Title - Gifted Underachievers…

 

ARE YOU KIDDING!?!?!

 

By: Genia Flammia

PEARLS/Hawthorne School

 

Introduction-

Ok, the test scores have proved it.  You’re a gifted/talented (GT) student! But why are your grades so bad? You understand the lessons when you are in class but you can’t seem to put it all together. You are not alone! Many children who have been identified as gifted are having trouble keeping up with the academic rigor of G/T programs.  

 

  

 

Task –

Your task will be to work individually or with a partner to develop a poster which will explain the reasons why G/T students in our school are not doing well in class and what new policies should be enacted to improve the academic performance of our G/T students.  You will use the Public Policy Analyst (PPA) steps to analyze the problem and to develop policy solutions.  

 

 

Process

  1. You will work either by yourself or with a partner at a computer.
  2. Collect data: Develop a questionnaire for your peers which identifies areas of concern for struggling students (Minimum of 5 items and maximum of 10). It will be helpful to interview both struggling students and students you see are doing well in school
  3. Analyze data: select one (1) fact to create your poster. Find a common response that you feel can be helpful to G/T students. Illustrate the problem and a suggested solution.
  4. Create a Poster: On poster paper provided by your teacher. Present the information. Refer to the rubric provided for suggestions and guidelines.

 

 

Steps of the PPA-

Read the information provided in each link then complete the worksheets which are also linked below each step. What you read will help you compile the needed data.

 

1)   Define the problem

Worksheet 1-Defining the social problem

2)  Gather the evidence

            Worksheet 2-Gathering evidence of the problem

3). Identify the causes

            Worksheet 3-Identifying the cause of the problem

4). Examine an existing policy

            Worksheet 4- Evaluating existing public policies

5). Develop (2) new policy solutions

            Worksheet 5-Developing public policy solutions

 

 

Resources:

·        Underachievement from the Inside Out-

·        Hoagies' Gifted Education Page

·        How to create a questionnaire:

 

                                

 

 

Evaluation-

Your poster will be graded according to the following rubric.

Making A Poster: Poster rubric


Teacher name: Mrs. Flammia

Student(s) Name ___________________

 

CATEGORY

4

3

2

1

Required Elements

The poster includes all required elements as well as additional information.

All required elements are included on the poster.

All but 1 of the required elements are included on the poster.

Several required elements were missing.

Labels

All items of importance on the poster are clearly labeled with labels that can be read from at least 3 ft. away.

Almost all items of importance on the poster are clearly labeled with labels that can be read from at least 3 ft. away.

Many items of importance on the poster are clearly labeled with labels that can be read from at least 3 ft. away.

Labels are too small to view OR no important items were labeled.

Graphics - Relevance

All graphics are related to the topic and make it easier to understand. All borrowed graphics have a source citation.

All graphics are related to the topic and most make it easier to understand. Some borrowed graphics have a source citation.

All graphics relate to the topic. One or two borrowed graphics have a source citation.

Graphics do not relate to the topic OR several borrowed graphics do not have a source citation.

Attractiveness

The poster is exceptionally attractive in terms of design, layout, and neatness.

The poster is attractive in terms of design, layout and neatness.

The poster is acceptably attractive though it may be a bit messy.

The poster is distractingly messy or very poorly designed. It is not attractive.

Grammar

There are no grammatical/mechanical mistakes on the poster.

There are 1-2 grammatical/mechanical mistakes on the poster.

There are 3-4 grammatical/mechanical mistakes on the poster.

There are more than 4 grammatical/mechanical mistakes on the poster.

 

Date Created: 2003-07-28

Copyright. © 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 ALTec, the University of Kansas

 

 

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have done a great job using the PPA model you have successfully completed the task.  The data you have collected and the completed poster will be a motivational tool for students who struggle within gifted/talented programs.

 

 

Standards

English Language Arts

Standard 1: Language for Information and Understanding Students will listen, speak, read, and write for information and understanding. As listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas; discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.

Standard 4: Language for Social Interaction
Students will listen, speak, read, and write for social interaction. Students will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language for effective social communication with a wide variety of people. As readers and listeners, they will use the social communications of others to enrich their understanding of people and their views.

Standard 7: Interdisciplinary Problem Solving
Students will apply the knowledge and thinking skills of mathematics, science, and technology to address real-life problems and make informed decisions.