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How Gaskill Identifies Gifted & Talented Learners
How Gaskill Identifies Gifted & Talented Learners
Welcome! At Gaskill Elementary, our goal is to find and support students with advanced learning needs. Our process is careful, thorough, and designed to get a complete picture of every child.
Welcome! At Gaskill Elementary, our goal is to find and support students with advanced learning needs. Our process is careful, thorough, and designed to get a complete picture of every child.
"Giftedness is not inherently good or bad; it is a brain-based difference that presents a mix of potential advantages and challenges, heavily influenced by the individual's environment. While it can lead to advanced abilities and deep thinking, it can also result in emotional intensity, social isolation, perfectionism, and the feeling of failure when expectations aren't met."
"Giftedness is not inherently good or bad; it is a brain-based difference that presents a mix of potential advantages and challenges, heavily influenced by the individual's environment. While it can lead to advanced abilities and deep thinking, it can also result in emotional intensity, social isolation, perfectionism, and the feeling of failure when expectations aren't met."
-The Australian Association of Gifted and Talented
-The Australian Association of Gifted and Talented
Here is an overview of how we identify students for Gifted & Talented (GT) services at Gudy Gaskill Elementary.
Here is an overview of how we identify students for Gifted & Talented (GT) services at Gudy Gaskill Elementary.
How Does the Process Start?
How Does the Process Start?
The process begins with a review of data to look for student potential.
Proactive Data Review: I regularly review school-wide data from tests like the i-Ready and CogAT to find students who show exceptional abilities (typically scoring at or above the 95th percentile).
Referrals: The process can also be started by a formal referral from a teacher or a parent/guardian. If you feel your child shows signs of giftedness, please don't hesitate to reach out.
What We're Looking For: The "Body of Evidence"
What We're Looking For: The "Body of Evidence"
Identification is never based on a single test score. Instead, we build a "Body of Evidence" (BOE) for each student. This folder of information helps us see the whole child and may include:
Quantitative Data: Test scores from assessments like i-Ready and CogAT.
Qualitative Data: Observation scales (called the SIGS) from teachers and parents. This is where you can share the unique characteristics you see at home!
Outside Reports: Parents may also provide private psychological reports (such as from a WISC-V) to be included in the BOE.
A "Gifted Learner" vs. A "High Achiever"
A "Gifted Learner" vs. A "High Achiever"
A common question is, "What's the difference between a student who works hard and one who is 'gifted'?" This is a key part of our review. A student can be one, or the other, or both!
We look for signs of gifted learning, which can be different from high achievement.
A High Achiever:
Knows the answers.
May need 3-8 tries to learn something new.
Works hard and follows directions.
Gets good grades.
A Gifted Learner:
Knows the answers and asks deep, probing questions.
May need only 1-2 tries to learn something new.
Works hard and follows directions, but might also get bored and check out.
Might get good grades... or might not (every kid is different)!
We also look for students who are "Twice-Exceptional" (2E). This means a student is gifted and has a learning challenge, such as ADHD or dyslexia. These students can be especially difficult to find, which is why a Body of Evidence is so important.
Our Review & Determination Process
Our Review & Determination Process
Team Review: Once a BOE is complete, I bring it to Gaskill’s Gifted Review Team, which is made up of trained school staff.
Anonymous & Careful Review: To remove all possible bias, the student’s name and identifying information are removed. The team only sees the data profile. This is crucial because, in Colorado, once a student is formally identified as Gifted, that identification is permanent and follows them for their entire K-12 career. Our team takes this responsibility very seriously and must be sure the evidence strongly supports identification.
The Determination: The team reviews the anonymous BOE and makes one of three determinations:
[ ] Formal Identification for Gifted and Talented Services. Your child has met the district criteria based on a body of evidence. You will be contacted separately to begin the Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) process.
[ ] Placement in the GT Talent Pool. Your child demonstrates significant potential but does not yet have the complete body of evidence required for formal identification. This is not a "no," but a "not yet." As part of the Talent Pool, your child will be invited to participate in gifted services with me as a "guest" student. This will provide them with enrichment and advanced challenges while allowing us to gather more data.
[ ] No special services at this time. The team determines that the regular education program is currently meeting your child’s needs.
If you have any questions about this process or your child, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Toby Skiles
GT Facilitator / SmartLab Teacher
Gudy Gaskill Elementary
tskiles@lps.k12.co.us
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