The REACH Program:

• comprehensively meets standards for curriculum and instruction

• stimulates critical and creative thinking skills and encourages students to develop a vision for the future

• features several curricular as well as co-curricular opportunities to engage students in problem solving: ELA/Social Studies/Science unit studies, Global Issues Problem Solving, Community Problem Solving, Scenario Writing, and Action-based Problem Solving

• allows students to participate in a variety of FPS components (Grades 6-12)

• provides opportunities for students to develop and exercise the skills necessary to meet and exceed standards through analysis of research, investigation, and application of student-generated solutions relevant to their world.

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Critical and creative thinking skills are embedded in the REACH program and serve as the basis of the curriculum components. Generating and Focusing skills are developed at each level. Learning and using the creative problem solving process enriches the learning by providing open-ended support to meet Common Core State Standards through the addition of complex thinking, application, and real-world problem solving platforms. As groundwork to all curriculum components, students use primary and secondary resources, conduct research on selected topics, and then apply their knowledge in a variety of avenues.

 

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English Language Arts / Literacy Common Core State Standards:

• extensive reading of nonfiction/informational text

• the building of content area literacy in social studies, economics, technology, and science through research of the specific topics

• the opportunity for writing to the sources when using evidence from the texts to build challenges, solutions, action plans, and scenarios

• content materials in the Lexile stretch band level to increase exposure to complex texts

• development of content-rich academic vocabulary and comprehension skills through diverse FPSPI topics

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Mathematics Common Core State Standards:

• real world application of content

• the ability to solve problems beyond the math classroom

• project development requiring demonstration of conceptual understanding

• strategic use of appropriate mathematical tools

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21st Century Skills:

• learning and utilizing skills of creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, communication and collaboration

• the need for information, media, and technology skills

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STEM:

• exposure to research and careers in STEM fields of study through a wide array of annual topics

• encouragement for students to think about challenging, authentic, futuristic world issues while teaching students a methodology to solve these challenges.

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National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Standards:

• ethical leadership for positive change

• gift and talent development

• independent investigation

• achievement in areas across dimensions of learning