MANALAPAN NJ SCHOOL INFORMATION

MANALAPAN AT HANDBOOK

OVERVIEW

In accordance with the New Jersey Department of Education mandate, the Manalapan-Englishtown School System initiated the Academically Talented program in 1978. It was developed to meet the needs of those few students whose ability, performance and potential were so superior to their peers that they required a differentiated education program. A differentiated program provides students with either acceleration and/or subject enrichment.

Academically Talented children are those who possess high intellectual ability, proven academic performance, higher level thinking skills, a commitment to all tasks, and self-motivation to consistently produce quality work.

The goal of the program is to provide an academic learning environment which is particularly suited to the needs of identified children, while at the same time fostering their social growth. To this end, we provide opportunities for interaction with the general school population.

PROGRAM CONFIGURATION
The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional schools selected the individual (self-contained) classroom model for our program. Research has shown that this environment most effectively provides an atmosphere for advanced learners. We offer a full-time program which contains differentiated curriculum emphasizing acceleration in specific subjects areas and enrichment experiences in others. Instruction in all major areas has been designed to provide in-depth study, research skills and problem solving techniques.

To meet the needs of our students, we have developed the following instructional program. Our Academically Talented Program was established in 1978 and comprises classes which are at grade levels two through six. Students in this program have been identified as having exceptional ability in both reading and mathematics and exceptional academic aptitudes and intelligence.

At grades two through six, there is a blending of classes for a variety of subject areas/activities. Blending affords program students the opportunity to work together as a group and to work with non-program students as available. The student will have the benefit of instruction from many teachers.

PROGRAM PLACEMENT
The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional Schools offer four phases of placement into the Academically Talented Program. At grades kindergarten through first, students are identified by their classroom teacher and differentiation opportunities are offered.

Grades two and three represent the beginning of our formal program. Students are screened for placement at the end of grade one and are placed into the program for two years.

The intermediate phase of our program begins at grade four. Students who were in our primary program will either continue in this segment of the program or be exited. New placements will be reviewed and placed as appropriate.

At the completion of grade five, the progress of all students will be reviewed to determine the appropriateness of grade six placement.

CURRICULUM

There are certain elements common to all grade levels of our program. We offer our students a differentiated curriculum with both vertical acceleration in reading, mathematics, and language arts, and horizontal enrichment experience in all other areas.

Students are offered a wide range of experiences within the classroom and through activities such as convocations and field experiences, which “stretch” our students’ abilities in both the cognitive and affective domains.

The program goals are to provide students with a learning atmosphere which enables students to develop their potential and exceptional abilities, particularly in the areas of decision-making, planning, performing, reasoning, creativity, and communication.

The curriculum is designed to improve cognitive skills, involve students in a variety of experiences in flexible and diverse situations, and encourage creativity. Students are given an element of choice, which many alternatives built on individual interest.

An example of our differentiated curriculum is the “morning minute.” This is an independent research project of the student’s choice, which is presented to the class. “Morning minutes” are assigned to allow students to study a topic of their choice in depth and to introduce students to a variety of research skills/tools. This project requires them to organize data, which will be presented to an audience. Students are expected to demonstrate higher level thinking skills throughout their written and oral presentation, and to involve the audience in their presentation. Each student participates in both a self and peer evaluation of one another’s reports. Because the research component is such a vital factor in the academically talented program, the student will be expected to utilize the public library and community resources.

Homework Policy – Participation in the academically talented program does not necessitate an inordinate amount of homework. The quality and nature of assignments will differ from the regular classroom. With proper time management of long-term assignments, the workload should not be excessive. Parents should consider their child’s homework to be of the highest priority.

SELECTION PROCEDURES - Students are identified by the following criteria:


Grade 3 – 6
Metropolitan Achievement Test:
Total Reading 97/92 + NP
Total Math 92/97 + NP
Total Language 92 + NP
Teacher Recommendation Strong
District Assessment – Grade 2 only




Once entrance into the program has been approved, continued placement will be dependent on these additional factors:

• exhibit intellectual curiosity.
  
• accept challenges and exert the effort to solve them.
  
• demonstrate originality.
  
• be stimulated by non-traditional activities and assignments.
  
• have a high capacity for listening to directions and responding to them.
  
• have a range and intensity of interests.
  
• learn by “figuring things out” more than by imitation and repetition.
  
• complete assignments quickly and accurately and use free time to pursue additional purposeful activities.
  
• stay on task (not easily distracted from the problem under consideration).
  
• carry through prolonged projects.
  
• evidence a strong sense of responsibility.
  
• have a positive attitude to learning and a genuine desire to succeed.
  
• demonstrate pride in his/her work or achievement.
  
• have the ability to organize.
  
• conceptualize and apply his/her learning to other situations.
  
• show a desire to be in the program.
  
• exhibit non-disruptive behavior.
  

Summer/School Year Placements – Students, who enroll in our district during the summer and fall and have participated in bonafide academically talented/gifted programs in their previous district, will be considered for placement. Parents/guardians must provide evidence of placement. A letter of recommendation from the program teacher, principal, and the most recent standardized test score is required. Incoming students must meet the entrance criteria for our program. Placement is not automatic. No placements will be made after January 1^st for that school year.

Exit Policy – Student performance is continuously monitored and assessed. While the hope is that the identification process is accurate, and all students identified will be successful, we realize that this occasionally does not happen and the student is not successful. Therefore, an exit policy has been established.

Three types of students fall into the exit/phase out process:

First, the student cannot adjust to the academic requirements of the course. This requires each student to maintain at least a B average in each subject. Second, the student, who by their very actions (or lack of action), does not contribute significantly to the class or who, through inappropriate behavior, is creating an environment where many students are suffering at the expense of one child. Third, the student who lacks task commitment.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

The Parent as School Supporter: Parents are an integral part of our program and have an important role to play. They should help students prioritize and make reasonable choices for out-of-school activities, allowing enough time and energy to devote to schoolwork. Spreading positive feelings about the program among friends and neighbors will help shape supportive and productive attitudes in community members. Some points to get across: there is joy in learning; teachers are to be respected; homework is your child’s responsibility; and school is a good place to be.

The Parent as Source of Information: Parents provide valuable information to school personnel about their children, including activities with their family and friends. Communication between parent and teacher enables our staff to be more sensitive to individual differences and to provide an appropriate education for each student.

The Parent as Resource Person: Sharing talents and experiences, hobbies, career information, special training or know-how can be a significant source of enrichment for academically talented children. Parents can make themselves available as mentors for students’ projects, independent studies, etc., serving in an advisory capacity. As tempting and easy as it is to work directly on student assignments, parents will help their children far more by allowing them to complete projects independently.

PROGRAM LOCATION
Sites: Our program is set up in three schools:

Taylor Mills School 732-786-2760 Second Grade - Mrs. Lois Schlissberg
Third Grade - Mrs. Lenore Pearlman
- Mrs. Joanne Sawyer

Pine Brook School 732-786-2800 Fourth Grade - Mrs. Regina Resnick
Ms. Holly Keane
Fifth Grade - Ms. Heather Blaker
- Mrs. Bernice Gewirtz
Sixth Grade - Mrs. Karen Becker
- Mrs. Phyllis Ostrega

Main Street School 732-786-2532 Mr. Bruce Mitzak, Supervisor



FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
At the Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School, AT/With Distinction opportunities exist in the following areas:

Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies

Placement for these programs varies from department to department.

High School
The Freehold Regional High School District offers four-year Specialized Learning Centers in the following areas:

Business Administration - Marlboro High School
Fine & Performing Arts - Howell High School
Global Languages and Cultures - Colts Neck High School
International Studies - Freehold Township High School
Medical Science - Freehold Boro High School
Scholars Center for Humanities - Howell High School
Science and Engineering - Manalapan High School

Students are also encouraged to participate in other programs offered in our district.
Some of these opportunities are:

Continental Math League Grades 2 – 8
Math Counts Grades 2 – 8
National History Day Grades 6 – 8
Odyssey of the Mind Grades 3 – 8
S.I.T.E.S. Grade 8

MANALAPAN-ENGLISHTOWN REPORT CARD

DISTRICT PHILOSOPHY
2004-2005