Gifted & Talented

Frequently Asked Questions

General Programming

What is the Gifted and Talented "program" at Euclid Middle School?

Euclid’s GT program in not a one-size-fits all model, but rather a combination of core and elective classes and clubs and activities that varies, depending on student area(s) of strength. It is also a school-wide commitment to the whole child as a learner, considering the gifted child’s unique intellectual and social-emotional needs. Practically speaking, identified students will receive priority access to GT electives and placement in advanced classes based on careful review of individual data points. While the master schedule can change each year, electives are Extended Learning Opportunity (6th), Architecture (7th), and Robotics (8th). See specific course descriptions for more information about electives.

What extracurricular activities might my gifted child enjoy?

TSA (Technology Student Association), Brain Bowl, Magic, the Gathering, and our select choirs and jazz band are some of robust clubs our gifted students have historically enjoyed. Please see the Clubs link on the school website for further information on clubs and activities.

Note: all clubs and activities are communicated through the daily bulletin which is read aloud during period 1 classes daily. Additionally, the daily bulletin may be found on the “Daily Announcements” link on the EMS website.

When will my child see the GT Facilitator?

With approximately 110 identified gifted students at Euclid, the GT facilitator is one of many providers of gifted services, including your student’s advanced math and language arts teacher. At Euclid, we consider teacher-parent partnership, our multi-tiered system of supports, and the student him or herself as an important part of services. Most GT students will see the facilitator during ELO in sixth grade in Architecture in 7th, and Robotics in 8th. Schedules vary depending on your child’s interests and priorities within the elective program.

Challenge and Self-Advocacy

I have questions about my child’s performance and opportunities for challenge at Euclid. Where do I start?

Ask your child to begin discussions about performance and challenge with his or her teacher. After encouraging your student to learn important self-advocacy skills, parents may choose to follow up with an email directly to the teacher.

My child attends Euclid and is interested in math enrichment and/or acceleration. What should we do?

Students should inquire and explain their interests and desires with their current math teacher. This is how and where the process begins at Euclid. Parents with additional questions should follow up with an email directly to their student’s math teacher.

Will my gifted student be placed in advanced language arts, social studies, or science?

Language Arts classes are differentiated within the regular classroom or cluster grouped in 6th grade. An extensive data review is conducted to determine placement in advanced language arts in 7th and 8th grade. Social studies and science classes are heterogeneously grouped with consideration given to differentiated instructional practices.

Advanced Learning Plans (ALPs)

When will I receive my child’s ALP?

ALPs are updated yearly with one academic and one social-emotional goal. Families will receive ALPs before Thanksgiving.

GT/Enrichment Elective Course Descriptions - Invitation Only

Please note: the master calendar and course offerings vary by year.

6th Grade: Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) - 9 weeks

ELO is a sixth grade exploratory designed for advanced students. ELO gives students a chance to meet other advanced thinkers, while providing access to STEAM materials they can use as extensions during core classes at EMS. ELO students will also become familiar with their own learning style using profiles of giftedness and the Murphy Meisgeier Type Indicator. During ELO students typically enjoy meeting like-minded peers as well as discussing social-emotional issues such as perfectionism, learning styles, and struggle, using a Socratic format.

Students will miss one of the general 6th grade electives to participate in this course.

7th Grade: Architecture - 18 weeks

This 7th grade course exposes students to principles, language, examples and experiences in architecture and in gaining a personal understanding of their own interests and skills in the visual-spatial area. This survey course is designed to familiarize students with architecture around the world and through history, evaluate similarities and differences in architectural styles, explore career options in architecture, and design and build structures using foam board, virtual reality, and Minecraft Education Edition. The culminating project for the unit will come together as students apply their knowledge in designing and building their own structure.

8th Grade: STEAM Robotics & VR - 18 weeks

BAM. LEGO + Robotics + JavaScript + VR = This STEAM Elective. Students will have fun building a Lego Mindstorm robot and using block coding and algorithms to navigate multiple challenges. Using logical thinking, creativity, and teamwork skills, students will manipulate the Ev3’s multiple scanners and sensors, making them turn at a wall, scan for certain colors, pick things up, and much more. This 8th grade elective is perfect for those who want to use their skills to crush an opponent in a robot-on-robot battle to the death, or kids who just like Legos or robots. Additionally, students will code their own virtual reality and invite friends to drop in via an Oculus headset, and learn some basic JavaScript creating apps that promote creativity and humor, and market and create a 3D printed item for use at Euclid.

Shadowing

I’d like my gifted student to shadow a current gifted student for a partial day. How can I arrange this?

Euclid students love to have students shadow them. Contact Julie Hopson, the registrar in Student Services to arrange a shadow experience. Note: shadow days must be arranged around standardized testing windows, classroom assessment days, and field trips. Please contact the registrar in advance with a couple dates that would work for your student.

Transition from 5th to 6th Grade Within LPS

My child attends an LPS elementary school and is identified as gifted. Will this identification carry into middle school?

Yes. All LPS ALP students are part of an internal communication process and will continue as identified gifted students through middle and high school in LPS. No action is required on the part of parents to ensure this transition takes place.

New to Littleton Public Schools?

We are moving from a Colorado district outside LPS and our child is identified as gifted. Will this identification carry over at Euclid?

Families with Colorado ALPs from outside LPS should provide the Euclid registrar with a copy of their student’s ALP as soon as possible. Colorado ALPs that meet the state portability requirements will be converted to an LPS ALP and students will receive access to gifted services.

We are moving from outside Colorado with a student who has been identified as gifted in another state. Will this identification carry over at Euclid?

Students moving from outside Colorado must meet the Colorado requirements for gifted identification. Families should provide the registrar with their out of state ALP or any pertinent testing information so that our GT review team can review the student’s data.

Math

My 5th grade child is in 6th grade math at an LPS elementary school. What will happen at Euclid?

All students receiving 6th grade math in LPS elementary schools will be enrolled in 7th grade math as 6th graders at Euclid. This transition will be communicated internally and no action is required on the part of parents.

Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science

Will my gifted student be placed in advanced language arts, social studies, or science?

Language Arts classes are differentiated within the regular classroom or cluster grouped in 6th grade. An extensive data review is conducted to determine placement in advanced language arts in 7th and 8th grade. Social studies and science classes are heterogeneously grouped with consideration given to differentiated instructional practices.

Does Euclid have a math placement test for incoming 6th graders?

Euclid does not conduct a math placement test for students who attended LPS elementary schools. Instead, the Euclid math committee automatically reviews historic and current testing data for all incoming 5th graders each May. Our data review, paired with our partnership with 5th grade math teachers, allows us to get a strong picture of students who may require further math challenge or who may need additional math support as sixth graders.

We are coming from a school outside LPS and our child has been in an advanced or accelerated math class. How do I ensure my child is placed appropriately at Euclid?

Please provide Student Services with recent standardized testing information. The more information we have, the better job our placement committee can do ensuring a placement that provides challenge without gaps. Often, Student Services will provide a placement test for your student to complete to get the most accurate picture of his or her skills.

We are coming from outside LPS and our child has been in an advanced or accelerated language arts class. How do I ensure my child is placed appropriately at Euclid?

Please provide Student Services with recent standardized testing information. The more information we have, the better job our placement committee can do ensuring proper placement that provides challenge without gaps. In some cases, Student Services may provide a placement test for your student to complete to get the most accurate picture of his or her skills.

My child participated in enrichment activities, classes, and/or received gifted services in a previous school but is not formally identified as gifted. What services will my child receive at Euclid?

Services for students who have received services without identification in the past will be handled on a case-by-case basis after a data review by our GT Review Team. Please provide pertinent standardized data to Student Services for review by our team.