Gifted and Talented Gifted and Talented Educational ServicesEducational Services

Ms. Marissa Griffin BlattnerMs. Marissa Griffin Blattner

Gifted and Talented SpecialistGifted and Talented Specialist

mblattner@nisdtx.orgmblattner@nisdtx.org

817-215-0962817-215-0962

State Definition of GiftedState Definition of Gifted

““Gifted and talented student” means a child or youth who Gifted and talented student” means a child or youth who performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who:same age, experience, or environment and who:

(1) exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, (1) exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area;creative, or artistic area;

(2) possesses an unusual capacity for leadership; or(2) possesses an unusual capacity for leadership; or

(3) excels in a specific academic field.(3) excels in a specific academic field.

(Texas Education Code 29.121)(Texas Education Code 29.121)

NISD Core BeliefsNISD Core Beliefs

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.

District Advanced Academics District Advanced Academics Mission StatementMission Statement

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

In the Northwest Independent School District, the In the Northwest Independent School District, the Advanced Academics Department provides direction Advanced Academics Department provides direction and leadership to K-12 advanced academics and leadership to K-12 advanced academics programs. The Advanced Academic services programs. The Advanced Academic services provide support for the multi-faceted gifted provide support for the multi-faceted gifted education programs which include: Gifted and education programs which include: Gifted and Talented Program Education Services (GATES), Talented Program Education Services (GATES), Advanced Placement (AP), and Pre-Advanced Advanced Placement (AP), and Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) classes, UIL activities, Placement (Pre-AP) classes, UIL activities, Academic Decathlon, and Destination Imagination.Academic Decathlon, and Destination Imagination.

Advanced Academics Website:Advanced Academics Website:http://www.nisdtx.org/Page/519http://www.nisdtx.org/Page/519

GATES VisionGATES Vision

The best and most sought-after The best and most sought-after advanced academics program in advanced academics program in Texas where every student is Texas where every student is future ready: future ready:

Ready for CollegeReady for College Ready for the Global WorkplaceReady for the Global Workplace Ready for Personal SuccessReady for Personal Success

NISD QualificationsNISD Qualifications

Minimum of 3 Criteria for Minimum of 3 Criteria for Quantitative DataQuantitative Data CogAT and/or Naglieri, and ITBSCogAT and/or Naglieri, and ITBS

Minimum of 2 Criteria for Minimum of 2 Criteria for Qualitative DataQualitative Data Kingore Observation Inventory Kingore Observation Inventory

(KOI), Gifted and Talented (KOI), Gifted and Talented Education Scale, Slocumb/Payne, Education Scale, Slocumb/Payne, NISD Parent Checklist, student NISD Parent Checklist, student work sampleswork samples

State Goal for Services for Gifted/Talented Students:

Students who participate in services designed for gifted/talented 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… 

GOAL STATEMENTSGOAL STATEMENTS

To provide differentiated To provide differentiated educational services promoting educational services promoting critical and creative thinking critical and creative thinking skills.skills.

To engage students in an To engage students in an academically challenging and academically challenging and motivating program.motivating program.

GOAL STATEMENTSGOAL STATEMENTS

To identify and implement best To identify and implement best practices in teaching gifted practices in teaching gifted students.students.

To support the needs of highly To support the needs of highly able students by providing able students by providing training for teachers.training for teachers.

District Curriculum District Curriculum Philosophy StatementPhilosophy Statement

At Northwest I.S.D., the At Northwest I.S.D., the education of identified gifted education of identified gifted students is based on the students is based on the following six areas of following six areas of emphasis:emphasis: Problem Solving Problem Solving Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking Creative ThinkingCreative Thinking Research SkillsResearch Skills Independent LearningIndependent Learning Communication SkillsCommunication SkillsRevised August 2013Revised August 2013

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 The student demonstrates skills of complex thinking; skills of complex thinking; sees relationships; examines sees relationships; examines facts and variables; makes facts 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 thinking; sees things in new and different ways. The student and 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 evaluates/synthesizes collected information; collected information; purposefully organizes and purposefully organizes and presents ideas/conclusions.presents 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 Progress NISD GATES Progress ReportReport

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)

Revised August 2013Revised August 2013

Ongoing Lessons Throughout the YearOngoing Lessons Throughout the Year• Vocabulary Integration-Vocabulary Integration-(PSAT and SAT Prep! It is (PSAT and SAT Prep! It is

never too early!)never too early!)• 16 Habits of Mind/Scholarly Behaviors-16 Habits of Mind/Scholarly Behaviors-The skills, The skills,

behaviors and attitudes that effective learners use behaviors and attitudes that effective learners use with dealing with new learning problems. with dealing with new learning problems.

• 11 Depth and Complexity Icons 11 Depth and Complexity Icons -Going deeper into -Going deeper into our thinking and questioning!our thinking and questioning!

• Research and Writing SkillsResearch and Writing Skills• Technology IntegrationTechnology Integration-iPads and Netbooks, -iPads and Netbooks,

Raspberry Pi, Lego Robotix, etc. Raspberry Pi, Lego Robotix, etc. • Six Thinking Hats Six Thinking Hats -Encourages thinking in colorful -Encourages thinking in colorful

ways! ways! • Creative/Future Problem Solving Skills-Creative/Future Problem Solving Skills-We want our We want our

students to be future ready!students to be future ready!• Problem Based Learning and the Engineering Problem Based Learning and the Engineering

Design Process-Design Process-Real World ApplicationsReal World Applications• Creative Thinking Skills-Creative Thinking Skills-(FFOE-Fluency, Flexibility, (FFOE-Fluency, Flexibility,

Originality and Elaboration) Originality and Elaboration)

KindergartenKindergarten

Fall (Sept.–Dec.)Fall (Sept.–Dec.)

-Ongoing whole classroom weekly critical -Ongoing whole classroom weekly critical and creative thinking lessons, including and creative thinking lessons, including lessons to screen for potential GT studentslessons to screen for potential GT students

Jan.-Feb.Jan.-Feb.

-GT testing for nominated students-GT testing for nominated students Spring (March-May)Spring (March-May)

-Critical and Creative thinking skills lessons -Critical and Creative thinking skills lessons for identified GT students for identified GT students

11stst and 2 and 2ndnd Grade Grade

Stewardship in the Global World / Global Extremes with STEAMOver the course of two years, students and specialists will travel through the continents using the lens of various kinds of engineers to solve problems within those continents.  By the end of second grade, students will work collaboratively to create a story about surviving in an extreme environment of their choice for a theatrical performance.  Students will create an environmental set and props with specific requirements (extreme gear with simple machine elements) to aide in their survival for the performance.

33rdrd Grade Grade

Natural and Man-Made Global Structures Over the course of the year, third grade students and specialists will identify and analyze structures in their world (manmade and natural). Structures include anything made to hold a load and to stay in place – buildings, bridges, roads, play structures, etc.  They have a supporting framework, form (size and shape) and function (purpose).

Students will engage in a hands-on, open-ended engineering design activities to deepen their understanding of strong and stable structures.

4th Grade4th Grade

Archaeology and Ancient Global Civilizations

Students will develop an understanding of our past and the contributions made by ancient civilizations. They will explore how these contributions have shaped our world today and apply their knowledge to work as teams of engineers to design and create a “civilized” theme park.

55thth Grade Grade

Global Philanthropy and Entrepreneurship

By the end of fifth grade, students will choose to work individually or collaboratively to create a marketable product designed to address a global issue with the potential to impact current and future civilizations.  Students will research their chosen issue, design and test their invented solution, and develop a presentation aimed at marketing their product and appealing to investors.  Emphasis on philanthropy and entrepreneurship is key. Unit includes a study on Da Vinci and The Passion Project.

Websites for Gifted ResourcesWebsites for Gifted Resources

www.sengifted.orgwww.sengifted.orgwww.nagc.orgwww.nagc.orgwww.txgifted.orgwww.txgifted.orgwww.bertiekingore.comwww.bertiekingore.com

Visit my webpage for more…Visit my webpage for more…http://www.nisdtx.org/Domain/1222http://www.nisdtx.org/Domain/1222

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 DAY.needs are being addressed EVERY DAY.

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

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

We will honor and cherish their differences, We will honor and cherish their differences, from their classmates & from each other.from their classmates & 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 TIP-4Duke TIP-4thth and 5 and 5thth only only Rising Stars Destination Imagination-K-2Rising Stars Destination Imagination-K-2ndnd

Destination Imagination-3rd-5thDestination Imagination-3rd-5th UIL-2UIL-2ndnd-5-5thth Campus Clubs Campus Clubs Artistic Contests-PTA Reflections, NISD Holiday Greeting Artistic Contests-PTA Reflections, NISD Holiday Greeting

Card, Art ShowCard, Art Show District Events-Night of No Limits, TechnoExpoDistrict Events-Night of No Limits, TechnoExpo Community/Summer Opportunities-Community link on Community/Summer Opportunities-Community link on

NISD websiteNISD website

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

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