Howard county public school system GT program(elementary level)

• The Gifted and Talented Education Program mission is to recognize and develop talent in advanced-level learners.

• Elementary GT program services provide ascending levels of intellectual challenge for students who participate in GT mathematics and the school wide enrichment program.

• The GT mathematics program: offers an enriched mathematics curriculum that is accelerated by at least 2 years. It replaces the general education mathematics curriculum and is taught daily by the GT teacher. This curriculum prepares students for Pre-Algebra GT in sixth grade. To participate in the program, students must be tested.

• General exploratory activities: are designed to maximize exposure to a wide variety of potential areas of interest. These activities are available to all students.

• Instructional seminars: are talent development offerings that extend student interests beyond general exploratory experiences. Students develop a broad range of advanced level skills in preparation for in-depth study and creation of a product on a chosen interest.

• Curriculum extension units: are thematic units that extend the essential curriculum to provide additional rigor and challenge and to engage students in grades 2 through 5 in advanced-level thinking, questioning, and research. Students are nominated for participation by teachers based on academic strengths as demonstrated on a variety of performance indicators. Selected students receive individual letters of invitation. While participating in these units, students receive instruction from the GT teacher approximately 2 hours a week. Parents can expect regular progress reports and a written evaluation at the conclusion of the unit.

• Research investigations: offer the highest level of enrichment for students who demonstrate a sincere interest in a particular field of study and a willingness to pursue this interest at an advanced level over an extended period of time.