Identification of GT

All students should demonstrate skills in self-directed learning and communication!

TEA recently updated the state plant for gifted and talented. You can visit the link here- https://tea.texas.gov/academics/special_student_populations/gifted_and_talented_education/gifted_talented_education/

It’s a wonderful plan for GT, but also good practice all around. Your students don’t have to be GT to incorporate good practices. Ultimately, the goal is to bridge the divide between GT and Special Education. 

Teachers should also be aware that GT students have varied faces and characteristics. GTequity.org has a PDF that shows characteristics of students who aren’t usually identified. Visit the link here- http://www.gtequity.org/resources.php

GT (Gifted Learner) Students can easily be confused with High Achievers or Creative Thinkers. It’s important to really get to know the student and give them the opportunity / educational options to show what they know. 

Blended Learning/ Choice learning is one of the ways students can show off what they know. Choice boards are one of the few great strategies that can be used. 

Giving time for reflection can also be a good identifier. I like using assignment notebooks at the end of the day. My students write a daily reflection to share with their parents about their day. Students don’t like remembering questions, such as “How was your day?”. You will usually get a short response such as good or ok. Instead ask questions that are connected to emotions, such as “Did you laugh today?”. Here is a link with great end of day questions- https://learninginhand.com/blog/2013/7/5/roll-reflect-with-qr-codes

Other resources- 

hour of code (great way to teach coding)

Texas PSP - grade level specific activities! - https://www.texaspsp.org/primary

GT Standards

GT question: “How many things can you make with a paper clip?

GT Screener

Step one: Nomination made or solicited from school personnel, parent(s), student(s), oe community member(s).

 

Step two: Screening using input from parents, educators, peers, and / or the student him/herself.

 

Step three: A variety of methods, both qualitative and quantitative, are used in assessment to provide a clear picture of the student being assessed.

Options: Parent Interviews, Verbal / non-verbal assessments, educator checklists / interviews, student interview, norm-referenced test like the MAP NWEA, Developmental questionnaire, portfolio assessments.

 

Date	Checklist
	Nomination by:
	Screener completed by:
	Student work samples
	Student Observation
	Parent Interview
	Verbal / non-verbal assessment
	Student interview
	Student data ex; NWEA Map test
	Developmental questionnaire
	Portfolio assessment

 

Helpful links:

Code.org

Codeacademy.org

Canva.com - for making business cards or Pamphletes

Soundtrap.com - music creation tool

Wonderopolis.com - for curious kids, self-directed learning. (Can be used during center time, have students write three facts that they learned)

Gardner's Theory

Gifted Test questions

Twice Exceptional

GT School Resource

Parent Nomination

Teacher Nomination

Coordinator Nomination

Peer Nomination

Self Nomination

Sample GT Test

State Plan for GT students

Cluster Grouping

Source:

State Plan
Texas Education Agency. (n.d.). 1996 Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students. Retrieved July 17, 2015 from http://www.tea.state.tx.us/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=2147507377&libID=2147507368
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=2147507378&libID=2147507369