West Point Elementary School Gifted Program

Is for children in grades 1-4 who meet the DoDEA standards for Gifted Education

Guidelines for Interpreting Student Assessments

Indicators of Highly Unusual Ability/Performance

The following guidelines have been developed to assist Gifted Review Committee members in making eligibility decisions. The committee must consider multiple indicators. No single test score may be used alone when determining eligibility for Gifted Ed services.

Eligible students demonstrate more than one of the following indicators:

•  Qualitative data (observations, anecdotal evidence, narratives, interviews) indicative of highly unusual ability or achievement

•  A total battery score at or above 97 th percentile on a nationally normed achievement test such as the TerraNova , IOWA , Stanford Achievement

•  A total score at or above 96 th percentile on an ability test such as the Naglieri or InView

•  An average rating scale score of 40 or higher from two or more educator raters combined with specific evidence in written narratives

•  Very strong indicators of gifted behaviors

•  An IQ score of 130 or higher on an individual psychological (IQ test) – this is only administered when clarification is needed

Children are screened according to DoDEA guidelines

Referral for the evaluation of Gifted Ed services will be accepted as follows:

•  All new students entering West Point Elementary School from another DoDEA school will automatically receive Gifted Ed services

•  All new students entering West Point Elementary School from a non-DoDEA school having received Gifted Ed services will be evaluated following the DoDEA guidelines. This evaluation will take place during the first grading period and a determination of eligibility will be made at the end of the grading period.

•  At the beginning of the school year no new referrals will be accepted until six weeks of school have passed and determination of eligibility will be made after the first grading period.

•  Any new students entering West Point Elementary School after the start of the school year may make referrals for Gifted Ed services after being enrolled for six weeks with a determination for eligibility of services within one month from date of referral.

Gifted Education Services available:

•  Program services are primarily differentiation of curriculum, content and instruction provided in the classroom by the classroom teacher with support from the Gifted Resource Teacher and not always a pullout program to the Gifted Resource room.

•  Pullout to the Gifted Resource room is a program option only if the student demonstrates that even with classroom differentiation the student requires more support to have his unique educational needs met.

•  There is some co-teaching between the classroom and Gifted Resource Teacher.

•  Children may be provided with grade acceleration for a subject as it is deemed appropriate. Each child is considered for this on an individual basis.

To continue receiving Gifted Ed Services:

•  Within the Gifted Resource room children work on independent activities based on interests, talents, and individual strengths. Students are given responsibility for what they are learning, how they are learning and how they will demonstrate their learning. The gifted teacher facilitates the learning and ensures that the activities meet the students' needs and the DoDEA standards

•  Students must maintain regular classroom class work

•  Students must maintain Gifted Ed Resource room work

•  Student performance in the gifted program is evaluated at the end of the school year using a rubric created by the Gifted Resource teacher based on the DoDEA criteria of giftedness

Things to keep in mind:

• Is not called “TAG”……………………..Is called “Gifted Education Services”
• Children are not “labeled” gifted…….. Children are identified as “in need of Gifted Ed Services”
• It is the role of the classroom teacher to meet the needs of children identified as needing Gifted Ed services………..The Gifted Ed Resource teacher supports the student and the classroom teacher
• Differentiation will be provided in the classroom for children identified as needing Gifted Ed services……………The Gifted Ed Resource teacher will act as a resource to classroom teachers for differentiation

Components of the West Point Elementary School Gifted Education Program

Within the DoDEA Gifted Education Standards for Curriculum and Instruction some of the following things are provided:

1. Differentiation, modification or supplementation of curriculum goals for advanced content and process goals.
2. Differentiation of instructional strategies.
3. Opportunities for project-based learning, critical thinking, leadership and problem solving.
4. Flexible instructional pacing.
5. Alternative educational opportunities when mastery of regular curriculum is demonstrated.(curriculum compacting)

West Point Elementary School Gifted Education Resource Room Activities

Activities in the gifted program at the grades 2-4 level are designed based on student strengths, needs and interests. Upon entering the program students complete a strength and interest survey. The students and the gifted ed teacher then meet to review the survey. Together the students and teacher decide as a group the theme they will work on. Themed units may incorporate several of the following:

-research
-dioramas
-report writing
-science experimentation
-story writing
-problem solving
-interactive projects
-posters
-technology projects
-internet projects
-use of computer software for creative thinking and problem solving
-math activities
-other computer programs such as: Power Point, Word, KidPix4, Kidspiration, Inspiration, MediaWeaver

Activities and projects for students in grade K-1 are more teacher directed with some independence. These activities are also theme based and may include:

-beginning research skills
-graphing
-posters
-math/problems solving games
-thinking skills activities/computer software
-beginning internet and technology projects
-reading/writing