Transitioning to Junior High

KISD Gifted and Talented Program Options

Department of Gifted/Talented and Advanced Academic Studies

Sherry LuceFacilitator

(281)237-5957

Secondary Gifted Program

Subject specific Core Content areas Service every day Additional options available

Secondary Campus Support

Junior High Facilitator, Sherry Luce - on campus 2 days per week

Counselors GT Content Teachers- who have

completed 30 hours training and 6 hours of annual update training

When to contact the campus facilitator…

Questions about Gifted/Talented Screening

Concerns about student performance Need to exit from the GT program Questions about program options

When the campus facilitator may contact you…

Concerns about student performance

Need to initiate a furlough from GT

Need to exit student from the GT program

Secondary G/T Program

Content SpecificLanguage ArtsMathematicsScienceSocial Studies

Aligned with Advanced Placement Courses in these content areas

ADVANCED PLACEMENT

College Level Challenge Content Immersion Analysis and Synthesis Accelerated Learning Sophisticated Concepts

PRE-ADVANCED PLACEMENT

Aligned with Advanced Placement Courses

Academically Advanced Analysis and Synthesis Accelerated Learning Designed to increase student capacity to

understand rigorous content

Pre-AP/GT and AP/GT High School Mathematics

Pre-AP Pre-AP/GTWrite vectors as ordered pairs and add two vectors

Use the dot product of two vectors to determine whether they are perpendicular

Connect composition of transformation to composition of functions

Use properties of transformations and their compositions to make connections to mathematics and their music

Create a real world situation…

Pre-AP/GT and AP/GT English/Language ArtsPre-AP Pre-AP/GT

7th grade: 2 classes—Reading and English

One compacted course

Analyze …The way authors organize and present ideas such as through cause/effect, compare/contrast…

And compare…

Analyze the author’s use of argumentation techniques…

…by analyzing contemporary editorials.

Pre-AP/GT Social StudiesPre-AP Pre-AP/GT

Explain how the rights and responsibilities of US citizens reflect our national identity…

…and visually portray the model US citizen

Summarize and interpret rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights…

…and analyze the Bill of Rights in action in the world today

Identify new ideas in mathematics, science and technology that occurred during ancient Greek civilization and trace the spread of these ideas to other civilizations…

And assess their significance today

A Note About GPA’s

All high school level courses contribute to students’ GPAs, including courses taken in junior high (Algebra 1 and languages other than English)

All courses designated as AP, AP/GT, Pre-AP, and Pre-AP/GT carry a weighted grade point. (This is subject to change.)

Algebra 1 GT does not carry a weighted grade point

Making a Decision about PreAP/GT

Analyze standardized test scores Review semester averages earned in core

classes Self-assess in terms of student attitudes,

habits, and comfort with ambiguity Consider personal/academic interests and

strengths Evaluate time commitments and priorities for

non-school activities

Steps in Transitioning to 6th GradeStep 1

Parents receive the Request for Course Consideration form from their child’s Challenge teacher in early November.

After discussing with your child, submit the form with your request by the deadline.

Step 2

Campus selection committee will review available data (Stanford scores, input from academic teacher, grades, previous scores, and parent request) and collect any additional testing necessary to ensure appropriate placement.

Step 3

Campus selection committee will notify the parents of placement by the end of January.

Parents who have questions or concerns must contact the school within 15 school days upon receipt of the notification letter.

Step 4

During the course selection process, students will register for GT courses for which they are identified.

Carefully check the course verification sheet that will be sent in late April or early May for correct placement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is it advisable to take all PreAP/ GT classes?

A: It depends on the strengths of your child.Q: What if my student does not qualify in all

areas?A: Students may enroll in PreAP classes or

appropriate academic classes. Additional screening will be available in the spring of 6th grade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If I do not request consideration for one or more content areas now, can my child enter those GT courses in 6th grade?

A: No. The student may enroll in those Pre-AP courses, but not Pre-AP/GT.

Q: Is it possible to enter in 7th grade or later?A: Yes, but you will need to request that your

child be screened in those areas during the regular screening window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: My child has been approved for a GT course, but we decide not to enroll in that course in 6th grade. Can my child enroll in that GT course in 7th grade?

A: No. Your child will have to be screened for that content area during the spring screening window in 6th grade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I understand that most GT secondary students are clustered in Pre-AP classes. What is the advantage of GT identification that situation?

A: 1. GT identification is designed to address the particular educational needs of the gifted learner.2. The teacher is required to have 30 hours of GT training to have the GT assignment.3. The teacher is aware of the GT identification and can address unique needs of the gifted learners in that class.4. GT students are a part of a learning community that can help address the social/emotional and intellectual needs of the gifted learner.5. A cluster of GT students in a class creates a unique dynamic in the classroom that is evidenced by the dialogue and the depth of the conversation in the class.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is GT “more work”?

A: GT student should not receive assignments “in addition to” the standard assignments, but may receive assignments “in lieu of” the standard assignments. Replacement assignments are typically more open ended and flexible in the way that the student demonstrates their learning.

More Questions and Answers

Q: What if my child is not successful?

A: Contact the junior high GT facilitator about exit policies.

Q: What is a furlough?

A: A temporary exit from a GT course for a compelling reason, such as a schedule conflict, for one year. Furloughs for reasons other than academic are limited to a specific timeframe.

More Questions and Answers

Q: What if I disagree with the placement decision?

A: Contact the elementary Challenge teacher or counselor within 15 school days of receiving your notification letter.

Q: What if I have questions about junior high or high school courses?

A: Contact the counselor or GT facilitator at the campus. Attend course selection nights at junior high campus.

Program Options

Secondary Gifted Program

G/T Independent Study

Available elective for grades 7 and 8 Emphasis on time management,

research and communication skills Provides opportunities for in-depth study

of self-selected topic

Destination ImagiNation®

Creative Problem Solving Competition Extracurricular option for K-12 Students generate solutions for specific

challenges in a variety of formats.

Academic Decathlon

Pentathlon- grades 7-8

Octathlon- grades 9-10

Decathlon- grades 11-12

Questions about your child’s course selections should be directed to….

Challenge Teacher at the elementary GT Facilitator at the junior high Junior High counselors

Additional Resources

Secondary Course Selection Process• Spring 2012• Information from junior high campus• Secondary Course Catalog can be found at

www.katyisd.org

College Board• www.collegeboard.com