Wings is designed to provide differentiated experiences for intellectually gifted students in grades 1-5. Small groups of identified students meet once a week. The interdisciplinary curriculum focuses on creative and critical thinking and 21st century skills. Wings also provides a safe environment where students feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and ideas.

	Target Population Intellectually Gifted. Gifted students with IQ nearly two standards above the norm.
	Program Goal Engage, challenge and connect gifted learners. Provide multidisciplinary enrichment to ensure higher-order thinking development. Support unique social and emotional need through meaningful work with intellectual peers.
	Program Structure Pull-out. Small Group pull out for 60 minutes, once per week.
	Identification Standardized assessment data; teacher and parent input. Weighted metric combines multiple data points - CogAT, WISC-V, KBIT2 or other reasoning aptitude assessment (130+ or 98%I) NWEA or MCA achievement scores; teacher and parent rating scales.

Minnetonka also offers academic enrichment services to any student with specific talents and/or interests. Advanced Learning paraprofessionals, under the supervision of AL staff, run this portion of the programming. Students participate in Independent Investigations, an enrichment program designed to provide opportunities for students to investigate a special area of interest. Students develop a project and share their findings.

	Target Population Academically advanced and/or intellectually gifted. K-3 students with advanced reading and writing skills. Driven to learn; curious.
	Program Goal Stretch skills of advanced readers/writers K-3. Provide advanced readers/writers the opportunity to investigate a topic of personal interest. Apply language skills for the real-world purpose of teaching others.
	Program Structure Pull-out and classroom-based. One time per week; 45-60 minutes for 8 weeks - led by trained paraprofessional. Once research skills are learned, classroom teachers extend content-area learning through investigation process.
	Identification Classroom teacher recommendation. Classroom performance is primary indicator; standardized assessments may play a role.

Enrichment group service is provided to students who demonstrate exceptionally high performance in reading and/or math (based on NWEA Tests).

	Target Population Academically Advanced. Significantly advanced in math and/or reading in grades 1-5.
	Program Goal Provide additional challenge for significantly advanced students. Classroom differentiation alone may not ensure growth for students with extreme levels of achievement.
	Program Structure Pull-out. 30-4 minutes per week - led by licensed teacher.
	Identification Standardized assessment data. Math - Historical NWEA data in 98-99 percentile. Reading - Historical NWEA data in 98-99 percentile and/or advanced reading level as measured by leveled passages.

Beginning in fourth grade, students who demonstrate high performance in math (based on NWEA Tests) may join an accelerated math class, which completes the fourth, fifth and sixth grade math curriculum during fourth and fifth grade.

Extracurricular activities include Continental Math League, Young Scientists, Destination ImagiNation and Imagination Fair. For a complete list of extracurricular activities, visit our Activities page.

The Navigator Program is for exceptionally gifted students in grades 2-5. It serves a small, very unique group of learners with IQs of 140 and above.

	Target Population Intellectually gifted. Highly gifted students with IQ nearly three standard deviations above the norm.
	Program Goal Ensure optimal growth for the highly gifted child. A specialized curriculum and highly trained teachers support the intellectual, academic, social and emotional development of uniquely able learners.
	Program Structure Full-day classroom setting. Instructional design is learner-driven and personalized. Small group instruction, projects, inquiry and collaborative learning strategies challenge and engage.
	Identification Standardized assessment data and performance data. WISC-V Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) or General Abilities Index (GAI) of 140 or above; strong performance in Navigator Simulation and other supporting data as needed.