Challenge Program Goals & Outcomes

Outcomes

The following outcomes guide the mission, goals, and curriculum of the Challenge Program. These outcomes are specifically designed to address the needs of gifted children. Each child’s progress in the program is evaluated throughout the year with consideration given to unit of study, grade level, and number of years in the program.

Awareness of Self and Others

• Understands and demonstrates social skills necessary for appropriate interaction with peers and adults
• Identifies, approaches, and participates in appropriate risk-taking behaviors
• Evaluates and accepts responsibility for own actions

Creativity

• Thinks imaginatively and shows vision in work, conversation, and products
• Shows curiosity by questioning and seeks answers to new learning
• Consistently generates a variety of ideas, solutions, and questions through elaboration and flexible thinking

Critical Thinking Skills

• Analyzes and evaluates information to determine its relevancy and validity
• Synthesizes information into unique and creative formats

Task Commitment

• Is a self-directed learner who eagerly seeks opportunities to acquire new knowledge and experiences
• Understands the concept of excellence
• Translates the concept of excellence into a quality product
• Has learned to manage time to achieve goals
• Sets realistic goals, develops a plan for attainment, and effectively puts plan into action

Communication/Research Skills

• Can effectively communicate thoughts, ideas, and feelings
• Can state an opinion and support it with articulated facts, details, and/or beliefs
• Locates and manipulates a variety of resource materials skillfully and independently

Program Goals

• To provide a vehicle for communication and coordination of instruction between the classroom teacher and Challenge teacher
• To provide a learning environment that will permit and encourage the students to develop their special interests and potentials in real life situations
• To provide instruction in problem-solving, organization skills, higher order thinking skills, critical thinking, decision-making skills and development of creativity
• To provide instruction which meets the affective needs of gifted children
• To provide instruction which enables the student to access & manipulate technology
• To provide a vehicle for the students to develop task commitment
• To provide opportunities for students to work both independently and in groups
• To establish evaluation strategies that the student and teacher can discuss
• To provide instruction in verbal and non-verbal communication skills
• To provide a vehicle for communication among students, parents, classroom teachers, Challenge teachers, and principals