GISD Gifted and Talented Program Parent Meeting

State & District Definition of a Gifted and Talented Student § DEFINITION: “Gifted and talented student" means 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.

Bright Child/Gifted Learner The following information is from Challenge Magazine and is a useful tool when discussing the definition of gifted.

Bright Child/Gifted Child Knows the answersAsks the questions Is interestedIs highly curious Is attentiveIs mentally and physically involved Has good ideasHas wild, silly ideas Works hard Plays around, yet tests well Answers the questionsDiscusses in detail, elaborates Is alertIs keenly observant Is pleased with own learning Is highly self-critical

Bright Child/Gifted Child Top groupBeyond the group Listens with interestShows strong feelings and opinions Learns with easeAlready knows 6-8 repetitions for 1-2 repetitions for masterymastery Understands ideasConstructs abstractions Enjoys peersPrefers adults

Bright Child/Gifted Child Grasps the meaningDraws inferences Completes assignmentsInitiates projects Is receptiveIs intense Copies accuratelyCreates new design Enjoys schoolEnjoys learning Absorbs informationManipulates information TechnicianInventor Good memorizerGood guesser Enjoys straightforward, Thrives on complexity sequential presentation

GT Screening & Identification All Kindergarten students participate in testing for GT identification Third Grade Students are retested for GT Other grade levels (1-2, 4-5) only test students for GT at the parent’s request Parents may complete a GT Referral Form to request GT testing for their child, which is available from the campus counselor

ALL Kindergarten & 3 rd Grade Students Referrals from Parents, Teachers, School Officials & Community Members QUALITATIVEQUANTITATIVE Parent Surveys Teacher Surveys Portfolio/Student Work (Optional - Submitted by parent and/or teacher) Naglieri Nonverbal Used for educational & instructional purposes SAGES (Grades 3-5) Mathematics Reading Reasoning

GT Programming for Newly Identified Students You will receive a phone call from your campus counselor informing you of the GT Committee’s recommendation regarding GT services in the spring. GT program services for newly identified Kindergarteners begins March 1 st. GT Services for 1 st – 5 th grade students newly identified in the Spring begin at the start of the next school year. Once identified, parent permission is required for a child to receive GT Services. Be sure to return the permission slip to your campus counselor.

GT Programming Granbury ISD seeks to meet the educational needs of these students through providing Gifted and Talented services for identified GT students. The State plan for GT Students requires “Gifted/Talented students are ensured opportunities to work together as a group [of GT students]…and work independently during the school day as well as the entire school year as a direct result of gifted/talented service options.” It also recommends “Participation in the Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP), or other experiences that result in the development of sophisticated products and/or performances that are targeted to an audience outside the classroom…”

GT Programming “Experiences that result in the development of sophisticated products and/or performances that are targeted to an audience outside the classroom…” Possible Options: – Texas Performance Standards Project – Project Based Learning Units – Competitions: Science Fair, Odyssey of the Mind, etc.

GT Programming Must be throughout the entire school year and during the school day The type of GT services provided varies at each campus, meeting the requirements of the State Plan in different ways. AES serves GT students by clustering them on Enrichment days to work on projects and through the Odyssey of the Mind program.

Parent Resources State GT Curriculum – Texas Performance Standards Project – Parent Group – Texas Association of Gifted and Talented (TAGT) – – TAGT Summer Scholarship Information Available TEA Gifted and Talented site –

Contact Information: Campus: Jill Jernigan, AES Counselor District: Becky Strain, GISD GT Coordinator