Batavia Local Schools 
Gifted Education

Compacting

 Compacting is reducing the amount of time student spend on mastered grade-level work, allowing them to work on alternative activities.  In order to compact curriculum, there needs to be a clear list of competencies required for the student to move on to other activities.  This can be done with pre-testing.  A second decision that must be made is what to allow the student to do with their now “free” time.  The alternative activities can be teacher directed or student directed. 

How to Use the Compactor

1. Provide one Compactor for each student.
2. Use the Compactor to record all modifications in curriculum.

ü      Record one area of strength per box.

ü      Describe the methods used to document the student’s mastery of subject matter.

ü      Describe the activities the student will be engaged in while the rest of the class is doing grade level work.

3. Keep a folder for each student for whom you compact the curriculum.  Include all pre-tests and other pertinent data, with dates; all Compactors; and brief records of alternate activities

Ø      Never use the time a student buys from an area of strength to remediate.
Ø      Always allow students to enjoy extended activities in their areas of strength

Susan Winebrenner, Providing Curriculum Alternatives to Motivate Gifted Students, (1994)