Fall 2013

1. Fall 2013 Elementary Gifted and Talented Services Round Rock ISD

2. Students in need of gifted services have trouble fitting in because they are able to learn more or at a faster pace than most of their age peers. Some may be physically or learning disabled, some have divergent learning styles, and some have emotional or social problems. Some may be a year ahead of their age peers in a particular subject, others may be four or five years ahead. Some may make straight A's and others may struggle in the class. Awareness of individual differences is necessary so that students needing gifted services can be identified and have their unique needs addressed. What is Giftedness?

3. Academic potential is not the only aspect of giftedness; there are social and emotional aspects, including those associated with fitting in with peers and experiencing life in different ways.

4. To capture these aspects, Dr. Martha Morelock, a psychologist in Tennessee, co-developed the following definition of giftedness: "Giftedness is asynchronous development in which advanced cognitive abilities and heightened intensity combine to create inner experiences and awareness that are qualitatively different from the norm. This asynchrony increases with higher intellectual capacity. The uniqueness of the gifted renders them particularly vulnerable and requires modifications in parenting, teaching and counseling in order for them to develop optimally."

5. Identifying characteristics and behavior A student needing gifted services may have several, but usually not all, of the following characteristics: • Many times students learn to hide these traits to please teachers or parents, or to fit in with other children. • Some characteristics may be masked by mild learning disabilities, which is why appropriate assessment is so important -- it can reveal hidden intellectual abilities and deficiencies that informal observation can miss.

6. Differences between the Sexes Girl • She likes school • Likes her teachers • Regularly reads news, magazines, and other non-required reading • She is active in drama and musical productions • Does not go out on dates often • Is a daydreamer Boy • He dislikes school • Dislikes his teachers and thinks they’re uninteresting • Does bare minimum to get by in homework • Dislikes P.E. and seldom engages in sports • Regarded as radical or unconventional • Often wants to pursue his own interests Reference: Growing Up Gifted: Developing the Potential of Children at School and at Home (8th Edition; April 2012, Pearson), by Dr. Barbara Clark

7. Characteristics of a Gifted Child • Verbal Proficiency • Intellectual Curiosity • Retentiveness/Power of Concentration • Independence/Goal Directed • Power of Critical Thinking • Sensitivity/Intuitiveness • Potential for Creativity • Versatility/Virtuosity

8. Characteristics of a Gifted Child • Extraordinary memory • Excellent sense of humor • Poor attention, boredom and daydreaming but long attention span when involved in something • Wide range of interests • Extended general knowledge • Perfectionism

9. Characteristics of a Gifted Child • Strong opinions • Leadership ability • Questioning rules, customs and traditions • Abstract reasoning and problem-solving skills • Vivid imagination • Sensitivity and compassion - easily disturbed by news reports

10. Being a student who needs gifted services isn’t always a bowl of cherries. Gifted kids are often misunderstood by their teachers, classmates, and even their parents! To help better understand the gifted child, here are some surprising myths and truths about gifted children.

11. Myths • Gifted kids can accomplish anything they put their minds to, they just have to apply themselves.  • Gifted kids have fewer problems than others; they do not need or deserve extra time and attention.  • Gifted kids are self-directed; they know where they are heading. Gifted underachievers just need to try harder and get organized. 

12. Myths • Gifted kids need to serve as examples to others and they should always assume extra responsibility or tutor struggling peers.  • All gifted kids are high achievers; they don't have to work for grades.  • Gifted kids don’t need help with study skills, they can manage on their own. • Skipping grades usually harms a child emotionally.

13. Truths • Gifted kids are often perfectionistic and idealistic and may equate achievement and grades with self-esteem and self-worth. This can lead to fear of failure and can interfere with their achievement in and out of school. • The social and emotional development of a gifted child may not be at the same level as their intellectual development. • Gifted kids may experience heightened sensitivity to their own expectations and those of others, producing constant guilt over achievements or grades perceived to be low. http://giftedtn.org/characteristics.htm Adapted from College Planning for Gifted Students, 2nd edition, by Sandra Berger.

14. Truths • Some gifted kids are “mappers” (sequential learners), while others are “leapers” (spatial learners). Leapers often can’t say how they got a “right answer.” Mappers may get lost in the steps leading to the right answer. • Gifted kids may be so far ahead of their chronological age mates that they know more than half the curriculum before the school year begins! Their boredom can result in low achievement and grades. • In school, gifted kids may need real problems to work on in order to achieve at high levels. Gifted students often refuse to work for grades alone. http://giftedtn.org/characteristics.htm Adapted from College Planning for Gifted Students, 2nd edition, by Sandra Berger.

15. Truths • Gifted kids often think abstractly and with such complexity that they may need help with study and test taking skills. They can justify all the answers in a multiple choice question, or skip reading test instructions because they are impatient. • Gifted kids who do well in school may define success as getting an "A" and failure as any grade less than an "A." By early adolescence they may be unwilling to try anything where they are not certain of guaranteed success. • Research has shown that skipping a grade usually improves a child's self-esteem if they are academically ready. http://giftedtn.org/characteristics.htm Adapted from College Planning for Gifted Students, 2nd edition, by Sandra Berger.

16. What are RRISD’s Talented and Gifted Services? Thinking Skills: Develop higher level, more complex thinking skills. Subject Matter Knowledge and Skills: Study advanced-level content and master the major concepts, skills, and processes of specific disciplines in which they demonstrate ability. Research and Independent Study Skills: Skills necessary for self-directed learning, conduct independent studies, research projects. Self-Concept and Leadership

17. Campus Gifted Services Include: • Academic classes/ Resource rooms • Special enrichment classes • Cluster grouping • Full-time gifted services • Mentoring • Acceleration • Curriculum compacting • Flexible ability grouping • Independent study • Cooperative learning • Academic competition

18. How Are Children Identified? Screening Measures Used To Identify Students Who Will Be Successful In RRISD’s TAG Services: • Abilities/Aptitude Tests • Achievement Tests • Non-verbal reasoning tests • Behavior checklists completed by teachers and parents that identify observed characteristics of gifted children • Other measures comparable to those listed above

20. Ask Parents to consider..... • Maturity of the child (especially for primary) • Learning style (self-directed, able to handle open ended tasks and long range planning, responsible and motivated) • Length of testing (especially for younger children, 6-8 hour process) • Nationally-normed tests scores are valid for 2 years. If a child tests in kindergarten, s/he must wait until second grade to test again.

21. What can teachers do? Keep an inventory of gifted traits.Maintain a portfolio of student’s work.Ask the TAG specialist to observe the student in the regular classroom.

22. What can teachers do? When discussing TAG screening with parents, please do not tell parents, “Your child is gifted”. Instead, share that their child shows some characteristics commonly associated with giftedness and the OLSAT indicates that he/she should be tested to find out more information. As a rule of thumb, the OLSAT score is a good place to start, but it does not paint the full picture of the student.

23. What can teachers do? For K – 1 students, you will not have the OLSAT. This is one of the reasons we discourage parents from screening students before 2nd grade. Also, the tests are long and require a long attention span. Most students in this age group are not able to stay focused long enough to complete the test. However, if a student clearly exhibits gifted characteristics, they should be screened for services.

24. What can teachers do? For 3rd grade, check the OLSAT score before conferences. If a parent asks for your opinion about having a student tested, you can respond with whether the OLSAT score indicates the child is within the local norm range (typically at an SAI of 125 or above) or not. This may be a good indicator whether or not a child will qualify for TAG services, but it is not the sole indicator, especially for students from traditionally underrepresented populations.

25. Important Dates

26. Referral Form • Complete All Information • Sign and Date • Due: Friday, December 6, 2013 December 6. 2013

27. Parent/Guardian Permission to Test December 6, 2013 • Sign and Date • Due: Friday, December 6, 2013

28. In Conclusion: The goal of Round Rock ISD TAG services is to provide appropriate educational interventions to students identified as needing gifted and talented services. Michelle Swain Director of Gifted and Advanced Academic Services

29. For More Information… www.roundrockisd.org Select Academics Select Gifted and Advanced Academic Services Michelle Swain, Director, Gifted and Advanced Academic Services, 464-5023 Nicole Shannon Coordinator, Gifted and Advanced Academic Services, 464-5925 Lisa Ramirez Administrative Associate, Gifted and Advanced Academic Services, 464-5104