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Middle School ALPs in English/Language Arts (Grades 6-8)
Middle School ALPs in English/Language Arts (Grades 6-8)
Advanced Learner Programs (Middle School ALPs) in Grades 6-8 is designed to engage all students in the learning and application of concepts and skills at greater depth and complexity. As required by COMAR 13A.04.07, students identified through the AACPS Gifted and Talented Identification Process receive daily instruction in curriculum designed specifically for gifted students. The Advanced Learner Programs Office works closely with the Middle School English/Language Arts Office to develop the curriculum offered in advanced courses.
Advanced English/Language Arts (Grades 6-8)
Advanced English/Language Arts (Grades 6-8)
Middle School students who are identified as GT/Advanced in Reading will be enrolled in the Advanced English/Language Arts courses. The Advanced English/Language Arts courses are not exclusively for GT/Advanced students; however, they are written to meet the needs of GT/Advanced students.
The courses accelerate and enrich student achievement in reading, writing, language, listening, and speaking. Students examine complex texts through concept exploration, as well as participate in strategies designed for advanced learners. Through this course, students will be required to:
read above-grade level complex texts,
create well-developed writing assignments that synthesize information from multiple texts,
examine issues from multiple perspectives, and
work at an accelerated pace.
The course includes blocks of time devoted to teacher-directed lessons on reading and writing, research, vocabulary development, grammar usage, and speaking and listening.
Prerequisites: AACPS GT or Advanced Reading designation. Alternatively, students not identified as GT or Advanced may enroll in this course if they meet the required data points to be included in the course.
What is Concept-based Instruction?
What is Concept-based Instruction?
The Advanced English/Language Arts curriculum is framed around concept-based instruction. Concept-based instruction is driven by "big ideas" - leading students to consider the "real world" meaning of the taught content knowledge and skills. Concept-based instruction provides students with generalizations (or universal themes) to engage them in:
creating connections to prior experiences and learning,
bringing relevance to content and texts,
facilitating deeper understanding of content knowledge,
making cross-disciplinary and real-world connections.
Concepts by Course
Concepts by Course
Advanced English/Language Arts 6
Implemented Countywide SY 23-24
Change
Change
Power
Power
Advanced English/Language Arts 7
Implemented Countywide SY 24-25
Conflict
Conflict
Courage
Courage
Advanced English/Language Arts 8
Will be Implemented Countywide SY 25-26
Justice
Justice
Identity
Identity
Requirements for Placement In Advanced English/Language Arts
Requirements for Placement In Advanced English/Language Arts
ALPs Extensions in Standard English/Language Arts
ALPs Extensions in Standard English/Language Arts
DALI Extended Learner Tasks are embedded within the on grade level English/Language Arts curriculum in grades 6-8. Any student demonstrating the need for additional rigor will have access to these tasks. Additionally, students identified as Gifted or Advanced who are in the existing Advanced English/Language Arts 8 course in SY 24-25 MUST receive access to these tasks. These tasks ask students to:
analyze complex texts
consider multiple perspectives of characters and stakeholders when analyzing complex texts,
conduct authentic research using multiple sources,
identify and examine common themes or concepts among texts and across disciplines, and
respond to and generate complex questions.
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