• Independence and Agency

    The purpose of programming in grades 6-8 is to continue to provide opportunities for AIG students to develop their talents in their area or areas of identification while providing them with a greater opportunity to make choices about their learning. As with 3rd-5th grade programming, services for students grades 6-8 are organized into Tier 1, 2, and 3 in each area of identification. The descriptions for each tier match those provided in the 3rd-5th grade span, with some new opportunities to take high school courses for credit while still middle school, including:

    - Math I

    - Math II (via North Carolina Virtual Public School)

    - English I

    - Spanish I

    - French I (not offered all years)

    Service locations and delivery models for 6th-8th grade AIG students include:

    - Consultation/collaboration

    - Cluster grouping

    - Push-in/co-teaching

    - Pull-out/resource

    - Advanced courses

    - Online learning

    Elective classes in the arts and career/technical education as well as extracurricular activities also support middle school student talent development, and AIG students can choose to participate in these activities based on their interests.

    North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS): The NCVPS provides AIG students with access to courses that are otherwise not available to middle school students in OCS. Students receive credit for courses completed through NCVPS.  NCVPS is used for tier 3 services.

    Each tier of service is aligned with students' area or areas of identification and demonstrated learning needs and are outlined below.

    For students identified in the area of reading:

    - Tier 1 (differentiation in core instruction)

    - Above-grade level reading materials

    - Ability-based small group work

    - Tier 2 (targeted supplemental curriculum and instruction)

    - Integrated content projects or units

    - Socratic Seminars

    - Tier 3 (intensive individualized learning plans)

    - Independent learning contracts in reading

    - Single-subject acceleration

    For students identified in the area of math:

    - Tier 1 (differentiation in core instruction)

    - Pre-assessment and accelerated pacing

    - Challenge tasks, stations, or games

    - Tier 2 (targeted supplemental curriculum and instruction)

    - Curriculum compacting

    - Math tasks or units designed for gifted learners

    - Tier 3 (intensive individualized learning plans)

    - Content replacement

    - Independent learning contracts in math

    - Single-subject acceleration

    For students identified as intellectually gifted:

    - Tier 1 (differentiation in core instruction)

    - Classroom-based science tasks or projects

    - Tier 2 (targeted supplemental curriculum and instruction)

    - Science, technology, and math (STEM) challenges or competitions

    - Passion projects (ie Genius Hour) or extracurricular activities

    - Tier 3 (intensive individualized learning plans)

    - Independent learning contracts

    - Mentorship