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Show Program for Gifted Junior High Students Could Be Adopted in Other District Schools By SHARON MORREY Lehi Junior High School has an enviable program for the gifted and talented and according to Mrs. Francis Comer, who set up and directs the program. Other schools in Alpine School District could have similar programs. "It's mostly a matter of submitting . a proposal and getting the funding from the state. There are the categorical state funds set up for such programs and all you do is ask for them," says Comer. Mrs. Comer is Media Co-ordinator and Director of Gifted Programs at the junior high and largely responsible respon-sible for the successful program it has. She wrote a proposal four years ago that was submitted to the State Office of Education when she discovered the kids she had in accelerated ac-celerated English wanted more than she could give them in one class. She listed precisely what she had in mind, "detailing how every penny would be spent." Lehi Junior High has consequently had funds to support her program, $17,000 in the last two years. "Of that money only $12000 has gone lo salaries," notes Comer. "We feel it is very important that as much as possible go directly to the student's needs. They should receive the lion's share, that's what it's for." At Lehi Junior, "what's it's for" includes chess games, computers, books, research materials, special classes and teachers, paper, games, magazines, anything and everything Comer feels will benefit the students and the program. Students involved in the gifted program have much to do. much to do. "They must learn to type, they must play chess - at least eight games a quarter. They take Memory Skills classes twice a week. They have Junior Great Books one morning a week. They have to maintain a 3.5 grade average." "They are busy," says Comer, "but they love it. I never have anyone absent if they can possibly help it." Comer prepares individual "modules" for each student after she discovers their primary interests. Sometimes the modules take weeks for the student lo do. They incorporate in-corporate at least three of the five "gifted skills" Comer says are important im-portant to become adept with: planning, communication, decisionmaking, decision-making, problem-solving, and forecasting. In addition the students work as a group preparing to teach the Civic classes at the junior high. This semester's subject? Siberia. The group digs out and digests all they can about the subject, then they share this with fellow students. Their grade depends on how well they teach and what they've learned. "They are also expected to do a lot of reading, and one day a week we do deductive reasoning exercises together," adds Comer. All in all, the extras put about three more hours in each student's day, but no one's complaining, says Comer. "They (ear up here before school, after school, during lunch." One hour of regular school time is released for the "Learning Center." Everything else is done on a student's normally 'free time.' Mrs. Comer says the only problems have been keeping up with the kids and the let-down they may feel when they leave the program for high school. "There isn't any pick-up at the high school just yet, and they miss the stimulation they've become used lo," says Comer. "Maybe when we have enough that leave here and demand more from the high schools, things will change. Right now, there's only an accelerated class or two for these kids." Lehi High School is not the only district school without gifted programs that can lake kids from classes like Comer's and keep them challenged. In fact, Comer's program is one of a kind. She says that's loo bad and is encouraging en-couraging others lo do the same as they did. "Work out your plans, write a proposal and send it in. We were lucky. Other schools could be too." |