G.A.T.E.S.G.A.T.E.S.

Gifted and Talented Gifted and Talented Educational ServicesEducational Services

We believe that…We believe that… kids come first.kids come first. continuous improvement is critical for continuous improvement is critical for

success of the Northwest Independent success of the Northwest Independent School District.School District.

the success of each student is the shared the success of each student is the shared responsibility of students, families, schools responsibility of students, families, schools and communities.and communities.

environment influences learning.environment influences learning.

N.I.S.D. Core Beliefs

N.I.S.D. Vision StatementN.I.S.D. Vision Statement

The best and most sought-The best and most sought-after school district where after school district where every student is future ready: every student is future ready: Ready for college, Ready for Ready for college, Ready for the global workplace, Ready the global workplace, Ready for personal success for personal success

Advanced Academics Advanced Academics Vision StatementVision Statement

"The best and most sought "The best and most sought after Advanced Academics after Advanced Academics Program in Texas" Program in Texas"

District Advanced Academics District Advanced Academics Mission StatementMission Statement

The Advanced Academics The Advanced Academics Department, in partnership Department, in partnership with parents and community, with parents and community, will provide students a will provide students a premier education, preparing premier education, preparing them to be successful, them to be successful, productive citizens.productive citizens.

District Curriculum District Curriculum Philosophy Statement: Philosophy Statement:

The curriculum shall develop The curriculum shall develop students abilities to think critically, to students abilities to think critically, to communicate effectively, to reason, communicate effectively, to reason, to solve problems, to value diversity, to solve problems, to value diversity, to seek alternatives, and to learn to seek alternatives, and to learn ways to find answers to questions.ways to find answers to questions.

Defining GiftednessDefining Giftedness There are many definitions of the gifted. The There are many definitions of the gifted. The

federal definition has transformed over the federal definition has transformed over the years. The most recent definition that years. The most recent definition that appears in the No Child Left Behind Act appears in the No Child Left Behind Act states:states:““The term 'gifted and talented', when used The term 'gifted and talented', when used with respect to students, children, or youth, with respect to students, children, or youth, means students, children, or youth who give means students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity,or leadership capacity, or or in specific in specific academic fieldsacademic fields, and who need services or , and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided by the activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those school in order to fully develop those capabilities.” (Section 9101(22)) (Page 544)capabilities.” (Section 9101(22)) (Page 544) http://tip-web-tst.oit.duke.edu/index.htmlhttp://tip-web-tst.oit.duke.edu/index.html

At Northwest I.S.D., the education of At Northwest I.S.D., the education of identified elementary gifted students is identified elementary gifted students is based on these six areas of emphasis: based on these six areas of emphasis: Problem SolvingProblem SolvingCritical ThinkingCritical ThinkingCreative ThinkingCreative ThinkingResearch SkillsResearch SkillsIndependent LearningIndependent LearningCommunication Skills Communication Skills

Problem SolvingProblem Solving

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

Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking

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

Creative ThinkingCreative Thinking

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

Research SkillsResearch Skills

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

Independent LearningIndependent Learning

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

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

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

NISD GATES NISD GATES Progress ReportProgress Report

Gifted and Talented Educational Services Progress Report Student Name: Grade : Classroom Teacher: Campus: School Year: GATES Specialist:

4 = Advanced 3 = Competent 2 = Developing 1 = Beginning EXPECTATIONS 1st 6

Weeks 2nd 6 Weeks

3rd 6 Weeks

4th 6 Weeks

5th 6 Weeks

6th 6 Weeks

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

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

Creative Thinking Uses divergent thinking; sees things in new and different ways. Shows fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration in generating and presenting ideas.

Research Skills 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.

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

Communication Skills Communicates effectively; listens actively; participates effectively in a group.

Comments:

1st 6 Weeks 2nd 6 Weeks 3rd 6 Weeks 4th 6 Weeks 5th 6 Weeks 6th 6 Weeks

(Parent Copy) (2009)

GATES ProgramGATES Program

Service your GT children with a Service your GT children with a weekly pull out programweekly pull out program Minimum standard per week and Minimum standard per week and

Conceptual Lens/Units of Study:Conceptual Lens/Units of Study: K – 60 min K – 60 min WondersWonders 1 – 60 min 1 – 60 min Cultures Cultures 2 – 90 min 2 – 90 min Processes Processes 3 – 120 min 3 – 120 min StructuresStructures 4 – 150 min 4 – 150 min ChangeChange 5 – 150 min 5 – 150 min TrendsTrends

Ongoing Lessons Ongoing Lessons Throughout the YearThroughout the Year

• 16 Habits of Mind16 Habits of Mind• Creative and Future Problem SolvingCreative and Future Problem Solving• Problem Based LearningProblem Based Learning• Depth and Complexity- Digging Depth and Complexity- Digging

deeper into our learningdeeper into our learning• Research and Writing SkillsResearch and Writing Skills• Technology IntegrationTechnology Integration• Understanding Multiple IntelligencesUnderstanding Multiple Intelligences

G.A.T.E.S. Curriculum SnapshotG.A.T.E.S. Curriculum Snapshot

1st Grade 1st Grade

Good Stewards: Caring for the World Around Us Good Stewards: Caring for the World Around Us

First grade students will focus on how living things First grade students will focus on how living things depend on other living things and their non-living depend on other living things and their non-living surroundings in order to survive. Emphasis will be surroundings in order to survive. Emphasis will be placed on how we can make an impact and take placed on how we can make an impact and take

care of the world around uscare of the world around us

G.A.T.E.S. Curriculum SnapshotG.A.T.E.S. Curriculum Snapshot

2nd Grade 2nd Grade

Deductive ReasoningDeductive Reasoning

Students will be engaged in researching how Students will be engaged in researching how detectives use their inferencing skills to solve detectives use their inferencing skills to solve

problems. Using logic problems and scenarios, problems. Using logic problems and scenarios, students will learn how to deduce information in students will learn how to deduce information in

order to arrive at a solution. Students will use their order to arrive at a solution. Students will use their deductive skills to solve a mystery before developing deductive skills to solve a mystery before developing

their own mystery and finally, a mystery diorama. their own mystery and finally, a mystery diorama.

G.A.T.E.S. Curriculum SnapshotG.A.T.E.S. Curriculum Snapshot

3rd Grade3rd Grade

Engineering Engineering

Students will examine structures. These include Students will examine structures. These include bridges, tunnels, domes, skyscrapers, and even bridges, tunnels, domes, skyscrapers, and even roller coasters. They will explore ways in which roller coasters. They will explore ways in which

engineers use their knowledge to ensure a structure engineers use their knowledge to ensure a structure will be a success. Students will design, build, and will be a success. Students will design, build, and test structures using their problem solving skills to test structures using their problem solving skills to

find the best solution.find the best solution.

G.A.T.E.S. Curriculum SnapshotG.A.T.E.S. Curriculum Snapshot

4th Grade4th Grade

How Today Impacts Tomorrow- ArchaeologyHow Today Impacts Tomorrow- Archaeology

Students will develop an understanding of our past Students will develop an understanding of our past and the contributions made by our ancestors. They and the contributions made by our ancestors. They will explore how these contributions have shaped will explore how these contributions have shaped our world today. They will also have an opportunity our world today. They will also have an opportunity to look ahead to the future and explain what they to look ahead to the future and explain what they believe future generations will think and learn about believe future generations will think and learn about our lives today. Students will conduct in-depth our lives today. Students will conduct in-depth research and will create their own archaeological research and will create their own archaeological dig.dig.

G.A.T.E.S. Curriculum SnapshotG.A.T.E.S. Curriculum Snapshot

5th Grade5th Grade

Future TrendsFuture Trends

Fifth grade students will focus on Future Problem Fifth grade students will focus on Future Problem Solving. Various activities will give students the Solving. Various activities will give students the opportunity to identify significant problems and opportunity to identify significant problems and

develop new, innovative solutions. These problems develop new, innovative solutions. These problems will include, for example, climate change and areas of will include, for example, climate change and areas of

overpopulation. Continuing to focus on the future, overpopulation. Continuing to focus on the future, students will design and create a “smart clothes” students will design and create a “smart clothes” product with an emphasis on improving life today. product with an emphasis on improving life today.

The next step will be for students to create their own The next step will be for students to create their own business where they will sell their new product.business where they will sell their new product.

Bottom line…Bottom line…

We will make sure that gifted children’s We will make sure that gifted children’s needs are being addressed EVERY needs are being addressed EVERY DAY.DAY.

We will make sure that appropriate We will make sure that appropriate lessons (differentiated, tiered, lessons (differentiated, tiered, compacted, engaging, respectful tasks) compacted, engaging, respectful tasks) are provided.are provided.

We will challenge our gifted students We will challenge our gifted students with care, dignity and respect.with care, dignity and respect.

We will honor and cherish their We will honor and cherish their differences, from their classmates & differences, from their classmates & from each other.from each other.

We will NOT have a “One Size Fits All” We will NOT have a “One Size Fits All” program.program.

Other OpportunitiesOther Opportunities

Duke TIPDuke TIP Destination ImaginationDestination Imagination UILUIL TAGT website-student tab TAGT website-student tab

includes many games and includes many games and high interest activities in many high interest activities in many subject areassubject areas

Websites for Websites for Gifted ResourcesGifted Resources

www.sengifted.org

www.nagc.org

www.txgifted.org

www.bertiekingore.com

http://www.austega.com/gifted/characteristics.htm

Questions, answers, Questions, answers, concerns…concerns…

Thank you so much for Thank you so much for your valuable time!your valuable time!

Revised August 2009Revised August 2009