Gifted Resource Center opened at Birchland Park

Date: 2/23/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



EAST LONGMEADOW -- Deborah Barry, the instructor of the gifted and talented program at Mapleshade School, estimates that between five and 10 percent of students in the East Longmeadow Public Schools have been identified as gifted or talented.

"We're constantly growing and improving our program," Barry said. "We're always looking at assessments, looking at how students learn."

To help teachers aid their gifted or talented students, the school district has established a Gifted Resource Center (GRC) at Birchland Park Middle School. The center features six computers all equipped with Renzulli Learning software and a large bookshelf full of resource materials.

"This is a professional development resource center for teachers that offers differentiation [of learning] for all kids, not just gifted and talented," Barry explained. "It's for everyone."

Dr. Edward Costa, Superintendent of Schools, said the district applied for a Regional Resource Grant from the state's Department of Education last July which would provide the funds for the center. The district was notified in October that it was one of four grant winners in the state.

East Longmeadow will be serving as the GRC for Western Massachusetts, while Framingham will serve central Massachusetts, Triton will serve the Boston area and Barnstable will serve the Cape.

Thanks to the grant and sponsorship by Renzulli Learning, the GRC did not cost the school district one cent, according to Costa.

He added that the mission of the grant is to train teachers in methodology, assessments and pedagogy in teaching children with gifts and talents.

"This matches a philosophy in East Longmeadow that all students have gifts and talents," Costa said. "They just emerge on different days or different years in different kids."

Jackie Cheney, Regional Learning Consultant with Renzulli Learning, said the company decided to partner with the East Longmeadow Public Schools for the GRC because the district is one of their oldest and most proficient clients.

"Renzulli is often tied to gifted and talented programs, but it's for everyone with passion, strength and interest," Cheney said. "We try to tap into that at a young age...and get [students] more engaged in school."

Barry explained that the Renzulli Profiler looks at how students learn so that teachers may instruct them in a way that fits each student best.

"Kids need to know their channels," Barry stated.

She added that she is "thrilled about the center" and the opportunity to see so many chances to grow education with children.

"It's a dream come true," Costa said.

Renzulli Learning puts students in touch with engaging, individualized resources specially chosen for their interest areas and learning styles. To learn more about the software, visit www.renzullilearning.com.