Middle School G/T & Honors Courses

A set of broad, shared approaches to teaching and learning will ground the standard experiences for students and define a culture of high expectations in ALL LISD courses. These ideas are grounded in the LISD vision, mission, and our 4 Cornerstones.

• A commitment to creating a classroom community of learners
• A commitment to rich, authentic learning experiences
• A commitment to instructional practices that promote meaning-making
• A commitment to assessment practices that lead to deep learning
• A commitment to a student-centered approach to instructional design

The goal of the Learning Enrichment Academic Program is to bring together identified, diverse Gifted & Talented individuals for learning experiences rooted in specialized, challenging curriculum that sparks curiosity and ignites a desire for learning. LEAP provides opportunities for G/T students to explore their unique passions, increase self-efficacy, and take ownership of their individual learning journeys.

LEAP addresses the unique needs of gifted learners in grades 6-8 within the context of the grade level Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Reading & Language Arts (RLA). All LEAP teachers have completed at least 30 hours of Gifted & Talented training to better meet the needs of their students.

The LEAP curriculum is centered on six guiding principles.

• Students see themselves as a part of a community of like-minded learners whose perspectives, passions, and prior experiences are explored and encouraged.
• Students engage in performance tasks as a way to synthesize learning in relevant and authentic contexts.
• Students explore abstract ideas through inquiry and analysis as a way to deepen their understanding of content.
• Students increase self-awareness by participating in goal-setting, monitoring their progress, and reflecting on their growth with the support of a teacher mentor.
• Students experience differentiated instruction that ensures learning is of the appropriate level of depth, complexity, and challenge.
• Students work collaboratively as they connect and apply learning to real-world experiences.

While in LEAP, students will continue honing their communication skills in reading, writing, and speaking while building a strong literacy base. Students will read, write, and study increasingly complex texts in various genres (fiction, poetry, drama, and non-fiction) and have frequent opportunities for self-selected texts that build fluency and personal enjoyment for reading.

Honors courses in middle school math are designed to add depth and complexity to the content primarily through an acceleration model. All Honors Math teachers complete 30 hours of Gifted & Talented training.

6th Grade Honors Math covers all of the Grade 6 and the majority of Grade 7 state standards (TEKS). The curriculum combines the concepts of these two grade levels into an integrated approach rather than teaching the grade level concepts in isolation. Students in this course will take the Grade 6 STAAR at the end of the year.

7th Grade Honors Math covers a portion of Grade 7 and all of Grade 8 state standards (TEKS) using an integrated approach. Students in this course will take the Grade 8 STAAR at the end of the year.

8th Grade Algebra I Honors is a study of linear equations, inequalities and systems of equations with an introduction to quadratic and exponential functions. Students in this course will take the Algebra 1 End-of-Course exam at the end of the year. Upon successful completion of this course, students will earn one high school math credit.

Taught by G/T trained teachers, G/T students will seek out challenges to discover, develop and leverage capacity by making deep connections, exploring real-world applications, and effectively collaborating and communicating with others. Such capacities will be purposefully developed as students design and conduct their own investigations and learn to use and develop critical thinking skills and problem solving methods. Students will be given opportunities to showcase products that demonstrate understanding and competence in communication skills needed to navigate the 21st-century learning, leading, and creating environments.

Please Note: This course is not offered at all middle school campuses.

Honors Science provides a focus on students doing inquiry-based learning by designing and conducting their own investigations, learning to use and develop critical thinking skills, and problem solving methods. The course is intended to ground students in the inquiry skills of science and encourage thinking and acting like a scientist so that they are better prepared for the AP Sciences in high school.

Grade 6 Honors Contemporary World Cultures students develop skills for critical reading and writing through dialogue and discourse as they study people, places, and societies of the contemporary world. Students explore the influence of individuals and groups on historical and contemporary events in those societies and identify the locations and geographic characteristics of various societies, including organizing economic and governmental systems.

Grade 7 Honors Texas History students study the history of Texas from early times to the present while developing skills for critical reading and writing through dialogue and discourse, including the analysis of documents and timed writings. Students identify regions of Texas and the distribution of population within and among the regions and explain the factors that caused Texas to change from an agrarian to an urban society. Students describe the structure and functions of municipal, county, and state governments, explain the influence of the U.S. Constitution on the Texas Constitution, and examine the rights and responsibilities of Texas citizens.

Grade 8 Honors United States History students explore the history of the United States from the early colonial period through Reconstruction. Historical content focuses on the political, economic, religious, and social events and issues related to the colonial and revolutionary eras, the creation and ratification of the U.S. Constitution, challenges of the early republic, the Age of Jackson, westward expansion, sectionalism, Civil War, and Reconstruction. Students develop skills for critical reading and writing through dialogue and discourse including the analysis of documents and timed writings.

For more information regarding Lewisville ISD G/T services, please contact Lori Evans, evansla@lisd.net, 469-948-8122.