Middle School Talent Development Program at Northwest School of the Arts 2006-2007

Janice BernierAcademic Facilitator

Mission

To provide appropriate intellectual opportunities that help gifted students realize their potential and connect them with their complex world.

Goal

To support the development of acontent-rich educational processthroughout CMS which providesopportunities and resources forlearners to……

Attain levels of academic achievement consistent with their abilities

Engage in abstract and creative reasoning Apply insightful questioning See interconnections among disciplines Practice self-directed learning and

independent problem solving

Goal

The Academic Facilitator’s RoleTo model/demonstrate best practices in

gifted educationTo lead on-site professional development

activities in gifted education and other instructional areas

To assist teachers in planning instruction that will meet the needs of the gifted learner

Standard Plus Courses

Students who need to be challenged with enriched grade level curriculum

Courses offered in Language Arts and Mathematics

Honors Courses

Students who need to be advanced in their learning, which will require curriculum beyond grade level

Courses offered in Language Arts and Mathematics

Differentiation

Differentiated activities are integrated into the regular classroom to complement and supplement the standard curriculum. This occurs in all academic classes for the benefit of all students.

Without differentiation everyone…Moves at the same paceCompletes the same

assignmentsIs evaluated the same way

Collaborators of Differentiation

Classroom TeacherAcademic FacilitatorMedia SpecialistAdministrators

Desired OutcomesCurriculum studied in greater depth

through more challenging lessons and differentiated activities

Curriculum accelerated to include above-grade level material when appropriate

Advanced pace of learning

What Do Gifted Services Look

Like?

Mathematics

Standard Plus or Honors classes Instructional Strategies:

Discovery LearningProjects using higher order thinking

(application and synthesis) Programs:

Math Olympiad

MathematicsThe following GOALS are repeated each year in

grades 6-8 (including Algebra and Geometry); however, the level of difficulty and application increase each year.

Goal 1: Number and Operation Goal 2: Measurement Goal 3: Geometry Goal 4: Data Analysis and

Probability Goal 5: Algebra

Language Arts Instructional Strategies:

Socratic SeminarsCurriculum Compacting

Programs:Battle of the Books

Texts:Words on the Vine and Vocabulary from

Classical RootsWilliam and Mary CurriculumNovelsScope and Time for Kids (also used in Social

Studies and Science when applicable)

Science Instructional Strategies:

Curriculum Compacting Contracts Research Projects

Texts: The science text book differentiates and provides

leveled resources differentiation occurs in activities, lab sheets,

study guides, projects, and tests. You (and your student) may not even realize it is happening

Training has been provided for teachers for differentiation in the science classroom

Social Studies Using the study of culture and history to:

Enhance higher-order thinking skills such as analysis and evaluation

Expose students to rich, rigorous, and relevant primary source documents and other resources

Develop sense of self

Social Studies Texts:

History Alive! and Geography Alive! Primary Source Documents Junior Scholastic and Time for Kids (current events)

Instructional Strategies: Cooperative learning Socratic Seminars Role-play, panel discussions, and debates Video clips with viewing guides and discussions Analysis of political cartoons Essays Research Projects

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Middle School Talent Development Differentiated

Education Plan

Practices and Strategies LA M Socratic Seminar LA M Creative/Critical Thinking

Processes LA M Research Skills LA M Reflective Assessment LA M Authentic Assessment LA M Arts Infusion LA M Multiple Intelligences LA M Talents Unlimited LA M Creative Problem

Solving

LA M Richard Paul Critical Thinking ModelLA M Past, Present, Future AnalysisLA M Torrance Problem Solving ModelLA M Problem Based LearningLA M Enrichment CentersLA M Product AssessmentLA M Performance-Based AssessmentLA M Higher Order QuestioningLA M Curriculum Compacting

Content Modification

LA M Learning Contracts LA M Research Projects LA M Learning/Interest Centers LA Vocabulary Development LA Contemporary /Multicultural Literature M Standard Plus M Honors M Algebra I M Geometry

Special Programs

Future Problem Solving (Community Service)

National Academic League Theater/Dance Quiz Bowl High Q Talent Identification

Program (TIP) Odyssey of the Mind Science Bowl Great Books

Chess Club Battle of the Books Shakespeare Recitation

Competition Computer Club Science Olympiad Geography Bee Algebra Team Geometry Team Math Olympiad Junior Historians

Middle School TD Performance Review Completed in June 2007 by Math and Language

Arts Teachers (mailed home w/ report card) 4 Areas:

Content Evaluation Process Evaluation Product Evaluation Affective Evaluation

Low evaluation in all four areas can result in loss of AIG status

Contact Information

Email janice.bernier@cms.k12.nc.us

Phone980-343-5500 ext 249

Websitehttp://pages.cms.k12.nc.us/janicebernier

Questions If you have any questions, please fill out an

index card. On front include:

Student’s nameGrade levelYour NamePhone or email address

Write questions on back