AP Strategies for the GT Student

1. AP Strategies for the GT Student S. Petrey LISD August Staff Development

2. AP Prepares students to Succeed • AP/Pre-AP courses help students acquire the skills and habits they will need to be successful in college. • Students should improve their writing skills, sharpen problem-solving abilities, and develop time management skills, discipline, and study habits.

3. Pre-AP is based on the following two important premises • The first is the expectation that all students can perform well at rigorous academic levels. • The second important premise of Pre-AP is the belief that we can prepare every student for higher intellectual engagement by starting the development of skills and acquisition of knowledge as early as possible.

4. Pre-AP should… • Not be used to limit or restrict access to advanced courses • Not limit curriculum standards to those of the regular level courses • Foster an attitude of excellence • Open the door to higher education for under-represented groups

5. GT Students are served in the AP Program at LISD • The vehicle of delivery of GT services at the secondary level is the AP program • GT students should be encouraged to register for AP courses • The goals of AP and GT are not always congruent • Modifications should be made to meet the needs of GT students

6. What resources are available? • AP Course descriptions • Released AP Exam Questions • AP Summer Institutes • Laying the Foundation Summer Institutes • Current AP/Pre-AP Teachers, Vertical Teams

7. What can you do to teach a viable AP or Pre-AP Course? • Provide rigorous work that requires students to do independent research, writing, and problem-solving • Foster an attitude of excellence • Use released AP Exam questions as models for your assessment items • Familiarize yourself with the AP Course description and sample syllabi for your corresponding AP course(s).

8. How can we address GT students specifically? • GT students are served in the AP Program • Some GT students have difficulty conforming to AP/Pre-AP course standards • We need to provide GT students opportunity to use their unique gifts/talents while still finding a way to help them grow and prepare for the struggles that lie ahead for them in college.

9. What strategies can you use for GT? • Allow GT students to choose • Allow GT students to work collaboratively • Encourage GT students to showcase their gifts • Modify classroom structures • Provide support for struggling GT students

10. Discussion Items • Strategies for providing Student-Choice • Collaborative Work • Showcasing Gifts/Talents • Modifying Classroom Structures • How to provide support for struggling GT students

11. Ideas to try this year… • Assign GT students problems to research and share their findings in class using their specific gifts to present the problem • Allow interested GT students to design a lesson or assessment items • Provide creative outlets that include: art, role-playing, music or technology.

12. What strategies should be avoided? • Modifying AP-style assessments • Modifying the standards for your course • Reducing rigor • Forcing GT students to conform

13. Possibilities for GT Products • Poster Problems with color and art • Interview questions/answers • Music/Lyrics for ELA, History • Videos, Websites • Artwork for ELA, Science, History • Lessons for younger students

14. Marrying the goals of AP and GT can sometime be challenging • Sometimes goals are difficult to marry • Meeting the needs of the students is our first priority • Patience is key! • Don’t be afraid to step ‘outside the box’