Welcome to K-1 Looking AheadParent Informational Meeting

Today We Will:● Gain a better understanding of giftedness and how it impacts

learning paths at Irwin

● Analyze three district data points as they relate to your individual child

● Increase our awareness of the second grade TD Screening Process at Irwin, a CMS school

● Discuss ways you can nurture your child’s potential giftedness to prepare for TD screening and overall success

GiftednessLet’s gain a better understanding …

to become a model of

excellencein the education of

gifted and talented students.

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Our Vision

Our Magnet Programs• Learning Immersion

All K- 2 students are in our learning immersion program, which nurtures advanced language, analytical thinking, motivation, perseverance, leadership, perspective, sensitivity, humor, creativity and artistic talent.

Only Irwin's K-2 students who do not certify for the Talent Development program qualify to continue in the Learning Immersion Program in 3rd, 4th & 5th.

Our Magnet Programs• Talent Development (3rd, 4th & 5th) Students are exposed to a full day of rigorous, academically challenging instruction designed with characteristics of gifted student in mind.

All students in this program are certified as gifted & homogeneously grouped by certification.

All Talent Development classroom teachers have earned their Gifted Education licensure or are required to work toward it.

Upon completion of the 5th grade, TD students are guaranteed admittance into a middle school IB program within their transportation zone.

Our Magnet Paths

What is Giftedness?

• Outstanding levels of aptitude or competence

• An exceptional ability to reason and learn

• Top 10% or rarer

~ National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)

● �The goal of the Talent Development Program in CMS is to provide rigorous curriculum and academic opportunities so each student may reach a classroom performance level consistent with his/her intellectual ability.

● �Learn More @ http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/cmsdepartments

The Gifted Program in CMS

DataLet’s analyze it!

Let’s review the data …

● Administered in Reading & Math three times a year using the computer

● Adaptive test

● Nationally normed assessment

● RIT = estimation of a student’s instructional level

● Measures growth over time

MAP Testing: Measures of Academic Progress

Reading 3D-TRC: Text Reading & Comprehension ● individually administered 3x during the year

● consists of students reading leveled selections aloud to their teacher

● teacher takes running record

● oral & written comprehension components

● used to determine student’s instructional reading level

• Tool to help us gather information from the child’s first grade teacher at the end of first grade. • Only scored one time per child.

• Rating scales for each of 6 areas: � Intellectual ability � Academic ability � Creativity � Artistic talent � Leadership ability Motivation

GRS: Gifted Rating Scale

GRS Gifted Classifications

TD Screening ProcessLet’s learn more ...

Certification Process: GRS

How can we prepare for the GRS?• This is part of an informal assessment = 6 pts.• Encourage your child to excel in each area:

Intellectual ability � Academic ability � Creativity � Artistic talent Leadership ability Motivation

• Communicate with your child’s teacher about strengths and areas for improvement

How can we nurture intellectual ability?

Use advanced reasoning skills

Practice extensive and detailed memory

Answer questions in detail

Interact with abstract ideas and complex concepts

Apply prior knowledge to problem solving

How can we nurture academic ability?

Encourage the completion of academic work correctly with guidance instead of assistance.

Model how to contribute to academic discussionsand ask relevant questions

Demonstrate knowledge of facts in one or more academic areas and current events

How can we nurture creativity?

Activate your child’s imagination (ex. Build with everyday objects to invent something new.)

Ask and encourage “what if” questions

Experiment with ideas

Construct jokes, read book with clever plays on words,point out ironic observations

How can we nurture artistic talent?Provide opportunities to create imaginative/original art with detail, complexity, and richness

Build stamina by building up to long periods of focused time on artistic projects

Visit museums; discuss emotions conveyed in art

Discuss how art is a communication vehicle

How can we nurture Leadership?Expect responsibility in social situations (i.e. provide opportunity for leadership by getting involved with local organizations, discuss moral / ethical dilemmas together, Journal about leadership experiences)

Model a cooperative attitude and self-confidence Practice backward planning

Study community leaders and make connections

How can we nurture motivation?Praise and encourage pride in work and reacting to challenges enthusiastically

Stress the process not the result so your child will work tenaciously and strive to improve

Attempt tasks above current skill level

Set and work toward goals

Certification Process: CogAT

• An aptitude test used to measure a student's ability to learn. These tests help teachers and parents predict how well a student is likely to do in school

• Measures students’ learned reasoning abilities in the three areas most linked to academic success in school: Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal.

CogAT = Cognitive Abilities Test

• September of 2nd grade all students take part

• 87% or higher earns points on the TD rubric

• 96% automatically places students in the TD program

CogAT = Cognitive Abilities Test

How can we prepare for the CogAT?• Sleep well, eat well, relax :-)

• Building Thinking Skills- Critical Thinking skills forreading, writing, math, science • Cognitive Abilities Test CogAT® MultilevelA Book (Grade 2*) Practice Test 1 (Form 6)

• May want to review analogies, patterns & paper folding: (http://www.teachnet.com/brainbinders/)

Certification Process: ITBS

• Only for students who are in 87th percentile or higher on CogAT will qualify for ITBS testing

• Achievement test measures how much students have already learned. Helps measure current knowledge and skills. Includes the following tests:

● Mathematics● Reading: Words / Comprehensionh http://riverpub.

com/products/itbs/details.html

ITBS = Iowa Test of Basic Skills

How can we prepare for the ITBS?● It's a good idea to set aside some time regularly to

review what your child is learning in class.

● Constant review will make sure your child is prepared when test time comes.

● Review the common core to familiarize yourself with grade level expectations

• If not already certified, student participates

• Second grade students complete five samples of work in their second grade classroom. • The rubric has five elements:

Advanced LanguageAnalytical ThinkingMotivation/Perseverance/LeadershipPerspective/Sensitivity/HumorCreativity/ Artistic Skills

Portfolio Process

Portfolio Process • Parents may submit a sixth piece completed at home

• Samples usually include (but are not limited to)● advanced math with diagrams● strongly creative writing with detailed drawings● independent research project with graphs

How can we prepare for the portfolio?

● Advanced Language● Analytical Thinking● Motivation/Perseverance/Leadership● Perspective/Sensitivity/Humor● Creativity/ Artistic Skills

Advanced LanguageGifted students who demonstrate advanced language use advanced vocabulary and may be unusually descriptive. They often use figurative language rich in imagery.

•Prefixes, root words, & suffixes to enhance vocabulary•Drawing first to help organize details and similes when writing

Analytical ThinkingGifted students who demonstrate analytical thinking think logically and use problem solving strategies effectively. They analyze cause and effect, consequences, or alternative solutions and organize collections or ideas in unique ways.

•Logical reasoning practice•Multi-step, algebraic problem solving

Motivation / Perseverance / Leadership Gifted students who demonstrate perseverance show persistent intellectual curiosity and explore and experiment independently.

● Front load: Have a conversation with your children before they join teams, clubs or activities. Make sure they understand the time needed and the importance of commitment.

● Explore and keep expectations high

Perspective/Sensitivity/HumorStudents with strengths in this area are able to understand issues from multiple perspectives, exhibit sensitivity toward others and share a sense humor - even it it is questionable, bizarre, absurd, cynical, or inappropriate.

● Write from another point of view (character, object)● Analyze comics for puns, riddles, jokes. Create your

own

Creativity / Artistic TalentStudents who demonstrate strong creativity demonstrate original thinking and display an active imagination.

● Design and create technology based products, Rainbow Loom, lego structures, K’Nex building

● Respond to open ended questions regularly● Use a variety of mediums● Brainstorm lots and lots of ideas

Characteristics … “The extremely bright

or the creative, curious,and questioning students, who may be stubborn, rule-

breaking, egotisticalor otherwise high in nuisance value, may not be the

teachers’ favorites,but they sometimes are the most gifted.”

~ Gary Davies and Sylvia Rimm

Want more?Fostering Creativity in Gifted Students

Testing for Kindergarten:Simple Strategies to Help Your Child Ace the Testsfor Gifted Program Qualification

In closing ...There is no ONE indicator of giftedness.

Gifted and talented children are found in expectedAND unexpected places.

All of our students need to be embraced where they are, and nurtured to grow and develop

their individual potential.

Therefore, it is important to always remember …

The learning immersion or talent development child

is a CHILD First!

Thank you for coming!