Elementary Highly Capable Services

The kindergarten/1st grade Group Learning Plan is designed for students who demonstrate high capability and potential in cognitive ability, specific academic achievement and/or exceptional creativity. Identification for the K/1 Group Learning Plan is based on teacher observation and classroom-based assessments. Students in kindergarten and 1st grade who are identified for highly capable services will receive these services in the student’s home classroom with teachers providing extensions during literacy and/or math blocks.

Teachers will determine how to deliver these services to your student. You may see some of the following on your student’s plan:

Adjusted Content - Presenting content earlier or at a faster pace or presenting more thought-provoking assignments.

Content Enrichment - Presenting to students content with more depth, breadth, complexity and abstractness.

Tiered Assignments - Specific tasks that are designed according to their readiness and comprehension level with different levels of instructional support.

Learning/Interest Centers - Engage in self-directed and independent learning activities (a practical means of targeting the individual differences [academic, social, developmental, behavioral] of students)

Cluster/Flexible Grouping - Opportunities for students to work in groups based on readiness, interest & learning style

A universal screening will be done in the winter for students in 1st and 2nd grade to determine eligibility for Highly Capable Services beyond the K/1 Group Learning Plan.

The Highly Capable Learning Plan provides students an option to receive services at their neighborhood school in their general education classroom by their teacher. The plan may include differentiated instruction including small group support with peers and enrichment opportunities.

Teachers will look at student’s strengths and needs and set goals for them in the classroom. These goals will help your student grow in areas they currently excel in, as well as, support them in areas they need to grow. Students will participate in the classroom instruction at their current grade level.

Teachers will determine how to deliver these services to your student. You may see some of the following on your student’s plan:

Adjusted Content - Giving students more rigorous content and more challenging assignments

Curriculum Compacting - Replacing lessons content that students have mastered

Addition of Depth and/or Complexity - Student work that includes more information or problem-solving steps

Problem-Based Learning - Students learn about a subject through solving an open ended problem

Project-Based Learning - Students work to solve a real world problem or answer a complex question

Tiered Assignments - A task that is similar to the whole class with different levels of instruction

Independent Study - Students explore a topic of interest and formulate and answer questions

Learning Menus - Offering students a menu of learning tasks that support their goals

Learning Contracts - An agreed upon assignment or set of assignments that support their goals

Learning/Interest Centers - Engage in self-directed and independent learning activities

Cluster/Flexible Grouping - Grouping students for instruction based on strength/need

Elementary Challenge classrooms are places where highly capable students can grow as learners. The Challenge curriculum is the same as the rest of the students at their grade level with the opportunity for learning more about a topic. The class will, at times, move through the curriculum faster than other classes. Students will learn about taking care of their own needs and clearly letting others know their needs. Students will get to learn by working by themselves, with others in pairs, and in small groups. They will also learn about becoming self-directed by organizing their time, their thinking, and their work. 

In Elementary Challenge Classrooms:

• Teachers organize instruction in their classes to meet these program goals:
• Students are learning about new concepts and ideas
• Curriculum and instruction are focused on the needs of highly capable students
• Thinking, creativity, and problem solving are parts of learning
• Students will learn to work with others in pairs and in groups  to learn together and to understand one another.
• There is a focus on the specific needs of highly capable children
• Students will learn about their strengths and needs to help them focus on their academic needs.