1. TOMBALL I.S.D. GT PROGRAM Information for new Tomball ISD students who are interested in the GT program

2. MEETING THE NEEDS OF GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS
Intellectual Needs
Pace is matched to student ability and achievement
Depth and Complexity is appropriately adjusted in each subject area
Affective
Social and emotional development
Interpersonal and intrapersonal skills focus
Tina Niemann

3. BENEFITS OF BEING IN THE GT PROGRAM
Qualified teachers are trained to meet the needs and appreciate the nature of gifted students.
GT Specialist supports students with curriculum, materials and advocacy.
Opportunities to practice critical thinking and develop leadership skills are incorporated into the curriculum.
Extra-curricular opportunities (conferences, competitions, etc…) take place throughout the year.
GT students develop requisite skills for the future through extended research projects (PSP).
Jennifer

4. CURRICULAR INTERVENTION Elementary Level
GT teacher/specialist collaboration
Differentiated curriculum
Special math groups
Special literature groups (problems/solutions in literature)
Enrichment/Extension Labs and Workstations
Self-selected research (PSP)
Academic competition opportunities
Anne

5. CURRICULAR INTERVENTION Intermediate Level
GT teacher/specialist collaboration
Acceleration
Pre-AP
Performance Standard Project
Becky Watkins

6. CURRICULAR INTERVENTION
Junior High
Advanced classes
Differentiated Instruction
Pre-AP
High School
Advanced Placement
Dual Credit
Susan

7. EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES (Campus Specific)
UIL
Destination Imagination
Chess Club
Honor Choir
Camp Invention
Continental Math League
Scrabble Club
Drama
Fine Arts
Scholastic Writing
Science Fair
Video Announcements
Clubs (Thinking Games)
Lucia

8. IDENTIFYING THE GIFTED
Julie

9. Identification Process
Nomination
Only New TISD students can be screened/tested in the fall. This is done upon request.
All other TISD students may request testing each spring.
All Kindergarten students are screened and nomination is not required.
Screening
Once a student is nominated and the permission to test form is received by the GT Specialist, an ability screening assessment is administered.
Students must have a score of 128 or higher (96th percentile or higher) to qualify.
Testing
Achievement testing is administered in each subject area.
Qualifying students must score at the 95th percentile or better in any subject area.
If the student meets the minimum requirements in BOTH ability AND achievement, he/she qualifies for the TISD GT Program.
Selection
Committee
Campus Committee (administrator, counselor, specialist and teachers)
District Committee (director, specialists)
Placement
Students qualifying in the fall MUST move to GT teacher’s room.
Students who qualify in the spring will start the program next school year.
Qualifying Kindergarten students begin services as of March 1st.
Transfers
Transfer students who were previously enrolled in GT, MUST submit documentation and scores from the previous school for review.
Students are not automatically enrolled in TISD’s GT Program.
Qualifying scores from other schools are good for two (2) years.
Julie
Identification Process

10. Observation Inventories
Tomball ISD Scoring Matrix for GT Testing
Where applicable, table shows minimum score for entering the program.
Objective Measures
Subjective Measures
Ability
Index
Achievement
(Percentile Scores)
Observation Inventories
Portfolio (optional)
Creativity (optional)
Olsat / Naglieri
Reading
Math
Science
Social Studies
Parent
Teacher
Criteria
128+
95+
Student Score
Criteria Met
Julie

11. T.I.S.D. COMMITMENT
The Tomball Independent School District GT Program is aligned with the Texas State Plan for the Gifted. ~ TISD is committed to providing opportunities for students to showcase their talents. TISD is committed to meeting the academic and affective needs of gifted students from K-12.
Joan

12. FAQs 1.Will there be more work?
GT students will complete tasks that are appropriate for their level of ability and achievement. Just as the average student should experience at least one (1) year of academic growth, so should a GT student. The instructional opportunities and assignments should be designed to maximize the GT student’s learning experience. The tasks may indeed be “harder” than that of an average student, but that doesn’t mean it is “too hard” for the GT student. The GT program is meant to be more rigorous and challenging than the general education program. That is what makes it a special program.
2.What happens if a child does not qualify this year?
Students may be nominated, screened and tested every spring, but not more frequently. Any qualifying scores obtained during testing may be applied to later testing for two (2) years.
3. What happens if a child qualifies, but does not perform well in the program?
A meeting may be held with the parents after the specialist analyzes data and observes the student at work in the classroom. A struggling GT student may request a one-year furlough. However, if the problems are severe and a furlough is not expected to ameliorate the situation, the student may be exited from the program. This is a joint decision between parents, students, specialists and teachers.
4.Does a child ever have to be retested?
Student performance will be reviewed before entering Pre-AP/Accelerated programs at Grade 6.
5. Is a record of the testing kept?
Yes, GT specialists keep a record of the testing that has been completed at their campuses. Once students move up to the next campus level, the records are transferred. Students who withdraw from the district should request copies of the records, as they are only kept for three (3) years after the student leaves.
6. How many students are in the program?
TISD’s GT program includes approximately 8% of the student population in the entire district.
Whitney

13. CAMPUS SPECIALISTS
Canyon Pointe Elementary – Lucia Harris Decker Prairie Elementary – Anne Smith Lakewood Elementary – Whitney Bilyeu Rosehill Elementary – Jennifer Bull Tomball Elementary – Kay Sitgreaves Willow Creek Elementary – Angeleen French Creekside Forest Elementary –Catherine Karamath

14. CAMPUS SPECIALISTS
Northpointe Intermediate – Julie Bowles
Tomball Intermediate – Stephanie Scott

15. CONTACT YOUR CAMPUS GT SPECIALIST
Additional questions?
CONTACT YOUR CAMPUS
GT SPECIALIST