MMS Enrichment
Underlying the town of Mansfield's school program is the philosophy that education should provide for the maximum development of each student. The Mansfield Enrichment Program seeks to develop the potential of intellectually gifted and creatively talented students. Options for students are provided within the classroom and through activities that challenge, accelerate, and enrich each student, while encouraging self-development and service.

High-ability students are often characterized by their advanced thinking skills, In general; these students are highly motivated and have in-depth and/or long-term interests in a variety of subjects. Yet, quite often, their skills are underdeveloped, and their motivations and interests are untapped. Usually there is a need to develop critical, creative, and divergent thinking skills as well as the ability to synthesize information and ideas. Talented young people need to develop independence, self-motivation, self-discipline, and self-evaluation. In addition, there is also a need to identify areas of interest and to discuss and exchange ideas with other students of equal ability or similar talents and with interested professional staff and community resources.

Recognition of these needs is reflected in the philosophy of the Mansfield Enrichment program, forming the basis for planning differentiated curricula and teaching strategies. Specific experiences are tailored to the needs of each child through the cooperative efforts of classroom and resource teachers so that experiences can be offered in the regular classroom setting as well as outside the regular class. The words "gifted," "talented," and "special" are used sparingly to minimize elitism. Consequently, the main motivations for student participation and involvement focus on a student's ability, high interest and task commitment in the activity or topic.

Programs available to high ability learners include:

• Fifth Grade Five/Six math program
• Sixth Grade Pre-Algebra
• Seventh Grade Algebra
• Eighth Grade Geometry

• Students may participate in a school-wide Science Fair.
• National History Day Program is offered to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders.
• A Writers Workshop is available to students at each grade level.
• Fifth graders are given the opportunity to participate in enrichment in science, reading and math.
• Math Tutorial: A Long Distance Learning program through John Hopkins University is offered to high ability math students based on teacher/parent recommendation.
• A mentor program in Physics is offered to interested students in grades 5-8.

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