In order to achieve and maximize individual potential for each student in the HCSD, the District has historically placed emphasis on the use of differentiated instruction for all of its students. Enrichment is achieved through instruction in the core academic content areas which allows all students an equal opportunity to learn to their highest ability through the use of differentiation of instruction.
In all grades, the differentiated instructional plans are directed to enrich all students to expand their skills in the following areas:
- Critical thinking
- Divergent and convergent thinking
- Independently constructing meaning of concepts and formulating abstract theories and abstract concepts
- Problem solving through project based learning activities
- Formulating opinions and debating points of view
- Formulating generalizations and identifying exceptions
- Exercising multiple modes of response and/or presentation skills
How can parents help to enrich their child's education?
The home life of a student frequently determines the extent and nature of a student’s learning opportunities. An enriched home environment often sparks creativity and intellectual development. Some ways parents can support their school’s enrichment program are:
Be supportive – share ideas and thoughts daily;
Encourage your child to wonder or reflect about ideas or actions;
Encourage original thinking with “What if” questions;
Foster the development of hobbies or interests;
Discuss or analyze current events with your child;
Help discover sources of information – but don’t do “things” for your child;
Whenever possible, take your child to museums, galleries, historical places, etc. in order to expand his/her thinking.
Links of Interest:
Student Enrichment Resources:
To foster the intellectual growth of your child, below are some websites that provide stimulating, thoughtful, playful, and “stretching” activities.
Daily Dose: Brain Teasers: This website has a list of several websites that have great brain teasers that can be used at school or at home.
Daily Dose of the Web: This website offers “Question of the Day”; specific subject area puzzles, word games, etc; Quotation sources to begin thoughtful conversations; and Interesting Trivia.
Skill Builder Interactive Sites: This website provides literacy and math activities for children in grades kindergarten through eighth. The activities are linked to specific skills.