East Central Gifted and Talented Program

October 15, 2009

TALENTED

AND

GIFTED PROGRAM

EAST CENTRAL COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

MILES, IOWA

REV Oct, 2009

EAST CENTRAL TALENTED AND GIFTED (G/T) SERVICES

WHAT DOES "GIFTED" MEAN?

According to the United States Office of Education, it is defined as:

1.Intellectual Ability - the all-around smart person who's very good at almost everything undertaken

2. Specific Academic Ability - someone who does exceptionally well in one or more academic areas

3. Creative - someone who has unique, unusual, unconventional ideas

4. Leadership - someone who is good at getting others to do things

5. Visual/Performing Arts - dancers, musicians, artists who have exceptional skill for experience or age.

GOALS OF THE EAST CENTRAL GIFTED AND TALENTED SERVICES

East Central School's Talented and Gifted Services will provide opportunities for gifted students:

TO PURSUE THEIR OWN INTERESTS through in-depth and independent study, and to become responsible for their own learning.

TO DEVELOP HIGHER LEVEL THINKING SKILLS: that is, critical thinking, research skills, creative thinking and problem solving skills useful in meeting daily challenges.

TO DEVELOP A POSITIVE SELF-CONCEPT: that is, an understanding of giftedness as it relates to themselves and others, and to focus on personal growth and to set goals for their future.

TO INTERACT WITH GIFTED PEERS: to meet people with similar needs, interests, and abilities.

IDENTIFICATION OF STUDENTS REQUIRING G/T SERVICES

Students may be nominated for screening for G/T by their teacher or staff member, parent, or self, or by scoring very high on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the Cognitive Abilities Test. The appropriate staff completes a student rating form that supplies information of general intelligence, creativity, task motivation and learning characteristics. Nominees may complete further testing to supply information about these attributes. As determined by the data collected, those whose potential indicate the need for services are considered for placement in the G/T pull-out classes. The parents/guardians will be notified in writing, with a slip included for permission for the student to attend.

The following requirements must be met to remain a part of the pull-out class: classroom academic work maintained, ITBS scores progressing by at least one year advancement, and student cooperation and task commitment.

HOW ARE THE G/T (TAG) CLASSES SCHEDULED?

The G/T teacher and the elementary classroom teacher find a time when it would be appropriate for the students to go to the G/T resource room, generally once a week for forty-five to sixty minutes. The class explores a topic in detail. They learn the skills needed to gather particular types of information from a variety of sources. They learn how to create displays and materials. The projects prepared are presented to an appropriate audience.

Dialogue is encouraged between the student, the parents, the classroom teacher, and the G/T teacher at all times. Conferences are planned in conjunction with the district's school-wide conferences, and can be scheduled for other times by contacting either school office.

Middle school classes are scheduled for one-half block, once/twice per week on the A-B rotation. At the high school level, students plan for differing interests and needs through class selection. The G/T teacher also serves as advisor to some extra-curricular activities in which high school students may elect to participate.

A report of class activities and projects is sent each quarter with report cards for grades 3-8. Students are given opportunities to be their own evaluators throughout the year.

SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

Research Skills* * * * Independent Study* * * * College for Kids***

Higher Order Thinking Skills* * * *Multimedia Projects* * Quiz Bowl *

Leadership Skills* * * *Visual/Performing Arts* * * * Explorations* * *Internet Projects* * * *Mock Trial* * * Enrichment* * *Acceleration* *Mentorship* * *Curriculum Compacting* * *Model UN * * Debate * * * Iowa Talent Search* Service Learning Project* Creative Problem Solving

Academic Pursuit* * * * Youth Symposium* * * *Career Investigations

Inventions* * * * * * * *Notable Person Project* * * * * * * * * *

CALENDAR OF SPECIAL EVENTS

AUGUST Open House

SEPTEMBER Iowa Youth Symposium (regional & state) (HS)

Iowa Talent Search by U of IA eligibility (BESTS TESTING)

Duke U. TIPS program eligibility (7)

OCTOBER Iowa Talented and Gifted State Convention

Cognitive Abilities Test (3)

School-wide Conferences

NOVEMBER Mock Trial (7 and 8)

Debate (HS)