Rogers Parents' Mtg. Today on GATE vs. Accelerated

Belmont Park October 11, 2011 at 12:10 pm

There is not a single child, GATE identified or not, that would not benefit from the instruction intended for the GATE program. In order to truly understand the GATE program, anyone can attend the GATE meetings lead by Wendy Hayes Ebright at LBUSD. I can tell you from personal experience it is a real eye opener! The trick is getting our teachers to attend the free trainings for certification and actually teach GATE, accelerated, whatever you choose to call it, the way it was truly intended. As far as our children not being challenged in school.....that's because the bar is not set very high and that goes for the entire state of California and nationally. Oh, and did I say, there isn't a single child, GATE identified or not, that would not benefit from the GATE instruction.

Belmont Park October 11, 2011 at 12:38 pm

Correction....meant internationally, not nationally. Finland and South Korea are at the top. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8601207.stm

Jacqui Viale October 12, 2011 at 07:10 pm

I agree with you 100%, every child could benefit from differentiated instruction that allows for variation in learning modes, and I think that is basically what the "GATE" classes are supposed to do, along with going deeper into curriculum for more profound understanding.

Nancy Wride (Editor) October 12, 2011 at 07:32 pm

I was told yesterday that even in GATE classes in elementary, they are taught differentially, because some students are crazy good at math but weak in reading, etc. Not sure everyone understands that. My child was almost alone in 1st grade due teacher needing to work with struggling readers. But then, he didn't so much need help.

kat October 16, 2011 at 10:28 am

I was actually surprised to hear there was a meeting, all of that information is clearly presented when you are middle school shopping in the public school arena. I interpreted this as some parents being uncomfortable or fearful with the word "integration" which is really what a middle school education is all about. I hope the meeting put to rest their fears of their children possibly brushing up against those that might just be "Proficient" (god forbid) in their classes. And also not sure how parents could have access to the grade reports of other students in their child's class?!?...How do they know whether the other students are GATE of Accelerated, that information should be private!!!....So again, my interpretation is that several of these parents whose children have been coddled and cocooned in their GATE classes at elementary should relax a little and let the school do what it does best, the children will sink or swim in their environment and it will not be because there may be one or two under performers in the class...Those meeting pushers really need to relax...i think they were pushing the "R" word in this segregation request.