Kindergarten/1 st Grade Gifted and Talented Screening Overview

Katy ISD Kindergarten GT Service Pull-out program for 60 minutes a week of GT service in the Challenge classroom Begins the first week of March Beginning in 1 st grade, identified students are pulled out for one full day a week

How are students identified? Districts are required to collect multiple indicators from various sources The indicators must include both qualitative data (such as observations and checklists) and quantitative data (such as standardized tests)

Katy ISD Screening Instruments Two qualitative measures: Parent Checklist Classroom Observation Up to three quantitative measures: Ability Test Achievement Test Intelligence Test

Absences During Screening Windows If your child is absent on the day that the proctor gives a screening test, your child will be able to make up the test after he or she has returned to school.

Phase 1 Screening – All Referred Students Begins September 23 rd with the collection of parent checklists and ends November 3 rd. Parent Checklist –(Collected between September 23 rd and October 7 th ) No late checklists accepted. Classroom Observation Nonverbal Ability Test –Parents will receive a notification from their child’s homeroom teacher of a “testing window” of approximately 2 weeks sometime between October 14 th and November 3 rd.

Phase 1 Standardized Test Ability Testing –A nonverbal measure of ability –Does not require reading ability nor English proficiency –Scored by chronological age

Phase I Notification Students who do not have 2 positive indicators will complete their screening process during phase I. Letters and screening profiles will be mailed to parents of those students on November 13 th. Please allow 7-10 days for delivery. Students who have acquired 2 positive indicators will continue the screening process. Parents will receive notifications from their child’s homeroom teacher of a “testing window” of approximately 2 weeks sometime between November 10 th -December 16 th.

Phase 2 Screening: Achievement Testing Students with two positive indicators from Phase 1 screening continue to Phase 2 Achievement measured in reading and math. Scored by grade level Spanish test available Phase 2 letters are mailed with phase 3 letters February 19 th.

Phase 3 : Intelligence Measure Students with 3 positive indicators from Phases 1 and 2 continue with Phase 3 Students who have already accrued four positive measures are not tested in Phase 3, since sufficient indicators are already present for identification

Phase 3: Intelligence Measure An oral test, administered one-on-one 1 st section - vocabulary 2 nd section -“Odd Item Out”- students identify the item in a series that doesn’t belong Can be administered in Spanish if needed

Recognizing Gifted Potential What might these characteristics look like in a kindergartener/1 st Grader? Learning Characteristics –Advanced vocabulary –Knows a great deal of information –Recalls facts easily –Continually asks “how” and “why” –Makes connections; sees similarities and differences –Very observant –Reads above grade level –Reasons things out for himself/herself

Motivational Characteristics –Persistent; becomes absorbed in topics or problems –Often bored with routine tasks –Is motived to complete interesting work –Self-critical –Prefers to work independently; needs little direction –Shows interest in adult topics, such as current events –Self-assertive; can be stubborn in beliefs –Likes to organize –Concerned with right/wrong; good/bad

Creative-Productive Thinking –Very curious; asks many questions –Comes up with more than one solution –Expresses opinions; sometimes radical and spirited in disagreement –Takes risks; shows sense of adventure –Fantasizes; imagines; shows intellectual playfulness –Keen sense of humor –Shows self-awareness; emotional sensitivity –Notices the beauty of things –Does not fear being different –Criticizes constructively

Kindergarten Screening Timeline Sept. 1-11Challenge teachers meet with kinder teachers Sept Parent Checklists sent home with all students Oct. 7Parent Checklist Due Nov. 9-13Phase 1 Letters sent to parents of students not continuing with screening Feb. 19Remaining parent notification letters sent Feb. 29First week of service; 60 minutes per week in Challenge classroom

References: Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students, Texas Education Agency Identification and Assessment G/T Program Guide , Katy ISD Recognizing Gifted Potential Professional Development Presentation, by Bertie Kingore and Jeffery Kingore, 2007

Questions ? Contact Sharon Clark (281)