Gifted & Talented Program
The Mountain Home School District Gifted and Talented program consists of both academic and creative classes. It is a pullout program that serves the students from two to two and a half hours a week. The children from the different schools are bused to Hacker Middle School on the day their class meets. There are academic classes for K-3, 4, 5, 6. We offer creative art, writing, building, and a competitive Mars Rover team. With the exception of the Mars team, which serves 5th and 6th, the creative classes are K-6th. To qualify, a student must go through the referral and testing procedures.
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Creative Classes
Art- Visual arts are taught for two hours a week starting the second semester. The students are taught different art techniques and they use a variety of different mediums. The Torrance Test of Creativity is given as well as an eight-project portfolio review is used to determine eligibility. |
Writers- Writers are taught for two hours a week for the first semester. Students found to be gifted in writing are taught different methods to become an improved writer. A variety of different styles and genre are explored in this class. The Torrance Test of Creativity is given as well as an eight writing project portfolio review is used to determine eligibility.
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Builders- This is a first semester class that is two hours a week. Students are taught about simple machines and how they work together to get jobs done. We use Legos, K'nex, and other resources as our materials for building. The Torrance Test of Creativity is given or the perceptional reasoning index on the WISCIV, as well as an eight building project portfolio review is used to determine eligibility.
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Mars Rover- This is a competitive team that meets during the second semester. It is very limited (5 students from 5th grade and five students from 6th grade). The students meet 2-hours a week preparing for the competition held in late April. It is a competition where the students build a rover from Lego and non-Lego parts to do a variety of assignments. The students also work together as a team to put together a presentation to the judges, teamwork is vital. The students are chosen by the G/T facilitator.
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PROGRAM REFERRAL AND TESTING PROCEDURE
- Teacher, parents, or others make a request to MDT that a student be considered for G/T testing using the Request for G/T Consideration form. The form will then be sent to the gifted staff where a file review will be done and sent to the receiving school’s MDT.
- MDT decides to request or deny gifted testing for student. The GES-3 (Gifted Evaluation Scale) may be given to determine if the child is a viable candidate. If it is decided that further testing should be done, the team sends that request to gifted staff to start the referral process, which would include sending out consent to test and the referral packet to the teacher and parent.
- The gifted staff would then send the completed consent to test, to the school psychologist.
- The gifted staff would also contact the Psychologist if any other assessments were needed, such as BASC-2.
- If the Iowa Acceleration Scale were needed, this would be completed by the gifted staff.
- Psychologist sends test score report to the gifted staff who enters scores of the STAR testing, achievement and cognitive tests on matrix, and determines student’s qualification status.
- Students wishing to use test results from outside the district for qualification submit a request form to the gifted staff, who in turn presents it to the Head of Special Services.
- The gifted staff schedules a meeting with the parent, teacher, Psychologist, and school administrator to go over the results and present the findings.
- If a child is determined to qualify for the pullout program and the parent accepts the decision, the gifted staff will contact the school, teacher, district office, and the bus company (to arrange transportation).
- The start date of the child will be determine at this time as well.
Mountain Home GIFTED & TALENTED STUDENTS Builds a Tiny House
Tiny House Project
www.mhtinyhouse.com
Can a class of academically and creatively gifted kids in grades 1-6 build a tiny house? I think so, so much in fact that we have already started. With the generous investment money coming from local farmers, dairymen, and businesses, we have gotten to the point financially where we will be able to finish the exterior.
Why build a tiny house? This idea came to me while at a Gifted and Talented conference (Edufest) a few years back. It seemed like a good idea, combining two passions of mine, teaching and building things. The opportunity for higher level thinking and problem solving presents itself at every turn in this project, not to mention addressing The Common Core Standards. There are obviously jobs that the kids can't do due to being dangerous or just lacking the strength or skill, these will be done by myself or local professionals.
Well, that is what we are about. It will be an exciting nine months or so, and with any luck, we will have a completed house and a group of kids who believe that learning is lifelong and meaningful.
www.mhtinyhouse.com
Can a class of academically and creatively gifted kids in grades 1-6 build a tiny house? I think so, so much in fact that we have already started. With the generous investment money coming from local farmers, dairymen, and businesses, we have gotten to the point financially where we will be able to finish the exterior.
Why build a tiny house? This idea came to me while at a Gifted and Talented conference (Edufest) a few years back. It seemed like a good idea, combining two passions of mine, teaching and building things. The opportunity for higher level thinking and problem solving presents itself at every turn in this project, not to mention addressing The Common Core Standards. There are obviously jobs that the kids can't do due to being dangerous or just lacking the strength or skill, these will be done by myself or local professionals.
Well, that is what we are about. It will be an exciting nine months or so, and with any luck, we will have a completed house and a group of kids who believe that learning is lifelong and meaningful.