The Extended Learning Program, in partnership with all staff throughout the district, aims to ensure all students will be given an appropriate educational experience that matches their abilities and potential, with abundant opportunities for intellectual and creative challenge and growth.
Identified students will engage in above level academic, creative, and problem solving tasks with the goal of:
1. Promoting a year’s worth of academic growth
2. Developing collaboration and communication skills
3. Fostering self-regulation and self-advocacy
4. And encouraging critical thinking.
ELP students benefit from tailored social and emotional support, high expectations, and interest-based tasks.
Kindergarten-Second Grade:
Third grade:
All students will receive monthly talent development lessons. This will expose all students to higher level thinking and problem solving and serve as a piece of qualitative data in the screening process.
Based on STAR testing and classroom performance, students will be selected periodically for weekly enrichment in Reading and Language Arts. Students will read novels, research, write stories, and more! The students in these groups will fluctuate as we better understand their needs and aptitudes. This will serve as qualitative data in the screening process.
Prior to each math unit/ section of new learning, students will take a pretest. Students who demonstrate an understanding of the math concepts on the pretest, will have weekly enrichment in Math. Students will apply their foundational knowledge to more challenging tasks and real world problem solving activities that relate directly to classroom learning. This will serve as qualitative data in the screening process.
Fourth-Fifth grade:
All students will receive monthly talent development lessons. this will expose all students to higher level thinking and problem solving and serve as a piece of qualitative data in the screening process.
Students who qualify for extended learning in the Spring of third grade will receive 2 hours a week of enrichment in their strength area: Math and/or Language Arts. These lessons will correlate with, and extend, classroom learning. Language arts services include novel studies, research, story writing, and more. Math services include long and short term real world problem solving activities, projects, and other challenging tasks that relate to, and extend beyond, classroom learning.
Students take TAG classes in their talent area all year or for a semester. All classes are interdisciplinary but have different focuses. Student work will relate to their passions, giving students the opportunity to use their strengths regardless of which class they choose.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
This strand includes services, such as:
Project-based math
Long term STEM/ Engineering Design project
Computer Science
Math competition
Science Experiments
Stock Market Game
Genius Hour
Short term thinking skill activities
and more!
ELA (English Language Arts) and Social Studies
This strand includes services, such as:
Novel Studies
Plays
Debates
Research
Writing
Mysteries
Genius Hour
Short term thinking skill activities
and more!
High schoolers will meet with the TAG teacher each semester to discuss their educational plan and goals. Students will have the option to take 1st-4th hour as a for credit or not for credit TAG class. Students will meet with the TAG teacher twice a week. On the other days, student will attend study hall to work independently or with a peer in accordance to the plan made with the TAG teacher.
For credit TAG:
Students will meet with the TAG teacher twice a week to plan, revise, and execute an enrichment project of their own design. This is a pass/fail class and totals 1 credit per year (0.5 credit per semester).
College and Career Research culminating in a job shadow experience and reflection
Independent enrichment projects related to an area of future study and/or interest
Renzulli Online Learning pre-structured projects
EdX or Mooc online course culminating in a research project
Not for credit TAG:
Students will meet with the TAG teacher once or twice a week for SEL or academic support and advising as students explore new and challenging opportunities.
Taking online or in person Indian Hills classes
ACT preparation
Taking online classes through a 4 year college
Working toward an Associates Degree
Study Skill support
Social-emotional support
Job applications
College Admissions, FAFSA, Scholarships
Other opportunities:
College visits
Employer visits