Learning Immersion & Talent Development Program
Learning Immersion (LI) and Talent Development (TD) is a program designed for advanced and gifted learners. We provide rigorous instruction that promotes analytical, creative and critical thinking skills.
Our school fosters learning through the 4 E’s:
The Learning Immersion (LI) program is designed to nurture academic potential and develop the talents of students in grades K-5. The Talent Development (TD) program serves gifted students in third-fifth grades with rigorous instruction. AIG students in the TD program at a LI/TD magnet school have automatic continuation into an IB middle school within their transportation zone. In addition, the program embraces the 4Es- explore, empower, enrich, and engage.
Explore all students' interests, gifts, and talents through LI/TD Enrichment Electives and learning experiences inside and outside the classroom.
Empower all students through a rigorous curriculum and higher-level instruction based on best practices of gifted education.
Enrich learning experiences for all students by infusing innovation, creativity, critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving.
Engage all students with meaningful, authentic, collaborative experiences that foster a love for learning and academic, social, and emotional growth.
Special Features of the LI/TD Magnet Program
At Mallard Creek Elementary School, we take a holistic approach to teaching and learning. We nurture all talent areas and interest through the following unique LI/TD Magnet features.
Enrichment Electives
Twice a year, scholars have the opportunity to participate in an elective of their choice that supports all talents. This happens once a week during the school day for six weeks.
Examples:
Kindness Rocks!
Science Experiments
Chefs in the Making
Build a Lego City
Fashion Design Illustrations
Spanish for Beginners
Thinking Maps
One way that we infuse critical and creative thinking on a daily basis is through the use of Thinking Maps.
Thinking Maps provide our schools with a common visual language for learning.
All LI/TD schools are expected to consistently use Thinking Maps with all students across all content areas to cultivate critical and creative thinking.
This one set of visual patterns can be used by everyone to stimulate higher-order thinking. Additionally, they provide the perfect bridge for all students to access rigorous content.
K-1 Nurturing Program
ALL scholars benefit from intentional nurturing.
At Mallard Creek Elementary, our AIG Teacher pushes into all our Kindergarten and First Grade classes to nurture scholars' thinking skills through special whole-class lessons and activities.
Gifted Curriculum
At Mallard Creek Elementary gifted resources and strategies are incorporated into daily instruction, through:
Emphasis on critical and creative thinking
Adjusted pacing/compacted curriculum
Shared inquiry discussions
Our Gifted Curriculum Library includes:
Junior Great Books
Advanced Literacy Units from Vanderbilt
William & Mary
Wordly Wise
Problems Solvers (Math)
M2 & M3 (Math)
Math Detectives
BreakoutEDU
Duke TIP Book Club Titles
And more!
Math Olympiads
Math Olympiads is a co-curricular opportunity for 4th and 5th graders for students who love a challenge and working with advanced math problems.
The goals of Math Olympiads include:
Develop enthusiasm for problem-solving and mathematics
Deepen the understanding of mathematical concepts and strengthen the ability to use these concepts
Consider concepts that they might not otherwise encounter
Enrich experiences in intellectually stimulating and significant mental activities
Build a stronger foundation for assessments and for future mathematics studies
Reading Rumble
Formerly known as Battle of the Books, Reading Rumble provides an opportunity for scholars in grades 2-5 to 5 high-interest books and participate in a friendly competition with scholars from schools across the district.
At Mallard Creek Elementary, we are proud to have both a Junior level (grades 2 & 3) and a Senior level (grades 4 &5) team.
MCTV Student News
MCTV News is our school's Morning News station. A committed group of fifth grade scholars produce the program and stream it for the entire school every morning.
Special Events
Mallard Creek Elementary hosts and participates in various special events each school year.
Some staples include:
Fall Math Family Fun Night
Winter Literacy Family Fun Night
Spring Family STEAM Night
Scripp's Spelling Bee
Grade Level Musicals
Trunk-or-Treat
Spring Fun Run
PTA Sponsored Events
Special Multi-School LI/TD Magnet Events
The Es Exhibition (4th & 5th Grade Representative)
Mathapalooza (3rd Grade Representatives)