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What is Gifted and Talented?
What is Gifted and Talented?
Gifted and talented students are those students between the ages of four and twenty-one whose abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programming needs. Gifted students include students with disabilities (i.e. twice-exceptional) and students with exceptional abilities or potential from all socio-economic and ethnic, cultural populations. Gifted students are capable of high performance, exceptional production, or exceptional learning behavior.
What is the Discovery Program?
What is the Discovery Program?
Discovery Program is designed to meet the needs of gifted elementary school students (2nd to 6th grade) who require the intensity of instruction and acceleration beyond what can reasonably be expected from regular school programming. A Discovery Program is located at Pine Lane Elementary as well as other District elementary schools. Please visit the District website for identification and application information located under the "Discovery Program" tab.
What is an ALP?
What is an ALP?
An ALP is an Advanced Learning Plan. All students identified as GT have an ALP, whether they go to their neighborhood school (Mountain View Elementary) or a Discovery School. The decision to create an ALP comes from an identification process that looks at a body of evidence that includes many data points, including CogAT, classroom work/assessments, other standardized measures, input from the classroom teacher, parent(s), and the student.
What Does GT Look Like at Mountain View Elementary?
What Does GT Look Like at Mountain View Elementary?
At Mountain View, we create ALP plans for students who have gone through a GT identification process and qualify. The GT Facilitator writes the ALP in collaboration with classroom teachers, students, and parents. The ALP formalizes the differentiation that the classroom teacher does for the students in their identified area(s) and affective needs. At Mountain View Elementary, we value and support the depth and complexity of knowledge, not just what grade level a concept may be. All students in our building read and write at their highest independent level. Sometimes, additional grouping is needed. Our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) team collaborates to determine what that looks like year to year. Some strategies that we use in our district to meet student needs are: Flexible Grouping in reading and math, Content Acceleration, Grade Level Acceleration, Independent Study, and Curriculum Compacting, a process by which students are pre-assessed to determine what parts of the curriculum they have already mastered.
What is the Gifted and Talented Facilitator's Role?
What is the Gifted and Talented Facilitator's Role?
At Mountain View, the role of the GT Facilitator is to coordinate CogAT testing, structure and organize the identification process, facilitate writing ALPs for identified students, support enrichment programs for students when possible, and support teachers in implementing the ALP within the classroom. If a parent is interested in applying for the Discovery Program, I also help with that process. I also collaborate with teachers in writing the goals, gathering support materials, analyzing data, and adjusting plans as needed. Mountain View Elementary has a long history of highly capable students, and our teachers are well-versed in differentiation for all students. When needed, I work with students on specific projects or affective goals.
Twice-Exceptional Students
Twice-Exceptional Students
Twice-exceptional students are those students who are identified as gifted and talented in one or more areas of exceptionality (specific academics, general intellectual ability, creativity, leadership, visual or performing arts);
AND are ALSO identified with:
A disability defined by Federal/State eligibility criteria: specific emotional learning disability, significant identifiable disability, physical disabilities, sensory disabilities, autism, or ADHD. The disability qualifies the student for an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 Plan. Please visit the Douglas County School District site for more information located in the "Special Education" site https://www.dcsdk12.org/special-education
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