Welcome to Middle

School GTThompson School District R2-J

Middle School:

A time of Transition

Kids feel independent

Multiple teachers instead of one

Lockers

More anonymity

But within a supported environment

Still strong home-school communication opportunities

Kids feel the power of increased choices

Choices in courses

Choices in activities

Choices in friends

But parents can support making good choices

GT services also change

Elementary pull-out/push-in combination

Middle school instruction left to highly qualified teachers Kids may be clustered or placed in

leveled classes GT specialists co-teach or provide

support

Extra curricular offerings

What doesn’t change

GT identification

ALP established in sixth grade, reviewed in seventh and eighth

Ungifting

Preparation for middle school

Talk about it!

answer questions/ address concerns

understand schedule

locker, walk the halls

back to school days and nights

highlight the positive

everyone else is new, too

keep in touch with old friends

Homework plan

be prepared with supplies

how will you organize?

don’t throw anything away

homework corner

help with homework

self-advocate

New friends

know who they are

don’t try to choose them for your child

you shouldn’t need to know everything

New interests

be involved in sports or clubs in school

get involved in community service

don’t let your hopes get in their way

Red flags

tired/ trouble sleeping

withdrawn

lack of communication

visibly upset/ cries easily

loss of appetite

visiting school nurse often

severe drop in academic performance

Who to contact

GT teacher

building principal

district coordinator

Selecting courses

Try something new

Take courses with rigor

Be prepared for alternate courses

Individual Schools

Will have differences

Individual schools

Have different bell schedules

Have different elective options

May have specific area of focus

Bill Reed Middle School

• Loveland Integrated School of the Arts

• Core Knowledge

Conrad Ball Middle School

• Colorado Trailblazer School to Watch

Lucile Erwin Middle School

• IB World SchoolInternational Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme

Turner Middle School

Walt Clark Middle School

Charter middle schools

Questionsfor our panel

Thank youfor coming!