Rationale
This program is designed is provide new and challenging learning experiences that are differentiated from the traditional classroom curriculum. The program is offered under the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines for gifted and alternative programs. Students must meet eligibility requirements by scoring at or above the 95th%ile on either a norm-referenced achievement test or the Scales for Identifying Gifted Students and by scoring at or above the 95th%ile on a norm-referenced individual intelligence test (WISC-IV, Stanford-Binet V).
Special curricular emphasis will be given to students in the areas of communication arts, math, science, social studies, and affective education for gifted students. Students in the gifted program will have learning experiences that differ in type, quality, level of mental ability, and expected results. The curriculum will provide opportunities for the student to develop abstract thinking skills, sharpen reasoning skills, participate in creative problem solving, and emphasize the high cognitive process.
Please visit the "Newsletters/Documents" link to the left to view a syllabus for this school year's unit activities.
At the end of each school year, students complete a “G/T Student Self-Evaluation.” Part of the evaluation asks students to indicate what they would like to study about during the next school year. Therefore, our topics of study correspond with subjects listed by students on their self-evaluations.
Additional Curriculum
Thinking Skills:
- Primary Education Thinking Skills (Grades 2-3)
- Thinking Skills Through Reading and Math Challenges (Grades 4-5)
- Creative Problem Solving
Reading:
- Junior Great Books Reading and Discussion (Grades 2-4)
- Reading Log and Book Report Projects (Grades 4-5)
Affective Education (Emotional Needs of the Gifted):
- Durable Person (includes character-building lessons and activities for gifted students, as well as discussion of the unique needs of gifted students).