| Gifted & Talented
Advanced Academic Services
Academic Competitions
Austin ISD supports the involvement of our gifted students in numerous programs and organizations that offer
to meet the needs of our advanced learners outside the regular school day.
The Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students
states in section 2.3A (Program Design) that "School Districts, when possible, shall
provide out-of-school options relevant to the student's area of strength." Campus participation in such out-of-school options is optional,
but encouraged.
The following academic competitions are supported by various departments in the Austin ISD. Participation varies from campus to campus
AISD Student Anthology
The anthology includes selected writing pieces from students at each of our campuses. Each campus will receive an anthology to be placed in their campus library.
Destination Imagination
http://www.destinationimagination.org
Destination Imagination is an extra-curricular program that fosters creativity and team-based problem-solving skills. There are two components to DI:
"Instant Challenges" and "Team Challenges". Participation in DI is available for grades K-12 and teams compete only against their peers. Through a
school's DI membership they can have up to 5 teams of 5 to 7 students. Each team chooses one challenge from a field of five to solve. The solution
is then presented at the Regional Meet in the spring.
Foreign Language Competitions
Contact Michael Hydak at 512-414-4212 for more information.
French
-Texas French Symposium (High School only) http://www.texasfrenchsymposium.org
German
-Sprachfest Texas State German Competition http://germancontest.org/state/
Latin
-Junior Classical League competitions http://www.njcl.org
-Certamen (a type of College-Bowl) tournaments - Listserv: armadilloclassical@yahoogroups.com
Spanish
-Pan-American Student Forum (variety of academic and other contests) every year in San Antonio http://www.pasf.com
-The University of Texas at Austin Annual Spanish Poetry Declamation - contact 512-471-4936 for more information.
Future Problem Solving
http://members.aol.com/crhis4fps
Contact Chris Funderburgh or Cyd Rogers at 512-414-6745/6746 for more information
901 Neal Street, Poratble A - Austin, Texas 78702
Fax: 512-414-6096
The Texas Future Problem Solving Program is an interdisciplinary program, which follows a six-step modification of the creative problem
solving process and requires students to use the higher level thinking skills of synthesis, analysis, and evaluation. The challenging materials
are designed to motivate students to develop creative, critical, and analytical thinking skills as well as research skills; increase awareness of and
interest in the future; develop teamwork skill and improve communication skills; and learn and use problem solving strategies. Students in grades K-12
may participate in four divisions of the program; curricular, community service, and scenario writing.
Geography Bee
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee
Each year thousands of schools in the United States participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic
Society. The contest is designed to encourage teacher to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase
public awareness about geography. Schools with students in grades four through eight are eligible for this entertaining and challenging test of geographic
Knowledge.
Math Counts
http://mathcounts.org/netcommunity/Page.aspx?pid=195&srcid=-2
MathCounts is a nationwide mathematics competition for middle school (targeted at 7th and 8th grade) students. It is conducted on four successive
levels: school, chapter, state, and national. The program features innovative problems and problem solving strategies designed to teach higher-order
thinking skills. MathCounts is designed not only to recognize student achievement in math, but also to present students with tough competition in order
to whet their appetites for math proficiency and mathematics-related career.
Math Olympiad
http://www.moems.org
A school's math club meets weekly for an hour. Club members explore a topic or strategy in depth, using
Creative Problem Solving in School Mathematics (or other sources), or they practice for the
contests, using nonroutine problems from both Math Olympiad Contest Problems Volume 2 or
Mathematical Olympiads Contest Problems for Elementary and Middle Schools (or other sources).
The highlights for students are the five monthly contests, given from November to March. No traveling
is required. these contests provide and incentive for students to intensify their study of math.
Math Pentathlon
http://www.mathpentath.org
This motivational program strengthens basic math concepts and skills, aligns with National and State Mathematics Standard, and stimulates creative
thinking while developing problem-solving skills. The Math Pentathlon problem solving games provide a highly motivational format for developing and
practicing important mathematics concepts and skills. While playing the games, five per level, in cooperative groups, students in grades K-8
strengthen their strategic thinking and critical reasoning abilities. The Math Pentathlon games are supported by community gam nights and spring
tournaments. Grades K-7.
National History Day
http://www.nationalhistoryday.org
National History Day aims to:
- Motivate students through the excitement of competition and through recognition for their work.
- Provide students with the opportunity to work with and analyze historical documents and other primary source material
- Provide a framework for hands-on, student-centered learning that guides classroom teaching as well as continuous professional development
- Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will help students manage and use information effectively now and in the future.
- Develop student research and reading skills and to refine student presentation skills in writing, visual projects and performances.
- Encourage students to move beyond the classroom and into the community to investigate history
- Provide teachers with innovative teaching tools
- Assist teachers and schools in meeting educational standards by encouraging student participation in portfolio-building and outcome-based
learning activities
- Encourage the study of history by guiding students to express themselves creatively through presentations of historical topics
in various formats
National Language Exams
Contact Michael Hydak at 512-414-4212 for more information:
Robotics
http://www.bestinc.org/MVC/
Two parallel competitions:
A robotics games, which is based upon an annual theme with four teams competing at once in a series of three-minute, round-robin matches.
The BEST Award, which is presented to the team that best embodies the concept of Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology. Elements include
a project summary notebook, oral presentation, table display, and spirit and sportsmanship.
Science Fair
http://www.sciencefest.org
The Austin Energy Regional Science Festival encourages and rewards innovative student research. It also provides scientists, engineers, and
other professionals a chance to volunteer in the community.
Winning Junior/Senior Division projects advance to the 2008 ExxonMobil Texas Science and Engineering Fair.
Best of Fair Senior Division projects advance directly to the 2008 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
Student Organizations
Business Professional of Americas http://www.bpa.org/default.html
A student organization emphasizing the preparation of a world-class workforce through the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic, and
technological skills.
DECA http://www.deca.org
An organization offering the co-curricular education of students with interests in marketing, management, and entrepreneurship. DECA helps students
develop skills and competence for marketing careers, build self-esteem, experience leadership and practice community service.
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) http://www.fbla-pbl.org
Integrates business and education as a focus for developing leadership and career development.
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America http://www.fcclainc.org
A career and technical student organization focused on in Family and consumer Sciences education. Focusing on the multiple roles of family member,
wage earner and community leader, members develop skills for life through character development, creative and critical thinking, interpersonal
communication, practical knowledge, and career preparation
Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) http://www.hosa.org
A student organization whose mission is to promote career opportunities in health care and enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people.
SkillsUSA http://www.skillsusa.org
A national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled
service occupations, including health occupations. It was formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).
Texas Future Farmers of America (FFA) http://www.texasffa.org
A student-led leadership development organization for students of agricultural education. Agriculture is much broader than farming and ranching.
Members study things such as horticulture, aquaculture, food sciences, accounting, wildlife management, mechanics and engineering.
Texas Technology Students Association http://www.texastsa.org
This association prepares members for the challenge of a dynamic world by promoting technological literacy, leadership, and problem solving,
resulting in personal growth and opportunity.
University Interscholastic League (UIL)
http://www.uil.utexas.edu
The voluntary-membership, non-profit organization exists to provice educational extracurricular
academic, athletics, and
music contests. The initials UIL have come to represent quality educational competition administered by
school people on an equitable basis.
The purpose of the UIL is to organize and properly supervise contests that assist in
preparing students for citizenship. It aims to provide healthy, caharacter building, educational activities carried out under rules providing for
good sportsmanship and fair play for all participants.
Visual Arts Scholastic Event
http://www.taea.org/vase/
The Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) has sponsored the Visual Art Scholastic Event (VASE) since 1994. VASE is the only art event of its kind
in the nation. Students are provided the opportunity to bring artworks created in their art classes to a regional event where they are interviewed
by a certified juror who evaluates their work based on a standards based rubric and their understanding of the art processes involved in the
development of their artwork. Only academically eligible high school students in grades 9-12 enrolled in a Texas public or private school
in Texas can participate in VASE.
|
