East Ramapo Central School District

Enriched Thinking for Children

Enriched Thinking for Children, Encouraging Thinking and Revolving Door are programs that fall under the umbrella term Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) and are designed to meet the academic needs of advanced students on the Elementary School Level.

Overview

The Gifted and Talented program is broken down into three academic programs: ET (Encouraging Thinking), ETC (Enriched Thinking for Children) and RD (Revolving Door).  ET is offered to first and second grade students. ETC and RD are offered to third through sixth grade students. These programs offer significant opportunities for those who show outstanding potential in individual subjects, as well as those who excel in multiple academic areas.  In addition to the programs mentioned, students who exhibit talent in areas of music and art are offered separate programs beginning in third grade.

Philosophy

The philosophy of the East Ramapo Board of Education is to provide a climate wherein students in grades one through six have increased opportunities to interact with their intellectual peers and to actively participate in advanced, complex, intellectual thinking.  Students are pulled out of class for participation in these programs.

East Ramapo identifies ETC students as those who demonstrate a high degree of cognitive development, task commitment, motivation, and creativity.  These criteria produce a student who is eager to be challenged in school.  We recognize that the needs of these children can be enhanced in the program that we offer.  The program provides a differentiated educational environment that focuses on the needs of this target group through a defined interdisciplinary approach.

Notable Facts 

·        East Ramapo’s ETC/ET/RD programs provide a long-term instructional program for students.  This enables teachers to facilitate learning and establish a stronger relationship with students.

·        East Ramapo’s ETC/ET/RD program establishes a working rapport with parents of the gifted and provides support services for them.

·        East Ramapo begins to meet the needs of advanced students beginning on the first grade level.

For More Information

For more information about this dynamic and exciting program, please contact the Office of Elementary Education at 1-845-577-6050