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Camas School District

Highly Capable Program Services

September 30th, 2025

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In support of teachers for your children!

Joy Garner, K-8 HCP Coordinator

Shauna Ruse, Administrative Assistant

Sarah Hunt

Kerin Motsinger

Heather Tricola

Julie Heidingsfelder

Monique Kohler

Mary Lefore

Cristy Fiori

Jillmarie Boden

Shannon Stewart

Pam Gospe

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Learns rapidly and easily

Offers original, imaginative responses

Is widely informed on many topics

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Is self-directed and has a long attention span

Is inquisitive, skeptical

Uses an extensive vocabulary

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Constantly asks questions, is curious about many topics

Seeks out challenging work or changes simple tasks into more complex tasks

Associates often with other HC trait children, regardless of age

Has an advanced sense of humor; understands adult humor

Is easily bored; argues that they do not need to do some of the assigned work

Has intense emotions; cries easily when frustrated; is empathetic to people

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Understands concepts easily and quickly

Challenges the teachers' knowledge base

Does not accept things at "face value"

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Dislikes arbitrary decisions

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Is seen by other children as "smart"

Produces original ideas and projects

Uses logic to solve problems

Is intrigued by abstract ideas

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  • Be kind to each other.
  • Lean into some discomfort.
  • Participate.
  • Make space. Take space.

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Asynchronous Development

Executive Functioning

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“These kiddos hold onto more grey matter as young children, compared to their same age peers. They are not pruning for efficient storage of information at the same rate. This can lead to delayed executive functioning abilities.”-Emily Kircher-Morris

In support of Executive Functioning:

  • Time Estimation: “How much time do you estimate this task/these tasks will take you?”
    • Sustained Attention: “I’ve noticed you have been working on this part for ____minutes…”
  • Task Persistence
    • Make visible the task broken into parts. Add time estimation to each part.

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Multi-Tiered System of Supports for Highly Capable Students

Elementary School

  • HC Clusters

Universal Design of Learning

Differentiation

  • Verbal Services grades 3-5 (Autumn)
  • Math Services grades 3-5 (Winter, Spring)

Elementary School Extracurricular

  • Book Bowl
  • Science Olympiad
  • Robotics
  • Math is Cool

Middle School

  • HC Clusters
    • Math
    • ELA

Universal Design of Learning

Differentiation

  • Project Based Learning
  • Math Acceleration starting in 7th grade

Middle School Extracurricular

  • Knowledge Bowl
  • Science Olympiad
  • Robotics
  • School News
  • ASB
  • Dungeons & Dragons
  • Math Club
  • WEB
  • Chess

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Universal Design for Learning

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Universal Design for Learning

Need: a post-it, a device

  • Fill your post-it with anything and everything that you know and learn about Iron Chef learning protocol.
  • Pick your path or multiple paths to complete this:
    • Google: Type Iron Chef learning protocol into Google and read what comes up, click “images”, click “videos”. Record your findings on your post-it.
      • Human-Google: Discuss Iron Chef learning protocol with people around you.
    • Doodle: Draw visuals and/or write words that represent what you know about Iron Chef learning protocol.

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Google?

-or-

Doodle?

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Universal Design for Learning

Step 1- Selection

  • Select 1 of the quotes.

Step 2- Process

  • Take __ minutes to process your quote. This could look like thinking about it, writing about it, sketching about it, voice memo-ing about it.

Step 3- Pair

  • Move so you are near the person you are going to talk to about what you processed.

Step 4- Share

  • Take turns sharing the quote you selected and what you think of the quote.

Process. Pair. Share.

“Learning is an inherently social process where students acquire knowledge and skills through interaction, collaboration, and observation.”

~CommonLit Guiding Principles

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“Do you prepare students for the future or the past?”

~Prince EA (spoken word artist, activist)

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“We need to learn how to manage ourselves in the real world and I’m in the real world right now.”

~ CSD 6th grader

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Differentiation

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Differentiation

I have a great deal for you- Only 15 percent interest every 2 weeks on your $100 loan!

Group 1- How much would you need to pay back in 2 weeks? 2 months? 2 years?

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Group 2- Graph the amount you pay back over time, and describe the trend. How much do you think you would pay back in 10 years?

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Group 3- What are the ethical issues of charging someone 15 percent every 2 weeks. Describe in detail.

In Math Class

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Differentiation

Book Club Discussions, Writing Workshops

In ELA Class

Lexile: _______

Advanced Analysis

Lexile: _______

Advanced Analysis

Lexile: _______

Essential Understanding

Lexile: _______

Essential Understanding

Finishing first draft

Peer & Teacher Conference

Editing for transitions

Revising for word choice

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Ongoing Professional Development for Teachers

  • Camas School District
    • HiCap leads in each school
      • Staff training
      • Ongoing coaching and collaboration
    • Program Coordinator, Me! 😀
      • Staff training
      • Ongoing coaching and collaboration
  • ESD 112, OSPI
    • 2E Learners, Differentiating for HC Learners in the Classroom, Understanding HC Learners
  • WEATAG
    • WEATAG Annual Conference This year’s theme is: “From Research to Reality: Proven Practices for Gifted and General Classrooms​” Friday and Saturday, October 17th and 18th, Bellevue, WA (Hyatt Regency Bellevue)
  • OATAG
    • OATAG Annual Conference This year’s theme is: “Hidden Depth: Gifted Children Beneath the Surface” Saturday, October 11th, Portland, OR (University of Portland)

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Ongoing Support for Families

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Questions?

Joy Garner (she/her), NBCT

K-8 Highly Capable Program Coordinator

joy.garner@camas.wednet.edu

360-335-3000 Extension #79117

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