Assessment and Identification OF Gifted and Talented Students Marion School District March 17, 2016

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 receive differentiated instruction for a minimum of 30 minutes per week designed and taught by the GT certified teacher and the regular classroom teacher. 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. Lessons correlate with MSD Scope and Sequence, Common Core Frameworks, Arkansas Science Frameworks, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and the Multiple Intelligences.

From Kindergarten to 3rd grade…….. WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING!!!!

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

NOT A CONTEST NEEDS BASED ASSESSMENTS STAFFING COMMITTEE So my kid has been referred….. So… they “MADE” it to GT, RIGHT?? NOT A CONTEST NEEDS BASED ASSESSMENTS STAFFING COMMITTEE

What Are The Assessments? G.I.F.T. : Group Inventory for Finding creative Talent This test is given to ALL first graders. WHAT DOES IT LOOK FOR????? Many Interests - High scorers are interested in art, writing, learning about life long ago and in other countries and 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

What Are The Assessments? RAVEN: Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices This test is given to all 2nd graders in a group setting What does this test??? Spatial Ability

What Are The Assessments? Torrance Figural Creativity This test is given to all new referrals 3-12 These tests invite examinees to draw and give a title to their drawings (pictures) or to write questions, reasons, consequences and different uses for objects (words). 5 mental abilities are assessed during the exercises: FLUENCY ELABORATION ORGINALITY RESISTANCE TO PREMATURE CLOSURE ABSTRACTNESS TO TITLES

What Are The Assessments? KBIT2: KAUFMAN BRIEF INTELLIGENCE TEST WHAT DOES IT TEST??? The KBIT2 is a measure of the verbal and nonverbal intelligence in children, adolescents, and adults spanning from age 4-90. Scores consist of Verbal, Non-Verbal and an Overall Composite IQ. Verbal: measures verbal, school-related skills by assessing a person’s word knowledge, range of general information, verbal concept formation, and reasoning ability Non-Verbal: measures the ability to solve new problems by assessing an individuals 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!!!

Assessments are over….NOW WHAT? Summer Staffing A staffing committee will look at copies of profiles that are grouped for identification 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. Who attends the staffing committee?? GT Coordinator K-3 GT teacher/evaluator Committee consist of two groups containing administrators, counselors, gifted and talented certified teachers, and regular education teachers. 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.

Leah Schmidt K-3 GT lschmidt@msd3.org