November 1, 2012

Topics for Tonight: Curriculum Why PSA? What does PSA offer the gifted learner? What does a PSA graduate look like? What can a PSA student demonstrate (and how do we know?) Overview and timeline for PSA’s curriculum Learning Opportunities Research opportunities Next steps...

Topics for Tonight: College and Academic Counseling College counseling at PSA Understanding the multipotentialities of the gifted What are colleges looking for? Alignment of curriculum and counseling Building timeline and resources

An opening thought... Failing to provide appropriate instruction to high- ability students can hinder their development, just as treating an illness with the wrong medications can be harmful to patients. (National Association for Gifted Children)

Why PSA? Who does PSA serve? Gifted and talented learners Greater Charleston community Teaching and learning in gifted education What makes PSA relevant? Needs of gifted learners Opportunities for research among students, faculty, graduate students, etc. Informing teaching beyond PSA

What makes PSA possible? A rigorous, innovative, coherent curriculum A gifted, motivated faculty Leadership that understands PSA learners and supports innovation A community that recognizes PSA’s potential A counseling program that advances the mission of PSA and advocates for its students

What makes PSA distinctive? A curriculum that meets the diverse needs of a gifted student body Partnerships between PSA community and the greater Charleston community (local businesses and industry, etc.) Research opportunities that allow PSA students to distinguish themselves before college Opportunities for PSA students to work closely with experts in a variety of fields

Authentic Research Thinking Like a... Introduction to Authentic Research Research and Technical Writing across the Disciplines Peer review, professional presentation Senior Research Capstone E.g., Original research, novel writing Departmental Philosophy Authentic Research will prepare students to follow their interests and inquiries toward a logical conclusion. The four year experience will develop the skills of inquiry, investigation, critical thinking, and communication that will support academic and professional pursuits, and developing expertise. PSA Presentation Day Program Outcomes By the end of the Authentic Research program students will: Demonstrate skills and habits of researchers in their chosen research areas. Design, execute, and present original research or creative work in there are of interest. Develop an understanding of the resources (personal, institutional, technological) that support meaningful research. *Exceeds SC High School academic standards

High School Math Department Math Investigations I/II Math Investigations II Math Investigations III Analytical Statistics /Pre-calculus Math Investigations IV Single Variable Calculus Departmental Philosophy PSA students will develop and apply mathematical thinking and problem- solving as involved citizens and community leaders. Advanced Problem Solving Program Outcomes PSA students will internalize the eight math practices of Common Core State Standards: Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. Reason abstractly and quantitatively. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others. Model with mathematics. Use appropriate tools strategically. Attend to precision. Look for and make use of structure. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning. *Exceeds SC High School academic standards

High School English/Language Arts Department ELA II American Literature through 1900 ELA III American Literature ELA IV World Literature Dual Credit Senior ELA Elective Selected topics Departmental Philosophy To create analytical readers, writers, and thinkers who read widely and deeply with a variety of text forms and who use writing to convey understanding and to convey real and imagined experiences Online courses *Exceeds SC High School academic standards

High School English/Language Arts Department ELA II American Literature through 1900 ELA III American Literature ELA IV World Literature Dual Credit Senior ELA Elective Selected topics Online courses Program Outcomes By the end of the PSA ELA experience students will: Be able to read and write with a global perspective Become critical consumers of various media Develop understanding of concepts, themes, and issues fundamental to society and disciplines, foster interrelationship recognition among disciplines Develop inquiry skills at a level of complexity, abstractness, depth appropriate to gifted learners Develop critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making skills (abstract, complex, in-depth) Develop proficiency in communicating abstract and complex ideas, relationships and issues *Exceeds SC High School academic standards

High School History/Social Science Department Human Geography AP American History Economics (1 semester) Senior Elective Government (1 semester) Senior Elective Departmental Philosophy PSA’s history/social science department enables students to develop an intellectual and cultural context that serves as a framework for future intellectual, civic, and ethical growth, and participation in civil society. *Exceeds SC High School academic standards

High School History/Social Science Department Human Geography AP American History Economics (1 semester) Senior Elective Government (1 semester) Senior Elective Program Outcomes By the end of the PSA history/social science experience, students will: View the social sciences through inquiry of thematic concepts; Recognize the value of primary sources in creating an authentic understanding of human history; Examine the importance of the patterns and processes that have shaped cultural and social history Understand the interactions between humans and their cultural, social, and political histories to create the world in which we live Develop a global awareness of the increasingly complex society and their role in the world *Exceeds SC High School academic standards

High School Science Department Biology Chemistry Physics Forensic Science Required Senior Science Elective Calc-based Physics Departmental Philosophy The core component of science at PSA is collaborative, cooperative scientific inquiry. Scientific inquiry is the process of students asking questions about the natural world and understanding how to answer these questions using evidence and research. At its core is the analysis of questions and knowing how different questions require different methods to answer. Inquiry lends itself to collaborative learning, research collection, scientific tool use, and inference development. Environmental Science *Exceeds SC High School academic standards

High School Science Department Biology Chemistry Physics Forensic Science Required Senior Science Elective Calc-based Physics Environmental Science Program Outcomes By the end of the PSA science sequence, students will: Understand the value of collaboration in the sciences Be able to use scientific tools accurately during science investigations Be able to use the controlled scientific investigation and the technological design process to conduct a scientific investigation Be able to recognize common science misconceptions Be able to read above grade level science texts and write purposefully for scientific disciplines Demonstrate the habits of mind and communication skills of scientists Use mathematical and analytical skills to deepen their knowledge of the scientific process Understand the impact of science in our society and the different perspectives of scientific methodologies *Exceeds SC High School academic standards

College Counseling at PSA College counseling is inextricable from the PSA curriculum College counseling staff will know PSA students as well as the PSA faculty Colleges will soon recognize the profile of the PSA applicants!

What lies ahead (and how can the PSA community support us?) Identifying research sites and partners Finalizing course sequences from middle school though graduation Integrating Mathematical Investigations Articulating course, program, and institutional outcomes Formalizing a system of assessment Preparing PSA students, faculty, and leadership for college selection opportunities Creating professional development opportunities for PSA faculty