Avondale School District Gifted and Talented Classroom designed for non-traditional learners

Avondale School District will open the first classroom in Oakland County designed entirely for the gifted learner at the onset of the 2017-2018 school year. Developed to meet the educational needs of non-traditional students, the classroom expands on Avondale’s implementation of District-wide teaching and learning strategies like Project Based Learning (PBL) and Design Thinking. “The gifted and talented classroom setting is an opportunity to add breadth to the depth of student learning through PBL and Design Thinking,” said Avondale Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Carmen Kennedy. “The structure of the classroom is such that the teacher will guide students to take curriculum content to the next level at their own pace allowing for that added breadth,” she added.

The classroom, intentionally created as a multi-age 3rd/4th grade, brings together students as intellectual peers rather than age peers and supports students at the level they’re learning at. In addition, because non-traditional students often respond to classmates who share similar intellect in a way that cultivates faster understanding of content, peers have opportunity to challenge each other to advance their thinking. “The ability of students to challenge each other is a big part of learning in this environment,” said Kennedy, “its peer teaching at its best and most powerful.”

When designing the program, Avondale School District administrators visited gifted and talented programs offered around the state and worked with a network of homeschool parents whose children are often times non-traditional learners. “We had a lot of input into developing student selection and staff selection criteria,” Kennedy explained, “the success of the students is dependent upon appropriate placement into the program and then of course the selection of staff has to hit the mark.” Equal to the importance of student and staff selection was the decision to house the program at Woodland Elementary.

Located in Troy on the border of Rochester Hills, the design of the Woodland Elementary school building, with classrooms adjoining large group instruction areas, makes it possible for students on various learning paths to coexist in an area still manageable by staff. Housing the program in an elementary school affords the students interaction with their age peers during lunch and recess as well as during building-wide activities and events. Students can also join after-school clubs as part of the Woodland community. “It’s the perfect school for this group of learners,” said Kennedy, adding that it’s also a convenient location for families living outside Avondale who want to participate in the program through Schools of Choice. “This is a great way to meet the needs of a unique group of students in and outside of Avondale.”

Parents can learn more about the Avondale School District Gifted and Talented Program at one of two informational nights scheduled for December 6 and December 13 at 6:30 pm at Woodland Elementary, 6465 Livernois, Troy, 48098. If parents have questions, they can contact Avondale School District Assistant Superintendent, Martin Alwardt at 248-537-6015.