Uniquely Gifted
The Uniquely Gifted classroom at
North Ranch Elementary School is a program to serve twice exceptional students.
This program describes a special population of highly
talented students who are often lost in the shuffle of
a school environment.
The students serviced through this
program must be identified as gifted in addition to having
a second identified exceptionality in special education.
It is this second exceptionality that prevents the student
from being able to succeed in a traditional honors classroom.
A successful learning environment —
The program is open to children throughout the district.
Using the students’ strengths as a springboard,
a non-traditional curriculum is planned to provide each
student with a successful learning environment. State
and district standards are presented, though not necessarily
in a conventional format. The recognition that these
students are facing, and will continue to face, immense
challenges socially and emotionally, is paramount to
their success.
Goal of the program —
The major goal of the program is
to facilitate emotional, social, and cognitive growth
in each student. Autonomy in the learning process is
the goal as students are encouraged to explore, invent,
question, create, and become self-directed in using their
unique talents. The program has many success stories. “I
belong here” are the most beautiful words
the parent of a uniquely gifted child and the staff at
North Ranch can hear.
Background —
The Uniquely Gifted classroom is a safe
place where the risks involved in learning can be
fully explored by students for whom school has too
often been a nightmare. This program was initially
developed in 2001 to meet the needs of one of our
students. We knew that the regular education program
was not meeting her needs. We began a search for
an educational setting that would provide success
for the student. In doing so we created the first
Twice-Exceptional classroom in the state. We needed a
program for one child and found a home for many others.
Nationwide, others have sought our advice in trying to
learn about these unique learners and the possibility
of program duplication.
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