Gifted Awareness

1
Gifted Awareness

• Concord Elementary School
• Seattle Public Schools 2007-2008

2
Purpose

• Ensure that all staff members understand the
  importance of gifted education at Concord
• Increase staff knowledge of gifted education
• Understand that it is your responsibility to
  nominate students you think may qualify for the
  GT program
• Look closely at the common characteristics of
  gifted students, so to make an informed decision

3
Why the Gifted Program?

• Survey results show that each teacher at Concord
  has at least one child in the classroom who may
  be gifted. Thats at least 54 students that are
  not being served.
• NCLB mandates that we serve students of all
  ability levels
• Having the program will retain the gifted
  learners at our school and may increase
  enrollment if families from other schools know of
  our service (!)

4
Why the Gifted Program?

• Having student pull-outs or in-class support for
  GT students will help give teachers more time to
  better differentiate and serve the on-level and
  at-risk students.
• GT students need this service to be successful.
  The risk of not having it include low student
  performance behavior issues.

5
Program Characteristics

• Must provide challenging and learning experiences
• Must lead to advanced products and performances
• Give students opportunities for advancement in
  later years
• Must be open to ALL students!
• Must be taught by a staff with an endorsement in
  Gifted/Talented
• Must be evaluated annually by the district

6
Characteristics of Gifted Children

• Very high level readers with extensive vocabulary
• Learn faster than regular students
• Ask high level questions
• Very creative
• Relate well with intellectual peers (older kids
  or adults)
• Very curious, like to research
• May show signs of eccentricity

7
Evaluation

• The program will be evaluated annually at both
  the campus and district level to assess if
• the students performing at their levels?
• Students are being challenged? Are they involved?
• Is the campus providing adequate service to fit
  the students needs?

8
Responsibility

• Teachers recognize the signs of giftedness and
  fill out the nomination form so students can get
  tested
• Inform parents that their child is nominated and
  get consent forms
• Provide differentiated, challenging instructions
  for students who are identified as gifted in your
  classroom