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

STUDENTSIntellectual 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

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).

CURRICULAR INTERVENTIONElementary Level

GT teacher/specialist collaboration Differentiated curriculum

Special math groupsSpecial literature groups (problems/solutions in literature)

Enrichment/Extension Labs and WorkstationsSelf-selected research (PSP)Academic competition opportunities

CURRICULAR INTERVENTIONIntermediate Level

GT teacher/specialist collaborationAccelerationPre-APPerformance Standard Project

CURRICULAR INTERVENTION

Junior HighAdvanced classesDifferentiated InstructionPre-AP

High SchoolAdvanced PlacementDual Credit

UILDestination ImaginationChess ClubHonor ChoirCamp InventionContinental Math LeagueScrabble Club

DramaFine ArtsScholastic WritingScience FairVideo AnnouncementsClubs (Thinking Games)

EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES(Campus Specific)

IDENTIFYING THE GIFTED

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.

Objective Measures Subjective Measures

AbilityIndex

Achievement(Percentile Scores)

Observation Inventories Portfolio (optional) Creativity (optional)

Olsat / Naglieri

Reading Math ScienceSocial

StudiesParent Teacher

Criteria 128+ 95+ 95+ 95+ 95+

Student Score

Criteria Met

Tomball ISD Scoring Matrix for GT TestingWhere applicable, table shows minimum score for entering the program.

T.I.S.D. COMMITMENT

The Tomball Independent School District GT Program is aligned with the Texas

State Plan for the Gifted.

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TISD is committed to providing opportunities for students to showcase

their talents.

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TISD is committed to meeting the academic and affective needs of gifted

students from K-12.

FAQs1.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.

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