Understanding Gate Ten: Gifted Education in Lovejoy ISD

1. What is “Gate Ten”? Who is it for? How do they get in? (Qualify) What do they do?

2. Lovejoy Gifted Association • The LGA is a not-for-profit advocacy group for all gifted children in Lovejoy ISD. Membership is open to all persons interested in the mission of the organization. • Academic Enrichment: http://www.lovejoyisd.net/MP.cfm?P=6566

3. Introductions • Leslie O’Daniel – Elementary GT Coordinator • Shelley Cano – GT Teacher, Lovejoy & Hart Elementary • Melinda Hervey - GT Teacher, Puster & Lovejoy Elementary

4. Who is it for? Just smart or GIFTED? What’s the difference?

5. Gifted or Just Smart? Questioning Style Very Smart – ask questions that have answers Gifted – ask questions about abstract ideas, concepts, and theories without easy answers. Learning speed and application of concepts Very Smart – learn in a step-by-step fashion until they grasp a concept Gifted – jump over steps and move quickly to concept understanding; do not like reconstructing steps

6. Gifted or Just Smart? Emotional Outlook Very Smart – show emotion but can get over an upsetting incident fairly easily Gifted – Experience heightened, all-consuming emotions and have difficulty getting over an upsetting incident Level of Interest Very Smart – Curious about a wide variety of things Gifted – Show intense curiosity about nearly everything or immerse themselves in a topic of current interest.

7. Gifted or Just Smart? Language Ability Very Smart – Learn new vocabulary easily but use words in speech typical for their age Gifted – Use extensive and advanced vocabularies, understand verbal nuances, enjoy puns and word play, often talk over the heads of their age peers Concern with Fairness Very Smart – State firm opinions about fairness but in personal terms Gifted – Show intense concern about fairness and equity, typically on a more global scale

8. How do they qualify? • Five assessment measures • 3 objective and 2 subjective • 96% National Percentile Rank • Cross District Line on 4 of 5 measures (categories) to be considered

9. How do they qualify? • Subjective Measures • Observations of Parents • Observations of Teachers

10. How do they qualify? • Objective Measures • Screening Phase • Reasoning Assessment • All Kindergarten students • In Kindergarten classroom with the GT teacher and Kindergarten teacher. Possible Tests that we will use: • WISC-III • CogAT NonVerbal • NNAT2 • OLSAT

11. Example Question from a reasoning test ?

12. How do they qualify? • Objective Measures continued Small group ~ during January and February • Aptitude Assessment – CogAT, SAT, WIS-III, WIAT, etc. • Achievement Assessment – Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), Standford Achievement Test, ACT, ITED, etc.

13. How do they qualify? • Identification Profile • Reasoning • Teacher Checklist • Parent Letter • Kindergarten Abilities Test • Kindergarten Achievement Test

14. Profile Sheet Student A’s Profile Decision: NO • Category 1 – Aptitude • Verbal - 85 • Quantitative - 90 • Category 2 - Achievement • Reading - 96 • Math - 88 • Category 3 - Reasoning - 85 • Category 4 - Parent Recommendation – 96 • Category 5 - Teacher Recommendation - 96

15. Profile Sheet Sample 2 Student B Decision: YES • Category 1 - Aptitude • Verbal - 98 • Quantitative - 90 • Category 2 - Achievement • Reading - 96 • Math - 98 • Category 3 - Reasoning - 85 • Category 4 - Parent Recommendation – 96 • Category 5 - Teacher Recommendation - 96

16. How do they qualify? • All K students take Reasoning test • Parents may refer a student for further assessment • Based on these scores, & teacher observations, additional referrals for further assessment may be made • Additional assessments will be administered, scored & plotted on the Identification Profile • Gate Ten Selection Committee will convene to make placement decisions • Parents will be notified

17. What do they do? • If student qualifies • Begins Pull Out by March 1st (This year the week of February 24th.) • The students who have qualified for GATE 10 services leave their homeroom teacher and come into the GATE 10 classroom for the lesson. • Will attend 90 minutes each week (could be in two sessions, rather than one long session)

18. What do they do? K-2 Program Goals • Emphasis on higher level thinking skills • Emphasis on product-oriented learning to develop creativity • Develop decision-making and problem solving • Provide for emotional growth

19. What do they do? Curriculum includes: • advanced levels of creative & critical thinking, • group dynamics & independent study, • research skills, • problem solving, • oral & written communication skills, and • decision making

20. What do they do? • Brainteasers • Logical Thinking Activity/Journal Activities • Deductive Reasoning Activities • Wonders Unit

21. What do they do? • If student does not qualify • Weekly in-class lessons will continue • Center activities • Enrichment activities

22. Where do I get the paperwork to refer my child? The referral is due on Friday, January 10thby 4:00 p.m. • www.lovejoyisd.net • Departments • Gifted & Talented Services • Forms ~ • K-5 Referral • Permission for Testing

23. QUESTIONS & ANSWERS For additional questions, please contact: Leslie O’Daniel leslie_o’daniel@lovejoyisd.net