Welcome to the Newton Middle School Gifted and Talented Page!
GT Resources
Parent resource books available for check out.
Great online resources for the latest in G/T research or for finding out more about gifted children.
- National Society for the Gifted and Talented
- National Association for Gifted Children
- Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented
- Family Education
- Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG)
- Center for Bright Kids
Perfectionism in Gifted Students
One issue that often plagues both GT parents and students is perfectionism, or the need to "be perfect." Steven Haas, a Colorado gifted educator, recommends these strategies when dealing with perfectionism.
- Their best, not the best
- Model healthy excellence for your students
- Separate your self worth from products and evaluations
- Mistakes are an important part of challenge
- Share your own mistakes
- Read biographies of failure, rejection, success, and feelings
- Teach self-evaluation and criticism
- Teach how to congratulate others and how to share successes
- Occasional breaks in routine model flexibility
- Teach brainstorming and open-ended problem solving
- There is more than one way to get to a correct answer
- Teach humor
- Teach how to be selective, especially with the internet
- Help student determine the value of an assignment
- Apportion effort for the highest payoff
- Teach the value of small steps and incremental improvements
How to Read an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP)
Aside from student demographics (name, age, grade level, etc.) a student's ALP has a few key components. One is the area or areas in which a student is identified gifted. These areas are typically math, language arts, or both.
There is also a section stating parent involvement. ALPs at Newton read with one or both of the following for parents: celebrate student success and monitor student progress. If a parent disagrees with the parental involvement listed on the ALP, please contact the GT facilitator to have it changed.
The student goals are in multiple sections. The students' academic goals are based on iReady scores and have a standard attached. All GT students are expected to achieve 90th percentile on iReady; however, not achieving 90th percentile does not impact GT services. Students also have an affective goal on their ALP. At Newton these are done in five main areas: organization, self-advocacy, problem solving, flexibility, and leadership. The affective goal is designed for students to think about themselves as overall learners and choose an area in which they want to try to improve.
Another part of the ALP is the instructional actions/strategies section. This part shows parents the way services are being delivered for their student(s). Because the predominant way we deliver services at Newton is through accelerated math and language arts, these descriptors reflect the ideas of accelerated class and a differentiated traditional classroom. If you have specific questions about programming and accountability for an ALP, please contact the GT facilitator.
GT Services at Newton
We do not have special "GT classes" for students at Newton. Instead, students are placed in accelerated math and language arts classes by looking at a variety of factors: CMAS scores, iReady scores, placement tests, and teacher recommendations. At Newton we do not restrict services, so students do not have to be on the official GT caseload to receive an accelerated placement. Likewise, being identified GT does not automatically create an accelerated placement. Our philosophy is to place students in the most appropriate learning environment for their needs.
In math a student's accelerated placement puts them in a class a grade level or two ahead. For example, an accelerated sixth grade student would take seventh grade math. A double accelerated sixth grade student would take eighth grade math.
For more information regarding the math program at Newton, please contact the math department chairperson, Bill Worsley. WWorsley@lps.k12.co.us
In language arts a student's acceleration works differently. Students are not placed in a class that is a grade level or more above. Instead, the curriculum is delivered at a faster pace and with more depth. Students in accelerated language arts are expected to work more independently, balance a variety of tasks at once, analyze literature, and write with more sophistication.
For more information regarding the language arts program at Newton, please contact the language arts department chairperson, Julie Lacey. JLacey@lps.k12.co.us
At the beginning of each school year, the GT facilitator will meet with students to discuss their goals and begin writing their ALPs.
Contact Information
For information about GT at Newton, please contact the school facilitator.
Newton GT Facilitator
Kevin Wood
303-347-3920
For information about GT at the district level, please contact the district coordinator.
LPS District GT Coordinator
Melinda Ness
303-347-3300