Gifted and Talented Program Information

Welcome back to GT and an exciting new year!  I hope each of you had an enjoyable summer.  I anticipate a productive year and look forward to working with you!

GT Class Schedules (students attend during their Social Studies/History period on the assigned day):

Tuesdays - 8th grade GT

Wednesdays - 7th grade GT

Thursdays - 6th grade GT 

Goals

To help gifted and talented students develop a healthy self-concept about their giftedness so that they may interact effectively with other gifted students, peers, and society.

To allow gifted and talented students to employ creative, productive, and critical thinking skills along with in-depth content to generate complex and intricate products appropriate to their giftedness.

To help gifted and talented students extend self-directed learning skills to become independent, creative adults.

Overview

The middle school gifted and talented program serves as a bridge between a curriculum of thematic units at the elementary school and the core subject area focus of the high school.  At HCMS, interdisciplinary themes have been chosen as an organizational tool for delivering content.  Students will review and practice creative, critical, and productive thinking skills and explore a variety of topics in weekly sessions with the GT Specialist.  

Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade GT students are offered the opportunity to participate in activities such as Destination Imagination, Future City Engineering, elementary STEAM Days, Stock Market Game, and others as they become available.   More information about many of these activities can be found on the tabs on this website.

To facilitate the delivery of the gifted and talented program, 6th grade GT students will be grouped into GT Social Studies, 7th grade into GT Texas History, and 8th grade into GT American History classes so that the entire class can attend GT together once a week.     

An elective class (“Above and Beyond”) is available and recommended for gifted and talented students in grades 7 and 8.  

Schedule     

Students are scheduled to work with a GT Specialist once per week during their Social Studies class.  There will also be opportunities for the students to visit the GT classroom during "Fab Fridays" when my schedule permits.

Supplies 

When students come to class, they should bring with them a pen or pencil, an iPad, and any other needed materials for projects or activities we are doing.

Classroom Management

I believe that all students can behave appropriately in the classroom without disrupting the learning process.  All students are expected to demonstrate respect for each other, visitors, the teacher, materials, ideas, and school property.  If major problems should occur, parents will be notified, and appropriate action will be taken.  All students are expected to arrive on time, to have necessary materials, and to be prepared to participate in all class activities. 

Evaluation and Conferences 

Informal feedback is available at all times!  A formal evaluation rubric will be sent home at the end of each semester.  Conferences may be arranged by emailing me at traygor@eanesisd.net or calling the school at 732-9220 (x 31426) and setting up an appointment.  Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Tara Raygor

Gifted and Talented Specialist

Hill Country Middle School

traygor@eanesisd.net