Our School


  • What is GATE?

    GATE stands for Gifted and Talented Education. The purpose of GATE is to provide qualitatively differentiated learning experiences for students with unique abilities and talents in all academic areas and/or visual and performing arts with the expectation that students will be successful learners capable of performing at high levels of ability. Research has shown that specialized instructional strategies, along with opportunities for gifted students to interact with each other on a daily basis, yield higher academic performance, as well as improved social and emotional well being. For more information check out the district website or this informative presentation on social emotional needs.

    GATE at Lang Ranch

    Strategies for teaching Gifted and Talented students are integrated into the curriculum through differentiated instruction. Identified students are clustered in classes where supplementation through differentiation can be more effectively delivered. GATE students are challenged and encouraged through the expansion of the curriculum. The goals of the program are to provide advanced and more complex differentiated experiences to students; Accelerated learning option, as appropriate, for the learner; The development of critical thinking, research and creative problem solving skills; and alternative interventions for students who are underachieving. Faculty GATE facilitators coordinate staff development, implement programs and curriculum, and mentor other teachers in the implementation of the GATE plan.

    Students that are identified in gifted and talented education should have their needs met all day long. Conejo Valley Unified school district has done away with the one-day a week pull-out programs and has designed a program that ensures these services. One way teachers ensure that gifted students receive the services they need is through curriculum differentiation. It is essential for gifted students to continue to be taught the core curriculum required for that grade level. However, the method of how the curriculum is presented to the gifted students should be differentiated and the way this is done at Lang Ranch is through the use of depth and complexity.

    Testing

    For GATE testing information please visit the CVUSD GATE website here.

    Informative Websites

    www.cagifted.org - The California Association for the Gifted
    www.nagc.org - National Association for Gifted Children
    www.sengifted.org - Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted
    www.giftedstudy.org - Summer Institute for the Gifted (The Summer Institute for the Gifted offers residential and day programs for gifted and talented students in grades K through 11.)
    www.tri-countygate.org - Tri-County GATE Council (The Tri-County GATE Council, a volunteer organization, is an affiliate of the California Association for the Gifted (CAG). It belongs to the Pacific Region of CAG, which includes San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties.)
    www.cde.ca.gov/sp/gt/ - California Department of Education, Gifted and Talented Education
    www.gt-cybersource.org - Davidson Institute's GT-CyberSource
    www.hoagiesgifted.org - About Hoagies' Gifted Education Page

    GATE Activities Outside the Classroom

    These programs are offered free of charge for our students. They are managed and coached by parent volunteers. Please consider volunteering to ensure these programs continue. Sign your students up or volunteer by clicking the links for each program.

    Odyssey of the Mind

    Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Kids solve problems ranging from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics and bring their solutions to compete on the local, state, and World level. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program. Dates and times are TBD.
    We are recruiting co-coordinators and coaches. If you are interested please contact Mrs. Lauterman.

    Journal Club

    This is a companion to our Math League. Students work on writing portfolios in a bimonthly class. Classes will begin in early November and will meet on every other Monday in Room 30. Please contact Svetlana Redeva if you have any questions.