Gifted & Talented

Elementary G&T Education Students in pre-K through second grade receive differentiated instruction in their classrooms based on their individual needs. Teachers create learning centers that focus on each child’s developing reading, writing, spelling, social studies, and science skills. Literacy instruction and academic differentiation are emphasized. Other areas of giftedness include but are not limited to musical and artistic strengths. All students in grades K-2 participate in the Enrichment Program. The G&T cohort classes begin in third grade and continue until fourth grade at North Dover Elementary School. The program then moves to East Dover Elementary School for fifth and sixth grades. Students throughout the district are bused to each school. The district offers one cohort of G&T education for third- to sixth-grade students. The G&T students receive rigorous and accelerated instruction through project-based learning, integrated technology instruction, and virtual field trips. In third-sixth grades, some of the many projects that the students engage in include the Native American Tribal brochure, the Louis Pasteur article, and the Dr. Martin Luther King primary source essay. Technology integration incorporates the use of iPads and MacBook Air computers as well as accessing multiple education websites. Third-grade students access Sheppard Software, Scholastic News, Khan Academy and Think Central. In fourth grade, students explore Spelling City, Boom Cards, Story Works, and Class Kick. Fifth-grade students delve into StudyJams and BrainPop. In sixth grade, students analyze Code.org, iCivics, Moby Max, CommonLit, and Quizlet. Students participate in multiple virtual field trips that include studying animals at the San Diego Zoo, exploring the Cinqo DeMayo holiday in Mexico, and analyzing marine life at the Seattle Aquarium. The students access their academic programs and resources on their iPads via Clever. Some of the applications that students utilize on their iPads are: Google Classroom, Kahoot, Get More Math, Totally Math Game, Class Dojo, Classkick, Common Lit, Geo Gebra, Khan Academy Kids, Knowledge Matters, Newsela, No Red Ink, SAVVAS My World Interactive, Scholastic, Stemscopes, EverFi, Oxford Illustrated Social Studies Dictionary, and Brain POP Jr. The students receive 90 minutes of both English Language Arts and Mathematics instruction per day. The students will also engage in science and social studies instruction on a rotating basis. All elementary students in grades K-6 engage in an Enrichment Program for one-third of the year. The students participate in creative and dynamic lessons and projects. After the students have completed the enrichment cycle, they move on to Spanish and technology rotations. The Dover School District is a member of the NJ Consortium for Gifted and Talented Programs (NJCGTP). The G&T teachers will receive a plethora of curriculum, instruction, and enrichment activities for their students.

The Middle School program continues in seventh and eighth grade at Dover Middle School. The district offers one cohort of G&T instruction for English, math, science, and social studies. In English, students read and analyze novels such as The Outsiders, A Christmas Carol, Frankenstein, The Giver, and Animal Farm. In math, students examine pre-Algebra in seventh grade and study Algebra I in eighth grade. In science, students engage in exciting labs such as the hovercraft and electromagnet construction experiments. In social studies, students engage in intensive depth of content and increased, individualized research across the World History and United States History curricula. Entrance into the middle school G&T program is described in the ‘Entrance Requirements’ document.

Dover High School offers honors-level courses for students in grades 9-12. Emphasis is placed on creating a collaborative culture between students and teachers. A rigorous academic program that establishes high standards is maintained.

The AP Capstone Program-Offered by the College Board, the AP Capstone Program allows students to develop college-readiness skills through two new Advanced Placement courses, AP Seminar and AP Research. Taken in concert with AP content area courses, students develop strong research, collaboration and communication skills transferable to college and careers. Students who successfully complete AP Seminar and AP Research and achieve scores of 3 or higher on 4 or more AP exams will receive the AP Capstone Diploma.

Advanced Placement Courses-In addition to many honors-level courses, Dover High School offers 18 AP courses. They are listed below by academic discipline:

English:

• AP Language
• AP Literature

Mathematics:

• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Statistics

Science/21st Century:

• AP Biology
• AP Physics
• AP Computer Science

Social Studies:

• AP Macroeconomics
• AP Microeconomics
• AP Government and Politics
• AP Psychology
• AP Research
• AP Seminar
• AP US History
• AP World History

World Languages:

• AP Spanish Language
• AP Spanish Literature

• Test scores-Math and reading iReady scores are examined. Students need to score in the late range at their grade level for both subjects. One year of data will be collected from the NJSLA scores. Students score at least an advanced proficient (5) in one area and a proficient (4) in another area to qualify. 
• Report card grades-The students’ grades are analyzed. The majority of students receive all As.
• Recommendation form-The teachers fill out a recommendation form per student. The form includes the following information: name, grade, school, current G&T student status, and final grades. Administration analyzes the NJSLA and iReady data.

Grade 7 Selection:

• Students must have earned a 5 in one or both NJSLA testing areas*
• If both areas are not a 5, students must have a score of at least a 4 in the other area
• One year of NJSLA scores are evaluated
• iReady reading and math scores are evaluated
• Students receive credit for being current G&T students
• Honor Roll data is evaluated
• Teacher recommendations
• Report card grades & comments

Grade 8 Selection*:

• Students must have earned a 5 in one or both NJSLA testing areas
• If both areas are not a 5, student must have a score of at least a 4 in the other area
• One year of NJSLA scores are evaluated
• Algebra Readiness Test Score in iReady
• Reading test score in iReady
• Students receive credit for being current G & T Students
• Honor roll data is evaluated
• Teacher recommendations
• Report card grades & comments

 

*Students not meeting the above criteria are re-evaluated for Algebra sections.

• Test scores-One year of data is collected from the NJSLA scores. Students must score at least advanced proficient (5) in one area and proficient (4) in another area to qualify Or
• students must receive at least a score of 1000 on their PSAT exam.
• GPA-Students must have earned at least a 3.7 GPA at the end of ninth grade.
• Two teacher recommendations (rubric provided for teachers)