Gifted and Talented Program

Goals State Goal Regarding Services for Gifted Students: Students who participate in services designed for gifted students will demonstrate skills in self-directed learning, thinking, research, and communication as evidenced by the development of innovative products and performances that reflect individuality and creativity and are advanced in relation to students of similar age, experience, or environment. High school graduates who have participated in services for gifted students will have produced products and performances of professional quality as part of their program services.

GT Program Recommendations Leadership Development: The Leader in Me Project Based Learning: New Tech Network (professional quality products and presentations) Project Menus Computer Coding or Robotics: Code to the Future CTE Classes Accelerated Learning Opportunities: Honors Classes for Math and Humanities starting in 7th grade/Dual Credit in HS Think Through Math (and other computer programs) Academic Challenges: Mind Missions (K-7 grades) Math and Science Olympiad (6th grade – high school) Geography Bee (5th-8th grade) Primary Grade Level Mini-Challenge Sessions (currently for1st and 2nd grade) LPS classroom teachers all have state qualifications to work with gifted students.

GT Referrals 1st through 9th grade students are assessed during the first semester. Referrals are due the 1st week of October. Kindergarten students are assessed beginning in January and services begin after Spring Break. Students may be referred for the gifted program by teachers, parents, principals, counselors or by the students themselves. Students are assessed during the regular school day.

Qualifying for GT Phase 1 Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) K-2: 95th percentile or above on math and reading 3-9: 95th percentile on 3 out of 4 test (math, reading, language, and science Parent and/or Teacher Information Phase 2 CogAT Verbal, Nonverbal, Quantitative Composite of 97th percentile or higher We believe that every child is gifted in some way, and intelligence is not “fixed;” however, our program is for the academically gifted.

Bright Child-Gifted Learner Knows the answers Is Interested Is attentive Has good ideas Works hard Answers the questions Top group Listens with interest Learns with ease 6-8 repetitions for mastery Understands ideas Enjoys peers Grasps the meaning Completes assignments Is receptive Copies accurately Enjoys school Absorbs information Technician Enjoys straightforward, sequential presentation Is alert Is pleased with own learning By Janice Szabos Asks the questions Is highly curious Is mentally and physically involved Has wild, silly ideas Plays around, yet tests well Discusses in detail, elaborates Beyond the group Shows strong feelings and opinions Already knows 1-2 repetitions for mastery Constructs abstractions Prefers adults Draws inferences Initiates projects Is intense Creates a new design Enjoys learning Manipulates information Inventor Thrives on complexity Is keenly observant Is highly self-critical

Recommended for Parents Book: A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children Webb, Gore, Amend, DeVries Raising a gifted child is both a joy and a challenge, yet parents of gifted children have few resources for reliable parenting information. The four authors, who have decades of professional experience with gifted children and their families, provide practical guidance in areas such as: Characteristics of gifted children; Peer relations; Sibling issues; Motivation & underachievement; Discipline issues; Intensity & stress; Depression & unhappiness; Educational planning; Parenting concerns; Finding professional help; and much, much more!