Welcome to GATE!

2025-2026

​

Glendale Unified School District | 223 N. Jackson Street, Glendale, CA 91206 | 818-241-3111 | www.gusd.net | @GlendaleUSD

​

Overview of GUSD’s GATE Program

1. Identification & Student Makeup
2. Understanding Giftedness
3. Curriculum & Instruction
4. District Supported Events
5. Resources
6. Contacts

2

GUSD’s goal is to be responsive to the

interests, needs, and abilities of our gifted students.

Program Overview & Identification

​

Identification

GUSD emphasizes the importance of equitable access to maximize student achievement. The Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test 3 (NNAT3) is used as a universal screening tool to determine student eligibility for GATE services.

4

Identification

• The Naglieri Nonverbal Test of Ability—Third Edition (NNAT3) is a brief, nonverbal measure of general ability that is administered to groups of students in grades K–12.
• The NNAT3 is a computer-based test where questions are presented one at a time on the screen of a tablet, a desktop computer, or a laptop computer, and the student responds by touching or clicking the answer choice.
• Teachers administer the computer-based test using Chromebooks in a classroom setting.
• Students who scored in the 92nd percentile placed in the program. A system is in place for borderline students to be reviewed for placement in the program.

NNAT3 Scores

6

Who are our gifted students?

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

7

Who are our gifted students?

8

Curriculum & Instruction

​

What is Differentiation?

intellectual

• Differentiation means tailoring instruction to meet individual needs. (does NOT mean individualized instruction)
• It is the practice of “teaching up” to challenge and support all students to achieve at high levels.
• Differentiation is valuing and planning for diversity in students.
• It is designed to address content as well as students' learning and affective needs.

10

In GUSD, we support…

• Differentiated Instruction
• Social Emotional Development
• Executive Skills Support
• Site and District Opportunities
• Professional Development
• Family Engagement

11

Instruction can be differentiated by:

intellectual

intellectual

• Content: the knowledge and skills students need to master

- engaging , depth and complexity, acceleration, open-ended problem solving, relevant and complex issues, varied assessments

​

• Process: the activities students use to master the content

- interest based choice, flexible groupings, creativity, independent learning

​

• Product: the method students use to demonstrate learning

- authentic learning, variety of outputs, leveled projects, multiple intelligences

​

• Learning Environment: the way a learning environment looks and feels

- physical space and seating, humor, flexible routines, discovery, supportive yet challenging

12

Supporting Social-Emotional Well-Being

• Metacognition and build self awareness
• Build a growth mindset (Neuroplasticity)
• Teach coping strategies
• Build social skills
• Teach self-advocacy and responsibility
• Teach the difference between stress & anxiety
• The power of ‘yet’

​

​

​

13

Professional Development

Teachers are offered training in many areas including:

​

• Differentiation
• Depth and Complexity
• Interdisciplinary Planning
• Engagement Strategies
• Social Emotional Needs
• Incorporating Voice and Choice
• GUSD GATE Gurus Cohorts

14

​

District Supported Events

Winter: Invention Convention

academic

creative

intellectual

With the support and guidance from the site GATE specialist, students will be invited to participate in an annual Invention Convention.

​

Your child can:

• Participate in a differentiated activity
• Research and learn the process of inventing
• Get a hands-on experience in developing a new concept that has never been invented before
• Learn to work in teams or independently
• Compete with other same-age inventors
• Be recognized for their achievements

​

​

​

DATE: December 2025

16

Spring: Artistic Expressions

artistic

creative

An engaging and creative workshop for GATE students to learn to interpret works of art while fostering discussions on how art can unveil the values inherent in a culture, community, or individual. Students have the opportunity to have their final products displayed in one of the high school’s art galleries and participate in a gallery opening for all of the artwork.

​

Your child can:

• Participate in a differentiated activity
• Cultivate creativity, critical thinking
• Get a hands-on experience in creating an art piece
• Engage in discussion with GATE peers

​

​

​

​

​

DATE: May 2026

​

17

Other District Wide events

academic

creative

intellectual

Math Field Day - March 2026

Robotics Competition - April 2026

Instrumental Music and Honors Orchestra - March 2026

​

​

​

18

Understanding Giftedness

​

20

Areas of Giftedness

intellectual

academic

creative

artistic

leadership

• Uses advanced vocabulary
• Easily comprehends new ideas
• Thinks complexly
• Likes to solve puzzles or problems

• Shows unusual ability in 1+ areas
• Exceptional memorization
• Acquires knowledge quickly
• Enjoys talking with experts in this field

• Sees several solutions to a given problem
• Creates or invents in an unusual way
• Has a vivid imagination

• Unusual ability for expressing self or feelings through art, dance, drama, or music
• Has an unusual ability to observe things in detail

​

• Assumes responsibility and follows through
• Uses judgment in decision making
• Can organize self and others
• Has self confidence

Common Characteristics of Gifted Children

• Ability to comprehend material several grade levels above their age peers
• Surprising emotional depth and sensitivity at a young age
• Strong sense of curiosity
• Enthusiastic about unique interests and topics
• Quirky or mature sense of humor
• Creative problem solving and imaginative expression
• Absorbs information quickly with few repetitions needed
• Self-aware, socially aware, and aware of global issues

​

Source: “Characteristics and Traits of Gifted Children.” Davidson Institute, 30 Mar. 2021, https://www.davidsongifted.org/prospective-families/gifted-traits-and-characteristics/

​

22

Bright Child vs. Gifted Learner

A Bright Child…

• Knows the answer
• Is interested
• Works hard
• Answers the questions
• Top of the group
• Learns with ease
• 6-8 repetitions for mastery
• Understands ideas
• Completes assignments
• Enjoys school
• Absorbs information
• Good at memorization
• Enjoys sequential presentation
• Is pleased with own learning

A Gifted Learner…

• Asks the questions
• Is highly curious
• Plays around, yet tests well
• Discusses in detail, elaborates
• Beyond the group
• Already knows
• 1-2 repetitions for mastery
• Constructs abstractions
• Initiates projects
• Enjoys learning
• Manipulates information
• Good guesser
• Thrives on complexity
• Is highly self-critical

Source: Janice Szabos, Challenge Magazine, 1989, Issue 34. Tennessee Association for the Gifted: http://www.tag-tenn.org

​

23

Asynchronous Development

of Gifted Children

24

Examples of Asynchronous Development

• A 6-year-old child with a 9-year-old mind wants to draw and write like a 9-year old but has the motor development/coordination that is age appropriate.
• A 5-year-old child may be reading at 8th grade level, but the child is at grade level in math.
• A young gifted child may cognitively understand difficult concepts such as death and social justice, but may not have the life experiences to handle these concepts.

​

​

​

Excerpted From: Keri Guilbault, Ed.D., and Michele Kane, Ed.D.

Asynchronous Development. National Association for Gifted Children. 2016.

​

25

Some Beginning Strategies to Support Your Child

• Focus on your child's strengths.
• Help your child and others to: understand the meaning of being gifted, know the challenges that accompany asynchronous development, and set realistic expectations.
• Explore and teach strategies to address the misunderstandings and stress that come from being out of sync with others—such as mindfulness, self-advocacy, and mind-body tools (yoga or martial arts).
• Find multiple peer groups for your child. One group may include those close in cognitive ability and another may include those with similar interests. A mental age match is sometimes more essential than than a chronological age match.

Excerpted From: Keri Guilbault, Ed.D., and Michele Kane, Ed.D.

Asynchronous Development. National Association for Gifted Children. 2016.

​

26

More Beginning Strategies to Support Your Child

• Bibliotherapy: Have your child read books with main characters who also have unique abilities and uneven development.
• Connect with other parents who are experiencing similar challenges for camaraderie and support. Join a parent support group or start your own.
• Help educators understand what you notice at home regarding the asynchronous development of your child. Keep educators informed when you see your child soar or if you feel your child is lagging behind.

​

​

27

How to talk to your child about giftedness

• Listen to your children and try to understand their feelings and beliefs about giftedness.
• Help them learn facts—not buy into the myths—related to gifted students.
• Avoid using gifted strengths to highlight weaknesses.
• Leave the door open to further conversations.
• Ask if they have questions.
• Encourage them to feel comfortable discussing giftedness with you.

28

How to talk to your child about giftedness…

• “Giftedness is not an automatic entry point to success, it is a potential to be realized.”
• “Each person learns at a different pace and has different interests.”
• “Perhaps you are better at math than some students, while they may be better at reading than you.”
• “Giftedness doesn't mean you will know the answer to every question and that you won’t (or shouldn’t) struggle.”

​

29

Family Engagement

​

GATE Family Institute

GATE Family Institute consists of hour-long webinars presented by Christine Fonseca. Christine Fonseca is a licensed educational psychologist, critically acclaimed author, and consultant specializing in GATE who has presented on topics related to educational psychology and mental health giftedness.

​

​

Webinar recordings can be found on our website: https://www.gusd.net/22442_3

Ways to Get Involved

• Communication at site and district level
• District website - updates
• Attend GATE Family Institute sessions
• Reach out to Site GATE Specialist

and/or District GATE Specialist

​

32

GATE Advisory Committee

The mission of this group is to provide parent/guardians and other partners an authentic voice to:

​

• Provide informed advice and comment to the EAFE Department on the development of the district wide GATE program.

​

• Ensure that the District Local Control and Accountability Plan (GUSD LCAP) reflects the input of GATE District parents/guardians and other educational partners.

​

​

33

Points of Contact

At the site level

• Teachers
• Site GATE Lead
• Teacher Specialist
• Administrators

​

​

​

​

35

Meet the District GATE Team

Dr. Emil Ahangarzadeh

eahangarzadeh@gusd.net

Director

Equity, Access, & Family Engagement

​

Anita Arjoyan

aarjoyan@gusd.net

Teacher Specialist

Equity, Access, & Family Engagement

​

Danielle Fox

dfox@gusd.net

Teacher Specialist

Teaching & Learning

​

​

​

​

36

Resources

GATE Resources

National Organizations

• National Association for Gifted Children
• Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted

State Organizations

• California Association for the Gifted
• Cal State LA Early Entrance Program

Local Organizations

• Institute of Educational Advancement

38

​

Great Reads!

​

​

​

​

​

You Know Your Child is Gifted When…

39

Questions?

40

THANK YOU!