Project T.R.E.E. website

Welcome to Project T.R.E.E.!

Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124 is dedicated to providing all learners with curriculum opportunities that permit them to reach their optimum levels of learning. Our district celebrates the giftedness in all children; however, we recognize that differences exist among individual learners.

The concern for the individual learner is basic to our commitment to adopt and design curriculum experiences for our gifted/talented students. We believe our curriculum should provide a balanced focus on accelerated learning and expanded/enriched experiences within the regular content areas of our core educational program.

District 124 offers a core curriculum for all students which must be differentiated for gifted/talented learners through modification of content, process, product, or learning environment. Project TREE students are grouped in clusters of four to six in regular classrooms at all grade levels according to their area of strength, to maximize the opportunity for consistent interaction with their intellectual peers.

Curricular enhancement is available in academic areas for the identified gifted/ talented students. Direct contact time is provided by two gifted resource teachers using a pull-out curriculum model. The student will engage in various forms of critical and creative thinking activities: Specifically in the areas of divergent thinking, convergent thinking, visual/spatial perception, and evaluative thinking.

· Quarter one will focus on various forms of logic and problem-solving.

· Quarter two will emphasize research skills utilizing technological tools to garner information, and as a vehicle for communication.

· Quarter three uses novels to develop critical thinking skills as well as to explore social/emotional issues.

· Quarter four integrates multiple subjects and cooperative problem-solving, as students learn about aspects of the solar system which culminates in a trip to the Challenger Space Center.

Program Goals:

The Evergreen Park School District 124 Project TREE program will:

1) Emphasize higher level thinking skills (problem solving; critical and creative thinking; divergent, abstract and evaluative thinking)

2) Provide Enrichment (research, project development, skill refinement)

3) Encourage Creativity (awareness of the world through different perspectives, different ways of solving problems)

4) Concentrate on the whole child (emotionally, socially, and academically) Practicing communication skills necessary to interact acceptably and comfortably with others in order to share his/her knowledge and talents in a positive manner.

5) Group identified students together (at times) in order to meet their specific needs.

6) Provide direct instruction to identified gifted/talented students on a part time basis.

7) Require on-going staff development to help teachers better understand children who exhibit high performance or capability in intellectual, creative, and/or specific academic fields.