Creating Awareness
This website is dedicated to informing the public about the gifted program at Ohio Distance and Electronic Learning Academy, providing information about the nature and needs of gifted learners, looking at best practices in gifted education, and detailing the unique opportunities we provide for gifted learners at OHDELA.
OHDELA's Gifted Program
The gifted program at OHDELA services students grades 3 through 9 and provides consultation for teachers working with gifted and high achieving students at all grade levels, K - 12 . The gifted coordinator, Deanne Spencer, consults with parents, teachers, and programs for gifted students at OHDELA. A variety of programming options are provided for gifted students including Project Based Learning, differentiation, advanced investigations, in-depth research, gifted competitions, quicker pacing of material, and subject acceleration when appropriate. Students will have opportunities to utilize a variety of web 2.0 technology which will help them to develop their 21st century skills. Students will have the opportunity to collaborate with peers of like intellect on driving questions and projects designed to engage and motivate gifted learners.
OHDELA Gifted Definition
OHDELA Definition of Gifted Learners Gifed students at OHDELA are those who have displayed evidence of high achievement capability compared with age-mates in areas such as intellectual, creative, visual or performing arts, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities.
Adapted from the NAGC Federal Definition of Gifted and Talented.
Adapted from the NAGC Federal Definition of Gifted and Talented.
Ohio Department of Education Gifted Identification Guidelines
Students in Ohio may be identified in the following areas: superior cognitive ability, creative thinking ability, specific academic ability, visual or performing arts ability. Students may be identified in a "Specific academic ability field" which includes one or more of the following areas of instruction:
(a) Mathematics; (b) Science; (c) Reading, writing, or a combination of these skills; and/or (d) Social studies by scoring at or above the 95th percentile at the national level on an approved individual or group standardized achievement test of specific academic ability in that field. A child may be identified as gifted in more than one specific academic ability field.For specific guidelines on how students are identified as gifted please visit the ODE website at http://education.ohio.gov/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=503
(a) Mathematics; (b) Science; (c) Reading, writing, or a combination of these skills; and/or (d) Social studies by scoring at or above the 95th percentile at the national level on an approved individual or group standardized achievement test of specific academic ability in that field. A child may be identified as gifted in more than one specific academic ability field.
Meeting the Needs of Gifted Learners
At OHDELA we strive to meet the needs of gifted learners in a variety of ways. Differentiation of curriculum, cluster grouping, considering student readiness, interests, and learning profile, quicker pacing of material, and offering content, process, and product options are some of the types of gifted programming we offer. Students have the opportunity to work in groups with students of like intellect in which they contemplate higher level thinking questions, work together to solve problems, and present their products to the group in a supportive and positive atmosphere. Students love the smaller group setting in which they are able to communicate with each other, express ideas, and connect on a more personal level with their academic peers.