1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

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

9. 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.

10. 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.

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

12. Sample Debate Video

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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

25. High School Math Sequence with Common Core

26. 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.

27. Parent Resources
GT Website: Parent Academy Meetings National Association for Gifted Children National Research Center on Gifted and Talented:

28. 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

29. Feel free to contact me by phone Philip_herdman @hcpss.org
Or by at
PLESE ADD YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.