GATE Certification Syllabus

Brain Based Learning

• What we know about brain research and how it related to the teaching of gifted students.
  
• What does brain-compatible learning look like. What does a brain-based classroom look like?
  
• What we know about intelligence and how it relates to all students.


Who are the Gifted
• Characteristics of the Gifted
  
• Gifted vs High Achievers
  
• IQ test and what they measure and what they don't measure
  
• The Three P's of Identification: Potential, Performance, and Personality (Characteristic Behaviors)


The Four Areas of Differentiation Defined
• Acceleration and Pacing
  
• Depth
  
• Complexity
  
• Novelty


Interdisciplinary Thematic Instruction
• Teaching with themes
  
• Using themes with content
  
• Generalizations


The Icons of Depth and Complexity
• The Javitts Grant and the work of Dr. Sandra Kaplan
  
• Understanding the Icons of how they work with content
  
• Creating lessons that use the Icons (Level 1 and Level 2 questions)


Questioning Strategies
• Integrating Bloom's Taxonomy with the Four Components of Differentiation
  
• The Three Types of Analytical Thinking
  Classification
  Structural
  Operation
• Socratic Seminars and how to conduct them
  
• Moral Dilemmas
  
• Concept Development Lessons
  Concept Attainment
  Concept Formation (TABA)
• Synectics and teaching metaphorical thinking (middle schools and above)


Creativity
• The Torrance Test of Creativity
  
• The Rand Corporation creativity activity
  
• The neurology of creativity
  
• Relating creativity to a standards-based GATE curriculum


Teaching Research Skills and Methods
• The Scholarly Pursuits
  
• Defining and teaching self-directed study skills
  
• Teaching students how to conduct research
  
• Relating research to student projects
  


Characteristics of Gifted Students
• Research on Under-performing GATE students: What teachers can do.
• Giftedness and Poverty - "Behind the Mask"
  
• Case Study on John - Strategies to work with the Systems Challenged Gifted
  
• Check sheet on Characteristics of GATE students
  
• The Qualities of Intellectualism and how to nurture them in your classroom
  
• Parenting Gifted Students; plus a pamphlet you can reproduce for your parents.


Identification of GATE Students in Your District
• The procedures and practices to identify students in your district (This segment is usually presented by the GATE Coordinator from your district)


The Thirteen Principles of Differentiation
• Participants create a unit of study based upon these thirteen principles
  
• Defining the characteristics of a good project for GATE students
  
• Sharing student work and projects in grad-level groups. Sample projects will be shared.


Final Examination
• A test that is taken in small groups covering the entire six days of content.