BISD Elementary Gifted BISD Elementary Gifted and Talented Programand Talented Program

State Definition of GiftedState Definition of Gifted

““Gifted and talented student” means a child or youth Gifted and talented student” means a child or youth who performs at or shows the potential for performing who performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who:environment and who:

(1) exhibits high performance capability in an (1) exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area;intellectual, creative, or artistic area;

(2) possesses an unusual capacity for leadership; (2) possesses an unusual capacity for leadership; oror

(3) excels in a specific academic field.(3) excels in a specific academic field.

(Texas Education Code 29.121)(Texas Education Code 29.121)

Elementary Gifted and Elementary Gifted and Talented Mission StatementTalented Mission Statement

Birdville ISD offers an advanced and challenging Birdville ISD offers an advanced and challenging curriculum through an array of differentiated learning curriculum through an array of differentiated learning experiences that provide greater depth and experiences that provide greater depth and complexity than found in the district’s core complexity than found in the district’s core curriculum. The differentiated curriculum moves at a curriculum. The differentiated curriculum moves at a pace of learning that is appropriate for the gifts and pace of learning that is appropriate for the gifts and talents of the students identified for services. talents of the students identified for services. Birdville ISD meets and strives to exceed the State Birdville ISD meets and strives to exceed the State Plan for the Education of the Gifted/Talented (2009) Plan for the Education of the Gifted/Talented (2009) (State Plan) in order to develop students of character (State Plan) in order to develop students of character who are inspired and equipped for high academic who are inspired and equipped for high academic excellence at local, state, and national levels. As excellence at local, state, and national levels. As students matriculate, BISD offers opportunities for students matriculate, BISD offers opportunities for students to produce sophisticated, meaningful students to produce sophisticated, meaningful products in preparation for success in endeavors products in preparation for success in endeavors beyond the BISD classroom.beyond the BISD classroom.

Common G/T MythsCommon G/T Myths1.1. They can succeed on their own.They can succeed on their own.

2.2. They are self-motivated and therefore “teach They are self-motivated and therefore “teach themselves.”themselves.”

3.3. They love to teach other children.They love to teach other children.

4.4. They are proud to be held up as examples of model They are proud to be held up as examples of model work and behavior.work and behavior.

5.5. They are naturally “loners.”They are naturally “loners.”

6.6. They can’t be identified until the third or fourth grade.They can’t be identified until the third or fourth grade.

7.7. They should be held back so they won’t suffer They should be held back so they won’t suffer socially and emotionally.socially and emotionally.

8.8. They have no special needs because every child is They have no special needs because every child is gifted in some way.gifted in some way.

Meckstroth, Elizabeth A., Smutny, Joan Franklin, Walker, Sally Yahnke. Meckstroth, Elizabeth A., Smutny, Joan Franklin, Walker, Sally Yahnke. Teaching Young Gifted Children in the Regular ClassroomTeaching Young Gifted Children in the Regular Classroom. . Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing, Inc., 1997, p. 166.Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing, Inc., 1997, p. 166.

Screening for The Gifted Screening for The Gifted and Talented Programand Talented Program

Use standardized test scores Use standardized test scores (both ability and achievement (both ability and achievement scores)scores)

Collect information about the Collect information about the frequency and intensity of gifted frequency and intensity of gifted traits as observed at home by traits as observed at home by parents and in the classroom by parents and in the classroom by teachersteachers

Additional information as needed Additional information as needed including products or portfoliosincluding products or portfolios

Placement committee members Placement committee members meet to review data collected on meet to review data collected on each referred student and to each referred student and to determine placement in the determine placement in the gifted and talented program.gifted and talented program.

How are students served by the How are students served by the Gifted and Talented Program?Gifted and Talented Program?

Students in grades 3-5 Students in grades 3-5 participate in a GT pull-out class participate in a GT pull-out class for a minimum of 45 minutes for a minimum of 45 minutes 2x/week.2x/week.

Students in grades 1-2 Students in grades 1-2 participate in a GT pull-out class participate in a GT pull-out class for a minimum of 45 minutes for a minimum of 45 minutes 1x/week.1x/week.

Curriculum in the GT pull-out Curriculum in the GT pull-out classes is project-based.classes is project-based.

GT pull-out classes are offered GT pull-out classes are offered in Humanities (for students with in Humanities (for students with an identified strength in reading) an identified strength in reading) and STEM (for students with an and STEM (for students with an identified strength in math).identified strength in math).

HumanitiesHumanities

Unit OneUnit One

1st Grade1st Grade

CommunicationCommunication

2nd Grade2nd Grade

MythsMyths

3rd Grade3rd Grade

CommunitiesCommunities

4th Grade4th Grade

ArchaeologyArchaeology

5th Grade5th Grade

Origin MythsOrigin Myths

Unit TwoUnit Two

1st Grade1st Grade

InventorsInventors

2nd Grade2nd Grade

Author’s StudyAuthor’s Study

3rd Grade3rd Grade

Hero StudyHero Study

4th Grade4th Grade

Taking a StandTaking a Stand

5th Grade5th Grade

Whose Story Is It?Whose Story Is It?

STEMSTEMUnit OneUnit One

1st Grade1st Grade

Flexibility with Flexibility with NumbersNumbers

2nd Grade2nd Grade

Healthy PlateHealthy Plate

3rd Grade3rd Grade

EstimationEstimation

4th Grade4th Grade

BuoyancyBuoyancy

5th Grade5th Grade

Force and MotionForce and Motion

Unit TwoUnit Two

1st Grade1st Grade

GeometryGeometry

2nd Grade2nd Grade

Personal FinancePersonal Finance

3rd Grade3rd Grade

Magic SquaresMagic Squares

4th Grade4th Grade

ArchitectureArchitecture

5th Grade5th Grade

Playground DesignPlayground Design

BISD GT Progress ReportBISD GT Progress Report

At the end of each unit a letter At the end of each unit a letter will come with your child giving will come with your child giving an overview of the unit and a an overview of the unit and a rubric of your child’s rubric of your child’s performance on major TEKS performance on major TEKS and skills taught/reinforced and skills taught/reinforced during class time.during class time.

Students missing a class as a result of their participation in the elementary gifted education

program are not required or expected to complete the class work assigned to the rest of the class for the time they are attending GT classes. However, students are expected to demonstrate mastery of required grade level standards. This will be determined through district Curriculum Based Assessments.

If a student is falling below grade-level

expectations, he/she may be placed on a probationary status or furloughed from the program until improvement is made.

Policies:

Websites for Gifted Websites for Gifted ResourcesResources

www.sengifted.orgwww.sengifted.orgwww.nagc.orgwww.nagc.orgwww.txgifted.orgwww.txgifted.orgwww.bertiekingore.comwww.bertiekingore.comhttp://www.hoagiesgifted.org/http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/http://www.mensaforkids.org/http://www.mensaforkids.org/

Program AuditProgram Audit Outside auditor, Dr. Cecelia Outside auditor, Dr. Cecelia

BoswellBoswell Make recommendations for our Make recommendations for our

Elementary G/T program and Elementary G/T program and the Secondary Advanced the Secondary Advanced Academic programAcademic program

3-4 parent volunteers to stay a 3-4 parent volunteers to stay a few minutes afterwards to few minutes afterwards to provide input from a parent’s provide input from a parent’s perspectiveperspective

Questions, answers, Questions, answers, concerns…concerns…