P A R E N T G U I D E

InnovationHour

Grades 2, 6, and 9 at thefollowing campuses:

Arizona Fleming ElementaryBlue Ridge Elementary

Cornerstone ElementaryLexington Creek Elementary

Malala ElementaryPatterson Elementary

Walker Station ElementaryGarcia Middle School

Quail Valley Middle SchoolClements High School

20202021

What isInnovation Hour? Innovation Hour will give

students who areidentified as Gifted and

Talented the opportunityto explore a topic they

are curious and/orpassionate about while in

the school setting. Theprogram features six keycomponents – Passion,

Plan, Pitch, Project,Product and

Presentation. Studentswill be able to hone their

social andcommunication skills

while also utilizing theircreative thought

processes as theyexplore subject matter

that they have chosen ina way that is teacher-

guided but self-directed. Innovation Hour will help

to support, guide andcelebrate the passions of

our gifted and talentedstudents while helpingthem to truly become life-long learners and

thinkers who are inspiredand equipped to pursue

futures beyond what theycan imagine.

How will Innovation Hour be implemented? Will mychild have extra work to do at home or in class?Innovation Hour is designed to take place during the schoolday at the time slated for intervention and/or enrichment. All ofthe GT students in the grade will come together for InnovationHour, and work will be facilitated by a teacher in the student’sgrade level – but not necessarily the child’s assigned classroomteacher – who has completed his/her GT training. There will beno requirement for students to do any work outside of thedesignated class time, but if a student wishes to do additionalreading, research, or investigation after school, and familyschedules allow for it, that is certainly permissible. Having all ofthe GT students working on these self-driven explorationsalongside one another will allow GT students to collaborate likenever before by sharing ideas, resources, and feedback.

How will this benefit my child?There are times when our GT students may feel a little confinedby the boundaries of the grade-level curriculum. Many of ourstudents are intrigued by global issues, and many havepassions outside of curricular learning. Innovation Hour is oneway to support the passion and drive that our GT-identifiedstudents possess. By allowing students to use dedicated timeduring the school day to explore that in which they areinterested, FBISD hopes to help these students feel morefulfilled in their educational experiences while building theircollaborative, critical thinking, and communication skills.

How will my child access resources and materialsto facilitate the Innovation Hour project(s),especially if we continue learning online?Some of the resources, such as Bulb, will be provided by theDistrict. Teachers will be facilitating and providing someresources students will utilize. Materials will be provided byteachers whenever it is possible. When it is not possible,students will responsible for seeking out and finding resourcesand materials. Parents of younger students are encouraged tomonitor the resources their child accesses on his/her own forappropriate level and content.

How will progress be monitored? Will there be any grades associatedwith Innovation Hour outcomes?Progress will be monitored by teachers and administrators. They are tasked withcreating a monitoring system and have been provided an exemplar in the InnovationHour curriculum. No grades will be associated with Innovation Hour. The program isdesigned to allow students to explore their interests and improve academically withoutgrading.

How did the district select the campuses who will be piloting theprogram?Feedback was gathered from campus and district administration to determine readinessand commitment to the pilot program. Campuses at the elementary, middle, and highschools were selected to provide the opportunity to pilot at various campuses.

Who do I contact if I have more questions about my child’s InnovationHour experience?You can contact the child’s teacher or administrator with questions specific to his or hercampus. For general questions about Innovation Hour, you may contact the Gifted andTalented department at (281) 634-1143.

Gifted and Talented Website

Fort Bend ISD Gifted and Talented, 16431 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land, TX 77479 (281) 634-1143

@FBISDGT

An open session for parents regarding innovation hour will be held on

August 31, 2020, 5:30-7:00 p.m. on Zoom: PLEASE CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE MEETING.