Best Practices for Acceleration by Priti Sarin

What is acceleration?

pritiasarin — 2024-04-20 19:32:42 UTC

According to the National Association for Gifted Children, acceleration is when "students move through traditional curriculum at rates faster than typical." The complexity and instructional level of the curriculum should match the "readiness and motivation" of the student.

There are 18 different kinds of acceleration divided into 2 groups, grade-based acceleration and subject-based acceleration.

References

pritiasarin — 2024-04-20 19:38:36 UTC

A Nation The Templeton National Report on Acceleration Deceived: A Nation. (n.d.). https://www.accelerationinstitute.org/Nation_Deceived/ND_v1.pdf

Acceleration - National Association for Gifted Children. (n.d.). Nagc.org. Retrieved April 20, 2024, from https://nagc.org/page/acceleration#:~:text=It%20means%20matching%20the%20level

Types of Acceleration. (2015, March 17). Davidson Institute. https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/types-of-acceleration/

Benefits

pritiasarin — 2024-04-20 19:51:01 UTC

Acceleration is the most cost effective gifted intervention with both academic and social benefits.

Students who have participated in acceleration benefited from increased income through adulthood.

Gifted children tend to display a greater maturity which tends to be better matched in an accelerated environment.

Grade-Based Acceleration

pritiasarin — 2024-04-20 20:01:17 UTC

Early Admission to Kindergarten

Students enter kindergarten before the minimum entry age which may vary by state or jurisdiction.

Early Admission to First Grade

Students enter 1st grade in their first year of elementary school. Students may skip kindergarten entirely or complete both kindergarten and 1st grade in one academic year.

Grade-Skipping

Students are placed in a grade level ahead of their chronological age.

Continuous Progress

Students are provided with new content as prior content is mastered regardless of grade level or age.

Self-Paced Instruction

Similar to Continuous Progress but the student selects the pace.

Subject-Based Acceleration

pritiasarin — 2024-04-20 20:03:49 UTC

Content-Based Acceleration

Students work on accelerated content for part of the day in their classroom with a higher level curriculum or they participate in higher grade level classes.

Combined Classes

Multiple grades are taught in the same classroom.

Curriculum Compacting

Instructional and curriculum are "adapted to include fewer introductory activities and less repetition." With additional time, enrichment lessons are provided.

Telescoping curriculum

Curriculum is covered in a shorter amount of time to provide advanced learning opportunities.

Mentoring

Students are paired with mentors to provided advanced learning or learning at a faster pace.

Extracurricular programs

Students participate in out-of-school programs that provide enrichment or acceleration.

Quick Facts

pritiasarin — 2024-04-20 20:50:25 UTC

Other forms of acceleration include Correspondence Courses, Early Graduation, Concurrent/Dual Enrollment, Advanced Placement, Credit by Examination, Acceleration in College, Early Entrance into Middle School, High School, or College.

High ability young children who advance in grade level generally interact well with their older peers.

When acceleration is 2 or more years advanced, it is often referred to as Radical Acceleration.

Parents should be fully involved in acceleration decision making.