Rooney Ranch GT Parent Information

Tom Gardner - Principal

Jennifer Mulhern - GT Resource Teacher

Angela Finke - Instructional Coach

Trista Morell - 3rd Gr. Teacher and GT BL

September 27, 2023

Differentiation for all Students:

• Lesson structure (*Important that there’s a balance of all 3)
• Mini lesson (at grade level)
• Small groups (differentiation)
• Independent work
• IC, GT RT, and teacher collaboration help with differentiation

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“Challenging” �Traits

of

Giftedness

Impatient with Others

Resists Drill

Perfectionism

Disturbs Others

Shows Off / Brags

Goes on Tangents

Neglects Other Responsibilities

Monopolizes Discussions

Bored Easily

Lack of organization

Obsession

Stubborn

Low Self Esteem

Lacking Social Skills

Asynchronistic Development

Alienation

Overexcitabilities

Challenges Authority

Asks Provocative Questions

Slide design by:

2C Connections

Why Identify? – Guide Academic and Affective Programming

• Gifted and Talented students often have a unique and challenging set of needs that can be academic or social/emotional in nature, or both.
• Identifying GT students allows parents, teachers, students, and all stakeholders to plan for and guide the student’s education in a way that works for their style of learning.

Academic Body of Evidence

3 pieces from any 2 categories below

Achievement*

District: MAP Trend, CMAS

GT Dept: TERA, TEMA, TOMAGS, KTEA, SAGES, Others

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*may have 2+ qualifying achievement pieces

Cognitive*

CogAT , NNAT, KBIT

IQ tests: DAS, WISC, WPPSI

Torrance Test of Creative Abilities

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*only 1 qualifies

Behavioral Observations*

Scales for Identifying Gifted Students (SIGS, normed)

Parent Narrative

*Parent Narrative is not “qualifying”

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Performance Evaluation

State/national academic contest: top place/ranking

Expert juried performance: Advanced/Distinguished

Expert Assessed portfolio review: Advanced/Above grade level

Qualifying evidence is at the 95th percentile or ‘Advanced/Exceeds’ standards level

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No single piece of evidence permanently qualifies / disqualifies a student’s identification

Advance Learning Plan (ALP)- The Basics

• Document that guides programming, both academic and affective, through a yearly goal setting process.
• Individualized and tied to specific identified strengths
• Collaborative process, maintained by the classroom teacher (in elementary)

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ALP Lifecycle:

Typical Lifecycle:

• First Trimester (October)- Create goals
• Second Trimester (January)- Progress monitoring goals
• Third Trimester (May) - Progress monitor and close out goals

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2nd Graders Who are Identified in 2nd Grade:

• Second Trimester - Create goals
• Third Trimester - Progress monitor and close out goals

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Neighborhood or GT Center:

Neighborhood Schools:

• 80% of gifted learners in Jeffco are in neighborhood schools.
• If your student’s academic and/or social emotional needs can not be met in a neighborhood school, we suggest a GT Center School.

GT Center Schools:

• GT Centers operate as a school within a school with integration during electives, specials, lunch, and recess, in most cases.
• Learn more about GT Center on our website

Both:

• Are supported by a GT Resource Teacher.
• Provide mental health support for all students.
• Follow the ALP Lifecycle.

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What to do next?

• If your child has a score of 95th%tile or higher in one or more of the batteries in CogAT, and you suspect gifted potential:
• You only need to do one of the following:
• Path A: Use the online referral page and form to make a referral for gifted identification
• Path B: Apply for GT Center (deadline Oct. 13)
• 2nd Grade Application -
• All other grades need the Late Application contact Jennifer Mulhern
• Path C: None of the Above

What to do next?

• If your child does not have a score of 95th%tile or higher in one or more of the batteries in CogAT:
• GT RT looks at data many times a year:
• MAP - fall, winter and spring
• CMAS - results come out at the beginning of next school year
• Teachers make referrals based on observations
• Families can make a referral without qualifying evidence

Questions:

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• Many questions can be answered on our Parent Website
• Email Jennifer Mulhern:

Jennifer.Mulhern@jeffco.k12.co.us

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