Talent development

There is a talent development teacher at each elementary school. Collaborating with classroom teachers, talent development teachers provide direct instruction to students who meet specific criteria. Some elementary talent development services are delivered by classroom teachers.

Talent Development and Gifted Education programming supports students at our 25 elementary schools. Students receive tiers of support and programming based on their academic need.

Tier 1

Student group: All students

Programming: Core classroom and classroom differentiation

Tier 2

Student group: Many students (90-94%)

Programming: Enrichment programming (Literacy and Math), potential cross-grade level services, problem solving and critical thinking skills

Tier 3

Student group: Some students (95-98%)

Programming: Specialized programming (Literacy, math, and STEM-passion projects), leadership development, Summer Academy

Tier 4

Student group: Few students (98-99%)

Programming: Single subject acceleration, grade level acceleration, Nebula, School-Within-a-School

* Based on local data, CogAT, MAP, MCA

Academic enrichment opportunities

A variety of co-curricular activities are available to our elementary students. Some of these activities are open to all students who are interested in them, and others require a recommendation.

Summer

The Curriculum Department at Anoka-Hennepin Schools regularly receives information regarding summer enrichment opportunities. The compiled list of opportunities is designed to address the intellectual and creative interests of students.

Available to all students

Young Scientist Roundtable is an opportunity for students, K-12, who are interested in science to attend presentations by scientists in the field. Sessions are held approximately once a month, and most are at the Educational Service Center in Anoka. There is no charge or registration for these events. Parents are welcome to attend, and unless otherwise communicated, families must provide their own transportation. For specifics and a schedule, see Community Education.

Destination Imagination (DI), an extra-curricular creative problem solving competition, is open to students in grades K-12. Teams solve challenges in areas such as engineering, science, technology, performing arts, improvisation and community service. DI teams have up to seven students and spend time working together after school to creatively solve their challenge and develop a performance showing their solution at the regional tournament. Teams are usually facilitated by volunteer team managers. Training for volunteer team managers is provided. To learn more about DI in Anoka-Hennepin schools, contact our district DI Coordinator, Lynn Montgomery at lynn.montgomery@ahschools.us or at 612-670-8281. Also see destinationimagination.org or mndi.org.

Anoka-Hennepin Community Education provides a variety of activities available to all students. In addition to catalogs received in the mail, information can be found on the Community Education website.

Students who qualify

Student Creativity Festival (grades three through five) and the Young Authors Conference (grades four and five) are one-day off-site learning experiences available to recommended students. Students who are invited to participate will be notified. See successbeyond.org.

Challenge Reading and Math Plus are programs designed to help meet the needs of talented kindergarten through fifth grade students. These programs are made possible through volunteers. Students are typically recommended for these programs and then invited to participate. Information to families of these students comes through the Talent Development secretary at each school.

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