1. ELEMENTARY GIFTED & TALENTED EDUCATION PROGRAM
This is an opportunity to share general information with you about the G/T Program. If you would like to discuss questions related to individual situations or individual student progress, I would be happy to schedule a conference with you at a later time.

2. GT Resource Staff at GES
Robert Schwab
Benjamin Weiskind
Contact info on handout
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3. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH (NCTE)
NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION (NSTA)
Howard County
Gifted and Talented
Education Program
HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED CHILDREN (NAGC)
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF SOCIAL STUDIES (NCSS)
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF MATHEMATICS (NCTM)
The mission of the Howard County Gifted and Talented Education Program is to recognize and develop talent in advanced-level students.
The HCPSS Gifted & Talented Education Program is aligned with the:
National gifted education standards established by the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
National content standards
Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) learning outcomes
HCPSS Bridge to Excellence Comprehensive Plan.

4. The G/T Education Program goals are to:
Accelerate the achievement of students who participate in the G/T Education Program.
Increase successful participation of underrepresented populations of students in G/T Education Program offerings.
Develop a highly qualified professional staff.
Develop and implement a comprehensive plan for G/T Education Program communication and community involvement.
These four goals are designed to meet the needs of our students, the community, and our staff - all elements essential to guarantee the success of our students.

5. Ascending Levels of Intellectual Challenge
Exploratory Experiences
G/T Research Investigations
&
Creative Productions
G/T Enrichment Units
And
G/T Content Classes
Students as Consumers of Knowledge
Students as Producers of Knowledge
G/T Instructional Seminars I II
III
Advanced-level Content & Skills ME
The design of the program components allows students to engage in ascending levels of intellectual challenge to help them grow from consumers of knowledge to producers of original knowledge.
General exploratory experiences are part of the school culture now and are part of every student’s educational experience. These include guest speakers, field trips, cultural arts programs, etc. that help to spark students’ interest in a wide variety of topics. In Renzulli’s School Enrichment Model, these experiences were referred to as Type I activities.
G/T resource teachers at every school provide advanced-level instruction to students through G/T Mathematics, G/T Curriculum Extension Units, and G/T Instructional Seminars. These offerings provide the “how-to” skills and advanced-level content to prepare students for advanced-level courses in middle and high school. These offerings were referred to as Type II experiences in the Renzulli model.
The highest level of differentiation offered for advanced-level students at the elementary level are G/T Research Investigations and Creative Productions. These year-long offerings allow students to design their own learning experience on a topic of great interest to them. The students identify a real-world problem or area of personal talent that they would like to develop through advanced-level research. They work with an expert advisor to develop a product that is shared with an authentic audience. You may be familiar with Renzulli’s Type III investigations.

6. Elementary G/T Education Program Instructional Services
G/T Mathematics for 4th & 5th grades
G/T Curriculum Extension Units-Grades 1-5
G/T Instructional Seminars
G/T Kindergarten Talent Spotting
HCPSS program is very inclusive in philosophy.
More than 20% of the student population in grades 4 & 5 participate in the G/T Mathematics Program (Approx 50% at CES).
Approximately 30% of the student population in grades 2-5 participate in the G/T Curriculum Extension Units and G/T Instructional Seminars. (Same approx # for CES)

7. G/T Mathematics
Curriculum is enriched & accelerated in order to cover three + years of curriculum in two years (5th grade level math – 7th).
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. All students are tested in 3rd and 5th grades.
Students do not skip any mathematics objectives, but rather cover 3+ years of mathematics objectives in two years at an accelerated pace.
The G/T resource teacher provides the student’s entire mathematics instruction on a daily basis.
Testing involves a combination of mathematics achievement (PARCC) and ability (CogAT) measures to determine an eligibility score. We also have a placement review process that allows us to look beyond test scores to daily performance.
Although G/T Math is not offered until 4th grade, grades 1- 3 offer accelerated mathematics one year above grade level. (ex. - 3rd grade students working on 4th grade objectives)
Students who successfully complete G/T Math in grades 4 & 5 are eligible for G/T Math in middle school - 6th grade Prealgebra G/T and 7th grade Algebra I/Data Analysis G/T. Students can complete courses offerings through Differential Equations in high school. (You may want to provide a handout or show an overhead of the secondary mathematics flowchart.)

8. G/T Mathematics
Blend of Common Core curriculum to meet needs for students when they enter Pre-Algebra in 6th grade
In GT Math, the standards are blended so that students apply their learning to real world situations.
Emphasis on advanced level problem solving
Homework will involve both practice of concepts and problem solving.
Students are assessed using math tests, performance tasks, and class performance/participation.
Students do not skip any mathematics objectives, but rather cover 3+ years of mathematics objectives in two years at an accelerated pace.
The G/T resource teacher provides the student’s entire mathematics instruction on a daily basis.
Testing involves a combination of mathematics achievement (MSA) and ability(SCAT) measures to determine an eligibility score. We also have a placement review process that allows us to look beyond test scores to daily performance.
Although G/T Math is not offered until 4th grade, grades 1- 3 offer accelerated mathematics one year above grade level. (ex. - 3rd grade students working on 4th grade objectives)
Students who successfully complete G/T Math in grades 4 & 5 are eligible for G/T Math in middle school - 6th grade Prealgebra G/T and 7th grade Algebra I/Data Analysis G/T. Students can complete courses offerings through Differential Equations in high school. (You may want to provide a handout or show an overhead of the secondary mathematics flowchart.)

9. Focus is on four critical areas:
Grade 4 G/T Mathematics
Focus is on four critical areas:
Developing fluency and understanding with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of fractions
Extending division to 2-digit divisors, integrating decimal fractions into the place value system and developing understanding of operations with decimals to hundredths, and developing fluency with whole number and decimal operations
Developing understanding of volume
Open-ended problem solving and real-life application of skills and concepts
Students do not skip any mathematics objectives, but rather cover 4 years of mathematics objectives in two years at an accelerated pace.
The G/T resource teacher provides the student’s entire mathematics instruction on a daily basis.
Testing involves a combination of mathematics achievement (MSA) and ability(SCAT) measures to determine an eligibility score. We also have a placement review process that allows us to look beyond test scores to daily performance.
Although G/T Math is not offered until 4th grade, grades 1- 3 offer accelerated mathematics one year above grade level. (ex. - 3rd grade students working on 4th grade objectives)
Students who successfully complete G/T Math in grades 4 & 5 are eligible for G/T Math in middle school - 6th grade Prealgebra G/T and 7th grade Algebra I/Data Analysis G/T. Students can complete courses offerings through Differential Equations in high school. (You may want to provide a handout or show an overhead of the secondary mathematics flowchart.)

10. Focus is on six critical areas:
Grade 5 G/T Mathematics
Focus is on six critical areas:
Connecting ratio and rate to whole number multiplication and division and using concepts of ratio and rate to solve problems
Continuing understanding of division of fractions and extending the notion of number to the system of rational numbers, which includes negative numbers and integers
Writing, interpreting, and using expressions and equations
Reasoning about geometric figures
Developing understanding of statistical thinking. 
Open-ended problem solving and real-life application of skills and concepts

11. G/T Curriculum Extension Units
Interdisciplinary advanced-level content, reading, writing, & thinking skills
2 CEUs per grade (Grades 1 – 5) per year lasting approximately 91 semester each
Each unit in requires two hours of instruction per week with the G/T Resource Teacher
Multiple criteria used for the selection process
Rigorous, interdisciplinary units with strong advanced-level reading and writing components. The topics extend from HCPSS Essential Curriculum and support Maryland Learning Outcomes.
Students are selected for participation in these units based on multiple criteria such as MSA scores, local assessments, report card grades, teacher recommendations, student work samples, demonstrated passion for the particular topic, etc. Students may participate in one or more of the units based on their needs.
No report card grades are assigned. However, the grades from various assignments from the unit may be incorporated into the report card grade.

12. G/T CURRICULUM EXTENSION UNIT FRAMEWORK
Advanced Level Reading Connections
Advanced Level Writing Connections
Essential Curriculum & Maryland Outcomes Connections
Evaluation
Multicultural
Connections
Technology Connections
Professional Product & Presentation
Multiple Intelligences
Advanced
Level
Research
Skills
Thinking
Each of the units incorporates these components into the instruction as applicable for the particular topic.
The format was adapted from the College of William & Mary curriculum model for gifted students.
The advanced-level skills taught in the units serve as building blocks for more advanced levels of coursework at the secondary level.

13. G/T Curriculum Extension Units
Grade INTERDISCIPLINARY UNITS
Art of Language Children Just like Me
2 World Cultures *Archaeology
Weather *The Immigrant Experience
4 Our Place in Space *Systems & Settlement in the New World
River Watch *Politics of Persuasion
*Tentative units selections
The units shown are required at all elementary schools.
The units on the left represent a strand of humanities offerings that incorporate geography skills, both physical and cultural.
The units on the right represent Math/Science offerings.
The G/T resource teacher will offer additional units based on current events and the students’ needs.

14. G/T 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 (may also be a “push-in” set of lessons with the team or class)
Each unit requires one half hour of instruction per week with the G/T Resource Teacher
Students self-select based on their interest in the topic
Purpose is to develop talent in areas of student interest & to provide advanced-level skills instruction.

15. G/T Instructional Seminars
Examples of Grade Level Seminars:
2nd Grade Seminars: Mr. Bear Mystery, Creative Artists
3rd Grade Seminars: Code Crackers, Shipwreck Adventure
4th Grade Seminars: Rubik’s Cube, Book Club
5th Grade Seminars: Battle of the Books, Fantasy Football

16. G/T Volunteer Opportunities
Parent Academy
Two parents needed
Monthly meeting
Learn about advanced-level offerings that are available through the Gifted and Talented Program and give your feedback
Classroom Volunteers
Jessica Bird

17. For additional information:
Schedule a conference with the G/T Resource Teacher at your school.
GT Teacher Websites:
We are using Canvas this year for math, and will be developing Canvas sites for the CEUs. Seminars may be an outside link, TBD.
For district information, consult the HCPSS G/T brochure & website.
For national information on gifted education, consult the NAGC website.
Invite participants to review the G/T brochures, website, NAGC information, or even schedule a follow-up conference to discuss individual questions.

18. Questions. (This presentation will be posted on Mr. Schwab’s and Mr
Questions? (This presentation will be posted on Mr. Schwab’s and Mr. Weiskind’s Canvas sites under “Announcements” and will be shared with each grade level for posting.)
Thank you all for coming!