Gifted and English as a Second Language classes are also provided to qualifying students across all grade levels.

The ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program is designed for students to receive help with learning English immediately upon arrival to MRH. The program offers intensive instruction to students whose first language is not English. Students learn to understand, speak, read, and write English and learn a new culture. The learning environment is supportive and non-threatening and allows students to learn English quickly and make necessary academic and social adjustments.

Our District LAU plan is available for review on our district website.

• Have a question about the MRH ESOL program or the identification process. Please contact one of our teachers listed below:

  Early Childhood Center - Krystal Swoboda

  Elementary Building - Tate Haugen

  Middle and High School - Kristin Tanner

  EL Coordinator - Assistant Superintendent Dr. Chris McGee

The MRH Gifted Program supports the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District’s commitment to academic and personal success for every student.   Academically gifted students come from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds and possess unique abilities, needs, and potentials and are, therefore, a unique segment of the district’s student population.  Academically gifted students’ abilities differ from their peers to such a degree that differentiated curricula and instructional techniques are needed to nurture growth and development.  In order to meet the unique needs of gifted and talented students, MRH offers academically gifted programming and an interdisciplinary curriculum that is different from the regular school curriculum by the degree of complexity of content, process, and products to challenge academically gifted students to achieve their highest potential.

Contact Us:

Have a question about the MRH Gifted Program or the identification process. Please contact one of our teachers listed below:

Early Childhood Center - Krystal Swoboda

Elementary Building - Dan Lyons

Middle and High School - Chuck Baker

Program Design 

This tier two support is designed to provide an array of learning opportunities that helps students realize their potential, instill a desire to develop their talents and abilities, and encourages scholarly rigor. Interdisciplinary units and differentiated instructional strategies are used to teach or refine skills of research, encourage higher levels of thinking, enhance creative/productive thinking, and extend the academic base of knowledge.

Early Childhood Program (Preschool - Grades 1)

The gifted education department provides support to all classroom teachers, administration and staff to assist in differentiation of curriculum.  While all students are screened as part of our ongoing MTSS process, students are not identified for gifted services until second grade. Once they are identified (the ending of 1st grade year) for the second grade year, students will begin attending pull out sessions of gifted programming for approximately 150 minutes each week.

Early Childhood and Elementary Program (Grades 2 - 6)

The gifted education department provides support to all classroom teachers, administration and staff to assist in differentiation of curriculum.  Students in grades 2 – 6 who are identified as gifted, participate in a pull-out program for approximately 150 minutes each week.  Students are provided with a resource room curriculum that focuses on communication, research skills, thinking skills, problem solving, creative expression, and affective education. All classes are taught by a certified gifted specialist.  
 

Middle School Program (Grades 7 - 8)

The gifted education department provides support to all classroom teachers, administration and staff to assist in differentiation of curriculum.  Students meet with a certified gifted specialist as one of their chosen electives.  Students are provided a curriculum rich in the areas of communication, research skills, thinking skills and problem solving, creative expression, and affective education. 

High School Program (9 - 12)

The gifted education department provides support to all classroom teachers, administration and staff to assist in differentiation of curriculum.  The gifted teacher works with students and teachers in a resource capacity on a schedule. The opportunities provided at the high school include:

• Advanced Placement (AP) Courses:  All students at MRH High School may choose to participate in AP courses based in rigorous curricula.  
• Honors Options:  All students at MRH High School may choose to participate in the honors option for up to two of their classes each semester.  Honors option is designated in the course guide for those classes where it is available. Students who select the honors option will participate in the regular course that is being taught; however, approximately twenty-five percent of their work in the  course will involve “advanced differentiation.” This may include the study of additional objectives, advanced readings, sophisticated problem-solving, and individualized research and more writing.  Regularly, assignments will require more sophisticated thinking than standard assignments.  On occasion, honors students may be required to participate in out-of-school experiences such as  visiting an art exhibit, attending a speech, or interviewing an individual.  

Gifted Resources

Focused on Research and Policy

National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) supports those who enhance the growth and development of gifted and talented children through education, advocacy, community building, and research.  http://nagc.org

National Research Center on Gifted and Talented conducts research on gifted education; their site is designed for researchers and policy makers.   http://nrcgt.uconn.edu/

Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) is a search tool for access to academic articles on giftedness.  www.eric.ed.gov

The Gifted Association of Missouri has multiple resources, including sponsoring conferences and hosting a gifted education day. www.mogam.org

Focused on Information about Giftedness

State of Missouri Department of Education has information and resources on gifted education.  https://dese.mo.gov/quality-schools/gifted-education

18 resources for the parents of gifted students is just as it sounds.

http://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/18-resources-for-the-parents-of-gifted-students/

Hoagies Gifted Education Page is a site full of resources, articles, books and links to help and support parents, teachers, and gifted children: http://www.hoagiesgifted.org

Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) offers support and guidance to the gifted community, through education, research, and connection.  http://sengifted.org/