Gifted & Talented Enrichment

Weight: 3

Course Length: Year

Pre-requisites: none                                                                                                                      

Criteria for admissions: none

Dual enrollment: 4 college credits available from Ramapo College Program (grades 11-12) OR Fairleigh Dickinson Middle College Program (grades 9-12)  

Education as a Career is a nationally recognized curriculum for those who aspire to enter the field of education.  This course of study, endorsed by the New Jersey Department of Education, seeks to provide high school students with insights into the nature of teaching, the problems of schooling, and the critical issues affecting the quality of education in America's schools.  Students will complete 10-12 hours of field experience where they are given the opportunity to provide instruction in their content areas of interest.  The course has been adapted from the Teacher Cadet Curriculum which was developed by South Carolina’s Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, & Advancement.  Fairleigh Dickinson University offers 3 college credits to students who successfully complete the program.  The following elements are stressed throughout the course:  creative and authentic application of teaching strategies, cooperative learning, real-world based learning, leadership skills, community service, and portfolio and performance assessment.

Weight: 8

Course Length: Year

Pre-requisites: Future Problem Solving at RR. Honors Future Problem Solving at MHS, or application process.                                                     

Criteria for admissions:   

1.       Mid-year grade of 90 in Honors Future Problem Solving 

2.       Teacher recommendation to take Honors/AP level class or to continue in Honors Future Problem Solving

3.       Application process.

Independent Study available to those who qualify.

Students enrolling in Honors Community Problem Solving (HCmPS) have the opportunity to gain experience in authentic applications, through the development of a project that solves a real-life problem that exists in the school, state, national, or international community. Class members will design and implement a solution to their identified problem through the Future Problem Solving Process. 

HCmPS emphasizes cooperative learning skills through grant development, event planning, and use of interactive technology to raise awareness about community problems. Students will have the opportunity to speak in front of groups, develop interactive displays, and build their personal network with students, teachers, and community leaders.

At the end of the year, students have the opportunity to travel to an International conference held at a major U.S.  university to meet students from other states and countries such as  Singapore,  Australia, New Zealand, and Turkey.   Students present their project for evaluation to the International Future Problem Solving Committee. 

Weight: 8

Course Length: Year

Pre-requisites: Future Problem Solving at RR OR application process                                                                                                                                  

Criteria for admissions:                                                     

1.       Teacher recommendation to take Honors/AP level class or to continue in Honors Future Problem Solving

2.       Application process

Independent Study available to those who qualify.

Honors Future Problem Solving is a project-based class where students work in teams using a six-step problem-solving process to research and analyze future scenarios, identify potential issues, create solutions, and develop action plans.  Students’ competition booklets are scored by a panel of judges, and top-ranked teams go on to compete on the state and international level. When the competition season ends, students develop and implement real-life action plans to help solve current global issues, so students have an authentic problem-solving experience and can make a difference in our 21st century global environment.

Students in this course have the opportunity to develop analytical and problem solving skills, learn about futuristic and technological global issues, and work in teams to research and solve problems.  They also will develop necessary life skills such as close reading, analysis, teamwork, and time management.