AP Strategies for the GT StudentAP Strategies for the GT Student

S. PetreyS. PetreyLISD August Staff DevelopmentLISD August Staff Development

AP Prepares students to SucceedAP Prepares students to Succeed

AP/Pre-AP courses help students acquire the AP/Pre-AP courses help students acquire the skills and habits they will need to be successful skills and habits they will need to be successful in college. in college.

Students should improve their writing skills, Students should improve their writing skills, sharpen problem-solving abilities, and develop sharpen problem-solving abilities, and develop time management skills, discipline, and study time management skills, discipline, and study habits.habits.

Pre-AP is based on the following Pre-AP is based on the following two important premisestwo important premises

The first is the expectation that The first is the expectation that allall students can students can perform well at rigorous academic levels.perform well at rigorous academic levels.

The second important premise of Pre-AP is the The second important premise of Pre-AP is the belief that we can prepare every student for belief that we can prepare every student for higher intellectual engagement by starting the higher intellectual engagement by starting the development of skills and acquisition of development of skills and acquisition of knowledge as knowledge as earlyearly as possible as possible. .

Pre-AP should…Pre-AP should…

Not be used to limit or restrict access to Not be used to limit or restrict access to advanced coursesadvanced courses

Not limit curriculum standards to those of the Not limit curriculum standards to those of the regular level coursesregular level courses

Foster an attitude of excellenceFoster an attitude of excellence Open the door to higher education for under-Open the door to higher education for under-

represented groupsrepresented groups

GT Students are served in the GT Students are served in the AP Program at LISDAP Program at LISD

The vehicle of delivery of GT services at the The vehicle of delivery of GT services at the secondary level is the AP programsecondary level is the AP program

GT students should be encouraged to register GT students should be encouraged to register for AP coursesfor AP courses

The goals of AP and GT are not always The goals of AP and GT are not always congruentcongruent

Modifications should be made to meet the Modifications should be made to meet the needs of GT studentsneeds of GT students

What resources are available?What resources are available?

AP Course descriptionsAP Course descriptions Released AP Exam QuestionsReleased AP Exam Questions AP Summer InstitutesAP Summer Institutes Laying the Foundation Summer InstitutesLaying the Foundation Summer Institutes Current AP/Pre-AP Teachers, Vertical TeamsCurrent AP/Pre-AP Teachers, Vertical Teams

What can you do to teach a What can you do to teach a viableviable AP or Pre-AP Course? AP or Pre-AP Course?

Provide rigorous work that requires students to Provide rigorous work that requires students to do independent research, writing, and problem-do independent research, writing, and problem-solvingsolving

Foster an attitude of excellenceFoster an attitude of excellence Use released AP Exam questions as models Use released AP Exam questions as models

for your assessment itemsfor your assessment items Familiarize yourself with the AP Course Familiarize yourself with the AP Course

description and sample syllabi for your description and sample syllabi for your corresponding AP course(s).corresponding AP course(s).

How can we address GT students How can we address GT students specifically?specifically?

GT students are served in the AP ProgramGT students are served in the AP Program Some GT students have difficulty conforming Some GT students have difficulty conforming

to AP/Pre-AP course standardsto AP/Pre-AP course standards We need to provide GT students opportunity to We need to provide GT students opportunity to

use their unique gifts/talents while still finding a use their unique gifts/talents while still finding a way to help them grow and prepare for the way to help them grow and prepare for the struggles that lie ahead for them in collegestruggles that lie ahead for them in college.

What strategies can you use for GT?What strategies can you use for GT?

Allow GT students to chooseAllow GT students to choose Allow GT students to work collaborativelyAllow GT students to work collaboratively Encourage GT students to showcase their giftsEncourage GT students to showcase their gifts Modify classroom structuresModify classroom structures Provide support for Provide support for

struggling GT studentsstruggling GT students

Discussion ItemsDiscussion Items

Strategies for providing Student-ChoiceStrategies for providing Student-Choice Collaborative WorkCollaborative Work Showcasing Gifts/TalentsShowcasing Gifts/Talents Modifying Classroom StructuresModifying Classroom Structures How to provide support for How to provide support for

struggling GT studentsstruggling GT students

Ideas to try this year…Ideas to try this year…

Assign GT students problems to research and Assign GT students problems to research and share their findings in class using their specific share their findings in class using their specific gifts to present the problemgifts to present the problem

Allow interested GT students to design a Allow interested GT students to design a lesson or assessment itemslesson or assessment items

Provide creative outlets that include: art, role-Provide creative outlets that include: art, role-playing, music or technology.playing, music or technology.

What strategies should be avoided?What strategies should be avoided?

Modifying AP-style assessmentsModifying AP-style assessments Modifying the standards for your courseModifying the standards for your course Reducing rigorReducing rigor Forcing GT students to conformForcing GT students to conform

Possibilities for GT ProductsPossibilities for GT Products

Poster Problems with color and artPoster Problems with color and art Interview questions/answersInterview questions/answers Music/Lyrics for ELA, HistoryMusic/Lyrics for ELA, History Videos, WebsitesVideos, Websites Artwork for ELA, Science, HistoryArtwork for ELA, Science, History Lessons for younger studentsLessons for younger students

Marrying the goals of AP and GT can sometime be challenging

Sometimes goals are difficult to marrySometimes goals are difficult to marryMeeting the needs of the students is Meeting the needs of the students is

our first priorityour first priorityPatience is key!Patience is key!Don’t be afraid to step Don’t be afraid to step

‘outside the box’‘outside the box’