Palmer High School Gifted & Talented Program September 2015

Definition Gifted students are capable of high performance, exceptional production, or exceptional learning behavior by virtue of any area(s) of giftedness. Gifted students include students with disabilities ( twice-exceptional) and students with exceptional abilities or potential from all socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural populations.

Categories of Giftedness New State Changes - Specific Academic: Reading, writing, math, science, social studies, world languages Specific Talent Aptitude: Visual arts, performing arts, music, dance, psychomotor, creativity, leadership General Intellectual Ability

Twice-exceptional Student Identified gifted with an IEP or 504. Physical disability Learning disability Social/emotional disability Served by both the IEP or 504 and an ALP (Advanced Learning Plan) 10-20% of gifted population. ALPs done separately. Added an extra bullet

Bright Child Gifted Learner Knows the answer Is interested Is attentive Has good ideas Works hard Answers the questions Top group Listens with interest Learns with ease 6-8 repetitions for mastery Understands ideas Enjoys peers Grasps the meaning Completes the assignments Asks the questions Is highly curious Is mentally and physically involved Has wild, silly ideas Plays around, yet tests well Discusses in detail, elaborates Beyond the group Shows strong feelings & opinions Already knows 1-2 repetitions for mastery Constructs abstractions Prefers adults Draws inferences Initiates projects Now all students have strengths and differing learning styles . . .so what differentiates a gifted learner?

Bright Child Gifted Learner Is receptive Copies accurately Enjoys school Absorbs information Technician Good at memorization Enjoys sequential presentation Is alert Is pleased with own learning Is intense Creates a new design Enjoys learning Manipulates information Inventor Good guesser Thrives on complexity Is keenly observant Is highly self-critical All characteristics aren’t necessary, just a propensity for . . . http://pages.framingham.k12.ma.us/sage/brightchild.htm

GT Identification Process Tested in second grade using the CoGAT Ability Test and other metrics Depending on need, GT testing can be done at any time (K-12). Identification mostly happens in elementary and middle school New state-wide identification process - multiple measures of quantitative and qualitative Body of Evidence Once identified as gifted in District 11, then always identified as gifted; transferrable statewide.

Why GT at High School? 18% of high school dropouts nationwide are gifted students US News and World Report, 8/83. More than IB, AP, Honors class options Unique academic and social/emotional needs

GT Programming at Palmer IB program AP/CU Succeed classes Honors classes College classes Curriculum modification Mentorships Job shadows Independent projects Clubs Study skills Goal planning Student advocacy

IB/AP/Honors Programs and GT While these programs offer advanced course work, and many GT students are enrolled in these programs for this reason, the GT program is separate. GT is a service for identified gifted students, offering students assistance (academic, social, emotional) for their unique gifted needs. What GT can provide is rather diverse – curriculum differentiation, study skills, mentorships, job shadowing, student advocacy, goal planning, etc. GT works collaboratively with other Palmer programs and activities.

Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) “a written record of gifted and talented programming utilized with each gifted child and considered in educational planning and decision making.” Colorado Department of Education, 22-20-103 A CDE mandate. Verification and accountability for the passing of HB 1244.

Why ALPs? Colorado is one of the few states that mandate gifted education and programming. The ALP is the means by which the state monitors this mandate. The ALP serves as a portfolio, a repository of information documenting achievements and goals. The end result is a body of evidence covering years of schooling that students can use for post-graduate endeavors – often for college and scholarship applications.

The ALP Process Student completes online ALP form Gifted Resource Teacher (GRT) schedules a meeting with the student to review the ALP and to provide assistance in helping the student realize their goals, interests, and aspirations Progress monitoring of goals.

Individual ALPs The emphasis of an ALP should address student strengths May be a little extra work, but will directly benefit the student Collaboration with parents and teachers Not necessarily related to school work Delete a before student first bullet

ALP Players Student Parent(s) Teacher(s) Gifted Resource Teacher Community

Communication Email: michael.chamberlin@d11.org Web: http://palmer.d11.org/Pages/GT/Pages/Gifted-and-Talented.aspx Teacher Page: http://teachers.d11.org/teachers/chambms

Contact Michael Chamberlin Gifted Resource Teacher (GRT), Palmer michael.chamberlin@d11.org (719) 328-5079 Room 222 Ask for questions.