Gifted classes within the partnership schools is one of the programs approved by Mawhiba in its plan to achieve its strategic vision until 1444H. This program targets a number of public and private schools with distinctive specifications in terms of infrastructure, teaching methods, assessment methods, learning methods, teacher resource and training. To implement this program, a cooperation with the best educational expertise took place in the targeted stages (from the fourth elementary grade to the third secondary grade).
This program is based on the curriculum of the ministry adopted in partnership schools with Mawhiba plus a distinguished quality of advanced curricula globally accredited in the field of education of gifted and creative students. The program began in this program in 1430/1431H in the fourth elementary grade, first intermediate grade, and first secondary grade and integrated with the remaining stages in the following years.
Focuses of the Program
The School Partnership Program focuses on five main themes
First: The Choice of Schools
This theme revolves around the development of suitable methods, standards and tools for the selection of outstanding schools (public and private) that meet the standards of partnership with Mawhiba, and apply those standards to schools wishing to join the partnership program according to the different mechanisms and stages of assessment,. Then prepare recommendations for the selection of schools that have met the standards for joining the program. In addition to the selection of local residents to select schools and train them to use Mawhiba methods and standards in the selection of schools, and develop tools and mechanisms to improve the performance of participating schools, as well as coordinate the professional development and training of staff members of the partnership schools with training.
Second: Training and Professional Development
The objective of the training aims to inform the target groups on the subject of giftedness and creativity, the characteristics of gifted students, and how to deal with them, and also to provide a rich educational environment that nurtures the gifted in the classrooms, schools and the community to which they belong, as well as to give teachers strategies to deal with Mawhiba curricula and integrate them with the curriculum of the Ministry of Education. In addition, to deepen the understanding of gifted students' teachers in particular on the activities of Mawhiba curricula. The training covers city coordinators, school coordinators, principals and teachers who teach the program materials, all schoolteachers participating in the program, the school selection team, and parents.
Third: Curriculums
This themes aims to develop, prepare, follow up, and implement Advanced Supplementary Curriculum (ASC) in science, math, English and information technology as a service to creative and gifted students. These books consist of several advanced activities that will be an alternative for the Ministry's curriculum and not an alternative for them. The curriculum will focus on the development of several aspects in the gifted student personality such as knowledge and advanced understanding of the concepts and topics raised by enriching his knowledge of modern and in-depth information. This is represented by advanced skills for subjects such as knowledge of big ideas, clarity of concepts, and the depth of knowledge structures related to subjects, the development of values, trends and attributes Such as inquiry, risk, creativity, trust, mental openness, cooperation, and skills in its various aspects such as generalization, reasoning, thinking skills, self-reflection, communication and dialogue.
Fourth: Assessment
This theme aims to follow up and monitor the success of the partnership program with schools to ingrain the culture of student-centered learning culture and assessment for learning, not just in learning. Also, to work on the preparation of training programs targeting all teachers of partnership with schools, dealing with different forms of assessment such as assessment methods, performance calendar , peer review , self-assessment, assessment through projects, Portfolio student.In order to achieve the above, the application of the end of the academic year test (Annual Test) has started for the gifted students in math and science from Mawhiba Advanced Supplementary Curriculum starting from the academic year 2011-2012, which focuses on the standards that Mawhiba curriculum is seeking to achieve on the performance of the gifted students in partnership schools and help measure their progress later.
Fifth: Supporting Parents
Parents support aims to integrate parents in the educational process of their sons and daughters, through the implementation of meetings that include introducing Mawhiba curriculum and methods of assessment, and develop a guidance system to activate the participation of parents in achieving the objectives of the program, their role in the educational process, and support the program activities in interacting with parents.During the year, several regular meetings were held with parents in all participating schools and essays were prepared introducing giftedness and creativity, social and emotional impact for the talent.
