WELCOME WELCOME TO……TO……

The Middle School The Middle School

Gifted & Talented Education Gifted & Talented Education Program Program

Spring Parent OrientationSpring Parent Orientation

Tracy SpillmanTracy Spillman

Lime Kiln Middle School G/T Resource Lime Kiln Middle School G/T Resource TeacherTeacher

Gifted & Talented Gifted & Talented Education Program Education Program

MissionMission The Gifted and The Gifted and Talented Education Talented Education Program seeks to Program seeks to recognize and recognize and develop talents in develop talents in advanced-level advanced-level learners.learners.

Gifted & Talented Gifted & Talented Education Program Education Program

GoalsGoals• Accelerate achievement and performance

levels of students who participate in G/T Education Program offerings

• Increase successful participation of underrepresented populations of students in G/T Education Program offerings

• Build a community of G/T Education Program advocates.

Middle School G/T Middle School G/T Education Program Education Program

Components: An OverviewComponents: An Overview

• The Schoolwide Enrichment Program

• G/T Classes and Curricular Extensions

• Extended Day/Year Programs

THE SCHOOLWIDE THE SCHOOLWIDE ENRICHMENT ENRICHMENT

PROGRAMPROGRAM

III

III

ExploratoryExperiences

G/T InstructionalSeminars

G/T Classes and Curricular Extensions

G/T Research Investigations

&Creative

Productions

Student as Consumer Student as Producer

TYPE II: Instructional TYPE II: Instructional SeminarsSeminars

• Why?Why? To work with G/T Resource Teacher to extend student interests and develop advanced-level skills

• Who?Who? Interested students who are committed to in-depth study

• When?When? As need and interests arise

• What?What? Take a look at some examples…

Television ProductionTelevision Production• Daily television show to simulate

professional broadcast • Student led and produced

• Producers • Directors• Scriptwriters • Anchors• Camera and Graphics Technicians

Middle School Book Middle School Book ClubClub

A Book Club organized and led by advanced-level readers who enjoy participating in thought-provoking literary discussions.

It is offered in partnership with Barnes and Noble.

DebateDebate• The Debate Instructional Seminar

motivates a group of students to use their voices to engage in meaningful, persuasive discourse about contemporary issues, thereby strengthening their leadership, critical thinking, and presentation skills.

• Offered in all middle schools under the direct instruction of the school’s G/T

Resource Teacher

Additional Seminar Additional Seminar TopicsTopics

• Model Rocketry • Environmental Science• Film Production• Historical Research• Journalism• Graphic Design• Music Composition• Computer Programming

THE SCHOOLWIDE THE SCHOOLWIDE ENRICHMENT ENRICHMENT

PROGRAMPROGRAM

III

III

ExploratoryExperiences

G/T InstructionalSeminars

G/T Classes and Curricular Extensions

G/T Research Investigations

&Creative

Productions

Student as Consumer Student as Producer

TYPE III: Research TYPE III: Research Investigations & Creative Investigations & Creative

ProductionsProductions• Why?Why? To emulate research tools and methodologies of professionals by investigating real world problems and presenting to authentic audiences

• Who?Who? Available to any interested student

• When?When? Throughout the academic year

• What?What? Publication of book, scientific discovery, historical reenactment, instigation of legislation, original music/dramatic production…

Selection Procedures Selection Procedures 1. Complete an interest form.

2. Participate in an interview with the G/T Resource Teacher.

G/T Content Classes G/T Content Classes and Extensionsand Extensions

• Mathematics

• English

• Social Studies

• Science

G/T MathematicsG/T MathematicsAnAn enriched sequence that follows enriched sequence that follows a curriculum of concepts at least a curriculum of concepts at least two years accelerated above two years accelerated above the general education curriculum.the general education curriculum.

6 - Pre-Algebra G/T 6 - Pre-Algebra G/T

7 – Algebra I/Data Analysis 7 – Algebra I/Data Analysis G/TG/T

8 - Geometry G/T8 - Geometry G/T

Geometry-grade 8 Able to think

critically Not only know

theorems and operations……Need to apply what they know to new situations and explain why formulas work

Should not require a tutor to stay in GT class

Able to catch on to new material quickly

Important for SATs

G/T ScienceG/T ScienceAn accelerated program of differentiated An accelerated program of differentiated

objectives objectives where students explore scientific principles where students explore scientific principles

and and engage in ongoing original scientific research engage in ongoing original scientific research

using an experimental design.using an experimental design.

• Science 6 G/T (Earth & Space Science focus)

• Science 7 G/T Biological focus)

• Science 8 G/T (Physics & Chemistry focus)

G/T Social StudiesG/T Social StudiesAn accelerated program of differentiated objectives An accelerated program of differentiated objectives where students explore civic and cultural principles where students explore civic and cultural principles

and engage in inquiries that focus on essentialand engage in inquiries that focus on essential, , related questions.related questions.

• 6 – G/T Geography and World Cultures

• 7 – G/T Geography and World Cultures

• 8 – G/T U.S. History through the Reconstruction

An accelerated program of differentiated objectives An accelerated program of differentiated objectives where students explore complex literary works and where students explore complex literary works and

create compositions of advanced style, tone, and form.create compositions of advanced style, tone, and form.

6th: Anne Frank, The Sword and the Stone, Prince and the Pauper

GT EnglishGT English

7th: Antigone, an Edgar Allan Poe collection, The House on Mango Street or Lupita Manana

8th: Frankenstein, The Odyssey, The Red Badge of Courage

GT English - Grade 6

Writing-organization, word choice, and fluency are evident in all work

May use graphic organizers but able to generate detailed paragraph within 15-20 minutes

Organization of materials and time

Self-motivated Can translate verbal

ideas easily Details

GT English - Grade 7

Expected to write a 5 paragraph essay, w/o preparing in advance; 30 minute time period (Standard for SATs)

Material read is from 7th-10th grade reading level

Study high level material that needs a mature audience (Poe)

Projects are more intense

30 minutes presentation with 6 weeks research

Self motivated and able to do their OWN work

G/T Writers Guild

The G/T Writers Guild, set in a WritersWorkshop format, provides instruction byexposing highly able students to exemplarytechniques and tools and offers opportunitiesfor talented, motivated writers to excel and todevelop their unique voices.

This curriculum extension is designed tomaintain author authority while providing thetime for students to receive peer and teacherresponse and feedback.

The Writers Guild is comprised ofstudents who are passionate about writing.Many of these students are already writers andwill want to be part of this community.

Throughout the workshop, students willmaintain a portfolio of polished work to besubmitted for publication.

The Middle School G/T Research Curriculum:

• Enables advanced-level learners to conduct real world research

• Is designed for 6th grade students who

participate in all four of the G/T content area classes

• Provides students with the opportunity for

inquiry into a discipline

• Requires students to go beyond synthesizing the contributions of others in order to create new knowledge

The Middle School G/ TResearch Curriculum:

• Allows students to progress along acontinuum of being consumers ofinformation to becoming producers ofknowledge

• Asks students to apply the research skillsmodeled in the curriculum to an originalinvestigation

• Expects students to develop and maintain aresearch portfolio (binder or electronic) todocument their year-long study.

The following themes are embeddedthroughout the G/T research

curriculum to serve as a curricular framework:

• Emulating practicing professionals who conductand communicate the findings of originalresearch

• Using metacognit ive reflection skills that enablestudents to know themselves as learners

• Applying the power of technology to moreeffectively conduct and communicate research.

Selection and Placement Selection and Placement Procedures for G/T ClassesProcedures for G/T Classes

• Nomination

• Testing ( SCAT Ability Testing - 9th

grade norms )

• Placement Review Procedures

GT Placement?

Advanced writing skills High-level abstract thinking and

problem-solving ability Task commitment and self motivation Interest in seeking challenges and

solving advanced-level problems

The Interdisciplinary The Interdisciplinary Planning TeamsPlanning Teams

An Interdisciplinary Planning Team led by the G/T Resource

Teacher meets monthly in grade level teams to assess

student progress and to plan inter-curricular connections.

Extended Extended Day/Extended YearDay/Extended Year

• Advanced Mathematics - grade 7

• Visual Arts - G/T Art - grades 6, 7, 8

• G/T Orchestra, G/T Symphonic Band, and G/T Chorus - grades 6, 7, 8

• G/T Summer Institutes for Talent Development - All grades

Selection ProceduresSelection ProceduresDemonstrated Advanced Level Skills / Ability

Advanced Mathematics • Nomination, Testing, and In-depth Assessment

• Art • Portfolio (Spring selection (Contact Art

Teacher)

• Music Audition (Contact Music Teachers)

• GT Website: www.hcpss.org/gtGT Website: www.hcpss.org/gt

• Parent Academy MeetingsParent Academy Meetings

•National Association for Gifted Children National Association for Gifted Children

www.nagc.orgwww.nagc.org

Parent ResourcesParent Resources

GT Advisory Steering Committee

Maria Datta Maria@fdmhome.com 301 854-0064 All comments are welcome

Parents can… Encourage children to participate in GT Program Attend GT Parent Academy Meetings Communicate via email Volunteer in GT Room

Tips for Success

Communicate with teachers Check agenda book Encourage independent work Maintain a sense of humor Stay informed Be prepared for the unexpected!

Feel free to Feel free to contact me by e-contact me by e-

mail at mail at tracy_spillman@hcpstracy_spillman@hcps

s.orgs.org

Or by phone Or by phone 410-880-5988410-880-5988

??

Thank you for your support!

I look forward to working with you and your children next year.

Please email me with any questions or comments.