The purpose of Working on Gifted Issues (WOGI) as
defined in the Florida State Board of Education Rules Pertaining to Special
Programs – the Challenge Grant Program for the Gifted – is to encourage public
schools to implement exemplary programs which challenge gifted students.
Emphasis is placed on the following:
- improving the quality of existing programs
- initiating a model or demonstration program
- expanding student participation in existing programs
Funding for this grant is provided by the Florida
Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services.
WOGI Project for 2008-09
The 2008-2009 WOGI Project
will continue to research effective practices and support districts as they
plan, develop, and implement screening strategies aimed at reducing
disproportionality. The initiatives for
2008-2009 include:
1. Disproportionality: address under-representation of special populations
in gifted programs by establishing,
monitoring, and providing support for pilot programs designed to address
disproportionality and the role that the screening process plays;
2. Support for Parents: provide a forum for
developing parental awareness of common
issues related to parenting students who are gifted;
3. Gifted Workgroup: establish a state-wide
gifted advisory work group to study
gifted issues and make recommendations for appropriate services for students
who gifted;
4. Support for Teachers: work on revisions to update the endorsement modules
and their dissemination, continue development of new courses for online
endorsement and continuation of the existing courses, provide continued
training as well as technical assistance and development of materials for
implementation of the state Frameworks for
gifted;
5. Support for District
Programs for Students who are Gifted: finalize the gifted
handbook and its dissemination; host 5 regional meetings for coordinators of
gifted programs, and host a Spring Institute focused on professional
development for district personnel who work with gifted students; and
6. Support for Teacher Preparation Programs: provide 7 regional trainings for those who teach the
endorsement courses and will continue the communication established with
teacher training programs at the university level.
The project deliverables
include:
· Question and
Answer link for parents placed on the WOGI Web site
· CD Rom/training
module of the updated Curriculum for
Gifted Learners
· On line course for
Theory and Development of Creativity for
the Gifted
· On line course
for Guidance and Counseling for the
Gifted
· Report and/or
development of additional support materials needed for implementing the Frameworks.
· Gifted Handbook.
Support for
Teacher Preparation Programs
In
collaboration with the FLAG regional coordinators, plans are set to conduct
seven workshops for teachers of the gifted endorsement courses. Each FLAG region will host a workshop with WOGI Project Consultant Jodi O’Meara.
Jodi is a past FLAG board member of 11 years and has contributed to
various WOGI projects including most recently, The Florida Frameworks
for K-12 Gifted Learners. She will be leading discussions and sharing
information across the state regarding the modules including (1) course
strengths, (2) areas of need, and developing, with input from the participants,
(3) next steps to be taken with the gifted endorsement courses. Currently she
is working with the FLAG regional coordinators to set the dates. Check the
WOGI website (www.unfwogi.com) for a complete listing of all the dates,
locations and times once they become finalized.
Mission: