability Grouping: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives

The Social and Emotional Development of Gifted Children: What We Know

Ability Grouping: Answers to Common Questions

Continuing the discussion on ability grouping

 

 

A mind once stretched by a new idea never regains its original dimensions.

~ Anonymous

 

 

MYTH BOX

Myth: 

 Gifted students make everyone else in the class smarter by providing a role model or a challenge  


 

 In reality, average or below-average students do not look to the gifted students in the class as role models. They are more likely to model their behavior on those who have similar capabilities and are coping well in school. Seeing a student at a similar performance level succeed motivates students because it adds to their own sense of ability. Watching or relying on someone who is expected to succeed does little to increase a struggling student’s sense of self-confidence. (National Association for Gifted Children, “Common Gifted Education Myths,” http://www.nagc.org/commonmyths.aspx#teachers_challenge_all)

 

 

 

 

THINK Summer InstituteDavidson Institute Updates

 

2010 THINK Summer Institute Applications Available                                                    

Next application deadline February 24, 2010

To download an application or to learn more about THINK, please click here. 

 

Davidson Young Scholar Applications Available

If you would like to learn more about the Young Scholars Program, or if you would like to download an application, click here.

2010 Davidson Fellows Scholarship Applications Available

Applications due March 3, 2010

For more information, or to download an application, please visit the Davidson Fellows website.
 

Davidson Academy of Nevada 2010-2011 School Year

Applications Available

Extended application deadline: May 21

For more information, please visit the Davidson Academy website or feel free to check out the upcoming tour dates here.    

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Davidson Institute’s Educators Guild

9665 Gateway Drive, Suite B, Reno, Nevada 89521
Phone: 775-852-3483 Fax: 775-852-2184
Email: edguild@davidsongifted.org     Web: www.davidsongifted.org/edguild/
Please visit http://www.davidsongifted.org/

 

Visit the Davidson Institute's Educators Guild Newsletter archive page.

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