Purpose of Meeting

Introductions

Characteristics of the Gifted

Identification Process

Questions

GT Awareness Parent Meeting

Gifted and TalentedCharacteristics and Identification

MONTGOMERY ISD

What is giftedness?

"Gifted and talented student" means a child or youth who 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 and who:

1. exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area;

2. possesses an unusual capacity for leadership; or

3. excels in a specific academic field.

From http://txgifted.org/what-giftedness

Characteristics of Gifted Children

Keen power of observation

Power of abstraction, conceptualization, synthesis, interest in problem solving

Questioning attitude, intrinsic motivation

Critical thinker, self-checking

Creativeness and inventiveness

Characteristics of Gifted Children (continued)

Power of concentration, long attention span

Persistent, goal-directed behavior

Sensitivity, intuitiveness, empathy for others

Independence in work and study with preference for individual work

Diversity of interests and abilities

Found in all cultural groups, all races, and all economic groups

Aren’t all students gifted?

•Don’t confuse “giftedness” with “personal strengths”

•Identifying needs of students is important when they vary significantly from his/her classmates.

•It’s not about worth. It’s about need.

100-115<70 115-130 130+

34%2% 14% 34% 14% 2%

85-10070-85

96%

68%

100

High Achiever Gifted Learner Creative Thinker

Remembers the answers Poses unforeseen questions Sees exceptions

Is interested Is curious Wonders

Is attentive Is selectively mentally engaged Daydreams; may seem off task

Generates advanced ideas Generates complex, abstract ideas Overflows with ideas, many of which will never be developed

Works hard to achieve Knows without working hard Plays with ideas and concepts

Answers the questions in detail Ponders with depth and multiple perspectives Injects new possibilities

Performs at the top of the group Is beyond the group Is in own group

Responds with interestand opinions

Exhibits feelings and opinionsfrom multiple perspectives Shares bizarre, sometimes conflicting opinions

Learns with ease Already knows Questions: What if...

Needs 6 to 8 repetitions to master Needs 1 to 3 repetitions to master Questions the need for mastery

Comprehends at a high level Comprehends in-depth,complex ideas

Overflows with ideas--many of which will never be developed

Enjoys the company of age peers Prefers the company ofintellectual peers

Prefers the company of creative peers, but often works alone

Understands complex, abstract humor Creates complex, abstract humor Relishes wild, off-the-wall humor

Grasps the meaning Infers and connects concepts Makes mental leaps: Aha!

Completes assignments on time Initiates projects and extensions of assignments

Initiates more projects than will ever be completed

Is receptive Is intense Is independent and unconventional

Is accurate and complete Is original and continually developing Is original and continually developing

Enjoys school often Enjoys self-directed learning Enjoys creating

Absorbs information Manipulates information Improvises

Is a technician with expertise in a field

Is an expert who abstractsbeyond the field Is an inventor and idea generator

Memorizes well Guesses and infers well Creates and brainstorms well

Is highly alert and observant Anticipates and relates observations Is intuitive

Is pleased with own learning Is self-critical Is never finished with possibilities

Gets A's May not be motivated by grades May not be motivated by grades

Is able Is intellectual Is idiosyncratic

Student Identification ProcessScreening – Level One

Classroom Planned Experiences (K-5) Free Association Screening Tool Parent survey Teacher Survey District Universal Screening Data (Nationally Normed)

If the child’s scores indicate the need for further testing, they will move on to Level Two and will be tested.

Testing – Level Two Must score in the top 5%

Calendar and TimelinesSeptember 17- Community GT Awareness MeetingOctober 9- Referral DeadlineNovember 20 -Notification to parents regarding Level 1 mailedNovember 30 – December 10 Level 2 Testing of those who qualifiedFebruary 12- Notification to parents of kindergarten students regarding Level 2 mailedFebruary 29 -Kindergarten services beginApril 15 – Notification to parents of students in grades 1-11 regarding Level 2 mailedMay 13- Appeals due to campus counselorMay 20- Appeals portfolios dueMay 23-27 - District level appeals June 6- Appeals notification to parentsAugust 2016- 1st-12th grade services begin

Program Components

Elementary Level•GT pullout class K – 4 (one day a week)•Cluster grouping in the regular classroom•Differentiation as appropriate

Secondary Level•Independent study class available to high school junior and seniors•Pre-AP, AP, Dual Credit •Differentiation as appropriate

Other Components•Destination Imagination•Fine Arts electives•Clubs•Contests

More Information and Forms

MISD Website: www.misd.org

Follow this path:

DepartmentsCurriculum and Instruction

Student ServicesGifted and Talented

Questions? Please contact your child’s counselor