AP Strategies for the GT Student S. Petrey LISD August Staff Development

AP Prepares students to Succeed AP/Pre-AP courses help students acquire the skills and habits they will need to be successful in college. AP/Pre-AP courses help students acquire the skills and habits they will need to be successful in college. Students should improve their writing skills, sharpen problem-solving abilities, and develop time management skills, discipline, and study habits. Students should improve their writing skills, sharpen problem-solving abilities, and develop time management skills, discipline, and study habits.

Pre-AP is based on the following two important premises The first is the expectation that all students can perform well at rigorous academic levels. The first is the expectation that all students can perform well at rigorous academic levels. The second important premise of Pre-AP is the belief that we can prepare every student for higher intellectual engagement by starting the development of skills and acquisition of knowledge as early as possible. The second important premise of Pre-AP is the belief that we can prepare every student for higher intellectual engagement by starting the development of skills and acquisition of knowledge as early as possible.

Pre-AP should… Not be used to limit or restrict access to advanced courses Not be used to limit or restrict access to advanced courses Not limit curriculum standards to those of the regular level courses Not limit curriculum standards to those of the regular level courses Foster an attitude of excellence Foster an attitude of excellence Open the door to higher education for under- represented groups Open the door to higher education for under- represented groups

GT Students are served in the AP Program at LISD The vehicle of delivery of GT services at the secondary level is the AP program The vehicle of delivery of GT services at the secondary level is the AP program GT students should be encouraged to register for AP courses GT students should be encouraged to register for AP courses The goals of AP and GT are not always congruent The goals of AP and GT are not always congruent Modifications should be made to meet the needs of GT students Modifications should be made to meet the needs of GT students

What resources are available? AP Course descriptions AP Course descriptions Released AP Exam Questions Released AP Exam Questions AP Summer Institutes AP Summer Institutes Laying the Foundation Summer Institutes Laying the Foundation Summer Institutes Current AP/Pre-AP Teachers, Vertical Teams Current AP/Pre-AP Teachers, Vertical Teams

What can you do to teach a viable AP or Pre-AP Course? Provide rigorous work that requires students to do independent research, writing, and problem- solving Provide rigorous work that requires students to do independent research, writing, and problem- solving Foster an attitude of excellence Foster an attitude of excellence Use released AP Exam questions as models for your assessment items Use released AP Exam questions as models for your assessment items Familiarize yourself with the AP Course description and sample syllabi for your corresponding AP course(s). Familiarize yourself with the AP Course description and sample syllabi for your corresponding AP course(s).

How can we address GT students specifically? GT students are served in the AP Program GT students are served in the AP Program Some GT students have difficulty conforming to AP/Pre-AP course standards Some GT students have difficulty conforming to AP/Pre-AP course standards We need to provide GT students opportunity to use their unique gifts/talents while still finding a way to help them grow and prepare for the struggles that lie ahead for them in college We need to provide GT students opportunity to use their unique gifts/talents while still finding a way to help them grow and prepare for the struggles that lie ahead for them in college.

What strategies can you use for GT? Allow GT students to choose Allow GT students to choose Allow GT students to work collaboratively Allow GT students to work collaboratively Encourage GT students to showcase their gifts Encourage GT students to showcase their gifts Modify classroom structures Modify classroom structures Provide support for struggling GT students Provide support for struggling GT students

Discussion Items Strategies for providing Student-Choice Strategies for providing Student-Choice Collaborative Work Collaborative Work Showcasing Gifts/Talents Showcasing Gifts/Talents Modifying Classroom Structures Modifying Classroom Structures How to provide support for struggling GT students How to provide support for struggling GT students

Ideas to try this year… Assign GT students problems to research and share their findings in class using their specific gifts to present the problem Assign GT students problems to research and share their findings in class using their specific gifts to present the problem Allow interested GT students to design a lesson or assessment items Allow interested GT students to design a lesson or assessment items Provide creative outlets that include: art, role- playing, music or technology. Provide creative outlets that include: art, role- playing, music or technology.

What strategies should be avoided? Modifying AP-style assessments Modifying AP-style assessments Modifying the standards for your course Modifying the standards for your course Reducing rigor Reducing rigor Forcing GT students to conform Forcing GT students to conform

Possibilities for GT Products Poster Problems with color and art Poster Problems with color and art Interview questions/answers Interview questions/answers Music/Lyrics for ELA, History Music/Lyrics for ELA, History Videos, Websites Videos, Websites Artwork for ELA, Science, History Artwork for ELA, Science, History Lessons for younger students Lessons for younger students

Marrying the goals of AP and GT can sometime be challenging Sometimes goals are difficult to marry Sometimes goals are difficult to marry Meeting the needs of the students is our first priority Meeting the needs of the students is our first priority Patience is key! Patience is key! Dont be afraid to step outside the box Dont be afraid to step outside the box