Essentials for Essentials for Quality Quality

Gifted EducationGifted Education

Making Middle Grades WorkMaking Middle Grades Work

Foundations of MMGWFoundations of MMGW

Core academics aligned to Core academics aligned to essential state and national essential state and national standards that prepare middle standards that prepare middle graders for challenging high graders for challenging high school course workschool course work

Student assignments, student Student assignments, student work, and classroom work, and classroom assessments to proficiency level assessments to proficiency level standards as defined by NAEPstandards as defined by NAEP

88thth Grade Proficiency – Grade Proficiency – English/Language ArtsEnglish/Language Arts

Write a major research paper Write a major research paper (with footnotes and bibliography) (with footnotes and bibliography) on a subject they choose once a on a subject they choose once a semester or once a yearsemester or once a year

Complete a short writing Complete a short writing assignments of one to three assignments of one to three pages for a grade monthly or pages for a grade monthly or weeklyweekly

88thth Grade Proficiency – Grade Proficiency – English/Language ArtsEnglish/Language Arts

Make an oral presentation each Make an oral presentation each month or each semestermonth or each semester

Read 11 or more books this Read 11 or more books this year both in and out of schoolyear both in and out of school

88thth Grade Proficiency – Grade Proficiency – MathematicsMathematics Develop and analyze tables, Develop and analyze tables,

charts, and graphs in charts, and graphs in schoolwork oftenschoolwork often

Use a scientific calculator to Use a scientific calculator to solve problems weeklysolve problems weekly

Work with one or more students Work with one or more students in class on a challenging in class on a challenging mathematics assignment mathematics assignment monthly or weeklymonthly or weekly

88thth Grade Proficiency – Grade Proficiency – MathematicsMathematics Explain to the class – both orally and Explain to the class – both orally and

in writing – the process used to solve in writing – the process used to solve a mathematics problem monthly or a mathematics problem monthly or weeklyweekly

Explain different ways to solve Explain different ways to solve mathematics problems monthly or mathematics problems monthly or weeklyweekly

Use math skills to solve problems in Use math skills to solve problems in other classes monthly or weeklyother classes monthly or weekly

88thth Grade Proficiency – Grade Proficiency – ScienceScience

Complete science projects that Complete science projects that take a week or moretake a week or more

Complete written lab reports Complete written lab reports once a semester or monthlyonce a semester or monthly

Use equipment to do activities in Use equipment to do activities in science labs with tables and science labs with tables and sinks once a semester or sinks once a semester or monthlymonthly

88thth Grade Proficiency – Grade Proficiency – ScienceScience

Use word-processing software Use word-processing software to complete an assignment or to complete an assignment or project oftenproject often

Complete short writing Complete short writing assignments of one to three assignments of one to three pages for a grade once a pages for a grade once a semestersemester

88thth Grade Proficiency – Grade Proficiency – ScienceScience

Use a laptop computer, a lab Use a laptop computer, a lab books or notebooks to keep books or notebooks to keep records, logs and commentsrecords, logs and comments

Write long answers to questions Write long answers to questions on tests in science monthlyon tests in science monthly

88thth Grade Proficiency – Grade Proficiency – Social StudiesSocial Studies Understand the essential concepts of Understand the essential concepts of

geography, economics, history and geography, economics, history and governmentgovernment

Analyze conflicts and debate and Analyze conflicts and debate and defend a positiondefend a position

Participate in hands-on activities Participate in hands-on activities such as problem-solving and such as problem-solving and decision-making in the real world, decision-making in the real world, simulations and service learningsimulations and service learning

88thth Grade Proficiency – Grade Proficiency – Exploratory ElectivesExploratory Electives Experience a curriculum that is Experience a curriculum that is

aligned to core academic aligned to core academic standardsstandards

Read and write to learnRead and write to learn Work on projects that integrate Work on projects that integrate

academic standardsacademic standards Practice use of technology; and Practice use of technology; and

explore different career explore different career pathwayspathways

Connections………………Connections………………

In your content groups, discuss In your content groups, discuss how these proficiency standards how these proficiency standards relate to the gifted services that relate to the gifted services that you provide.you provide.

Be able to share one way in Be able to share one way in which we can improve gifted which we can improve gifted services for middle school services for middle school students.students.