Carroll Lutheran School has a full-time Resource Teacher on staff. Her role is to assist the teachers by working with students who need support or enrichment in particular areas of their learning.

Academic Support

The Resource Teacher evaluates each student at the beginning of the year for reading levels in order to recommend placements for reading groups. Subsequent testing may take place later in the year depending on the age level and/or goals for the student. The Reource Teacher works closely with each teacher to provide any needed interventions that will ensure that each student meets their academic goals.

Accelerated Learning

School-Based Interventions

Carroll Lutheran School meets the needs of our gifted and talented students in a variety of ways:

• Early admittance to Kindergarten
  Normally, children must be 5 years of age by Sept. 1 in order to enter a kindergarten program in the state of Maryland.  However, a 4-year-old who turns 5 between Sept. 2 and Dec. 1 may qualify for early admittance if they demonstrate the necessary academic skills and maturation.
• Above grade level reading group
  Children in the lower elementary grades are placed in reading groups such as above grade level, on grade level, and below grade level.  Higher ability children would be considered for placement in the above grade level group.
• Enrichment
  Children who exhibit strong ability in reading or mathematics work with the resource teacher once a week on activities designed to extend their learning.
• Reading or math with a higher grade level
  Students who have mastered the skills at their particular grade level move to the next grade to receive instruction.  They return to their age-appropriate grade for the rest of their schedule.
• Advanced Placement
  In middle school, students may also qualify for a high school class such as Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, or English I.
• Embellishment
  When providing assignments teachers always encourage children to “go over and beyond” the minimum.
• Skip a Grade
  A child who demonstrates maturity and mastery of skills in all subject areas is given consideration for skipping a grade if the child and parent agree.

Out-of-School Experiences

In addition to the school-based opportunities we encourage our high-ability children to participate in a number of out of school experiences, such as:

• Johns Hopkins University Center Talent Search (Grades 2-8)
  Their “purpose is to indentify, assess, and recognize the academic ability of highly able students.  In order to qualify, “a student must score in the 95th percentile or higher on a reasoning section of a nationally normed test.”  The talent search offers a variety of services and opportunities for students after they test.  More information about this can be found by visiting their website at www.cty.jhu.edu.
• Maryland Summer Center Program for Gifted and Talented Students (Grades 4-8), sponsored by the Maryland State Department of Education
  Each summer, classes are held around the state in a variety of subject areas to help high ability children reach their potential.  Children must write an essay, be receiving gifted and talented services at his/her school and have high grades.  More information about the summer centers can be found by visiting their website at www.marylandpublicschools.org/summercenters.
• People to People World Leadership Forum (Grades 4-7)
  This forum “was funded by former president Dwight D. Eisenhower to promote world peace and understanding.”  It is “for students who demonstrate outstanding school merit and leadership potential.”  More information about this can be found by visiting their website at www.peopletopeople.com.

Recognition

• Report Card Rewards
  Elementary children (Grades K-5) with all satisfactories and outstandings on their report cards receive a coupon for a free food item at Chic Fil A and a coupon for free play at Players Family Amusement Center.
• Honor Roll (Grades 6-8)
  A child with all A’s and B’s and no “N’s” in special areas subjects receive a certificate, a Chic Fil A coupon, a Players coupon and have their name announced over the public address system.
• Presidential Achievement Award
  At the end of the 5th grade, children with an A- average in all classes throughout their elementary years and who have made high achievement in math or reading on a nationally-normed test receive this award.  These children receive a certificate signed by the president and a pin. Children in the middle school receive this same award for their middle school experience (Grades 6-8).