Gifted Enrichment Update

• Permission To Participate Form (ACTION REQUESTED)
• Gifted Communications, Room Parent & Volunteers
• Information for 6th Graders & Parents
• Fall Gifted Testing
• Enrichment Pullout Groups
• NEW Accelerated Math Program
• Design Lab for 9-12
• New Room! New Programs!
• Gifted Education 101
• Great Sites to Check Out
  
• TEMOTAD :-)
  

I have started pulling all students that are identified as gifted by the State of Ohio for enrichment with me in room 1115. If you would like your child to continue with the enrichment opportunities, I will need your permission.

Please complete a different form for each child you are granting permission to participate in the gifted program. By granting permission, you are agreeing to have your child receive regular, ongoing enrichment opportunities and gifted services during the regular school day and year as deemed appropriate to meet their academic and affective needs.

Because students will be pulled out of their regular classrooms and will miss some academic coursework, parental permission must be granted. Students will be expected to make up missed work or assignments, but should not be penalized for missing class.

ACTION REQUESTED!!!

I need updated contact information for all parents/guardians of students that are identified as gifted at PRM. Please complete the Google form below to update your information and communication preferences.

Emily Woerner is our PRM Room Parent for this year. Emily will coordinate communications, events and volunteers for our program. If you would like to be included in Emily's communications, please indicate it on the PRM Gifted & Enrichment Communications Form below.

Please review the information provided below. It includes information about high school choices, admission criteria, gifted testing, and the tests 6th graders will take during October.

All second and sixth grade students are screened each year for possible gifted identification in the areas of superior cognitive ability, reading, and math.

CPS administers the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) to screen for superior cognitive ability.

The CogAT measures reasoning ability* in three domains, Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal.

*Ability, also called aptitude or student potential for learning, provides insight into students’ readiness to demonstrate creative problem-solving skills and learn in different situations and learning environments.

For more information about the CogAT, check out the video below.

CPS uses various assessment instruments to test for giftedness in specific academic areas.

MAP, i-Ready, and the Iowa Assessments are approved by the State of Ohio for gifted identification in Reading and Math. Students in grades 2-6 who score at or above the 95th percentile on a reading or math assessment will be identified as gifted.

There are more than 100 students at PRM identified as gifted, and that number will grow to over 120 after we complete the Fall testing. My goal is to be able to work with every single PRM student on a regular basis, no matter what their area(s) of identification. I have posted my program below to give you an idea of the frequency that I might be pulling your student. If you are not sure when your student will be pulled to work with me, please reach out to me at bonfiej@cpsboe.k12.oh.us

Superior Cognitive Ability Groups

1st grade - Every Wednesday

3rd grade - Every Tuesday or Wednesday

4th grade - Every Monday and Wednesday

5th grade - Every Tuesday and Thursday

6th grade - Every Tuesday and Thursday

Creative Thinkers/DesignLAB

3rd grade - Fridays, Weeks 2 and 4

4th grade - Fridays, Weeks 1 and 3 (during semester 1)

5th grade - Fridays, Weeks 2 and 4 (during semester 1)

6th grade - Fridays, Weeks 2 and 4 (during semester 1)

Math, ELA, Science, Social Studies, Performing Arts (musical or visual)

Frequency of participation will vary based on area of identification, but students should see me at least once or twice a month for enrichment.

3rd grade - Thursdays

4th grade - Fridays

5th grade - Fridays

6th grade - Wednesdays

7th Grade Accelerated Math

Every day.

We are expanding our gifted services to include accelerated math!

In the 6-9 Montessori setting, informal math acceleration can occur naturally for first and second grade students but it becomes difficult to meet the needs of a third grader who is performing consistently above grade level. Formal math acceleration is most often the best option to meet the needs of these students. Starting this year, third grade students participating in the acceleration program will take fourth grade math with our Math Specialist, Ms. Alexa Fulmer in a daily 40 minute pullout class. Ms. Alexa will be the math teacher of record for these students, and will be responsible for providing math lessons, grades, and differentiation as needed. These students will take the fourth grade Math OST in the spring.

When these students rise to the 9-12 level classrooms, they will take fifth grade math as fourth graders, and sixth grade math as fifth graders. In sixth grade they will be enrolled in the middle school math class 7AA which is an accelerated math class covering both 7th and 8th grade math. The 7AA math class is taught by me in our gifted & enrichment room.

Eligibility for the program is determined through scores on a state mandated rubric, the Iowa Acceleration Scale. This instrument evaluates academic achievement in math, participation, attendance, academic self-concept, and completion of assigned work on time to a high standard.

A student can be referred for math acceleration at any time during the school year. If you are interested in learning more about math acceleration please reach out to me.

Push Play is the theme for the 2025 DesignLAB competition. I am looking forward to a terrific year with our 9-12 level creative thinkers as we return to the regional competition. More information will be coming in November.

We have a beautiful new space for our gifted and enrichment program! This space will allow me to build the program that I have dreamed of for the past ten years. I am in the process of redesigning my curriculums and overall program model, so it will take a bit of time for all the pieces to fall into place. Once I have it worked out, we will have a program that will set standards of excellence for gifted programs in a Montessori setting.

In Ohio, public school districts are required to identify students in grades K-12 for gifted identification in the following areas:

• Superior Cognitive Ability
• Creative Thinking Ability
• Specific Academic Ability - Reading
• Specific Academic Ability - Math
• Specific Academic Ability - Science
• Specific Academic Ability - Social Studies
• Performing Musical Arts: Instrumental
• Performing Musical Arts: Vocal
• Performing Visual Arts
• Performing Arts: Dance
• Performing Arts: Drama

Unfortunately, school districts are not required to provide any form of service or enrichment to those identified students. In most cases, it is the responsibility of the classroom teachers or fine arts specialists to provide differentiation or enrichment opportunities to meet the needs of our gifted students during the school day.

Education Standards for the Classroom

Educators are expected to follow the state learning standards for the grades and content they teach. At PRM, our teachers also follow a Montessori curriculum which often provides gifted students the opportunity to explore content and express their understanding in unique and creative ways.

Gifted Education Standards for Enrichment

I use the National Standards for Gifted Education to develop my gifted and enrichment programming. These standards focus on creating and providing learning environments that encourage awareness and understanding of interests, strengths and needs, along with the development of cognitive, social, emotional, and psychosocial skills.

Gifted & Enrichment Pullout Groups

Students are pulled out of their regular classrooms for enrichment activities and gifted services. Some groups meet weekly, some monthly, or quarterly. Groupings and schedules are determined based on grade levels, area(s) of gifted identification, and need.

Superior Cognitive Ability

Students identified as gifted in Superior Cognitive Ability have unique characteristics and needs, often requiring additional support to fully develop their talent potential. Enrichment options and expectations are tailored to meet the specific needs of each student.

I am so happy to be torturing, er, I mean working with the amazing students, staff, and families of Pleasant Ridge Montessori. I consider it a great honor to be given the opportunity to enrich the lives of this community and to help guide our future scholars, leaders, and creatives.

Since 1999, I have worked with more than 2000 gifted students in grades K through 8 in various public school settings.

Email: bonfiej@cpsboe.k12.oh.us

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