G.A.T.E Meeting 2013

1. G.A.T.E Meeting 2013 Welcome all Parents to our annual GT information meeting and Discussion of Texas Performance Standard Projects

2. Definition of Gifted The Federal Definition of Gifted and Talented in NCLB… The term “gifted and talented”, when used with respect to students, children, or youth, means students, children, or though who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in a specific academic fields, and who needs services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those qualities. (Title IX, Part A, Section 9101(22), p. 544

3. ROISD GT Program Our school district has designed the best plan available for gifted students.

4. Gifted and Talented Program Goals • To ensure that the ROISD Strategic Plan provisions for the Gifted and Talented students are implemented equitably district wide, the Gifted and Talented Department has established the following goals: • To develop and implement an ongoing identification process of screening and selecting, through a selection committee, gifted and talented students in grades K-12, based on qualitative and quantitative criteria • To ensure that all populations have equal opportunity for nomination, screening and selection into the Gifted and Talented Program through the use of multiple and diverse measures, including nonverbal evaluations • To develop and implement an effective program for the academically gifted and talented students in grades K-12 • To develop and implement an appropriately differentiated and substantive gifted and talented K-12 curriculum which is linked meaningfully to the Texas Essential Knowledge and skills (TEKS) • To provide ongoing and appropriate staff development to administrators, counselors, and teachers who are involved in meeting the needs of gifted and talented students • To develop and implement a design to evaluate the acceptability, effectiveness, and efficiency of the Gifted and Talented Program in grades K-12 by using relevant, data-based information in the areas of identification, curriculum, staff development, parent and community involvement, and program options

5. ROISD GT program Cluster Group Classrooms… • Students are placed in “cluster groups” classrooms in each grade level. • The cluster general education teacher has receive 30 hours of specialized training with additional 6 hours of up-dates each year.

6. ROISD GT Program Pull-out program…Gifted students are taken out of their regular classroom for 45 minutes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Make up day for missed days will be Wednesdays. Kindergartener will be pulled out on every Wednesday for 45 minutes beginning in March.

7. Daily Procedures 1. Turn your GT folder into the tray marked in purple in your pod 2. We walk down the two by two 3. Stop and wait at our GT classroom door for instructions

8. What’s my job? Table jobs Captains Materials Park and recreations

9. Rules • Come to class prepared with GT folder signed. • Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. • Listen when others are talking. • Participate in class activities. • Follow all school and group rules. • Share and take turns • Follow directions. • Use kind words.

10. ROISD Elementary Curriculum for 2012-2013 Our elementary curriculum consist of the four core areas. Those areas are… • Math • Reading • Science • Social Studies

11. ROISD Elementary Curriculum for 2012-2013 • Kindergarten • 3rd and 4th Nine Weeks ….P.E.T.S. (S.S.) • Primary Education Thinking Skills • …..Brick Layers (Math and Science) • Creative Engineering with LEGO • Constructions

12. Texas Performance Standard Project • Website http://www.texaspsp.org • The content standards for the projects are the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for English language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. • Students who successfully complete a project will demonstrate a deep understanding of at least one area of study in one of these disciplines.

14. Texas Performance Standard Project • The tasks are TEKS-based and are available in social studies, science, mathematics, and English / language arts with interdisciplinary connections. The tasks, designed to generate excitement for learning, are open-ended, authentic, and student-centered. • Each task consists of learning experiences that help students build their research skills and knowledge of the subject. Students then conduct independent research that ends in the final product, where students demonstrate their knowledge base.

15. Animal Nation TPSP (Science) 1 • Students will study different animals to discover their basic needs and ecosystems in which they live. Students will choose an animal to observe, describe, and research, determining its basic needs and how they are met. Students will then discuss different outcomes for their animals if their needs are not met (e.g., become extinct, adapt). Their learning will culminate in an “animal report” created at school and at home create their feature animal use reusable and/or recycled materials. Their project will be displayed at our district showcase in May.

16. Charlotte’s Web TPSP (ELAR) 2 • In this interdisciplinary/language arts unit, students explore and gain knowledge of story elements. Students compare/contrast character traits of one character in the story to themselves. In their research, they will choose a character from the story to explore, create a timeline of the character’s life at home, a project booklet at school and at home from recycled items create a product from the product list or submit an original idea for an project to be approved for display at our district showcase in May.

17. Building a Business: Game Factory TPSP (Math) • This project generates an understanding of marketing and consumer awareness by studying the game industry. Students will learn about the making and fairness of an original game. Each student will complete a project booklet at school and at home using recycled materials develop a prototype of a new game including packaging, rules, and materials needed to play the game which will displayed at our district showcase in May.

18. Math Around Town TPSP (Math) • Math Around Town is a mathematics unit that allows students to discover the uses of math while conducting a science experience. Students must select a project, go through the scientific process, write a project booklet explaining about each step of the scientific method at school, produce a project from a list of projects or an approved original project at home. Their project will be displayed at our district showcase in May.

19. Goals for our GT Program • All kindergarten teachers are trained in all areas of Giftedness • Support our students in Creative and critical thinking skills • Support parents of gifted children

20. Gifted Teacher Training 5 areas of training needed for teachers of gifted students

21. Gifted Teacher Training • Identification and Assessment Teachers will gain understanding of how to implement Texas law and the State Board of Education rule concerning the assessment and identification of gifted and talented students. Teachers will also learn about methods of assessment that help accurately identify the needs of the gifted students in a district.

22. Gifted Teacher Training • Creativity and Instructional Strategies Teachers will learn about innovative and practical ways to design appropriately challenging curricula for gifted students and about the Texas Performance Standards Project for gifted students.

23. Gifted Teacher Training • Methods for Differentiation Teachers will learn about traditional methods of reaching gifted students as well as newly developed methods. Teachers will learn what differentiation truly means and what it should look like for gifted students. Participants will also learn what is required by Texas law and what best instructional practices should be followed.

24. Gifted Teacher Training • Nature and Needs • Analyze the historical, legal, and conceptual understandings of gifted education. Demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics and behaviors of the gifted learner. Teacher will also become familiar with the social and emotional needs of the gifted learner. Examine various program options and research on best practices for gifted programming.

25. Gifted Teacher Training • Social and Emotional Needs • Examine closely multiple intelligences and precisely what that information means for classroom instruction for the gifted learner. Teachers will become familiar with their dominant intelligence and reflect on how their teaching is impacted by that strength. Explore the social and emotional needs of the gifted that may develop when learning styles are not addressed.

26. GT Teacher’s Schedule Each week Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday As GT Testing allows on Wednesday too First Grade 8:30 to 9:15 Second Grade 10:30 to 11:15 Third Grade 1:30 to 2:15 Fourth Grade 2:15 to 3:00 Push in to Writing August to April and reading in April to May at 7:45 to 8:30, 9:15 to 10:30, and 11:15 to 12:15 Beginning in March Kindergarten 9:00 to 9:30 every Wednesday

27. Field Trips • Information will be sent home with students as needed • Still researching field trips first, second and third grades • 4th grade will go to Sky Ranch Camp, Van Texas in May which a 3 day and two night.

28. Parent Involvement Opportunities • GTAC (our local GT parent group) Website http://roisdgtac.webptn.com • Four meetings per year • Meeting times will be announced in the future through notes and emails.

29. Parent Involvement Opportunities • TAGT (National Parent and Teacher organization) • ROISD Gifted & Talented Advisory Committeehttp://roisdgtac.webptn.com/ • Destination Imagination • Contact Sharon Davis ROE Campus contact • Contact Melissa Hancock at Wooden Elementary, Elementary District Contact • Duke Talent Search - Contact Cindy Belote (Shield Elementary)

30. Chess Club • In 2009, we received grant money from the RO Education Foundation to start a chess club at Red Oak Elementary. It is open to all school year for our gifted students. • Please look at your personal calendars and I hope you will be able to volunteer to help at our chess club meetings.

31. Chess Club • Our first session of chess began Tuesday, September 10 for 4th grade with general education students with 31 students. • Second session begins Tuesday, October 22 for gifted students with usually about 30 students • Chess club meets in our library. I will be putting dates in your child’s daily take home folder. Each session is from 3:10 to 4:30. • All students need to pack a snack. • Please take the time to sign our chess club volunteer sheet. • In May we will have a ROISD Elementary Chess Tournament at ROE

32. Contact Information * Conference Period -12:45 to 1:30 • Contact Information – School phone number 972-617-3523 Personal cell 903-330-1219 • Email – sharon.davis@redoakisd.org

33. Questions and Answers

34. Thank you for coming!