4EAcademy

Enrich-Engage-Explore-Extend

2009-2010

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Click here for a printable version of the 4E identification process

Mission and Criteria

Mission

Provide the students of St. Mary’s School who demonstrate exceptional abilities an opportunity to reach their full academic potential by offering them challenging and supportive educational experiences.

Goals

• Identify students who demonstrate exceptional abilities and require services beyond the regular classroom methods.
• Develop programs and services that are appropriate for the academic, creative, artistic, and leadership abilities of identified students.
• Program and services will include:
• Differentiated Curriculum
• Expanding, extending and enhancing curriculum
• Student selected activities that enrich experiences
• Individualized student services
• Resource for classroom teachers
• Parental awareness and resource
• Community involvement
• Evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of the program

Curriculum/Implementation

Thematic units will be developed that will help the students:

• Develop their abilities in higher level, more complex thinking skills that are an extension of the regular curriculum. 
• Study advanced level content and master the major concepts, skills, and processes of the curriculum.
• Develop the skills for self directed learning and independent research.
• Gain an understanding and respect for each person’s abilities and develop their own abilities for the betterment of themselves and society.

Once a week for 30-40 minutes, the students will meet in small groups with Mrs. Schneider, the 4E teacher.  Students will be responsible for getting the information they missed; however, they will not be expected to make up all 100% of the work.  

Characteristics

Students who are eligible to participate in the 4E Academy are those pupils who exhibit high performance capability in intellectual aptitude, specific academic areas, creativity, visual and performing arts, and/or leadership. Brief summaries of the characteristics of these five areas are:

Intellectually Gifted - Students show early and rapid development of language ability, a large vocabulary, strong powers of reasoning, analysis, or synthesis, and advanced ability to critical thinking and problem solving. Intellectually gifted students often have a high IQ, demonstrate high achievement, and are capable of being very good at most things they choose to do.

Academically Able - Students do extremely well in one or two subject areas. Their performance in these areas exceeds the work they do in other areas. They are often widely read in their area of interest, are enthusiastic, possess a broad knowledge base, and exhibit a high energy level on those school tasks.

Creatively Gifted and Talented - Pupils express their creative abilities in oral, written, and nonverbal forms. They tend to produce many original ideas and are flexible and elaborate in their thinking. Their ideas are often different from those of other students, resisting conformity. They often challenge authority, are adventurous, and have a sense of humor.

Artistically Gifted and Talented - Students show high potential for significant contributions in the visual and performing arts including acting, writing, painting, sculpting, singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument, and/or composing.

Leadership - These students tend to assume responsibility and direct others in activities in both formal classroom and informal/social situations. Their leadership traits may be used either positively or negatively.