South Whidbey Highly-Capable Kids

[Karen Vanderbilt]

Hi, I just found out about this site. I have had three kids go through the SWSD, and currently I have one- Eric, who is a 9th grader. He loved the inquiry program that Bill Humphreys ran at the middle school last year, and wants to know when some version of it will be offered at the high school. There has been some discussion among the band parents about the lack of classes offered in 3A-3B for the band students to take. I would like to see some version of Inquiry offered at those times (of course, non-band inquiry type kids could also take these offerings) next year. A year long class for gifted kids to explore topics of interest would be a way for these kids to spend time with other like-minded kids and perhaps to meet some of the requirements of high school curriculum in a non traditional, accelerated way.. (how about independent study health for example) or to pursue other things of interest. Last year when I would ask Eric how his day went, he would say "It was a good day - today I had inquiry". Other days weren't so bright. I also asked Fred McCarthy why we couldn't have "Advanced" sections of required classes like Eastern Civ.- seems like that wouldn't be too hard or costly. There are AP classes but not in every subject.

[marsanyi]

Karen, tell me about Inquiry. I don't know anything about it.

[Karen Vanderbilt]

The Inquiry program was run by Bill Humphreys at the middle school last year and had about 8-10(?) 7th and 8th graders in it. I think the kids were recommended by teachers for the program, and the group met once a week last year- one week at lunchtime and the next week during a class period (rotated each time to a different period.) Or maybe it was twice a week - my memory is a bit blurry on the details. Bill had various activities that got them thinking and problem solving in creative ways and also did some things with them that helped them think about themselves (what kind of a learner are you? etc.) It was an opportunity for these kids to get together in a safe environment where being smart and stretching your brain was the whole idea. I think it is still going on in the middle school, but there hasn't been anything like it in the high school. I think Bill is about to start a pilot project at the high school now.