getting the most from the bhs gifted program dr. jolinda collins brookwood high school
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Getting the Most from the BHS Gifted Program
Dr. Jolinda Collins
Brookwood High School
What is the Gifted Program
in High School? Gifted program
classes in many subjects 9-12
AP Classes (College-level
classes) Independent
Study Internship
Students select as few or as many as they want.
No appearance of gifted placement is on college transcript unless student is enrolled in a gifted program class, Directed Study, or Internship.
Typical Gifted Curriculum (varies by school)
9th Grade 10th Grade Gifted Language Arts Gifted Geography or AP Human Geography Gifted Biology Accelerated Geometry
(II) (pre-requisite: Accelerated Math
I)
Directed Study
Gifted Language Arts AP World History AP Art History Gifted Chemistry Accelerated
Precalculus (pre-requisite: Accelerated Math I &
II) Directed Study
Typical Gifted Curriculum (varies by school)11th Grade 12th Grade Gifted Language Arts AP U.S. History Gifted Physics Gifted Chemistry or AP Chemistry AP Statistics or AP Calculus AB or BC AP Art History AP Studio Art Directed Study Internship
AP English Lit or Lang AP Spanish, French, Latin,
German AP Government AP Economics AP Psychology AP European History AP Chemistry AP Physics AP Biology AP Statistics or AP Calculus AB or BC AP Music Theory AP Art History or AP Studio
Art AP Environmental Science Internship Directed Study
Why take Gifted and AP® Classes?
Competitive College Admissions
Colleges do not see any gifted testing records. The only documentation of participating in the gifted program is the student transcript with gifted, AP, Directed Study or Internship classes.
Competition
Being competitive for college admissions and scholarships
requires rigor of schedule.
What is Rigor of Schedule?
Taking the most challenging courses available in your high
school’s curriculum
• “
Factors Influencing Admission Factors Influencing Admission DecisionsDecisions
NACAC Admission Trends Survey, 2013 NACAC Admission Trends Survey, 2013
How are gifted classes different from honors classes?
Different, Not more
How are gifted classes different from honors classes? Same textbooks usually - some alternative
reading Different assignments and instructional strategies
that include greater variety and choice Emphasis on long-term assignments A more rapid pace with less rote work Focus on the why and how more often than on
what Concentration on causes and significance of
events, issues, and interrelationships of ideas Higher level thinking skills more often employed Preparation for AP® classes More class discussion
Do students have to take all gifted classes?
No. Example: all gifted classes except math Example: gifted math and science classes only However, students need to be aware of the
potential impact on college admissions if they choose to weaken their transcripts with less challenging classes.
A weak transcript does not compare favorably for college admissions or scholarships.
What is an AP® course? College-level coursework completed at
the secondary level Opportunity to earn college credit
through national AP Exams Preparation for the national AP Exams Superior college preparation Development of habits of mind
necessary for managing the rigors of college
Why take an Advanced Placement® course?
AP Classes facilitateCollege AdmissionCollege TransitionCollege Success
College Admission
Rigor of Schedule has increased in importance in college admission decisions.
BHS students compete for admission and scholarships with students from all over the U.S. who have multiple AP® classes on transcripts as well as strong SAT scores, activities, and honors.
College Transition College preparation, not simply college
admission, is our goal.
Get in . . . Stay in . . .
Succeed
An easier transition to college success
Habits of Mind Time Management
Average number of Average number of AP classes on transcripts of AP classes on transcripts of
freshman class at freshman class at UGAUGA
55Source: Admission Director’s Speech to AP Source: Admission Director’s Speech to AP
Summer Institute at UGA, 2008 Summer Institute at UGA, 2008
Average number of Average number of AP classes on transcripts of AP classes on transcripts of students waitlisted at students waitlisted at UGAUGA
22
Research
A study at Yale found that AP students performed better than non-AP students.
Compared to classmates of similar ability, AP students were more likely to maintain a B average or higher and to graduate with honors.
A high percentage of students lose the Hope Grant after the first semester of college. AP students have a higher incidence of maintaining a 3.0 in college than non-AP students.
College Success
Save $ by earning enough AP Credits to graduate early or save
time and do a double major.Go to med school early!
Brookwood High School AP Program Most GCPS schools offer 20+ AP®
courses such as English Literature and Composition English Language and Composition Spanish, French, Latin, German American History, European History, World
History, Psychology, Government, Economics, Geography
Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science
Statistics, Calculus AB, Calculus BC Art History, Studio Art, Music Theory
How much college credit can students earn?
Colleges award credit for either one class or two classes, depending on the student’s AP Score on the national exam.
Each college or university decides its AP credit policy.
It is possible for a students to enter college with enough credit to earn Junior Status.
Bonus Points for AP Classes
To encourage students to take these challenging courses, GCPS Board of Education policy awards 10 bonus points to AP report card grades.
Example:
89 + 10 = 99
93 + 10 = 103
What is Independent Study?
an elective class for gifted students only
an opportunity for students to study subjects outside the regular classroom that are connected to GCPS AKS.
Cannot be subject already available completion of an individual contract of
study
Independent Study Examples
Individual student contracts Japanese, Russian, Thai Equestrian science Great Books or Writing a novel Science Olympiad or Science Fair Academic team projects Internship with teacher in building
What is Internship class? an elective class for gifted students only a student internship in a career interest working with a mentor in a profession or
business leaving school the last period of the day Students must be old enough to provide
their own transportation (or parents).
Gifted InternshipExamples and Locations
Law or architecture firm Hospital or doctor’s office Jimmy Carter Center CDC Elementary or middle school Engineer Georgia State Capital, Atlanta
Reach for Higher Academic Goals
Representatives of UGA, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, and Georgia Southern had this advice for parents:
Reach for Higher Academic Goals
* An easier class load may produce a higher grade point average in high school, but it also produces a student who enters college less prepared than his peers who have taken more challenging classes.
Representatives of UGA, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, and Georgia Southern
A Tradition of ExcellenceWhen asked why he was having his
team play a tougher schedule than he had to, a winning high school football coach said,
“We don’t get any better if we play easy teams.”
Coach Dave Hunter Retired BHS Athletic Director
A Tradition of Excellence
“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?”
Robert Browning
Choose Challenge
Questions General questions – Dr. Collins [email protected] Language Arts – Mrs. McClain [email protected] Math – Mrs. Gale [email protected] Science – Mrs. Settles [email protected] Social Studies – Mrs. Blankenship [email protected] Foreign Language – Mrs. Barrett [email protected]