Gifted and Talented Educational Services

1. Gifted and Talented Educational Services They’re Not Just Gifted On Thursdays!

3. State Definition of Gifted “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. (Texas Education Code 29.121)

4. NISD Core Beliefs We believe that… • kids come first. • continuous improvement is critical for success of the Northwest Independent School District. • the success of each student is the shared responsibility of students, families, schools and communities. • environment influences learning.

5. District Advanced Academics Mission Statement • The Advanced Academics Department, in partnership with parents and community, will provide students a premier education, preparing them to be successful, productive citizens. • In the Northwest Independent School District, the Advanced Academics Department provides direction and leadership to K-12 advanced academics programs. The Advanced Academic services provide support for the multi-faceted gifted education programs which include: Gifted and Talented Program Education Services (GATES), Advanced Placement (AP), and Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) classes, UIL activities, Academic Decathlon, and Destination Imagination.

6. GATES Vision The best and most sought-after advanced academics program in Texas where every student is future ready: • Ready for College • Ready for the Global Workplace • Ready for Personal Success

7. NISD Qualifications • Minimum of 3 Criteria for Quantitative Data • CogAT and/or Naglieri, and ITBS • Minimum of 2 Criteria for Qualitative Data • KOI, GATES, Slocumb/Payne, NISD Parent Checklist

8. GOAL STATEMENTS • To provide differentiated educational services promoting critical and creative thinking skills. • To engage students in an academically challenging and motivating program.

9. GOAL STATEMENTS • To identify and implement best practices in teaching gifted students. • To support the needs of highly able students by providing training for teachers.

10. District Curriculum Philosophy Statement At Northwest I.S.D., the education of identified gifted students is based on the following six areas of emphasis: • Problem Solving • Critical Thinking • Creative Thinking • Research Skills • Independent Learning • Communication Skills

11. Problem Solving The student uses a variety of approaches to solve problems; develops thoughtful questions; plans, organizes, implements, evaluates, and presents solutions

12. Critical Thinking The student demonstrates skills of complex thinking; sees relationships; examines facts and variables; makes deductions based on logical reasoning.

13. Creative Thinking The student uses divergent thinking; sees things in new and different ways. The student shows fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration in generating and presenting ideas.

14. Research Skills The student asks open-ended research questions and develops a plan for answering them; gathers information from relevant sources; clarifies research questions and evaluates/synthesizes collected information; purposefully organizes and presents ideas/conclusions.

15. Independent Learning The student organizes time and work; uses a variety of resources; sets high standards of quality; completes self-directed learning; develops innovative products and performances.

16. Communication Skills The student communicates effectively; listens actively; participates effectively in a group.

17. NISD GATES Progress Report

18. Ways of thinking when problem solving • Vocabulary Integration-(PSAT and SAT Prep! It is never too early!) • 16 Habits of Mind-The skills, behaviors and attitudes that effective learners use with dealing with new learning problems. • Scholarly Behaviors-(Future Texan Scholars!) • 11 Depth and Complexity Icons -Going deeper into our thinking and questioning! • Research and Writing Skills • Technology Integration-iPads!  • Six Thinking Hats -Encourages thinking in colorful ways! • Creative/Future Problem Solving Skills-We want our students to be future ready! • Problem Based Learning and the Engineering Design Process-Real World Applications • Creative Thinking Skills-(FFOE-Fluency, Flexibility, Originality and Elaboration)

19. Websites for Gifted Resources www.sengifted.org www.nagc.org www.txgifted.org www.bertiekingore.com http://www.austega.com/gifted/characteristics.htm Visit my website for more…

20. Bottom line… • We will make sure that gifted children’s needs are being addressed EVERY DAY. • We will make sure that appropriate lessons (differentiated, respectful tasks, tiered, compacted, engaging) are provided. • We will challenge our gifted students with dignity and respect. • We will honor and cherish their differences, from their classmates & from each other. • We will NOT have a “One Size Fits All” program.

21. Other Opportunities • Duke TIP • Destination Imagination • UIL • TAGT website-student tab includes many games and high interest activities in many subject areas.

22. Questions, answers, concerns…

23. Thank you so much for your valuable time! Revised August 2011