GIFTED AND ESOL? How could that be??

1. GIFTED AND ESOL?How could that be?? Finding the gifted ESOL student.

2. Gifted students are found in all groups: • Hispanic • Black • White • Asian • American Indian • Low Socio-economic • High Socio-economic • and ESOL

3. ESOL Students in Volusia County who are gifted: May receive both gifted and ESOL services. Have modifications, as needed, within the gifted classroom. Enjoy the rigor of an enriched curriculum that feeds their hungry mind.

4. How do we identify these students so that we may provide the services they need? • Researchers have found that gifted learners within different subgroups demonstrate their giftedness in a variety of ways. • If we look closely at the student, we may see those characteristics.

5. How do gifted ESOL students typically show their giftedness? • They tend to like older playmates.

6. They show rapid acquisition of English. Gifted ESOL students typically become conversant within 12-18 months of exposure to the new language. “Conversant” means oral language only. It does not refer to written work or FCAT scores.

7. Characteristics continued…. • They enjoy academic risk-taking. • They engage adults in lively conversation in both the native language and in English. • Many accept responsibilities at home, sometimes resulting in high absenteeism due to the responsibilities taken.

8. Many are STREETWISE: They show leadership within the school, family and/or community. Sometimes the leadership is of a positive nature, sometimes of a less positive manner.

9. Another characteristic: They exhibit alert curiosity, just like other gifted children.

10. They are independent of action in many ways and are anxious to do new things.

11. They are fluent in non-verbal communication.

12. They are imaginative and learn quickly through experience.

13. : They have varied interests and show great originality and creativity in their thinking.

14. They respond well to visual media.

15. They generally have a mature sense of humor, sometimes less appropriate for their own age group.

16. Last, but not least! They respond best to concrete, hands-on learning.

17. Many gifted ESOL students in Volusia County are economically disadvantaged. Many have high mathematical ability. Due to lack of language mastery, they develop their intellect in an area that requires less vocabulary mastery.

18. Are there other factors that effect the gifted ESOL student who is in a lower socio-economic situation? • Yes! • In a 2 ½ year study conducted by Betty Hart and Todd Risely in Kansas City, families living with the affects of poverty provide a markedly different language experience for their child.

19. Hourly word rates in families: • 616 words per hour in homes in poverty • 1,251 words per hour in working-class families • 2,153 words per hour in a professional family

20. What effect might poverty have on an ESOL child? • Poverty is a : DOUBLE-WHAMMY! • The student is learning a second language and less language is spoken.

21. It was discovered that the quality of the 616 words per minute in a home with lower socio-economic conditions is more command oriented. Typical language in a low-SES home: Typical language in a home of a professional: “How was your day?” “What do you think about that?” “Let’s try that and see what it tastes like!” “How does that compare to what you heard from the news report?” • “Sit down.” • “Go to bed.” • “Brush your teeth.” • “Be quiet.” • “Help me fold the clothes, please.”

22. What do I do if I find an ESOL student who may also be gifted? • Refer the student for gifted testing in collaboration with the guidance counselor at your school. Do not wait for language acquisition, as the sooner the student receives services, the better! • Do not “dismiss” the student from ESOL just because they may be going into a gifted classroom.

23. How is gifted eligibility established? • You and the guidance counselor will complete three documents to accompany the gifted referral. The documents are: • Parent Checklist (Spanish version available) • Gifted Characteristics Checklist (completed by YOU as the teacher) • Permission for testing (signed by the parent and also available in Spanish)

24. Where do I find the forms? • Gifted Services website has everything you need: • www.volusia.k12.fl.us/gifted • Click “Forms”. OR • Find Gifted Program on the Departments tab of the Volusia County Schools’ website.

25. Are ESOL students at a disadvantage for this process? • NO!! • Bilingual psychologists are available, when appropriate. • The State of Florida provides an alternative eligibility for ESOL students, called Plan B.

26. How does Plan B compare to Plan A? Plan A eligibility : Plan B eligibility: Student must demonstrate gifted characteristics. Student must demonstrate a need for additional services. Student must exhibit an I.Q. of one standard deviation above the norm or higher. (Minimum of 115) • Student must demonstrate gifted characteristics. • Student must demonstrate a need for additional services. • Student must exhibit an I.Q. of two standard deviations above the norm or higher. (130+)

27. Is it fair to change the I.Q. requirement for an ESOL student? • Yes! It is fair! • If a student who is learning in two languages can demonstrate an I.Q. that is a whole standard deviation above the norm, that student is genuinely gifted. This is NOT a lowering of the standards. This is equity!

28. Does a gifted ESOL student need any other supports? • YES! • Parents need to receive extensive information on the gifted program. • Students need assistance with feelings of being “caught” between developing an ethnic identity and participation in a gifted program. • Students need to be encouraged to participate in college.

29. Supports continued… • Parents and students need to understand and value professional lifestyles, values and goals. • Parents and students need to understand the importance of extracurricular activities, grades, courses taken and test scores. • Translation services for parent questions and school forms is important!

30. Does Volusia County Schools provide any other supports for gifted ESOL students? • Currently, a Task Force of teachers, social workers, community members, parents and the gifted specialist meets 3-4 times a year to discuss and implement strategies to increase identification of all groups of under-represented students, ESOL included.

31. What can a teacher or counselor do to support these learners? • Watch for the characteristics! • Follow-up with a referral for the gifted program. • Assist parents and the student to understand the significance of the student’s potential. • Provide supports for the student and family as the process proceeds and in the gifted program setting.

32. BE ON THE LOOK-OUT! You, too, can identify and support gifted ESOL students!