H. L. Harshman Middle School
A High Ability & Dual Language School
High Ability & Dual Language Education Model
High Ability
At IPS, our High Ability schools emphasize serving the unique academic, social, and emotional needs of high-ability students from diverse social, cultural, and economic backgrounds. This program offers lesson plans that dig deeper into concepts, have real-world application, and include advanced grade level standards to develop students into critical thinkers who can make positive impacts on society.
Curriculum Focuses:
- Accelerated learning pace
- Talent growth opportunities
What to Expect:
- Courses are specifically designed for high-ability students, with on-site staff available to help support the unique social and emotional needs of gifted learners.
- Students are empowered to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens within a positive and supportive atmosphere.
- Teachers are given some autonomy in selecting projects and assignments that are appropriate for students’ specific learning needs.
- Onsite counselors and social workers help support the unique social and emotional needs of gifted learners in a variety of ways to help them grow.
An In-Depth Look: High Ability
The High Ability learning model recognizes that students need a tailored curriculum that will address their individual characteristics, needs, academic abilities, and interests. Teachers routinely work with the district’s high-ability coordinator and coaches to create learning experiences that will allow these students to develop to their full potential and are trained to evaluate situations where students may need subject acceleration due to advanced understanding of the subject matter.
Dual Language
At IPS, our Dual Language (DL) schools aim to develop academic content in English and Spanish for native speakers in both languages. The program builds cultural competence through a 50/50 model where students will receive half of their instruction in English and half in Spanish.
Curriculum Focuses:
- Linguistic and cultural diversity
- Multilingual instruction
What to Expect:
- Classes are taught 50% in English and 50% in Spanish.
- All students are eligible to earn the Indiana Seal of Biliteracy.
- Education and instruction is focused on helping students become bilingual and biliterate.
An In-Depth Look: Dual Language
The Dual Language learning model is built on three pillars: bilingualism and biliteracy, grade-level academic achievement, and cross-cultural competency. This program supports linguistic and cultural diversity by creating multilingual and multicultural spaces for students to learn. Students will develop academic language skills and content knowledge through multilingual instruction, as well as develop skills to be participants in an ever-developing global society.
Our DL programs are additive in that they support the continual development of English in addition to the Spanish language. As a two-way immersion program, students with different native languages will learn together. The goal is not to transition to a dominant language, but to maintain and value the native language while developing a second with equal proficiency.