• Welcome• Elementary GT Programming• Center Program for the Highly Gifted• Instructional Approach• Academic Environment• Timeline• Frequently Asked Questions

Center Program for the Highly Gifted

Overview

GT Programming in MCPS Elementary Schools

Curriculum Needs for Gifted Children

• Creative Thinking• Critical Thinking• Academic Success Skills• Interdisciplinary

Connections• Instructional Challenge

Opportunities for Enrichment in

MCPS Elementary Schools• Curriculum 2.0 Reading/Language Arts

• Junior Great Books (Questioning, Inquiry, Discourse) • William and Mary Units (Advanced Novels, Writing, Research, Theme-

Based Integration)• Advanced Core Books/Novels

• Curriculum 2.0 Science & Social Studies• Scientific and Historical Investigations

•Cross-Curricular Connections • Marking Period Inquiry Projects• Thinking and Academic Success Skills

• Designed for students with needs that cannot be easily met through local school GT programming

• Designed to address the unique needs of gifted students by using different process/products within the grade levels standards

• Program content is based on accelerated, compacted and enriched MCPS curriculum

• Instructional atmosphere promotes thinking skills and instructional strategies that encourage intellectual growth, risk taking and creative expression

Center Program for the Highly Gifted

Rationale

Who is the Center program designed for?Students who have been successful in the Centers come

from diverse backgrounds and share the following traits: Exceptional content reasoning skills, advanced vocabulary,

advanced written expression Continual curiosity and motivation to learn Strong critical and creative thinking High level of commitment, persistence, independence Academic performance well above grade level in one or

more areas

Center Program for the Highly Gifted

• All students and their parents/guardians are participating members in the center school and are part of the school community.

• Instructional groups are flexible and fluid. Students may switch between center classrooms for various subjects.

• Mathematics instruction follows MCPS curriculum and classes may include accelerated students from the local school program.

• Students continue to participate in the school’s weekly specials (art, music, instrumental music, P.E.)

Center Program for the Highly Gifted

School Setting

The Common Core State Standards outline the standards that students should access at each grade level. The Center Program for Highly Gifted offers a challenging curriculum that provides opportunities to access above grade level standards and content.

• Addresses standards and objectives in the general curriculum, while content, processes, and products are enriched, compacted, or accelerated to meet the needs of highly able students.

• Curriculum is presented through interdisciplinary units that require integration of concepts and essential ideas across disciplines.

• Provides more in-depth examination of topics in the general curriculum and examination of concepts related to, but not included in, the general curriculum.

• Emphasis is placed on the development and application of creative and critical thinking skills to solve a problem, or create a new product, process, or idea.

Center Programfor the Highly Gifted

Instructional Design

Instruction for Centers for the Highly Gifted should engage the learner, focus on the use of inquiry as a tool supporting all academic areas, and reflect the complex nature of learning and human expression.

Appropriately challenging instruction and advanced materials are provided in response to learner need to encourage student engagement, motivation, and personal growth

Instructional strategies require the teacher to become a facilitator of learning and a manager of resources.

• Instructional groupings are based on academic needs of gifted and talented students, and use of appropriately challenging resources to differentiate content and instruction.

• Resources beyond the school setting are used to provide appropriate educational experiences for gifted and talented students.

• included in, the general curriculum.• Emphasis is placed on the development and application of creative and

critical thinking skills to solve a problem, or create a new product, process, or idea.

Center Programfor the Highly Gifted

Learning Environment

• October - Applications mailed to all Grade 3 students enrolled in MCPS

• October - Attend one of two evening meetings • November 8 - Application deadline • January - Testing at home elementary schools• January 9-Non-MCPS students’ testing date• February - Selection process• March - Notification of selection • March 26- April 2 – Open Houses• April 4- Deadline for Acceptance

Center Programfor the Highly Gifted

Selection Process and Timeline

Barnsley ES• Walter Johnson• Richard Montgomery• Rockville• Wheaton

Chevy Chase ES• Bethesda Chevy Chase• Whitman

Clearspring ES• Clarksburg (except Fox Chapel ES

and Daly ES)

• Damascus• Gaithersburg• Magruder• Watkins Mill

Cold Spring ES• Churchill• Wootton

Center Program for the Highly Gifted

Centers and High School Clusters

Drew ES• Blake• Paint Branch• Springbrook• Sherwood

Fox Chapel ES• Clarksburg (only Fox Chapel ES and Daly

ES)• Northwest• Poolesville• Quince Orchard• Seneca Valley

Pine Crest ES/Oak View ES• Blair• Einstein• Kennedy• Northwood

Center Program for the Highly Gifted

Centers and High School Clusters

Where can I get an application?• Direct mail to all Grade 3 students enrolled in MCPS• Web site: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms

• Available in the office of the home elementary school• Applications available in various languages

Center Program for the Highly GiftedFrequently Asked Questions

How are the students selected for the Center Program?• The central office selection committee uses a variety of data

points to determine those students whose needs would best be met in the center program based on –- Information provided by the school on the academic

performance and motivation of each applicant- Parent and teacher information- Student performance on the advanced level assessment

• The process is competitive and there are a limited number of seats for each center

Center Program for the Highly GiftedFrequently Asked Questions

What transportation services are provided? MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Center Programs for the Highly Gifted, from the areas that the programs serve.

1. Transportation is provided for the Highly Gifted Centers to and from central stops (usually at MCPS schools) determined by the Department of Transportation.

2. Stops may be several miles from the student’s home. 3. Parents are responsible for arranging transportation to and from the

central stops. 4. Bus trips are usually significantly longer and vary by program and location.

Please carefully consider transportation options and responsibilities.

Center Program for the Highly GiftedFrequently Asked Questions

• Meredith Casper, Director, AEI• Jeannie Franklin, Director, DCCAPS• Elise Antoine, Instructional Specialist, AEI• Betty Shevitz, Instructional Specialist, DCCAPS

Call the Division of Accelerated and Enriched Instruction with questions about programming at 301-279-3163

Call the Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services with questions about the application process at 301-592-2040.

Visit the Web site: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/specialprograms

Center Program for the Highly Gifted

CONTACTS