Gifted & Talented Parent Information Night

Topics Definition of “gifted” Identification & Placement Process Service Options

Who are they?

What Is “Gifted”? The Texas Education defines students who participate in services designed for GT students as those who demonstrate skills in self-directed learning, thinking, research and communication as evidenced by the development of innovative products and performances that reflect individuality and creativity and are advanced in relation to students of similar age, experience or environment. (TEC §29.121. Definition)

What Is “Gifted”? The Texas Education code defines a “gifted” student as a child or youth who performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who: exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area; possesses an unusual capacity for leadership; or excels in a specific academic field. (TEC §29.122. Establishment)

Prevalence of Giftedness

Prevalence of Giftedness, cont’d "Gifted" has become one of the most tossed-about words in the parenting lexicon. Unfortunately -- sorry, but let's get this out of the way right up front -- it's also one of the most misused. The vast majority of children are not gifted. Only 2 to 5 percent of kids fit the bill, by various estimates. Of those, only one in 100 is considered highly gifted. Prodigies (those wunderkinds who read at 2 and go to college at 10) are rarer still -- like one to two in a million. And despite the boom in infant-stimulation techniques, educational DVDs, learning toys, and enrichment classes, those numbers haven't been increasing. You can't build giftedness; it's mostly built in. What do the numbers mean? If there are 1000 students at your school, then between 20 and 50 are truly academically gifted on average. Of those 20-50 academically gifted, probably none are highly gifted- on average a school with 1000 students would have 1 student who is highly gifted every five years. Most schools will never have a profoundly gifted child enroll.

Still, it's hard to resist scrutinizing your child for signs of greatness. The growing awareness about giftedness is part natural impulse to see our offspring as special, and part wanting to be sure a child's needs are met.

How do we find them?

Identification & Placement Timeline Sept. 24: Parent Information Meeting Sept. 23-Oct. 4: GT Nomination Window Oct. 22-Nov. 15: GT Testing Dec. 9-13: Campus GT committee meets to evaluate nominee data *Parents will be notified of the committee decision prior to winter break. Identification & Placement Timeline

Identification & Placement Process GT Matrix Nomination Form Evaluation from Parents and Teachers K-1 NNAT2, CLI and Kingore Observation Activities Grades 2 Universal testing with NNAT2, I-Station, Beginning of Year (BOY) Math data Grade 3 NNAT2, BOY Math data Grades 4-12 NNAT2 and STAAR Identification & Placement Process

Creative Assessments Kdg Both 1st Grade

Identification & Placement: Process cont’d Nominations During the nomination window (9/24-10/4) a child may be nominated by: Parent Teacher Counselor Principal Nomination forms are available from your child’s school counselor 2. Parent/Teacher Evaluation

3. Provides a culture-fair and language-free means of measuring a students' general ability using nonverbal stimuli. Especially useful for assessment of children from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Is administered in a group setting in about 30 minutes.

How Can I Help My Child Prepare for Testing? The best way to prepare a child is to be sure they are not overly anxious. Taking the GT test is fun for many children because the test is made up of diagrams not reading and math questions. Help your child understand that the best thing they can do is try their best. They should not spend too much time on any one question but not rush through the questions either. Encourage your daughter or son to look at all the answer options carefully before making a selection.

Identification & Placement: Process cont’d Committee Meets (12/9-12/13) A selection committee shall evaluate each nominated student according to the established criteria and shall select those students for whom gifted program placement is the most appropriate educational setting. The committee shall be composed of at least three professional educators who have received training in the nature and needs of gifted students and shall be established at each campus. Notification (week prior to winter break) Parents and students shall be notified in writing upon selection of the student for the gifted program. Participation in any program or services provided for gifted students is voluntary. The District shall obtain written permission from the parents/guardians before a student is placed in a gifted program.

How do we serve them?

NCISD Program Objectives NCISD Gifted & Talented Students will: Develop critical thinking skills in order to solve problems logically Develop research skills and use information gathered implementing a research project Demonstrate the ability to use creative problem solving strategies Recognize how change in and around their world affects their relationships NCISD Program Objectives

Program Options K-2: Talent Pool Designed for children in k-2 who possess outstanding imagination, thinking ability, innovative or creative reasoning ability in problem solving. Talent Pool students will receive enrichment learning opportunities to nurture their creativity 3-5: Elementary GT Identified students will be served with curriculum designed to meet the needs of GT students Identified students will be served a minimum of 90 min./week with the following opportunities Differentiated Instruction during regular class time Independent study and research Creative problem solving 6-12 Secondary: Advanced Academics Identified students will have opportunities to access AP, Pre-AP, and Dual Credit classes Students are encouraged to take advantage of the numerous extension activities (Clubs, Organizations, Extracurricular activities) that address their specific area(s) of giftedness (Academic, Artistic, Leadership, etc.)

Resources National Association For Gifted Children: https://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources/gifted-education-us Texas Association of Gifted and Talented: https://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources/gifted- education-us http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/

??? Questions ??? District Gifted & Talented Website: https://www.newcaneyisd.org/Page/158 Robbin Phelps, District GT Program Coordinator rphelps@newcaneyisd.org