Assessment and Identification OF Gifted and Talented Students Marion School District March 16, 2017

What is GT? MSD’s definition of Gifted and Talented is in compliance with ADE’s definition: Gifted and Talented children and youth are those of high potential or ability whose learning characteristics and education needs require Qualitatively differentiated educational experiences and/or services. Possession of these talents and gifts or the potential for their development, will be evidenced through an interaction of above average intellectual ability, task commitment and/or motivation and creative ability.

…..between 3% and 5% of the student population is gifted/talented. Statistically.... …..between 3% and 5% of the student population is gifted/talented.

Kindergarten through 3rd grade All students K-1 receive differentiated instruction for a minimum of 30 minutes per week designed and taught by the GT certified teacher and the regular classroom teacher. All students grades 2-3 receive differentiated instruction for a minimum of 20 minutes per week taught by a GT certified teacher in conjunction with the science lab and regular classroom teacher. .

From Kindergarten to 3rd grade…….. WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING!!!! The GT certified teacher and regular classroom teacher complete behavioral checklist that note any behaviors seen K-3 that may show a need for identified services later on.

Referral Process Who can refer? Parent Teachers Administrator Peers Student themselves

The GT Process NOT A CONTEST NEEDS BASED ASSESSMENTS STAFFING COMMITTEE

Assessments Looks for: G.I.F.T. : Group Inventory for Finding creative Talent Given to ALL first graders. Looks for: Interests - High scorers are interested in art, writing, learning about life long ago and in other countries; they also enjoy many hobbies. Independence - High scorers enjoy aloneness. They prefer challenge and are not afraid to be different than their peers. Imagination - High scorers are curious, enjoy questioning, make believe and humor

The Raven tests a student’s spatial ability Assessments Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices This test is given to all 2nd graders in a group setting The Raven tests a student’s spatial ability

Torrance Figural Creativity Test Assessments Torrance Figural Creativity Test given to all new referrals 3-12 This test invites children to draw and give a title to their drawings 5 mental abilities are assessed during the exercises: Fluency - ability to express self Elaboration - detail Originality - unusual Resistance to Closure - open-minded thinking Abstractness of Titles - capture the essence

KBIT2: KAUFMAN BRIEF INTELLIGENCE TEST Assessments KBIT2: KAUFMAN BRIEF INTELLIGENCE TEST Measures the verbal and nonverbal intelligence Scores consist of Verbal, Non-Verbal and an Overall Composite IQ. Verbal: measures word knowledge Non-Verbal: measures the ability to solve problems assesses an individual’s ability to perceive relationships and complete visual analogies.

Subjective Evaluations Renzuli-Hartman Rating Scale: Parent Teacher Peer Self Kindergarten and 1st grade referrals complete the Renzulli-Smith Early Childhood checklist The Renzuli Scales are questionnaire type inventories that assess a child in areas of LEARNING BEHAVIORS, CREATIVE BEHAVIORS, AND MOTIVATIONAL BEHAVIORS

OTHER EVALUATIONS: COGAT: Given in 3rd and 8th grade to all students. To assess students’ abilities in reasoning and problem solving using verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal (spatial) symbols. State Achievement Test

InView assesses cognitive abilities that include: Quantitative Reasoning Sample InView assesses cognitive abilities that include: Verbal Reasoning-Words Verbal Reasoning-Context Sequences Analogies Quantitative Reasoning Given to 4th-7th grade referrals, Talent Pool, and identified GT students.

GRADES??? BUT MY KID MAKES ALL A’S!!!

Summer Staffing A staffing committee (made up of administrators, counselors, regular and GT certified teachers) will look at copies of profiles that are grouped by grade level. No matrix is used and there is no cutoff score. Names of students are not revealed until identification is complete. Staffing committee will review profiles and decide if the referred student is in need of TEAM services in Math, Reading, Enrichment, or Multiple Services. If the student is not in need of these services, they will be scheduled for regular classroom placement. Staffing takes place in July after all scores have been received and added to students’ profiles. Placement letters will go out at the beginning of August.

Christy Daniels K-3 GT cdaniels@msd3.org