Enrichment Clusters

Enrichment clusters engage students and facilitators in student-driven, real-world learning experiences. Grouped by interest, students working like practicing professionals apply advanced content and methods to develop products and services for authentic audiences. Clusters are scheduled during the school day over an extended period of time and involve all students. This updated second edition of Enrichment Clusters provides the rationale for including this important enrichment program for all students, suggestions for creating buy-in, and a step-by-step guide for successful implementation of a self-sustaining enrichment cluster program within the context of specific schools. Included are staff development activities, suggestions for evaluation and program improvement, guidelines for developing high quality cluster experiences for teachers and students, suggested resources, and everything one needs to develop, implement, and sustain a top-quality enrichment cluster program.

The Schoolwide Enrichment Model: A How-to Guide for Talent Development (3rd ed.) presents a common sense approach for helping students achieve and engage in joyful learning. Based on years of research, the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) is founded on highly successful practices originally developed for programs for gifted students. The SEM promotes “a rising tide lifts all ships” approach to school improvement by applying general enrichment strategies to all students and opportunities for advanced level follow-up opportunities for superior learners and highly motivated students. This guidebook shows educators step by step how to develop their own SEM program based on their own local resources, student population, and faculty strengths and interests. Instead of offering students a one-size-fits-all curriculum, the model helps educators look at each student's strengths, interests, learning styles, and preferred modes of expression and capitalize on these assets. The book highlights the model's fundamentals and underlying research and provides information about organizational components, service delivery options, and resources for implementation. The book suggests methods for engaging and challenging identified gifted students and provides practical resources for teachers using the SEM with all students.

Grounded in decades of research, the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) has been successfully implemented at hundreds of schools across the world. Now, The Schoolwide Enrichment Model in Science: A Hands-on Approach for Engaging Young Scientists takes high-engagement learning one step further by applying SEM teaching strategies to the science curriculum. In this book, teachers learn how to engage students and to teach the skills needed to complete meaningful, in-depth investigations in science. Activities are connected to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and current policy recommendations calling for the meaningful integration of technology and promoting thinking and doing like young scientists over rote memorization. Easy to read and use, the book incorporates many practical suggestions, as well as reproducible student and teacher handouts.

Using the Schoolwide Enrichment Model in Mathematics: A How-to Guide for Developing Student Mathematicians applies the teaching and learning strategies of the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) to the math classroom. Based on more than 40 years of research and development and used in schools around the world, the SEM approach focuses on promoting higher level thinking skills and creative productivity. Using this approach in mathematics, this new guidebook promotes the use of the Mathematical Practices outlined in the Common Core State Standards as the underlying processes and proficiencies that should be developed in students. Teachers learn how to create a culture of enjoyment, engagement, and enthusiasm for all students, and in particular gifted students, while developing students who think and act like mathematicians. Easy to read and use, the book incorporates many practical suggestions, including views from the classroom and sample activities from NAGC-award winning curriculum to motivate and challenge students.

This six page, quick-reference laminated guide by Dr. Joseph Renzulli and Marcia Gentry guide provides an overview of Enrichment Clusters, an innovative component of the Renzulli Schoolwide Enrichment Model, along with seven steps for implementation. Enrichment Clusters engage students in interest-based, student-driven, real-world learning experiences. An Enrichment Cluster is a “brand of learning” that focuses on providing resources, guidance, and feedback to individuals and small groups based on their interests, learning styles, and preferred modes of expression. The facilitator serves as a guide-on-the-side rather than a dispenser of prescribed curriculum. Students use authentic investigative skills, how-to books, and inquiry strategies to produce a product, presentation, or performance for targeted audiences. Enrichment Clusters are the academic equivalent of extra curricular activities with teachers serving as coaches or facilitators rather than traditional instructors. Includes a getting started guide and examples, as well as tips for evaluation and assessment.

Intended for those in large school communities who are looking for ways to improve the creative productivity and academic achievement of all students. The Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) provides educators with an adaptable framework for bringing the lasting improvements to education that school personnel have sought for so long. Describes three service delivery components and several organizational components of the SEM that can be used to provide high-level learning opportunities for all students. Glossary. References.

Use the Schoolwide Enrichment Model to support enriching learning opportunities for all learners and to develop students' talent, raise achievement, honor diversity, and foster a growth-oriented staff.

Implementing RtI With Gifted Students shares how RtI can fit within the framework of gifted education programming models. This edited book will serve as a reference guide for those interested in learning more about RtI and how it might be effectively implemented to meet the needs of all gifted students. Chapters contributed by top gifted education experts focus on topics including tiered supports and services for gifted learners; screening, assessment, and progress monitoring; evidence-based practices; popular gifted education models that fit within a tiered framework; and diversity. Additional resources for schools include a self-assessment needs survey; guidelines for planning; forms, templates, and timelines for getting started; and rubrics for reviewing implementation fidelity and progress.