Mrs. Greenwald's Home Page
Academic Credentials:
* B. S. Education K-9, Roosevelt University
* M. A. Special Education, K-12, Northeastern Illinois University
* M. A. Reading Specialist, K-12, Governors State University
* Gifted Endorsement K-12. State of Illinois
* Middle School Endorsement, State of Illinois
* 36 semester hours in Gifted Education, Aurora University, Lindenwood University
* Wilson Reading System Certified Teacher
* Adjunct Faculty Governors State University, College of Education, Graduate Reading Program
* Coach, Teaching with Primary Sources
* 2015-2016 Fellow, Chicago Area Writing Project (CAWP)
District 128 Positions
* Gifted Coordinator
* Reading Specialist
* Instructional Coach
* B. S. Education K-9, Roosevelt University
* M. A. Special Education, K-12, Northeastern Illinois University
* M. A. Reading Specialist, K-12, Governors State University
* Gifted Endorsement K-12. State of Illinois
* Middle School Endorsement, State of Illinois
* 36 semester hours in Gifted Education, Aurora University, Lindenwood University
* Wilson Reading System Certified Teacher
* Adjunct Faculty Governors State University, College of Education, Graduate Reading Program
* Coach, Teaching with Primary Sources
* 2015-2016 Fellow, Chicago Area Writing Project (CAWP)
District 128 Positions
* Gifted Coordinator
* Reading Specialist
* Instructional Coach
A Snippet about Quest for Knowledge
Quest for Knowledge is the name of the gifted/talented program in Palos Heights, Illinois School District 128. The name was chosen by the students, themselves, as an appropriate title for their investigative activities.
Formal gifted/talented identification of students begins at the end of second grade with all district students part of the initial assessment process. The identification process includes data from the Iowa Acceleration Scale, NWEA/MAP, Otis-Lenon School Ability Index, Renzulli Scales for Rating the Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students, and the Cognitive Abilities Test.
District 128 places a high value on professional development for teachers. Many teachers have extended their education to include classes to better educate our gifted students and have studied in order to pass the Illinois Gifted Teacher endorsement test. Identified gifted/talented students in third through eighth grade are placed with classroom teachers who are gifted endorsed, have many years teaching gifted children, or both. They are specialists in the art of differentiating curriculum for high ability learners. Supporting the teachers are the District Superintendent, Dr. Dawn Green; the District Director of Student and Teacher Learning, Mrs. Sharon Herman; building principals; instructional coaches; and the gifted coordinator, Gayle Greenwald.
Younger students, pre-K through second grade, receive differentiation in the classroom, supported by the instructional coaches and gifted coordinator. Identified gifted students, grades 3-5, work with gifted endorsed and/or gifted experienced classroom teachers who collaborate with other teachers and the gifted coordinator on tiered instructional opportunities in a resource and push-in model in which the gifted coordinator and the classroom teacher co-plan and co-teach small-group and whole-group lessons in the classroom.
The needs of high ability math students, pre-K-5, are met via differentiated and enrichment activities directly related to the math curriculum of the University of Chicago Everyday Math program or Engage, New York. In addition, students whose needs surpass grade level curriculum are provided with math enrichment extensions related to the Illinois State Standards.
High ability students at the Junior High level are placed in Honors classes in Literature, Language Arts, and/or Math. The pace and academic rigor of these classes are substantially different from those of the regular classroom, which already involve a high level of content and performance.
Illinois Definition of Gifted/Talented Children
Illinois definition of gifted and talented children:"For the purposes of this Article, 'gifted and talented children' means children and youth with outstanding talent who perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared with other children and youth of their age, experience, and environment. A child shall be considered gifted and talented in any area of aptitude, and, specifically, in language arts and mathematics, by performing in the top 5% locally in that area of aptitude."
105 ILCS 5/14A-20105 ILCS 5/14A-20
Visit the Illinois State Board of Education Gifted Resources
Formal gifted/talented identification of students begins at the end of second grade with all district students part of the initial assessment process. The identification process includes data from the Iowa Acceleration Scale, NWEA/MAP, Otis-Lenon School Ability Index, Renzulli Scales for Rating the Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students, and the Cognitive Abilities Test.
District 128 places a high value on professional development for teachers. Many teachers have extended their education to include classes to better educate our gifted students and have studied in order to pass the Illinois Gifted Teacher endorsement test. Identified gifted/talented students in third through eighth grade are placed with classroom teachers who are gifted endorsed, have many years teaching gifted children, or both. They are specialists in the art of differentiating curriculum for high ability learners. Supporting the teachers are the District Superintendent, Dr. Dawn Green; the District Director of Student and Teacher Learning, Mrs. Sharon Herman; building principals; instructional coaches; and the gifted coordinator, Gayle Greenwald.
Younger students, pre-K through second grade, receive differentiation in the classroom, supported by the instructional coaches and gifted coordinator. Identified gifted students, grades 3-5, work with gifted endorsed and/or gifted experienced classroom teachers who collaborate with other teachers and the gifted coordinator on tiered instructional opportunities in a resource and push-in model in which the gifted coordinator and the classroom teacher co-plan and co-teach small-group and whole-group lessons in the classroom.
The needs of high ability math students, pre-K-5, are met via differentiated and enrichment activities directly related to the math curriculum of the University of Chicago Everyday Math program or Engage, New York. In addition, students whose needs surpass grade level curriculum are provided with math enrichment extensions related to the Illinois State Standards.
High ability students at the Junior High level are placed in Honors classes in Literature, Language Arts, and/or Math. The pace and academic rigor of these classes are substantially different from those of the regular classroom, which already involve a high level of content and performance.
Illinois Definition of Gifted/Talented Children
Illinois definition of gifted and talented children:"For the purposes of this Article, 'gifted and talented children' means children and youth with outstanding talent who perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared with other children and youth of their age, experience, and environment. A child shall be considered gifted and talented in any area of aptitude, and, specifically, in language arts and mathematics, by performing in the top 5% locally in that area of aptitude."
105 ILCS 5/14A-20105 ILCS 5/14A-20
Visit the Illinois State Board of Education Gifted Resources