BIG RED Building Innovation Growth and Rigor through Enrichment at Deer Park Junior High Deer Park Independent School District

Program Eligibility 8 th grade students enrolled in advanced academic courses for high school credit Deer Park Independent School District Building Innovation Growth and Rigor through Enrichment at Deer Park Junior High

Program Design In-depth learning Interest-based mini-courses Real-world, problem-solving projects Presentations and products with professional evaluations Deer Park Independent School District

Curriculum Increased technology integration Mini-courses Field experiences TPSP (Texas Performance Standards Project) Deer Park Independent School District

Technology Integration A different “thinking tool” to help students develop their critical thinking skills and to deepen their understanding of content Develops verbal expression in response to visual stimuli; less hesitation with visual first Increase engagement and interaction with content Wireless setting, college and professional level integration Bring Your Own Technology Deer Park Independent School District

Mini Courses Students choose among a variety of topics for in-depth study on relevant issues, including opportunities to apply what they have learned to real-world experiences. Not an “extra” elective Deer Park Independent School District

Field Experiences In-school and out-of-school opportunities for students to apply what they have learned in the real-world, or the opportunity to see how what they have learned is applied by professionals in real-world settings. Deer Park Independent School District

Texas Performance Standards Project Goal: Gifted students create work reflecting the professional quality required by the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students TEKS-based project with interdisciplinary connections Projects evaluated by professionals/experts Deer Park Independent School District

Courses (A Typical Day for a BIG RED Student) Deer Park Independent School District Single class periods of:  ELA  Math  Science  Social Studies  Mini-course  Elective 1  Elective 2

Social/Emotional Support Deer Park Independent School District Asynchrony Perfectionism Stress Time Management

Family/Community Involvement Deer Park Independent School District Volunteer and assist with various activities within BIG RED Share mini-course ideas Participate as an adjunct