Intermediate District 287 Gifted Education Services through Northern Star Online is offering an advanced math program as an option for elementary and middle school talented math students during the school year. The Gifted Math Program is a combination of online learning with regular teacher check-ins, occasional online meetings, and frequent communication to parents/guardians and counselors.
Northern Star Online acknowledges the unique needs for support with students that are either gifted or advanced in their learning beyond their typical peers regardless of whether or not a student ‘qualifies’ as gifted. According to the Minnesota Department of Education:
“Gifted and talented children and youth are those students with outstanding abilities, identified at preschool, elementary, and secondary levels. The potential of gifted students requires differentiated and challenging educational programs or services beyond those provided in the general school program.”
Northern Star Online is committed to assuring that academically advanced students receive not only the academic support needed but the social-emotional and culturally relevant support needed as well. Gifted Math classes are designed for students who love math and want to accelerate their learning at the elementary and middle level so they are prepared to take more advanced math classes in high school (Calculus, AP Calculus, AP Statistics, etc.). Gifted math courses at NSO consist of the same academic content as the “regular” corresponding courses but include additional social-emotional supports elementary students traditionally need.
To have success in the NSO Gifted Math program, a student needs to be able to pick up concepts rather quickly, keep up on the homework and classwork, attend all or most of the online sessions, ask questions when needed, prepare well for tests and quizzes, and be able to explain their solutions thoughtfully and in a number of ways.
Testing required to qualify for program participation:
A student must take a qualifying assessment or have taken a prerequisite course in order to be considered for the NSO gifted math program. These assessments and prerequisite courses are typically taken during 4th or 5th grade and are considered predictors of success in our program. We ask that guardians and school gifted coordinators provide documentation of a prerequisite course and/or recommendation from their home district.
NSO Gifted Math Assessment dates:
We are waiting for guidance from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) regarding COVID-19 protocols for schools to determine specific assessment dates.
August 2021 (pending)
District 287 Service Center
1820 N. Xenium Lane, Plymouth 55441
Please note that students typically take 2-3 hours to complete the assessment.
Please contact Carlos Connell-Torres by Carlos Connell-Torres by email or call 763.550.7223 regarding interest.
How the Gifted Math Program Works
Northern Star Online provides both a Gifted math program and a regular secondary math track for students. Please review NSO Math options.
Using a combination of online course work, web conferencing, and classroom seminars, the courses involve a time commitment of 5 – 6 hours per week, replacing a student’s regular classroom math work.
Gifted Math 7 and Gifted Algebra: Students log in to the course system every day to complete assignments, students work primarily online at their own pace, and can schedule online meetings with their teacher as needed.
Gifted Geometry: Students log in to the course system every day to complete assignments, students work primarily online at their own pace, and can schedule online meetings with their teacher as needed.
Algebra 2: Combined with the regular NSO Algebra 2 class, students work primarily online at their own pace, and can schedule online meetings with their teacher as needed.
The Gifted Math course can substitute for the regular math class the student would take at school, so there is no charge for the course. Northern Star Online is a state-approved online learning provider. Under the Online Learning Options statute, a student may enroll in an online course to substitute for a course during their regular school day. For more information on enrollment options, please visit www.northernstaronline.org.
Registration Process
More details coming soon.
If you receive a qualifying score on the exam, you will then need to complete the registration process to register for the appropriate class. This will also need to be reviewed and approved by a school representative to confirm your participation as an online student. Please review the preparation information on the NSO website as well to be sure you understand the parameters for working in an online course.
When the enrollment process is completed, you will be sent login information to the online course and more information on the first on-site meeting with the teacher.
Gifted Math Curriculum – Each course aligns with the Minnesota Graduation Standards
First year: curriculum covers the 7th grade Math Standards.
Second year: our Gifted Algebra course covers the Algebra (8th and 9th grade) standards.
Third year: Gifted Geometry is taught using the APEX learning system.
Fourth year: Algebra 2 is offered in the regular NSO Math sequence, using curriculum from the Apex Learning system.
Upon completion of the four-year program students will be prepared to take Pre-Calculus.