Welcome to… The Middle School Gifted & Talented Education Program Spring Parent Orientation __________ _____ Middle School G/T Resource Teacher Melissa Shindel- Principal Philip Herdman- CMS GT Resource Teacher Donna Elliott- Math ITL PLACE REMEMBER TO ADD YOUR NAME AND SCHOOL TO THE BEGINNING SLIDE. introductory comments after your principal has introduced the evening session and you - Thanks for joining us this evening - How many of you have experienced middle school with an older child? So, if you did not raise your hand, you will have the wonderful opportunity to experience middle school for the first time with your child.

Agenda Selection/Placement Procedures Questions Overview of Middle School G/T Education Program Selection/Placement Procedures Questions I’m delighted to have the opportunity to talk with you about the various G/T Education Program offerings that comprise the comprehensive programming at the middle school level. Additionally, we will discuss selection procedures for each. Please write down any general questions have as we discuss each part of the program. At the end of the presentation, I will be happy to any questions that still remain.

Gifted & Talented Education Program Mission The Gifted and Talented Education Program seeks to recognize and develop talents in advanced-level learners while supporting the Clarksville vision of career and college readiness. This is the program mission.

Gifted & Talented Education Program Goals Accelerate the 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. The goals that underlie the program are noted on this slide and in the program brochure.

Middle School G/T Education Program Components: An Overview The School-wide Enrichment Program G/T Classes and Curricular Extensions Extended Day/Year Programs The comprehensive Middle School G/T Education Program consists of a wide variety of offerings that fall into the 3 general categories noted on this slide. Please take note of additional opportunities that are available to students for the first time in middle school.

THE SCHOOLWIDE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM III II I G/T Research Investigations & Creative Productions In middle school, the Schoolwide Enrichment Program underlies many of the offerings as it did in elementary school. However, the offerings in each category increase in middle school, as does the rigor and challenge of each offering. G/T Instructional Seminars G/T Classes and Curricular Extensions Exploratory Experiences Student as Consumer Student as Producer

TYPE II: Instructional Seminars Why? To work with G/T Resource Teacher to extend student interests and develop advanced- level skills Who? Interested students who are committed to in- depth study How? Submit an interest form. What? Take a look at some examples… Middle School G/T Resource Teachers provide instruction for interested students in a wide variety of G/T Instructional Seminars. These seminars provide an academic-based learning community for like-minded students to explore their areas of interest and to learn the advanced-level skills of practicing professionals. These opportunities engage students and extend and enrich their educational experiences. All middle schools offer the 3 following seminars : a) television production, b) the MS Book Club, and c) debate.

Television Production Student led and produced daily television show that simulates a professional broadcast

Middle School Book Club A Book Club organized and led by advanced-level readers who enjoy participating in thought- provoking literary discussions Students meet month to discuss books.

2011-2012 Book Club List Half Brother Out of My Mind Incarceron Bystander One Crazy Summer Dirt Road Home A Long Walk to Water Life as We Knew It County-wide discussions take place Wednesday’s during the year. These are optional events.

Debate Students engage in meaningful, persuasive discourse about contemporary issues, thereby strengthening their leadership, critical thinking, and presentation skills. Display curriculum document.

Sample Debate Video

Additional Sample Seminars Newspaper Programming Advanced Johns Hopkins APL Programming Green School Math Olympiad Film Engineering Memory Book MESA Writer’s Guild Additional seminars are provided at each middle school that are designed specifically around students’ areas of interest. Therefore, these vary across schools. Topics might include some of those listed.

TYPE III: Research Investigations & Creative Productions Why? To emulate research tools and methodologies of professionals by investigating real world problems and presenting to authentic audiences Who? Available to any interested student What? Publication of book, scientific discovery, historical reenactment, instigation of legislation, original musical/dramatic production… Participating students work with project advisors who are practicing professionals in the students’ various fields of study. During the study, these professionals provide feedback and coaching as the students identify problems to solve or issues to address within a field of study. Students use the research methods that would be used by professionals in their Fields of study.

Selection Procedures 1. Complete an interest form. 2. Participate in an interview with the G/T Resource Teacher. Students begin this process with a creative idea or a topic of their intense Interest. They also initiate the selection process by completing An interest form. A major criteria for selection is the students’ long-term interest and commitment to the investigation.

G/T Content Area Classes Mathematics English Social Studies Science Placements in G/T classes are academic placements based on the needs of each individual child. Students should not need tutoring to sustain a placement in a G/T class. There are 4 G/T content area classes - Eligible students can choose to participate in one, two, three, or all 4 classes. The number of classes in which eligible students participate greatly depends on the individual child. While, it is very appropriate for some 6th graders to participate in all 4 classes of edibility, it is also it is appropriate for other students to choose to participate in selected classes that are of the greatest interest. Eligibility to participate in a class extend to 8th grade. Therefore, a child who may select to participate in G/T English and math in 6th grade, may choose to add G/T science as a 7th grader. Students who participate in G/T classes in middle school are expected to participate In high school G/T and Advanced Placement courses.

GT English An accelerated and enriched curriculum, including differentiated objectives, where students explore complex literary works and create compositions of advanced style, tone, and form. 6th: Anne Frank, The Sword and the Stone, Watership Down Successful G/T English participants are avid readers and writers and have demonstrated an advanced-level ability in both areas. This class is 2 years above grade level. In addition to the differentiated objectives, participating students also read the advanced-level selections noted on this slide. Participating students should be above grade level readers and therefore concurrently participating in challenge reading. Their reading scores state and local Reading assessments should be in the advanced range. 7th: Antigone, an Edgar Allan Poe collection, Lupita Manana 8th: Frankenstein, The Odyssey, The Red Badge of Courage

G/T Writers Guild The G/T Writers Guild is a year-long curriculum extension for selected students who participate in 7th grade G/T English. This curriculum is for passionate writers who live to write and are interested in submitting their best writing for possible publication.

G/T Social Studies An enriched and accelerated curriculum, including differentiated objectives, where students explore civic and cultural principles and engage in inquiries that focus on essential, 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 Successful participants in G/T social studies are students who demonstrate a natural curiosity and interest in topics related to history, culture, and current events. These students demonstrate their interest in a variety of ways that may include asking insightful questions and/or grappling with issues during discussions of related topics. In addition to the differentiated objectives, students who participate in G/T social studies complete 2 historically based inquiry projects each year. One of these may be presented for feedback From professionals in a forum such as Maryland History Day. Participating students should be avid readers and writers with an advanced-level ability in both areas. Therefore, they should concurrently participate in challenge reading and Have state and local assessment data that is in the advanced range in reading.

G/T Social Studies Extension History Day A national competition where students work individually or in groups to conduct historical research on an annual theme. Develop a thesis from the analysis of primary and secondary resources. Receive constructive feedback from history and social studies professionals. Debbie G/T Social Studies Extension

G/T Science An enriched and accelerated curriculum, including differentiated objectives, where students explore scientific principles and engage in ongoing original scientific research 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) Successful participants in G/T science are students who have an advanced-level Background knowledge in scientific topics and ask insightful questions In scientific areas. Students must be concurrently enrolled in either above grade level Mathematics or G/T math. Participating students should also be above grade level in reading. Students’ sate and local assessment data in math and reading should be In the advanced range. In addition to the differentiated objectives, participating students complete a long-term scientific research investigation that is presented For authentic feedback from scientist, typically at the countywide Science Fair.

G/T Research Class The middle school G/T Research curriculum is offered in all middle schools for 6th graders who participate in ____ G/T classes. The focus of this curriculum is On primary research methods. Therefore, students learn how to design and use instruments to collect data and various statistical measures to analyze the data. Students develop a deep understanding of how to use primary research methods so that they can be applied to a research investigation of the student’s own design. This was described earlier when we discussed G/T Research Investigations and Creative Productions. Students transfer many of the skills taught in this class to assignments long-term Projects in their other G/T content area classes. POSSIBLY USE A STUDENT PRESENTER TO HIGHTLIGHT A REMARKABLE INVESTIGATION OR DESCRIBE ITS REMARKABLE COMPONENS FOR THE PARENTS.

G/T Mathematics An accelerated and enriched sequence that follows a curriculum at least two years above the general education curriculum. 6 - Pre-Algebra G/T 7 – Algebra I/Data Analysis G/T 8 - Geometry G/T Placements in G/T classes are academic placements based on the needs of each individual child. Students should not need tutoring to sustain a placement in a G/T class. There are 4 G/T content area classes - Eligible students can choose to participate in one, two, three, or all 4 classes. The number of classes in which eligible students participate greatly depends on the individual child. While, it is very appropriate for some 6th graders to participate in all 4 classes of edibility, it is also it is appropriate for other students to choose to participate in selected classes that are of the greatest interest. Eligibility to participate in a class extend to 8th grade. Therefore, a child who may select to participate in G/T English and math in 6th grade, may choose to add G/T science as a 7th grader. Students who participate in G/T classes in middle school are expected to participate In high school G/T and Advanced Placement courses.

Middle School Math Common Core 6th- PreAlgebra GT/CC 8 Blend next year with transition to the Common Core For all years after that 6th grade will be PreAlgebra which is essentially Common Core 8 curriculum It will be expected with the change to the common core that students will need 4 years of high school math Common Core requires students develop a deep conceptual understanding of math rather than a coverage of content

High School Math Sequence with Common Core

Selection and Placement Procedures for G/T Classes Nomination by parent, teacher, or student based upon achievement test scores or student performance Testing ( SCAT Ability Testing - 9th grade norms ) Placement Review Procedures - multiple criteria examined In order to be considered for placement into G/T classes, all nominated students must be tested. The SCAT test, is an ability measure (not an achievement test) that is used and is normed at the ninth grade level. Therefore, the testing data that you have received compares your child’s verbal and mathematical reasoning ability with 9th graders. Those norms are used because the curriculum and instruction in middle school G/T classes is accelerated. As a result, students must grasp new concepts with less review and practice when compared with peers of the same age. Parents and teachers of students who did not qualify by testing may request a review of a child’s placement. Procedures outlining that process were outlined in the letter that you received with your child’s test data. This request must be made in writing to the elementary G/T Resource Teacher at your child’s school by _____________. A team of your child’s current teachers reviews multiple sources of Information regarding your child’s current academic placements. This results in a placement recommendation that is Made the the elementary placement review team. That recommendation is communicated to you in writing. Each middle school abides by the recommendation of the elementary team when creating a schedule for your Child. The elementary placement review committee can either a) recommend placement, b) deny placement, or c) deny initial placement with the recommendation that your child be placed on a list to be monitored by the middle school team.

Parent Resources GT Website: www.hcpss.org/gt Parent Academy Meetings National Association for Gifted Children www.nagc.org National Research Center on Gifted and Talented: www.gifted.uconn.edu/nrcgt.html

What general questions would you like to ask me, the principal, or the G/T content area teachers who are represented tonight? CMSGT.HCPSS.WIKISPACES.ORG

Feel free to contact me by phone Philip_herdman @hcpss.org 410- 313- 7057 Or by e-mail at Philip_herdman @hcpss.org PLESE ADD YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.