Tolt Middle School           Honors/Advanced Courses

 

 

Riverview School District

 

Honors/Advanced Opportunities for the Academically Talented

 

Tolt Middle School
Services for Highly Capable Students

For information call:

Janet Gavigan, Tolt Principal

(425) 844-4600
e-mail:  gaviganj@riverview.wednet.edu

 

 

MISSION STATEMENT

The primary focus of the Honors/Advanced Program at Tolt Middle School is to help academically talented students achieve at their optimal level in their identified talent area(s).  Teachers are committed to providing challenging curriculum and to maintaining high expectations for all students.  Placements in the higher math courses (Advanced) and/or the opportunities offered through language arts options (Honors) within the regular classroom give higher level students daily opportunities for cognitive peer interaction.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE

Student Services

Academically talented students are encouraged to accept the opportunity to take the honors option within their regular language arts classes and/or to take accelerated math classes, based on their identified talent area(s).  An eighth grade pre-honors language arts class is also offered.  All highly motivated and talented students are offered theses opportunities.

·         The purpose of having options are to:

1.        provide opportunities for content depth and acceleration beyond the prescribed grade level curriculum

2.        provide instruction for the acquisition of complex processing skills

3.        provide challenging opportunities for application of higher order thinking skills and examination of abstract concepts

4.        provide opportunities to generate original creations (e.g., performances, thesis or essays on ideas, visual displays, debates, videos, books, etc.)

5.        provide opportunities for the development of personal growth or sophistication in attitudes, appreciation, and feelings

·         TMS teachers offer in-depth exploration for extended or alternative learning experiences. 

·         Highly capable math students may be placed in advanced math classes.  The math placement process occurs at the end of 5th, 6th, & 7th grades to determine class placement.  Teachers continually monitor students’ progress to be sure that they are appropriately placed and will recommend acceleration if appropriate.

 

 

TEACHER SUPPORT SERVICES

·         A stipend is available to teachers who provide honors classes for academically talented students.  This stipend may be used for training, planning, materials or activities related to the instruction of these students

·         Training opportunities are offered to staff

·        Materials and alternative curriculum are available

·        Release time for planning or for gifted education conferences is available

 

HOW STUDENTS ARE IDENTIFIED

All fifth grade Riverview students are considered for this program.  Students may also be referred by parents, teachers, community members, and students themselves. The following criteria are used to determine whether or not a student qualifies for honors/advanced placement:

·         Scores from an intelligence or abilities test, if available

·         Scores from recent district/state achievement tests (WASL)

·         Teacher recommendation and a math placement test (if testing is recommended)

·         Information from teachers and parents

·         Also, any student, with both parent and teacher permission, may self-identify and participate in the writing assessment to determine qualification for the language arts honors option program.

 

 

THE IDENTIFICATION PROCESS

The identification process varies by grade level and by subject (math or language arts) but typically begins in March and continues through May. For incoming 6th graders, students’ test scores are used for language arts to determine placement for the grade year.  All district 5th grade students are considered for eligibility as a regular part of their elementary program.  Once at Tolt, language arts students can opt into the language arts honors option program which occurs at the beginning of the 2nd and 3rd quarters.  

 

WHY WE TEST

Testing is used to identify students who have an accelerated learning rate or complex thinking style.  We therefore can maximize their learning experiences by providing appropriate challenge.                                     

Highly capable students need to be able to:

·         move through the curriculum at a faster pace

·         apply research and project development skills

·         interact with their cognitive peers daily

·         explore issues, themes, and ideas that connect various subjects

·         become self-motivated.

   

 

A NOTE FOR NEW 6TH GRADE STUDENTS

Sometimes students who were enrolled in elementary gifted programs don’t choose to be involved in similar opportunities in middle school.  The teaming model at TMS naturally accommodates the learning needs of most high achievers.  Additionally, with the shift to multiple teachers, more complex academic expectations, and the pre-adolescent need for social growth, many highly capable students find that the regular TMS program adequately challenges them.   Students sometimes prefer to participate in other activities rather than honors options.