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	ss Gifted education has had a long history of support in the South Windsor Public Schools. In August of 2003, South Windsor's gifted program, formerly known as "South Windsor Education Project Talent" (SWEPT), was revamped to meet the following criteria as set forth by the Board of Education: Provide a cost-effective program that addresses the needs of and expands services to identified gifted and talented students. During the spring/summer of 2003, a committee of South Windsor residents, educators, and school district administrators met to identify and develop an overlaying concept that would serve as a blueprint for the newly named EXCEL gifted and talented program. COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES Eliminate the need for a pullout program for identified gifted students. Provide program support to classroom teachers so that the needs of gifted and talented students are addressed through differentiation of instruction. Increase the number of students served by addressing the multiple intelligence needs of all students. CONCEPT Meet the needs of identified gifted and talented students through the application of multiple intelligence concepts and principles. Student needs would be met through differentiation of instruction. Differentiation of instruction includes: Using appropriate diagnostic tools in identifing student needs to determine meaningful differences among students. Compacting instruction to accelerate learning by providing open-ended activities and assignments with options, alternatives, and choices for students. Using a variety of flexible, small-group instructional strategies. Howard Gardner's conception of intelligence serves as the framework in support of differentiation of instruction. Currently, one EXCEL teacher at Timothy Edwards Middle School coordinates and provides instruction to teaching staff and for various programs for students in grades four through eighth. Please visit the "What's Happening" sidebar link to learn more about how the program is striving to meet its goals. For further information, please contact: Mr. David C. Anderson (860) 648-5030, ext: 307 or at: danderson@swindsor.k12.ct.us

Gifted education has had a long history of support in the South Windsor Public Schools. In August of 2003, South Windsor's gifted program, formerly known as "South Windsor Education Project Talent" (SWEPT), was revamped to meet the following criteria as set forth by the Board of Education:

Provide a cost-effective program that addresses the needs of and expands services to identified gifted and talented students.

During the spring/summer of 2003, a committee of South Windsor residents, educators, and school district administrators met to identify and develop an overlaying concept that would serve as a blueprint for the newly named EXCEL gifted and talented program.

COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES

Eliminate the need for a pullout program for identified gifted students.
Provide program support to classroom teachers so that the needs of gifted and talented students are addressed through differentiation of instruction.
Increase the number of students served by addressing the multiple intelligence needs of all students.

CONCEPT

Meet the needs of identified gifted and talented students through the application of multiple intelligence concepts and principles. Student needs would be met through differentiation of instruction. Differentiation of instruction includes:

Using appropriate diagnostic tools in identifing student needs to determine meaningful differences among students.
Compacting instruction to accelerate learning by providing open-ended activities and assignments with options, alternatives, and choices for students.
Using a variety of flexible, small-group instructional strategies.

Howard Gardner's conception of intelligence serves as the framework in support of differentiation of instruction. Currently, one EXCEL teacher at Timothy Edwards Middle School coordinates and provides instruction to teaching staff and for various programs for students in grades four through eighth. Please visit the "What's Happening" sidebar link to learn more about how the program is striving to meet its goals.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. David C. Anderson

(860) 648-5030, ext: 307

or at: danderson@swindsor.k12.ct.us