Middle School Gifted and Talented Program

The G/T Writers Guild is an extension of the seventh grade writing program offered in all county middle schools for selected students who participate in G/T English. It provides talented writers with the opportunity to produce authentic writing based on their individual interests and to have a clear understanding of the elements that constitute compelling writing. Participating students meet at least twice monthly and are expected to submit their writing for publication consideration.

The G/T Education Program publishes a countywide literary and art magazine, Our Voice, annually to provide additional publication opportunities for students.

National History Day (NHD) is a highly regarded academic program for secondary school students. The History Day Extension is offered in most Howard County middle schools.

Each year, more than half a million students, encouraged by thousands of teachers nationwide, participate in the NHD contest. Students choose historical topics related to a theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary research through libraries, archives, museums, oral history interviews, and historic sites. After analyzing and interpreting their sources and drawing conclusions about their topics’ significance in history, students present their work in original papers, exhibits, performances and documentaries. These products are entered into competitions in the spring at local, state and national levels where they are evaluated by professional historians and educators.

The Shakespeare Troupe provides an opportunity for students to interpret Shakespeare’s works through a collaborative creative production. Students experience Shakespearean drama through a performance-based and language-centered approach as they develop a unique dramatic interpretation. Scripts may be shortened versions of a single Shakespearean play or a compilation of scenes from one or more of his works following a chosen theme. As students compile the script and develop their own dramatic interpretation, they strengthen their critical thinking, leadership, organization, and presentation skills.

As members of the television production team, students create a daily, live television broadcast utilizing highly-developed skills in journalism and technology.

Scriptwriters employ advanced journalism and research skills in the selection and development of newsworthy pieces. Anchors emulate professional public speakers as they develop skills in clarity, enunciation, poise, eye contact, and vocal expression. Crew members utilize technology, such as cameras, mixers, sound boards, and computers, to maximize the effectiveness of the broadcast for a student audience. Producers and directors demonstrate leadership skills in the management of the team and the assessment of its needs. To ensure the highest quality production, the television production team incorporates feedback gathered via primary research.

The Middle School Book Club, organized and led by advanced-level readers, is an intellectual collaboration where passionate readers engage in meaningful discussions of a literary work, strengthen critical reading and leadership skills, hear insightful peer perspectives, and have fun.

The Middle School Book Club is actually composed of two related activities: 1) The school-based Middle School Book Club and 2) the countywide Middle School Book Club. The school-based Book Club is organized by the G/T Resource Teacher and is open to avid readers in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. Each middle school reads the same literary selection each month. The G/T Resource Teacher arranges at least one meeting of the Book Club’s members each month to discuss the selection.

The countywide Book Club meetings take place once a month at Howard County Public Libraries. Two to three representatives from each school-based Middle School Book Club attend the meetings for high-level, in-depth discussions. Each month, one or two middle schools are responsible for leading the discussion of that month’s selection.

The Debate Instructional Seminar motivates a group of students to engage in meaningful, persuasive discourse about contemporary issues, thereby strengthening their leadership, critical thinking, and presentation skills. Students use research skills to develop logical arguments supported with evidence to be applied to debates following a prescribed format. Debate skills have many cross-curricular applications and extend many curricular objectives.

The Seminar prepares participating students for high school, and potentially collegiate, Debate Teams in later years.