Pilot Project with Catholic Schools In Norfolk
Gifted and Talent Education: An Innovative and Collaborative Effort in the Catholic Schools in the City of Norfolk, Va The Mid-Atlantic Catholic Schools Consortium is supporting a special pilot project for four schools in the Diocese of Richmond. The project is designed to provide instruction for all children enrolled in the Catholic schools in the City of Norfolk, VA using the principles of gifted and talented instruction as all children can benefit from this pedagogical approach. Read the Press Release
Read an article in The Catholic Virginian | |  |
Project Update (February 2009) Project Purposes and Goals Participating Schools Project Description Sponsor Support
Project Update: An emphasis on pre-assessment strategies continues to be the target for classroom teachers in implementing differentiated instruction. Teachers recognize that assessment drives instruction; therefore, they are able to match instructional strategies with students’ readiness, interests and abilities. The Principals in the four participating schools reserve time at faculty meetings for journal sharing on pre-assessment techniques and outcomes. This collaborative effort has impacted the teaching and learning process throughout the schools as evidenced by the enthusiastic response of the teachers to tailor appropriate curriculum experiences that address all levels of learning. Teachers recognize that instruction must dignify and respect the learning needs of students, thus D.I. has come to be known as “dignified instruction”.
The four Principals along with the two teachers from each of the schools, known as the Cohort Teachers, have regular meetings with the educational consultants, Ann Colorado and Debbie Alberti. The purpose of these network meetings is to provide professional development for the Cohort Teachers as well as to support the Principals as the Differentiated Leaders of the project. The teachers have shared the differentiated teaching strategies demonstrating the aspects of acceleration, creativity, depth, complexity and challenge. As they apply these strategies in teaching social studies the teachers are in the process of being the trainers for other teachers. The Principals and Cohort Teachers are finalizing plans for a collaborative social studies project involving teachers and students from the four participating schools. The range of the project will include differentiated activities to target all levels of learning. The Principals have observed that the collaborative efforts within and among the schools has impacted student achievement and school improvement. Project Purposes and Goals: The program is designed to build an innovative model of collaboration among the diocesan and private schools in the City of Norfolk, VA with the purpose of strengthening and advancing each of the Catholic schools by enabling every child to benefit from the principles associated with gifted and talented instruction and curriculum. Develop a collaborative program to enhance and deliver gifted and talented instruction for all students in the four Catholic schools in the City of Norfolk, VA Demonstrate city-wide collaboration of diocesan and independent Catholic schools Strengthen the educational experiences for all children in the Catholic schools through instruction based on the principles of gifted and talented education, with emphasis on the principles, strategies, techniques and models utilized in differentiation. Increase the awareness and enhance the reputation of the four Catholic schools in Norfolk Continue to benefit from this initial pilot program and expand the opportunities for application and integration of principles, strategies and models utilized in gifted and talented education and enable future collaboration in a variety of projects and topics.
Participating Norfolk Schools: Project Description: The City of Norfolk was selected as the location for this pilot project due to the commitment of the four principals of the diocesan and independent schools to fully participate. The City of Norfolk is also typical as regards the availability, visibility and expectations for Catholic schools. A team of eight teachers (two from each of the four schools) conducted a remarkable teacher training program during the summer. In June 2008, a team of eight teachers (two from each school) attended the Summer Institute held by the Center for Gifted Education at the College of William and Mary. These teachers now serve as resource personnel for all four schools and as founding members of a planned network of gifted and talented teachers in the Norfolk Catholic schools. In August 18, 2008, more than 100 teachers and administrators from the schools participated in a city-wide professional development conference, which introduced the pilot project and prepared teachers to implement differentiated instruction in their classrooms. Following this conference, each school held a follow-up training session for its teachers during the in-service week. The goals for the first year include increasing awareness of principles, models, and strategies utilized in gifted education instruction and curriculum with the expectation that benchmarks will be set for the teachers to demonstrate the implementation of the newly acquired teaching strategies. In addition, each school will benefit from the experience of the Network, the Advisor and the school Principals. The evaluation of the first year will inform the progress and plans for subsequent years including program design, funding and evaluation. The project will be incorporated within the social studies curriculum in the pilot year. Year two will address science education while concurrently developing a unique opportunity to strengthen the teaching of religion through the application to instruction and curriculum of the principles of gifted and talented education. Information about the design and launch of this project will be shared with the local public and Catholic media to raise the awareness of the strength and availability of the four Catholic schools.
Sponsor Support This project is possible due to the generous support of The Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities, Inc.
For more information, contact Kay Kane, MACSC Program Associate, midatlanticcsc@gmail.com or call the Consortium office at 410-280-0142 | 
