1. + GT Parent Orientation Night A general overview of the program

2. + GT Resource Staff at Pointers Run Jessica Brown (full-time) 4 th grade GT math 1 st, 3 rd and 4 th grade Curriculum Extension Units 4 th and 5 th Instructional Seminars Kindergarten Talent Development Danelle Houck (full-time) 5 th grade GT math 1 st, 2 nd and 5 th grade Curriculum Extension Units 2 nd and 3 rd Instructional Seminars Kindergarten Talent Development Primary Math support Amy Cargiulo (half-time) 4 th and 5 th grade GT math 5 th grade Instructional Seminar

3. The mission of the Howard County Gifted and Talented Education Program is to recognize and develop talent in advanced-level students.

4. + The GT Program Education Goals: 1. Accelerate the achievement of students who participate in the G/T Education Program. 2. Increase successful participation of underrepresented populations of students in G/T Education Program offerings. 3. Develop a highly qualified professional staff. 4. Develop and implement a comprehensive plan for G/T Education Program communication and community involvement.

5. + GT Mathematics The GT Mathematics program is available only in 4 th and 5 th grade Curriculum is enriched & accelerated by as much as two years Focus is on problem solving and application of mathematical skills Daily mathematics instruction by the G/T Resource Teacher (1 hour 15 minutes/day) Testing required for students to attain an ability measure as one criteria for determining placement

6. + CogAT For all students in grades 3 and 5 Testing window: end of November – early December Measures learned reasoning abilities developed through in and out-of-school experiences Verbal reasoning Quantitative reasoning Non-verbal reasoning

7. + Cognitive Abilities Verbal Ability – Best predictor of academic success Quantitative Ability – “number sense” ability to see relationship of numbers Nonverbal Ability – Best predictor of how fast a student learns

8. + CogAT Measures Important Reasoning Skills Making Inferences Detecting Similarities and Differences Comprehending Problem Situations Forming Concepts Classifying and categorizing objects, events and other stimuli Using past experiences in novel problem

9. + Curriculum Extension Units Interdisciplinary advanced-level content, reading, writing, & thinking skills Multiple criteria used for the selection process Above grade level readers Interest in subject Talent Spotting Lesson Report card grades Teacher observation Work habits

10. + Curriculum Extension Units 1 st grade (held in Spring) Children Like Me The Art of Language 2 nd grade (year-round) Are We There Yet? We Can Dig It Water Words 3 rd grade (year-round) Weather Bridges 4 th grade (year-round) Treasure the Chesapeake Ancient Civilizations 5 th grade (year round) Politics of Persuasion Making Waves Leadership

11. + Instructional Seminars Designed to develop advanced-level skills in an area of interest for students Offerings vary based on the needs of the students and grade- level teams Each unit requires weekly instruction with the G/T Resource Teacher Students self-select based on their interest in the topic

12. + Instructional Seminars 2 nd grade Challenge Book Club Problem Solving 3 rd grade Weatherbug BirdSlueths AGL Math 4 th grade Ciphers and Secret Codes Green School 5 th grade Stock Market Game Green School Inventioneers

13. + Questions? Schedule a conference with the G/T Resource Teacher at your school. For district information, consult the HCPSS G/T brochure & website. www.hcpss.org/gtp For national information on gifted education, consult the NAGC website. www.nagc.org