1. K-1 LI/TD Prep Night __________________
Helping Teachers, Administrators, and Parents Identify Characteristics of Gifted/Talented Students
FOSTERING GIFTED & TALENTED STUDENTS
K-1 LI/TD Prep Night __________________
Irwin Academic Center

2. Vision... to become a model of excellence in the education
of gifted and talented students.

3. MISSION...
to foster high academic achievement and the growth of creative & critical thinkers, lifelong learners, involved citizens and 21st century problem solvers by providing a nurturing, challenging, and innovative program that engages gifted and talented students, their families, and the community.

4. Irwin’s Magnet Themes or 3-5 Talent Development 3-5 Learning Immersion
TD certified students receive differentiated educational services
3-5
Learning Immersion
Students continue on an accelerated pace
*Only K-2 non-certified Irwin students
K-2
Learning Immersion or
All K-2 students begin on this accelerated path

5. DEFINITON OF GIFTEDNESS:
Federal Definition
Students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities.

6. GIFTEDNESS:

7. The Gifted Program in CMS
The goal of the Talent Development Program in CMS is to provide rigorous curriculum and academic opportunities so each student may reach a classroom performance level consistent with his/her intellectual ability.
Learn astd/Pages/default.aspx

9. TD Certification Process:
* ALL CMS second graders are assessed.
CoGAT = 96% or >
GATEWAY 1
CoGAT + ITBS = 93% or > avg percentile
GATEWAY 2
Gifted Rating Scales
AND
CoGAT & ITBS = % avg percentile
GATEWAY 3
GRS & 92% or >
OR TD Work Sample Portfolio *all Irwin 2nd graders complete
GATEWAY 4

10. TD Certification Process
CogAT = 96% or >
GATEWAY 1
What is the CogAT?
An aptitude test used to measure a student's ability to learn. These tests help teachers and parents predict how well a student is likely to do in school
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) measures students’ learned reasoning abilities in the three areas most linked to academic success in school: Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal.

11. TD Certification Process
CogAT = 96% or >
GATEWAY 1
How can we prepare?
Building Thinking Skills- Critical Thinking skills for reading, writing, math, science (Level 1 - Grades 2-3)
Building Thinking Skills Beginning
Cognitive Abilities Test CogAT® Multilevel A Book (Grade 2*) Practice Test 1 (Form 6)

12. TD Certification Process
GATEWAY 2
CoGAT + ITBS = 93% or > avg percentile
What is the ITBS?
The ITBS is an achievement test which measures how much students have already learned. These tests help measure current knowledge and skills.
How can we prepare?
It's a good idea to set aside some time regularly to review what your child is learning. Constant review will make sure your child is prepared when test time comes.

13. TD Certification Process
Gifted Rating Scales
AND
CoGAT & ITBS = % avg percentile
GATEWAY 3
What is the Gifted Rating Scale?
Tool to help us gather information from the child’s first grade teacher at the end of first grade
 Intellectual ability  Academic ability
 Creativity  Artistic talent
 Leadership ability  Motivation
How can we prepare?
Practice! Encourage your child to excel in each of the six areas.
Communicate with your child’s teacher.

14. TD Certification Process
GRS & 92% or >
OR TD Work Sample Portfolio *all Irwin 2nd graders complete
GATEWAY 4
What is the portfolio?
Second grade students complete five samples of work in second grade.
Parents may submit a sixth piece completed at home
Samples usually include (but are not limited to) advanced math, strongly creative writing with detailed drawings, and independent projects

15. Practicing and encouraging some of the following traits may help your child prepare for the portfolio process and overall success in life …

16. INTELLECTUAL ABILITY Uses advanced reasoning skills
Has extensive and detailed memory
Answers questions in detail
Understands abstract ideas and complex concepts
Applies prior knowledge to problem solving

17. INTELLECTUAL ABILITY: Portfolio
Advanced Language
Gifted students who demonstrate advanced language use advanced vocabulary and may be unusually descriptive. They often use figurative language rich in imagery.
Prefixes, root words, & suffixes to enhance vocabulary
Drawing first to help organize details and similes when writing
Analytical Thinking
Gifted students who demonstrate analytical thinking think logically and use problem solving strategies effectively. They analyze cause and effect, consequences, or alternative solutions and organize collections or ideas in unique ways.
Logical reasoning practice
Multi-step, algebraic problem solving

18. ACADEMIC ABILITY Completes academic work correctly/unassisted
Contributes to academic discussions
Has an inquisitive nature and asks relevant questions
Demonstrates knowledge of facts in one or more academic areas
Demonstrates knowledge about current events

19. ACADEMIC ABILITY : Portfolio
Perseverance
Gifted students who demonstrate perseverance show persistent intellectual curiosity and explore and experiment independently.
Set high expectations and scaffold when necessary
Tap into your child’s interests

20. Creative ability Has active imagination
Brings inventive/innovative approach to problems
Generates “what if” questions
Experiments with ideas
Constructs jokes, clever plays on words, ironic observations

21. Creative Ability: Portfolio
Creativity
Students who demonstrate strong creativity demonstrate original thinking and display an active imagination.
Encourage play! Reflect and write about it with your child.
Build with everyday objects to invent something new.

22. Artistic Talent Produces imaginative/original art
Art performance/products marked by detail, complexity, richness
Concentrates for long periods of time on artistic projects
Expresses emotion in art
Communicates effectively via artistic media

23. Artistic Talent: Portfolio
Students who demonstrate a strong artistic talent use art forms to express ideas, emotions and knowledge effectively. They often put together materials in unusual but relevant ways.
Encourage expression of feelings and emotions using art
Add details and multiple colors to products
Practice constructing art using a variety of materials in thoughtful ways

24. Leadership Ability Acts responsibly in social situations
Has a cooperative attitude
Is self-confident
Is visionary – has a holistic view
Can do backwards planning

25. Leadership Ability: Portfolio
Gifted students who demonstrate strong leadership talents effectively organize people and tasks to achieve a common goal.
Get involved with local organizations
Journal about leadership experiences
Discuss moral / ethical dilemmas together
Study community leaders and make connections

26. MOTIVATION Shows pride in work Reacts to challenges enthusiastically
Works tenaciously, not easily discouraged
Strives to improve
Attempts tasks above current skill level

27. MOTIVATION : Portfolio
Gifted students who demonstrate motivation exhibit high levels of task commitment and energy when pursuing personal interests or issues atypical of age-mates.
Allow students to explore a variety of interests
Explore, draw, write about topics of interest
Encourage children to think about unique topics and watch videos about / visit a variety of places

28. Gifted and talented students may exhibit positive and/or negative characteristics.
“The extremely bright or the creative, curious, and questioning students, who may be stubborn, rule-breaking, egotistical or otherwise high in nuisance value, may not be the teachers’ favorites, but they sometimes are the most gifted.” ~ Gary Davies and Sylvia Rimm

29. Some Gifted Kids are – Restless, inattentive, disturb others
Poor in spelling, careless in handwriting, inaccurate in Math because they are impatient with details requiring rote learning or drill.
Lackadaisical in completing or handing in assignments and can be indifferent to classroom work when not interested.
Can become too bossy and be unwilling to listen to the opinions of others.

30. Lack of Organizational Skills
Share a sense of “Questionable” HUMOR:
bizarre, absurd, cynical, or inappropriate

31. Frustrated with inability to master certain academic skills.
Sometimes obsessed with specific interest area and nothing else. - often unusual interest
- passionate
sometimes fleeting
Once they completely SATURATE their focus, they move on to something new.
Frustrated with inability to master certain academic skills.
(Perfectionism)

32. High Achievers:
A high achiever would be a student who gets high marks and good grades. They do the work that is required and do it well. They tend to be well- organized, with good time-management skills, which is why they turn in neat and tidy work on time. They also tend to be well-behaved, adjusting well to the classroom environment and participating enthusiastically in classroom discussions.

33. Achieve Mastery in 1-2 Repetitions
HIGH ACHIEVERS…
Know the Answers
Enjoy School
Grasp Meaning
Copy Accurately
Have Good Ideas
Absorb Information
Achieve Mastery in 3-8 Repetitions
GIFTED STUDENTS…
Ask the questions
Enjoy Learning
Infer
Create New Designs
Have Unexpected Ideas
Manipulate Information
Achieve Mastery in 1-2 Repetitions

34. Teacher Pleasers:
A Teacher Pleaser is a student who has and/or does all the nice, pleasing, helpful, and considerate things in class. This student works on grade level and/or works hard to achieve high grades in class. This student may score in the 90th percentile on achievement tests.

35. GIFTED STUDENTS… Has much factual information
Teacher Pleaser…
Knowledgeable
Completes all work
Writes well
One of the first to respond
Asks “safe” questions
Time is important
GIFTED STUDENTS… Has much factual information
May not show neatness or order in work
Anticipates outcomes
May disagree with teacher or textbook answers
May frequently respond in an elaborate manner
May not want to stop working on a task

36. Now, A word from our experts …

37. You are your child’s most important teacher!
Now What? A call to action! Psychologists say that the home environment can impact IQ by points.
Interested in creating a PLC?
Attend Monthly Meetings to …
discuss resources
trouble shoot
share strategies

38. Other Great Resources:
Fostering Creativity in Gifted Students
Creativity in the Classroom: Schools of Curious Delight
Testing for Kindergarten: Simple Strategies to Help Your Child Ace the Tests for Gifted Program Qualification
Logic Puzzles
Gifted & Talented -World Reading Lists

39. There is no ONE indicator of giftedness.
Gifted and talented children are found in expected AND unexpected places.
However, it is important to
always remember that…

40. The gifted child is a CHILD First!
Thank you for coming!