Gifted and Talented
Gifted and Talented Enrichment at St. Anthony Park Elementary School
All of us here at St. Anthony Park (SAP) believe that every student deserves to be challenged at his/her ability level. To accomplish this goal, SAP classroom and specialist teachers offer challenging learning opportunities to all students. SAP offers these enrichment opportunities in a variety of ways.
Enrichment in core academic subjects (reading, writing and math) happens frequently and is a part of the everyday school routine. For example, third graders who are reading at a 5th grade level are provided with books to read and discuss at their level in a small guided reading group with other advanced readers.
Enrichment in other subjects includes more options for kids to develop their artistic, scientific, athletic, and leadership talents. Some enrichment classes/activities are open only to qualified students (such as a challenge math group for gifted math students), while others involve all students (such as the Artist–in-Residence program). After-school enrichment activities (such as Chess and Destination Imagination) are voluntary for students who demonstrate an interest.
Important Note:
The department for Talent Development and Acceleration Services (TDAS) within the Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) coordinates the testing of all kindergarten and 2nd grade students in the district using the CogAT7 (Cognitive Achievement Test, Version 7). This test determines whether students are identified for gifted and talented services within SPPS. If your child has been identified for gifted and talented services, his/her homeroom teacher can answer specific questions you may have about how he/she is being challenged at school. If your child is not in kindergarten or 2nd grade and you would like him/her to take the CogAT7, talk to your child’s teacher in early fall to learn about the nomination process.
Enrichment in Core Academic Subjects
To provide challenge in core academic subjects, St. Anthony Park teachers use:
- Pre-assessment and interest inventories to create flexible groups.
- Small groups with focused instruction, activities and assignments to reach different levels of need (special emphasis on use of higher order thinking skills).
- Challenge packets, learning centers and independent projects (including use of technology) to challenge advanced, motivated learners
Enrichment in Other Subjects
- Weekly art classes in the art lab with artist Courtney Oleen
- Artist-in-Residence program (visiting artists work with students at each grade level)
- Celebration of Talent (annual celebration of visual arts)
- Talent Show (annual celebration of performing arts)
- Art Adventure Program (volunteers are trained at Minneapolis Institute of Arts; volunteers then teach students about selected pieces; finally, students go see actual pieces at MIA)
- “St. Anthony Park Reads” (school-wide literature appreciation program; sometimes involves a visit by an author)
- Concerts by our school bands, orchestra, grade-level choirs, and by visiting musicians
- BOKS (once a week, before school workout program)
- Running Club (springtime, after-school running program)
- Track and Field Day (annual friendly competition)
- Cross grade-level mentoring (students from different grades teach and learn from each other)
- Community service projects (student-led, food collection for a local food shelf, raking for local seniors, Jump Rope for Heart, …)
- On-site Community Education Classes
- Extended Day Learning Enrichment
- Parent-led after-school opportunities
- Destination Imagination
Additional Enrichment by Grade Level
Kindergarten
Active Inquiry Specialist Class
Fire Department Visit
Officer Friendly visit
Catalyst Tools for Thinking
Make a Memory Day
100th Day Celebration
Children’s Museum field trip
Como Park Planetarium field trip
1st Grade
Family Science Night
Active Inquiry Specialist Class
Officer Friendly Visit
St. Paul Fire Fighter Visit
Children’s Museum field trip
Como Park Planetarium field trip
Saint Paul Public Library field trips
2nd Grade
Family Science Night
Family-School Reading Celebrations
Officer Friendly
Volunteer facilitated book groups
St. Paul Saints field trip
Saint Paul Public Library field trips
Minneapolis Institute of Arts field trip
Ordway Theater field trips
Bell Museum field trip
3rd Grade
Family Science Night
Science Project and Fair, optional
Energy and U Program
Seasonal Celebrations
Destination Imagination
Children’s Theatre field trip
Minnesota Zoo field trip
Mill City Museum field trip
Belwin Nature Center field trip
Science Project and Fair
4th Grade
Science Project and Fair
Orchestra and Band
Destination Imagination
Lego League
Grade-Level Musical
Fort Snelling tour
State Capitol and History Center tours
Journey to the Falls Adventure
Belwin Nature Center field trip
5th Grade
Science Project and Fair
Major research projects
Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, 5 days
Orchestra and Band
President’s Physical Fitness Challenge
Destination Imagination
Como Park Planetarium field trips
Belwin Nature Center field trip
Young Authors’ Conference