1. W HAT IS “G ATE T EN ”? Who is it for? How do they get in? (Qualify) What do they do?

2. Lovejoy Gifted Association The LGA is a not-for-profit advocacy group for all gifted children in Lovejoy ISD. Membership is open to all persons interested in the mission of the organization. Academic Enrichment: http://www.lovejoyisd.net/MP.cfm?P=6566

3. I NTRODUCTIONS Leslie O’Daniel – Elementary GT Coordinator Shelley Cano – GT Teacher, Lovejoy & Hart Elementary Melinda Hervey - GT Teacher, Puster & Lovejoy Elementary

4. J UST SMART OR GIFTED ? What’s the difference? Who is it for?

5. G IFTED OR J UST S MART ? Questioning Style Very Smart – ask questions that have answers Gifted – ask questions about abstract ideas, concepts, and theories without easy answers. Learning speed and application of concepts Very Smart – learn in a step-by-step fashion until they grasp a concept Gifted – jump over steps and move quickly to concept understanding; do not like reconstructing steps

6. G IFTED OR J UST S MART ? Emotional Outlook Very Smart – show emotion but can get over an upsetting incident fairly easily Gifted – Experience heightened, all-consuming emotions and have difficulty getting over an upsetting incident Level of Interest Very Smart – Curious about a wide variety of things Gifted – Show intense curiosity about nearly everything or immerse themselves in a topic of current interest.

7. G IFTED OR J UST S MART ? Language Ability Very Smart – Learn new vocabulary easily but use words in speech typical for their age Gifted – Use extensive and advanced vocabularies, understand verbal nuances, enjoy puns and word play, often talk over the heads of their age peers Concern with Fairness Very Smart – State firm opinions about fairness but in personal terms Gifted – Show intense concern about fairness and equity, typically on a more global scale

8. H OW DO THEY QUALIFY ? Five assessment measures 3 objective and 2 subjective 96% National Percentile Rank Cross District Line on 4 of 5 measures (categories) to be considered

9. H OW DO THEY QUALIFY ? Subjective Measures Observations of Parents Observations of Teachers

10. H OW DO THEY QUALIFY ? Objective Measures  Screening Phase Reasoning Assessment  All Kindergarten students  In Kindergarten classroom with the GT teacher and Kindergarten teacher. Possible Tests that we will use: - WISC-III - CogAT NonVerbal - NNAT2 - OLSAT

11. E XAMPLE Q UESTION FROM A REASONING TEST ?

12. H OW DO THEY QUALIFY ? Objective Measures continued Small group ~ during January and February Aptitude Assessment – CogAT, SAT, WIS-III, WIAT, etc. Achievement Assessment – Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), Standford Achievement Test, ACT, ITED, etc.

13. H OW DO THEY QUALIFY ? Identification Profile Reasoning Teacher Checklist Parent Letter Kindergarten Abilities Test Kindergarten Achievement Test

14. P ROFILE S HEET Category 1 – Aptitude Verbal - 85 Quantitative - 90 Category 2 - Achievement Reading - 96 Math - 88 Category 3 - Reasoning - 85 Category 4 - Parent Recommendation – 96 Category 5 - Teacher Recommendation - 96 Student A’s ProfileDecision: NO

15. P ROFILE S HEET S AMPLE 2 Category 1 - Aptitude Verbal - 98 Quantitative - 90 Category 2 - Achievement Reading - 96 Math - 98 Category 3 - Reasoning - 85 Category 4 - Parent Recommendation – 96 Category 5 - Teacher Recommendation - 96 Student BDecision: YES

16. H OW DO THEY QUALIFY ? All K students take Reasoning test Parents may refer a student for further assessment Based on these scores, & teacher observations, additional referrals for further assessment may be made Additional assessments will be administered, scored & plotted on the Identification Profile Gate Ten Selection Committee will convene to make placement decisions Parents will be notified

17. W HAT DO THEY DO ? If student qualifies Begins Pull Out by March 1 st (This year the week of February 24 th.) The students who have qualified for GATE 10 services leave their homeroom teacher and come into the GATE 10 classroom for the lesson. Will attend 90 minutes each week (could be in two sessions, rather than one long session)

18. W HAT DO THEY DO ? Emphasis on higher level thinking skills Emphasis on product-oriented learning to develop creativity Develop decision-making and problem solving Provide for emotional growth K-2 Program Goals

19. W HAT DO THEY DO ? Curriculum includes: advanced levels of creative & critical thinking, group dynamics & independent study, research skills, problem solving, oral & written communication skills, and decision making

20. W HAT DO THEY DO ? Brainteasers Logical Thinking Activity/Journal Activities Deductive Reasoning Activities Wonders Unit

21. W HAT DO THEY DO ? If student does not qualify Weekly in-class lessons will continue Center activities Enrichment activities

22. W HERE DO I GET THE PAPERWORK TO REFER MY CHILD ? The referral is due on Friday, January 10 th by 4:00 p.m. www.lovejoyisd.net Departments Gifted & Talented Services Forms ~ K-5 Referral Permission for Testing

23. QUESTIONS & ANSWERS For additional questions, please contact: Leslie O’Daniel leslie_o’daniel@lovejoyisd.net