Students at Shamrock Gardens Elementary School started a recent Friday morning exploring their interests through activities including cooking, making friendship bracelets, building Lego’s and exercising, or as the Learning Immersion/Talent Development (LI/TD) program calls them, Enrichment Electives.

“We recognize that students are gifted and talented in so many ways beyond literacy and math, and we want to tap into all of those things,” said Jennifer Flannery, LI/TD coordinator at Shamrock Gardens Elementary.

Enrichment Electives are just one of the many highlights to the LI/TD program offered in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. How Enrichment Electives run varies depending on the school, but at least twice a year, students choose their top three electives to participate in for six weeks, and at the end of the year, students present a culminating project that showcases the elective they’re in. 

“Students discover new passions and career pathways early,” said Erin Brodd, Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) teacher at Idlewild Elementary School. “Electives foster creativity, collaboration and critical thinking.”

“It’s really cool for students to see not only their teachers as role models, but you’ve got editors, chefs, coaches … all these different role models that are coming into the building and kids can say ‘wow, I can do anything.’ It’s not just limited to academics,” said Flannery. “And I think that’s what brings in the fun. Your teacher is typically the one leading you through instruction and coaching you academic wise, but if you get to see your teacher running around, sewing or crocheting, seeing them in their element, it makes them more relatable and builds relationships.”

LI/TD is offered at six elementary schools including Charles H. Parker Academic Center, Idlewild, Irwin Academic Center, Mallard Creek, Shamrock Gardens and Tuckaseegee, and is designed to provide gifted and advanced learners with an appropriately challenging learning environment focused on best practices for gifted education. The program embraces the four E’s: explore, empower, enrich and engage.

• Explore all students' interests, gifts, and talents through LI/TD Enrichment Electives and learning experiences inside and outside the classroom.
• Empower all students through a rigorous curriculum and higher-level instruction based on best practices of gifted education.
• Enrich learning experiences for all students by infusing innovation, creativity, critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving.
• Engage all students with meaningful, authentic, collaborative experiences that foster a love for learning and academic, social, and emotional growth.

In addition to the nurturing and support students receive in classrooms, teachers are also supported by LI/TD magnet coordinators and AIG teachers. They also receive ongoing professional development in gifted instructional strategies, social and emotional supports, and curriculum for teachers.

“Even though I, myself, and the TD teacher get to plan with our teachers for 90 minutes a week, go through the lessons and talk about how we can add higher-level thinking questions, our teachers are getting to the point where it’s just automatic for them,” said Flannery. “With all the PD that they’re doing and all the training they have, they’re thinking like a gifted learner.”

And students are ready to take on higher-level thinking as they enter middle and high school.

“They’re accustomed to higher-order thinking, project-based learning and independent inquiry,” said Brodd. “They often demonstrate strong organizational skills, academic confidence and adaptability. LI/TD develops critical thinking, problem solving and research skills early. Students learn to approach challenges with creativity and persistence — skills essential for advanced coursework in middle and high school.”

The School Choice lottery is open now through Friday, Dec. 5. Learn more about LI/TD and all of the district's choice programs here.