1. Kindergarten Gifted and Talented Information Meeting
Huffman I.S.D.
Kindergarten Gifted and Talented Information Meeting
Thursday, January 8, 2015

2. Introductions Jack Fillbrandt-BBECC - Principal
Janet Freeman – BBECC Assistant Principal
Angela Rhodes - BBECC Counselor
Trina Gore - Gifted and Talented Lead Teacher for BBECC, CES, and HIS

3. What is Gifted and Talented?
Gifted and talented means a child or youth 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. Education Code
HANDOUT: Bright Child/Gifted Learner

4. Screening Phase - OLSAT
Otis Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT)
The OLSAT is designed to measure abstract thinking and reasoning ability.
Students must score a Stanine of 8 or higher (89%ile - 95%ile) in either verbal or nonverbal ability.
The test can be broken up into three parts. Each testing session length will be decided at the discretion of the test administrator and the endurance of the students. Usually no more than 30 min. – 1 hour.

5. OLSAT – Verbal Comprehension
Following directions items assess the ability to match a verbal description to a pictorial representation.
These items require students to hear dictated directions involving relational concepts such as “above,” “next to,” or “between,” and to apply these concepts in selecting the correct answer.

6. OLSAT – Verbal Reasoning
Aural reasoning items assess the ability to visualize a given situation, integrate the relevant details, and form a complete picture of what has been described.
Items of this sort assess understanding details, grasping main ideas, and drawing inferences or predicting probable outcomes.

7. OLSAT – Arithmetic Reasoning
Arithmetic reasoning items assess the ability to solve verbal problems that draw upon numerical reasoning for their solution.
Reasoning rather than computation is stressed.

8. OLSAT – Pictorial Reasoning
Pictorial reasoning assesses the ability in very young children to reason using pictorial representations.
These items assess the ability to infer relationships among objects, to evaluate objects for similarities and differences, and to determine progressions and predict the next step in those progressions.

9. OLSAT - Pictorial Reasoning
Picture classification – assess the ability to determine which picture in a set of five pictures does not belong with the other four.
Picture analogy – assess the ability to infer the relationship between two pictures and to select the picture that is related to the stimulus picture in the same way.
Picture series – assess the ability to determine the nature of a sequential series and to predict the next occurrence in that series.

10. OLSAT – Figural Reasoning
1. Figural Classification – assess the ability to determine, in a set of five geometric figures, which figure does not belong with the others.
2. Figural Analogy – assess the ability to infer the relationship between a pair of geometric shapes and to apply that relationship in selecting a shape that is related to the stimulus shape in the same way.

11. OLSAT - Figural Reasoning
3. Pattern Matrix – assess the ability to supply a missing element in a matrix composed of geometric elements.
4. Figural Series – assess the ability to supply the next step in a geometric series in which each element changes according to a given rule.

12. OLSAT Sample Questions

13. Picture Classification
Figure Classification

14. Picture Analogy
Figure Analogy

15. Aural Reasoning
Following Directions
Picture Series
Pattern Matrix

16. Screening Phase - SIGS
Scales for Identifying Gifted Students (SIGS) Teacher and Parent Evaluations
Norm referenced rating scale – shows characteristics relating to giftedness when compared to peers
Assesses seven areas: general intellectual ability, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, creativity, and leadership
Students must rank in the 75%ile in at least one area on the parent and teacher evaluations

17. Screening Phase – Teacher SIGS - Products
Teachers submit 3-5 work samples
Products must show evidence of: Creativity, Advanced Vocabulary, Independent Thinking, Advanced Reading Level, or any other measure of high level response

18. Building Selection Committee Meeting
The Building Selection Committee (Administrator, counselor, Lead GT teacher, GT certified teachers) will meet to determine which students will continue testing. This decision is based on the OLSAT and SIGS scores.
Students who do not qualify are eligible for testing again one calendar year later. (Spring Testing)
Parents are notified by letter whether or not their child will continue testing.

19. Assessment Phase – SAT Stanford Achievement Test
Assesses the basic curricular objectives in the areas of reading, mathematics, and environment.
Students must score in the 90%ile in at least 1 of the tested areas.
The test is broken down into subject portions. The length of each test and number of testing sessions will be decided at the discretion of the test administrator and the endurance of the students.

20. SAT Sample Questions

22. Reading: Sounds and Letters

28. NOTE:
Students are responsible for making up class work that is missed while testing for gifted and talented.

29. Scoring Tests Tests are scored Matrix
Building Selection Committee Meeting
Placement is determined by the BSC
Parents are notified by letter

30. G/T Program: REACH G/T Lead Teacher: Trina Gore
REACH: Reaching Excellent Academic and Creative Heights
Teach grades K-5
Pull out program (one hour a week)
Inclusive differentiated program

31. Kindergarten Identification
Students identified for the kindergarten gifted and talented program will begin receiving services by March 1, 2015.

32. REMINDER:
Please remember that all permission to test forms are due to Mrs. Rhodes by Friday, January 9th, Students without permission forms returned by this date will be unable to test as the testing process will already be underway.

33. Tentative Testing Timeline
OLSAT – January 12th – January 23rd
Send parent and teacher SIGS – Return SIGS by January 23rd
February 2nd – 6th - BSC Meeting and parent notification for continuation of testing or did not qualify
February 9th – 13th - SAT 10 testing begins (Reading, Math, Science - Social Studies / Environment portions)
February 17th – 20th - BSC Meeting and permission letters sent home or did not qualify
Parent permission to participate in GT must be obtained before March 1st.

34. Questions?
Concerns?