Students identified as gifted and whose participation has received parental consent shall receive at least five segments per week (or the yearly equivalent) of gifted education services, using one of the approved models described in Appendix A of the Georgia Department of Education Resource Manual for Gifted Education Services.
We use the Cluster Classroom, Collaborative model, and the Resource model at Hesse. We exceed the "segments per week" requirement. All elementary gifted students are placed in a cluster classroom, which means that the teacher has her gifted certification and that less than half of the class is identified gifted. This means that your child's teacher is providing differentiation in the area of your child's strength for two segments daily. This is our primary service model. We also provide resource services for your child. In this model, students are pulled out of their classroom for one-two segments, more than one day a week for enrichment.
The Middle School services are provided through Cluster Classrooms (Differentiation in classrooms with gifted endorsed teachers), Advanced Content Courses (Math, ELA, and Spanish), and Resource Pull-out (AP) classes.
Meet the Gifted Resource Teachers at Hesse!
One of the services your child will receive at Hesse is Resource pull-out class. The Gifted Specialist and the grade level(s) she works with this SY20-21 are listed below.
Mrs. Regina DeWalt: LEAD Gifted Specialist, Kindergarten and Third Grade
Mrs. Megan Coomer: First and Second Grades
Mrs. Myra Chisholm: Third and Fifth Grades
Mrs. Lindsay Buck: Fourth Grade
Mrs. Angela Shiver: Sixth and Eighth Grades, Middle Grades (6th)- Compacted Math
Mrs. Becky Bethel: Fifth Grade, Middle Grades (7th)- Adv Content Math
Mrs. Lila Duke: Seventh Grade
Your child will be pulled out of their homeroom class for one or two segments a day for three to five days a week, depending on their grade level. Your child's resource teacher will notify you of their schedule. Teachers are required to send home newsletters at the end of each marking period with progress reports. These newsletters will outline what activities your child has been working on and will be participating in with the resource teacher for the marking period. Grade levels that have more than one resource teacher serving them will switch teachers during the year, either at the end of a marking period or semester. You will be notified of the switch when it occurs.
Mrs. Regina DeWalt: LEAD Gifted Specialist, Kindergarten and Third Grade
Mrs. Megan Coomer: First and Second Grades
Mrs. Myra Chisholm: Third and Fifth Grades
Mrs. Lindsay Buck: Fourth Grade
Mrs. Angela Shiver: Sixth and Eighth Grades, Middle Grades (6th)- Compacted Math
Mrs. Becky Bethel: Fifth Grade, Middle Grades (7th)- Adv Content Math
Mrs. Lila Duke: Seventh Grade
Your child will be pulled out of their homeroom class for one or two segments a day for three to five days a week, depending on their grade level. Your child's resource teacher will notify you of their schedule. Teachers are required to send home newsletters at the end of each marking period with progress reports. These newsletters will outline what activities your child has been working on and will be participating in with the resource teacher for the marking period. Grade levels that have more than one resource teacher serving them will switch teachers during the year, either at the end of a marking period or semester. You will be notified of the switch when it occurs.
The Cluster Classroom
Students who are identified as gifted are clustered together in a homeroom with a diverse population of students and a teacher specially trained to enrich their instruction. Cluster teachers use a variety of effective classroom practice strategies including, flexible grouping and differentiation of content, process, and product to meet the needs of their gifted students. Within this cluster classroom your child will receive instruction that is differentiated based on his/her strengths. You should refer to the Cluster Contract that was created for your child for this school year to see specifically what opportunities the teacher will be providing to your child. Students are given opportunities to complete long term projects involving research, work at a faster pace, have the curriculum compacted, and complete enrichment activities.
What is Enrichment? You'll hear this word often in relationship to learning opportunities your child will receive. Enrichment activities expand on students' learning in ways that differ from the methods used during the school day. They are often interactive and project-focused. They enhance a student's education by bringing new concepts to light or by using old concepts in new ways. These activities are fun for the student while also imparting knowledge. Enrichment activities allow participants to apply knowledge and skills stressed in school to real-life experiences. Enrichment can be provided to a whole class, to small groups or to individuals.