Gifted and Talent Development

Academically talented children are those students with outstanding abilities and capable of higher performance when compared to others of similar age, experience and environment. They have significantly different educational needs from their peers and require educational differentiation as a regular part of their school day to ensure they reach their full potential.

These services are available at all elementary and middle schools.

Talent Development contacts by school/location.

Parent Resources

Twice Exceptional (2e) Resources

Gifted and Talented Advisory Council (GTAC)

Service Model

Click here for more information- District 196 Talent Development Services

Talent Development in District 196 Middle Schools

Flexible and Fluid Service Model:

District 196 elementary schools cluster identified students in grades 3-5. Talent Development specialists support cluster classroom teachers with differentiating for advanced academic needs in core instruction and in guided groups.

Students whose advanced academics needs extend beyond what can be provided in a cluster classroom may be referred for single subject and/or grade level acceleration.

Talent Development services in District 196 is an inclusive, flexible and fluid model. A student does not need to be formally identified to receive support for their high academic and learning ability needs. Talent Development services are provided through flexible grouping based on district assessments and ongoing assessments in the classroom which are based on the content and standards being presented at that time.

Identification

Grades 3-5 Cluster Classrooms

Click here for more information-Elementary Cluster Classrooms

A cluster classroom is a regular grade level class with a small group of identified students together in the same class. The cluster classroom teacher receives support to meet the learning needs of advanced students in math and/or literacy in their class. Cluster classrooms in 3rd-5th grades is an efficient way to provide advanced learning strategies to students throughout the school day.

Every District 196 elementary school has cluster classrooms in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. Many schools have more than one cluster classroom in each grade level. A cluster class includes identified students with a range of abilities. The number of identified students in a cluster class varies. It is recommended that the number of identified students in a cluster class not exceed one third of the class.

Acceleration

District 196 recognizes that students with superior abilities may have their needs best served by grade acceleration or single subject acceleration. Grade acceleration or single subject acceleration will be recommended only after other appropriate program changes or modifications have been deemed inadequate to meet the academic and emotional needs of the student in the student's current grade placement. This determination will be made by an assessment team.

For more information- District 196 Acceleration Information

Grade Acceleration (grade skipping)

Single Subject Acceleration

Early Entrance to Kindergarten

Gifted and Talent Development at SHMS

This page provides descriptions of various enrichments offered at our school for students seeking academic challenges outside of their classrooms. This page is divided by subject area. Please scroll down to find the information you are looking for. If you have questions about the enrichments described here, please contact Theresa Back by using this email address: theresa.back@district196.org

Gifted and Talented Orientation

Theresa Back

Theresa.Back@district196.org

651-683-6969

Voicemail: 82271

Reading Lists

STEM: Future City Competition Team

https://futurecity.org/minnesota

Season Begins Last Monday of September.

FCC Regional Competition is held mid-January at DCTC

Registration opens in FeePay the second week of September

School teams meet Tuesdays from 3:20-4:50 during the season in Room 31 to receive general competition information.

Competition teams must meet an additional day with their smaller Competition Team to work on their projects.

Engineers make the world a better place. They dream up creative, practical solutions and work with teams of inspiring people to invent, design and create things that improve our world. Sixth, seventh and eighth grade students who join their school’s Future City Team work together from September to mid-January to tackle real issues affecting real people. Along the way they will discover engineering, build their 21^st century skills, and become more engaged citizens.

Scholastic Scrimmage

REGISTRATION HAS BEEN SUSPENDED DUE TO HYBRID

STRUCTURE LIMITATIONS

Join the Schoology Group to receive Updates: KP6Q-9FGM-C5PHK

Who: Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Graders. Three teams of 5 students compete each month. If you are interested in joining a team, see Mrs. Back. Teams change monthly.

What: Scholastic Scrimmage is a FREE intra-district team trivia contest consisting of 3 rounds of open-ended trivia questions. It is similar to Jeopardy!, but we play with teams.

When: October-April

Meets: Are held at SHMS. Students will be finished at 5:00, and will need to provide transportation home. If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Back.

Language Arts and Essay Contests

Spelling Bee

Date: December-January

Classroom and grade-level spelling bees will be held in late December or early January in the English Classrooms. There will be an All-School Spelling Bee in Mid-January. The top three spellers in the three grade levels will compete for the School Champion honor. The SHMS School Champion will take a written test to qualify for the SCRIPPS Regional Spelling Bee.

See Mrs. Back for information on how to study for the spelling bee.

Reading Groups at SHMS

There are always various reading groups to engage in at SHMS. Contact Ms. Mildahl our Media Specialist or Mrs. Back, GTD Coordinator to learn what book clubs are meeting through out the year.

6th Grade Summer Reading Group: Meets in September to discuss the books read.

Battle of the Books: Teams form in October, and final contests are held in May.

Maud Hart Lovelace: Read and discuss books on the current list, and vote for your favorites!

Mother/Daughter Book Club: Share a reading with other mothers and daughters.

Avid Reader Forum: This book club is open to students from all grade levels and meets during the mid-day.

Others: As interest arrises other clubs may begin.

University of Minnesota Talented Youth Math Program Information

UMTYMP Entrance Exams occur in late Winter/Spring for the following school year. The Registration for the Exam Prep and Early Entrance Exam (offered in February) and the Regular Entrance Exam (offered in April) is available at http://mathcep.umn.edu/

Detailed information about testing can be found on the Testing Q & A page.

In order to complete this registration a portion of it must be completed by the student so make sure that they are available at the time of registration. Registration will remain open until all seats are filled for the courses. School District 196 does not make any recommendations or decisions about the placements in the UMTYMP. Information about the program is provided to those families who feel this program may fit their child's mathematical needs.

Math Club

MATH CLUB DISCUSSIONS ARE TAKING PLACE NOW TO PLAN FOR THE COMPETITIVE MATH CLUB SEASON.

ACCELERATED MATH TEACHERS WILL POST REGISTRATION INFORMATION ON THEIR SCHOOLOGY PAGES.

Registration is open in September. Clubs begins the third week of September.

The Math Club competes in the following contests:

Minnesota Junior High School Mathematics League: students participate in 5 math-meets at various local middle schools. Competition topics include number sense, probability, geometry, algebra and proportions. No calculator use is allowed during these competitions.

Math Masters of Minnesota : this is a once-a-year 6th grade math competition. Two-three teams, each made up of 5 students, will participate in fact drills, individual and team competitions.

Math Counts: this is a national math competition program. Students have the chance participate in a school competition, a chapter competition and possibly a state competition. Only 10 students are allowed to compete in the chapter competition...one team of 4 and 6 individuals. Students interested should speak to the Math Team coaches, Mrs. Werness or Mrs. Skluzacek. Practice for this event will be held during Math Club at 7:15 on Monday mornings.

6^th Grade FUN Math Club is new. This is a non-competitive club for those who love math and/or want to improve their math skills by doing fun, engaging activities. Fun Math Club meets every other Tuesday from 3:20-4:50. Students can ask questions about the club to any 6^th grade math teacher.

Science

Join the Schoology Group for access to Science Trivia: 2R8K2-BH93-PFX7B

SHMS 8th Graders will compete in the Minnesota Science Bowl! Mrs. Back will work with the 8th grade teachers to select ten 8th grade students to prepare for the February competition at the University of St. Thomas!

Interested 8th grade science students sign up with their science teachers and take a written exam to qualify for the Science Team in November. Science Bowl practice consists of individual study and group practices during the Mid-day.

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