The
Honors Program in the Paradise Valley School
District is available at each district school
and is designed to serve students who are
identified as academically talented in the
areas of verbal, mathematical or nonverbal
reasoning according to the Arizona Department
of Education guidelines. Arizona law mandates
that students who score at the 97th percentile
or above on a test of reasoning from the
state approved list shall receive services
to provide instruction commensurate with
their academic abilities and potential.
Students new
to the district are offered the opportunity to test for possible
placement in the Honors Program and students already in the district
can be nominated by a teacher, parent or themselves for testing
consideration through a nomination form available from the honors
teacher. These testing opportunities are available three times
during the school year. Test results are communicated to the parents
or legal guardians within 30 days and, upon request, explanation
of test results is available.
The curriculum of the Honors Program is designed to ensure not only
the learning of grade level skills in reading and/or mathematics,
but also the acquisition of problem-solving and critical thinking
skills through high academic challenge in these areas.
Social/emotional needs also are served by providing opportunities
for students of similar capabilities to work together in a variety
of learning situations. Students begin to understand and appreciate
not only their talents, but also begin to appreciate the talents
of others.
Primary
Grades Gifted Program
In the primary grades, services vary depending on the specific needs
of the student. The honors program teacher serves as a resource to
the classroom teacher to provide or recommend materials or activities
that promote the development of problem-solving and critical thinking
skills.
Elementary
Grades Gifted Program
Students talented in verbal reasoning
receive instruction through literature. Students move beyond the
regular reading curriculum to learn advanced skills in comprehension,
research, literary analysis and critical thinking. Students talented
in mathematical reasoning receive math instruction using a multitude
of math materials. Besides basic math curriculum, students pursue
topics such as probability, statistics, geometry and algebra and
problem solving at advanced levels. Students gifted in nonverbal
reasoning attend classes to participate in spatial and abstract reasoning
activities. All students participate in logic and critical thinking
skill development activities. Many materials are available to challenge
and stretch students' thinking capabilities and to apply these abilities
in their area(s) of strength and in everyday living. |
