1. James GagnonGifted Resource Teacher Russell Middle School gagnojw@d11.org719-328-5256Julie WilliamsPrincipal Russell Middle Schoolwillija@d11.org719-328-5200http://www.d11.org/doi/gifted/index.htmhttp://www.rmsgt.blogspot.com/Charles M. Russell Middle School-2011-2012- Gifted and Talented <br />Welcome to Charles M. Russell Middle School of the Performing Arts!<br />The gifted and talented program at Russell is a comprehensive middle school gifted and talented program. Russell's identified GT students consistently score advanced in their area of strength on state assessments and rate their experience in Russell's advanced programs as outstanding. Russell prides itself in serving all learning styles, but our non-verbally identified and creative GT students thrive like nowhere else. Of course, we love our amazing kids, and we welcome twice exceptional students and the tools they share with us. Everyone has a place at Russell. Gifted and talented learners enjoy a wide variety of opportunities at Russell and have many choices for both self-expression as well as in-depth, fast-paced learning.<br />At Russell, students who are identified gifted and talented in District 11 follow a three year course taught by the full-time gifted resource teacher. This GT “Discovery” class is specifically designed to meet the needs of our gifted learners. Discovery students are self driven, enthusiastic learners, who are challenged to develop their areas of strength as well as explore new perspectives. <br />Some of Russell’s Offerings<br />Advanced courses of study: math, science, reading, and language arts, (acceleration available).<br />Visual and Performing arts: band, orchestra, choir/show choir, drama, dance, forensics, art. <br />Technology: Gateway to Technology, MESA, Lego League, Young Astronauts, Robotics. <br />Did you know?Gifted learners learn at a faster rate than other students and possess a capacity for learning that is matched by less than 5% of the general population. Often, gifted learners exhibit several of these characteristics: ability to mastery new material in one to two repetitions, has an advanced vocabulary and verbal ability, has an outstanding memory along with the ability to think abstractly, perceives subtle cause and effect relationships, invents, improves on existing ideas, is highly curious, has a vast storehouse of knowledge, prefers complex and challenging tasks, applies learning in new ways, is keenly observant, has varied and sometimes unusual interests, is sensitive to beauty and others' feelings, rebels against predictability, and has a sophisticated sense of humor.Other opportunities: National Junior Honors Society, Student Leadership, REACH clubs, Math club.<br />