In middle school, the gifted learners participate in OMEGA (Our Methods For Enriching/Educating Gifted Adolescents)! 5th, 6th, and 7th graders participate in pull-out sessions that rotate from morning to afternoon each cycle. In these sessions, they will experience both long and short-term units, projects, and activities that integrate different content areas. While participating in these activities, the learners are trained on the key types of Critical Thinking, described as “CogSkills” by C.H. Dadmun in her book Critical Thinking: Teach Your Kid How to Be Smart, Make good decisions, and Get things done. Opportunities for creativity are also integrated into these pull-out sessions. Additionally, there are shorter sessions throughout the 6-day cycle during IE sessions that will focus directly on math, ELA, and science enrichment. 8th graders attend small group OMEGA sessions every-other day during their IE time. They also become well-versed in using the Critical Thinking CogSkills. Activities tie in these thinking skills and creativity, and will focus on career exploration. Baron Time provides time for small group and one-on-one goal discussions and analysis for all of the gifted learners. Finally, affective development and work with the social-emotional traits of many gifted learners will be addressed in small groups as needed. Of course, too, our middle school OMEGA learners will have the opportunity to participate in IU 13’s SEE Seminars. This year, the See Seminars will be offered both in-person and virtually. So, overall, the MCMS gifted program focuses on thinking skills, , creativity, the integration and enrichment of content areas, and the individual needs of the gifted learners.
Jon Clausen – 5-8 Middle School
clausenj@manheimcentral.org
717-664-1750
