Gifted and Talented Programs
Every child has the right to be provided with educational opportunities that challenge their unique interests and special talents. The gifted and talented programs have been designed to support and enrich differentiated instruction within the classroom and offer enriching activities beyond the classroom walls. With the goals of developing higher order, critical, and creative thinking skills to enhance the child’s own life while enriching the larger community, these programs are designed to develop and bolster individual strengths and talents of all children attending the Lincoln Park Schools.
In the ACCESS program, students who meet district criteria work with the enrichment specialist teacher to explore many different areas of interest while working at the highest possible academic level. Students are encouraged to seek information and solutions utilizing their own unique abilities, talents, and interests. Our program addresses the potential in each student and seeks the development of such qualities as divergent thinking, creativity, problem solving, and sensitivity to others. Third, fourth, and fifth graders are pulled from their regular classroom for one 45-minute period once a week; sixth graders meet for a double period once a week; seventh and eighth grade students meet on “B” days during the morning homeroom period.
Other Opportunities for All Students
It is possible for students who do not meet the ACCESS criteria yet excel in one or more areas to be included in other programs and special events. Math Olympiad is an ongoing program and students from grade four through eight are chosen by their classroom teacher for participation. Our district also belongs to the New Jersey Consortium for Gifted & Talented Programs, which sponsors such activities as Math Marathon, Workshop on the Arts, Learning Carnival, Spelling Bee, and other events for which all students are eligible.
Resources and Opportunities
Organizations and Web Resources
New Jersey Association for Gifted Children
The Gifted Child Society
Center for Gifted Education Policy
American Association of Gifted Children
National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
The Association for the Gifted (TAG)
David C. Baird's Gifted Children Web Site
Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) focuses primarily on the adults in the lives of gifted children.
Hoagies' Gifted Education Page is a resource guide for the education of gifted children with links to resources on nearly every aspect of gifted education.
Gifted Children: Identification, Encouragement, and Development is an on-line parents' newsletter dedicated to making a difference in the education of children with special talents and abilities.
Gifted Children - Activity and Resource Calendar for Parents is a great calendar providing a wealth of information, ideas, activities, and resources for parents of gifted and talented children.
Distance Learning Network is a comprehensive listing of cyber academies, high schools, and opportunities to take individual classes or courses.
Talent Search and Summer Programs
Academically Gifted and Talented Youth Program at Montclair State University offers a supplementary academic program for high aptitude and high achieving students grades 4-11.
Summer Institute for the Gifted
Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University (CTY) is a comprehensive, university-based initiative providing academic summer programs for those who score highly in their annual talent searches.
Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University provides testing and programs that identify, nurture, and develop the gifts of students ages 4 to 18
Academic Talent Development Program for students grades K-11 at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Education.
University of Northern Colorado Summer Enrichment Program for children in grades 5-10 who are gifted, talented, and creative.
Rocky Mountain Talent Search (RMTS) from University of Denver providing opportunities for academically talented youth grades 5-9.
Talent Identification Program at Duke University helps 4th through 12th grade gifted youth evaluate, learn about, and grow their talents.
Davidson Institute for Talent Development (supporting the profoundly gifted population)