Gifted and Talented Gifted and Talented EducationEducation

They’re Not Just Gifted On They’re Not Just Gifted On Thursdays!Thursdays!

Defining GiftednessDefining Giftedness There are many definitions of the gifted. The federal There are many definitions of the gifted. The federal

definition has transformed over the years. The most definition has transformed over the years. The most recent definition that appears in the No Child Left recent definition that appears in the No Child Left Behind Act states:Behind Act states:““The term 'gifted and talented', when used with The term 'gifted and talented', when used with respect to students, children, or youth, means respect to students, children, or youth, means students, children, or youth who give evidence of students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity,intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or or in specific academic fieldsin specific academic fields, and who need , and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided by the services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities.” school in order to fully develop those capabilities.” (Section 9101(22)) (Page 544)(Section 9101(22)) (Page 544) http://tip-web-tst.oit.duke.edu/index.htmlhttp://tip-web-tst.oit.duke.edu/index.html

NISD Core BeliefsNISD Core Beliefs

We believe that…We believe that… kids come first.kids come first. continuous improvement is critical for continuous improvement is critical for

success of the Northwest Independent success of the Northwest Independent School District.School District.

the success of each student is the shared the success of each student is the shared responsibility of students, families, schools responsibility of students, families, schools and communities.and communities.

environment influences learning.environment influences learning.

District Advanced Academics District Advanced Academics Mission StatementMission Statement

The Advanced Academics The Advanced Academics Department, in partnership with Department, in partnership with parents and community, will parents and community, will provide students a premier provide students a premier education, preparing them to be education, preparing them to be successful, productive citizens. successful, productive citizens.

NISD QualificationsNISD Qualifications

Minimum of 3 Criteria for Minimum of 3 Criteria for Quantitative DataQuantitative Data CogAT and/or Naglieri, and ITBSCogAT and/or Naglieri, and ITBS

Minimum of 2 Criteria for Minimum of 2 Criteria for Qualitative DataQualitative Data KOI, GATES, Slocumb/Payne, KOI, GATES, Slocumb/Payne,

NISD Parent ChecklistNISD Parent Checklist

GOAL STATEMENTSGOAL STATEMENTS

To provide differentiated To provide differentiated educational services promoting educational services promoting critical and creative thinking critical and creative thinking skills.skills.

To engage students in an To engage students in an academically challenging and academically challenging and motivating program.motivating program.

GOAL STATEMENTSGOAL STATEMENTS

To identify and implement best To identify and implement best practices in teaching gifted practices in teaching gifted students.students.

To support the needs of highly To support the needs of highly able students by providing able students by providing training for teachers.training for teachers.

District Curriculum District Curriculum Philosophy StatementPhilosophy Statement

At Northwest I.S.D., the At Northwest I.S.D., the education of identified gifted education of identified gifted students is based on the students is based on the following six areas of following six areas of emphasis:emphasis: Problem Solving Problem Solving Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking Creative ThinkingCreative Thinking Research SkillsResearch Skills Independent LearningIndependent Learning Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

Problem SolvingProblem Solving

The student uses a variety of The student uses a variety of approaches to solve problems; approaches to solve problems; develops thoughtful questions; develops thoughtful questions; plans, organizes, implements, plans, organizes, implements, evaluates, and presents evaluates, and presents solutionssolutions

Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking

The student demonstrates The student demonstrates skills of complex thinking; skills of complex thinking; sees relationships; examines sees relationships; examines facts and variables; makes facts and variables; makes deductions based on logical deductions based on logical reasoning.reasoning.

Creative ThinkingCreative Thinking

The student uses divergent The student uses divergent thinking; sees things in new thinking; sees things in new and different ways. The student and different ways. The student shows fluency, flexibility, shows fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration in originality, and elaboration in generating and presenting generating and presenting ideas.ideas.

Research SkillsResearch Skills

The student asks open-ended The student asks open-ended research questions and research questions and develops a plan for answering develops a plan for answering them; gathers information from them; gathers information from relevant sources; clarifies relevant sources; clarifies research questions and research questions and evaluates/synthesizes evaluates/synthesizes collected information; collected information; purposefully organizes and purposefully organizes and presents ideas/conclusions.presents ideas/conclusions.

Independent LearningIndependent Learning

The student organizes time and The student organizes time and work; uses a variety of work; uses a variety of resources; sets high standards resources; sets high standards of quality; completes self-of quality; completes self-directed learning; develops directed learning; develops innovative products and innovative products and performances.performances.

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

The student communicates The student communicates effectively; listens actively; effectively; listens actively; participates effectively in a participates effectively in a group.group.

NISD GATES Progress NISD GATES Progress ReportReport

Gifted and Talented Educational Services Progress Report Student Name: Grade : Classroom Teacher: Campus: School Year: GATES Specialist:

4 = Advanced 3 = Competent 2 = Developing 1 = Beginning EXPECTATIONS 1st 6

Weeks 2nd 6 Weeks

3rd 6 Weeks

4th 6 Weeks

5th 6 Weeks

6th 6 Weeks

Problem Solving Uses a variety of approaches to solve problems; develops thoughtful questions; plans, organizes, implements, evaluates, and presents solutions.

Critical Thinking Demonstrates skills of complex thinking; sees relationships; examines facts and variables; makes deductions based on logical reasoning.

Creative Thinking Uses divergent thinking; sees things in new and different ways. Shows fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration in generating and presenting ideas.

Research Skills Asks open-ended research questions and develops a plan for answering them; gathers information from relevant sources; clarifies research questions and evaluates/ synthesizes collected information; purposefully organizes and presents ideas/ conclusions.

Independent Learning Organizes time and work; uses a variety of resources; sets high standards of quality; completes self-directed learning; develops innovative products and performances.

Communication Skills Communicates effectively; listens actively; participates effectively in a group.

Comments:

1st 6 Weeks 2nd 6 Weeks 3rd 6 Weeks 4th 6 Weeks 5th 6 Weeks 6th 6 Weeks

(Parent Copy) (2009)

On Going Lessons Throughout the YearOn Going Lessons Throughout the Year

• Scholarly Behaviors-Scholarly Behaviors- Future Future Texas Scholars!Texas Scholars!

• Depth and ComplexityDepth and Complexity- Digging - Digging deeper into our learningdeeper into our learning

• Research and Writing SkillsResearch and Writing Skills• Technology IntegrationTechnology Integration

GATES ProgramGATES Program

Service your GT children with a Service your GT children with a weekly pull out programweekly pull out program Minimum standard per week and Minimum standard per week and

Conceptual Lens/Units of Study:Conceptual Lens/Units of Study: K – 60 min K – 60 min WondersWonders 1 – 60 min 1 – 60 min Cultures Cultures 2 – 90 min 2 – 90 min Processes Processes 3 – 120 min 3 – 120 min StructuresStructures 4 – 150 min 4 – 150 min ChangeChange 5 – 150 min 5 – 150 min TrendsTrends

Websites for Gifted ResourcesWebsites for Gifted Resources

www.sengifted.orgwww.sengifted.org

www.nagc.orgwww.nagc.org

www.txgifted.orgwww.txgifted.org

www.bertiekingore.comwww.bertiekingore.com

http://http://www.austega.com/gifted/charactwww.austega.com/gifted/characteristics.htmeristics.htm

Bottom line…Bottom line…

We will make sure that gifted children’s We will make sure that gifted children’s needs are being addressed EVERY DAY.needs are being addressed EVERY DAY.

We will make sure that appropriate lessons We will make sure that appropriate lessons (differentiated, tiered, compacted, (differentiated, tiered, compacted, engaging, respectful tasks) are provided.engaging, respectful tasks) are provided.

We will challenge our gifted students with We will challenge our gifted students with care, dignity and respect.care, dignity and respect.

We will honor and cherish their differences, We will honor and cherish their differences, from their classmates & from each other.from their classmates & from each other.

We will NOT have a “One Size Fits All” We will NOT have a “One Size Fits All” program.program.

Other OpportunitiesOther Opportunities

Duke TIPDuke TIP Destination ImaginationDestination Imagination UILUIL TAGT website-student tab TAGT website-student tab

includes many games and high includes many games and high interest activities in many interest activities in many subject areassubject areas

Math and Reading EnrichmentMath and Reading Enrichment

Questions, answers, concerns…Questions, answers, concerns…

Revised August 2009Revised August 2009

Thank you so much for your Thank you so much for your valuable time!valuable time!

Joanna Espinoza, GT Joanna Espinoza, GT SpecialistSpecialistjespinoza01@nisdtx.orgjespinoza01@nisdtx.org