TOMBALL I.S.D. GT PROGRAM Information for new Tomball ISD students who are interested in the GT program 2011-2012

MEETING THE NEEDS OF GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS Intellectual Needs Pace is matched to student ability and achievement Depth and Complexity is appropriately adjusted in each subject area Affective Social and emotional development Interpersonal and intrapersonal skills focus Tina Niemann

BENEFITS OF BEING IN THE GT PROGRAM Qualified teachers are trained to meet the needs and appreciate the nature of gifted students. GT Specialist supports students with curriculum, materials and advocacy. Opportunities to practice critical thinking and develop leadership skills are incorporated into the curriculum. Extra-curricular opportunities (conferences, competitions, etc…) take place throughout the year. GT students develop requisite skills for the future through extended research projects (PSP). Jennifer

CURRICULAR INTERVENTION Elementary Level GT teacher/specialist collaboration Differentiated curriculum Special math groups Special literature groups (problems/solutions in literature) Enrichment/Extension Labs and Workstations Self-selected research (PSP) Academic competition opportunities Anne

CURRICULAR INTERVENTION Intermediate Level GT teacher/specialist collaboration Acceleration Pre-AP Performance Standard Project Becky Watkins

CURRICULAR INTERVENTION Junior High Advanced classes Differentiated Instruction Pre-AP High School Advanced Placement Dual Credit Susan

EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES (Campus Specific) UIL Destination Imagination Chess Club Honor Choir Camp Invention Continental Math League Scrabble Club Drama Fine Arts Scholastic Writing Science Fair Video Announcements Clubs (Thinking Games) Lucia

IDENTIFYING THE GIFTED Julie

Identification Process Nomination Only New TISD students can be screened/tested in the fall. This is done upon request. All other TISD students may request testing each spring. All Kindergarten students are screened and nomination is not required. Screening Once a student is nominated and the permission to test form is received by the GT Specialist, an ability screening assessment is administered. Students must have a score of 128 or higher (96th percentile or higher) to qualify. Testing Achievement testing is administered in each subject area. Qualifying students must score at the 95th percentile or better in any subject area. If the student meets the minimum requirements in BOTH ability AND achievement, he/she qualifies for the TISD GT Program. Selection Committee Campus Committee (administrator, counselor, specialist and teachers) District Committee (director, specialists) Placement Students qualifying in the fall MUST move to GT teacher’s room. Students who qualify in the spring will start the program next school year. Qualifying Kindergarten students begin services as of March 1st. Transfers Transfer students who were previously enrolled in GT, MUST submit documentation and scores from the previous school for review. Students are not automatically enrolled in TISD’s GT Program. Qualifying scores from other schools are good for two (2) years. Julie Identification Process

Observation Inventories Tomball ISD Scoring Matrix for GT Testing Where applicable, table shows minimum score for entering the program. Objective Measures Subjective Measures Ability Index Achievement (Percentile Scores) Observation Inventories Portfolio (optional) Creativity (optional) Olsat / Naglieri Reading Math Science Social Studies Parent Teacher Criteria 128+ 95+ Student Score Criteria Met Julie

T.I.S.D. COMMITMENT The Tomball Independent School District GT Program is aligned with the Texas State Plan for the Gifted. ~ TISD is committed to providing opportunities for students to showcase their talents. TISD is committed to meeting the academic and affective needs of gifted students from K-12. Joan

FAQs 1.Will there be more work? GT students will complete tasks that are appropriate for their level of ability and achievement. Just as the average student should experience at least one (1) year of academic growth, so should a GT student. The instructional opportunities and assignments should be designed to maximize the GT student’s learning experience. The tasks may indeed be “harder” than that of an average student, but that doesn’t mean it is “too hard” for the GT student. The GT program is meant to be more rigorous and challenging than the general education program. That is what makes it a special program. 2.What happens if a child does not qualify this year? Students may be nominated, screened and tested every spring, but not more frequently. Any qualifying scores obtained during testing may be applied to later testing for two (2) years. 3. What happens if a child qualifies, but does not perform well in the program? A meeting may be held with the parents after the specialist analyzes data and observes the student at work in the classroom. A struggling GT student may request a one-year furlough. However, if the problems are severe and a furlough is not expected to ameliorate the situation, the student may be exited from the program. This is a joint decision between parents, students, specialists and teachers. 4.Does a child ever have to be retested? Student performance will be reviewed before entering Pre-AP/Accelerated programs at Grade 6. 5. Is a record of the testing kept? Yes, GT specialists keep a record of the testing that has been completed at their campuses. Once students move up to the next campus level, the records are transferred. Students who withdraw from the district should request copies of the records, as they are only kept for three (3) years after the student leaves. 6. How many students are in the program? TISD’s GT program includes approximately 8% of the student population in the entire district. Whitney

CAMPUS SPECIALISTS Canyon Pointe Elementary – Lucia Harris Decker Prairie Elementary – Anne Smith Lakewood Elementary – Whitney Bilyeu Rosehill Elementary – Jennifer Bull Tomball Elementary – Kay Sitgreaves Willow Creek Elementary – Angeleen French Creekside Forest Elementary –Catherine Karamath

CAMPUS SPECIALISTS Northpointe Intermediate – Julie Bowles Tomball Intermediate – Stephanie Scott

CONTACT YOUR CAMPUS GT SPECIALIST Additional questions? CONTACT YOUR CAMPUS GT SPECIALIST