Cassingham Elementary GATE

Ms. Chris Amspaugh, Gifted Intervention Specialist
Cassingham GATE Home
Courses and Programs
GATE Language Arts
Accelerated Transitions Math
Homework Calendars and Downloads
Weekly Schedule
Technology in the Classroom
Cool Resources for Kids
Resources for Parents and Teachers
Contact Information
Sakai (Online Classrooms)

Gate Courses and Programs

GATE Language Arts
Gate Language Arts classes are offered to students in grades 4-8 who meet state gifted identifiication criteria in BOTH Superior Cognitive Ability AND Reading/Language Ability. At Cassingham, GATE LA classes replace the homeroom Language Arts curriculum for these students, who attend class in Ms. Amspaugh's classroom. Classes generally meet for at least 4.5 hours per week.

GATE Language Arts is an advanced Language Arts course intended to meet the unique needs of cognitively gifted students who also demonstrate high reading and writing achievement. Therefore, students MUST meet identification criteria for both Superior Cognitive Ability and Reading/Language in order to participate.

GATE LA curriculum units were developed across the district to tie together district and state curriculum standards with best practices in gifted education. Students in GATE may experience learning at a faster pace, at deeper and more complex levels, using materials and methods which may be different from the regular classroom. Whenever possible, GATE LA units will provide opportunities to make connections to other content areas, as well as to vital process skills and tools such as technology.

IB/PYP Collaboration and Consultation
The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme is the framework around which all instruction in our school is developed and delivered. A key philosophy of the IB/PYP is the idea that learning should be transdisciplinary in nature, allowing students to make connections across all disciplines. To support this philosophy, Ms. Amspaugh regularly meets with grade-level teachers to collaborate on unit planning. As a result, units are designed to have opportunities for challenge and enrichment built-in throughout each of the applicable content areas. At various times throughout the year, Ms. Amspaugh also teams with teachers within their classrooms in order to provide additional enrichment support. The effects of this collaboration also extend to GATE pullout classes. Throughout the year, GATE students will have many occasions where the lessons and activities in the GATE classroom connect directly to these IB units.

Math Acceleration
While GATE Math meets the needs of many of our talented math students, some students need even more challenge. In cases where students have demonstrated mastery of at least 75% of the curriculum that is one year above their current math placement, math acceleration may be appropriate. Students who are accelerated in math attend their daily math classes with a different grade-level. This takes place during Cassingham's common math time, which allows students to attend the class they need without missing other content in their regular classroom. Generally, these students are placed within a regular math class in their math grade level. However, depending on class sizes, it may be necessary to create a separate math class to accommodate these students. Either way, students' math grades will come from their math teacher rather than from their homeroom teacher. All students who meet state gifted identification criteria in Math are screened for acceleration each spring, using the Everyday Math End-of-Year Assessment for the grade one year above their current math level. In rare cases, some accelerated students may need to accelerate a second time. Math acceleration is a long term commitment. Once accelerated, students continue on that track throughout the sequence of mathematics courses offered in our district. This means that students who are accelerated to 7th or 8th grade for math may attend their math class at Bexley Middle School or another location determined by the district, returning to Cassingham for the remainder of the school day. In years where there are a number of accelerated students needing 7th grade math, the district may offer a separate section within one of the elementary buildings.

Accelerated Transitions Math
In the 2011-2012 school year, students who are accelerated to 7th grade math will participate in a separate section of the class. Although the class is held at Cassingham and taught by Ms. Amspaugh, instruction is based on the same curriculum, materials, and standards as those used for Honors Transitions Math at Bexley Middle School.

Battle of the Books
The Battle of the Books (BOB) is an In-the-Know-style competition available to all interested students in select grades. Participating students read a pre-selected list of books, attend regular book discussion meetings, and prepare to answer questions about the books. Teams across our district compete in a Bexley BOB Scrimmage, and winning teams may qualify to go on to compete at the Franklin County Battle of the Books competition. Battle of the Books teams are led by parent coaches who volunteer to read books, lead discussions, and develop practice quiz questions about the books. Other parents support the team by hosting meetings, providing snacks, arranging the district scrimmage, and printing team t-shirts. BOB makes a great way for families to enjoy time and great books together. Any parents interested in helping with BOB should contact Ms. Amspaugh for information (chris.amspaugh@bexleyschools.org).

Cassingham teams have participated in BOB since 2005, with much success:

Fifth grade BOB:

Sixth grade BOB:

Ohio Math League Contest
All Cassingham students in grades 4, 5, and 6 participate in the Ohio Math League Contest each spring. The contest consists of a 30-minute timed test which includes 30-40 problems. The problems are meant to be very difficult, and all students should be proud of their efforts. The top-scoring students in each grade are recognized with certificates presented at the end-of-year awards assembly.