Welcome to the Gaskill Gifted & Talented Program!

Hello Gaskill families, and welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! I am so excited to begin another year of learning, discovery, and growth with our students.

This year, the Gifted and Talented (GT) program will be operating under an exciting new model. My role has shifted to a dual position as the part-time GT teacher and part-time SmartLab teacher. This change allows for a more integrated and collaborative approach to supporting our advanced learners.

Our Approach for This School Year

Instead of a traditional pull-out model, my focus will be on partnering directly with classroom teachers. I will be working alongside them to enrich and extend learning for students during their core instructional time. Our goal is to provide meaningful challenges within the context of the daily curriculum, ensuring students can apply their strengths in real-time.

My ultimate goal is to ensure all students are appropriately challenged and supported in their learning, regardless of an official designation.

The Identification Process

Our approach to identifying students for GT services is a holistic one, designed to create a complete picture of each child's unique abilities. In alignment with district and state guidelines, we use a body-of-evidence approach that begins with a referral and is reviewed by our school's Gifted Review Team.

A body of evidence is a collection of information that helps us see the whole child. It includes multiple data points, such as:

• Quantitative Data (The Numbers): We review results from nationally normed assessments (like iReady, CMAS, CogAT, etc.). A score at or above the 95th percentile on a cognitive or achievement test is a strong indicator of exceptional ability and a key part of the evidence we look for.

• Qualitative Data (The Story): We also gather descriptive information to understand a student's strengths beyond test scores. This can include:

  • Teacher and Parent Input: Observations, checklists, and anecdotal records from the people who know the student best are highly valued.

  • Student Work & Performance: We may look at advanced student work, portfolios, or performance in class projects and competitions.

A student is never identified based on a single score. The Gifted Review Team at our school considers all the information together. Per district guidelines, not meeting the 95th percentile on one test will not prevent a student from being identified if the rest of their body of evidence shows exceptional potential.

Littleton Public Schools GT Identification Overview  (<--- Click Me for More Info!)

Our Focus for the Beginning of the Year

As we transition to this new service model, my initial focus will be on establishing a consistent routine and providing support for students who already have an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP). Once those routines are in place, I will begin the process of reviewing data for potential new identifications.

Due to the program following a teacher collaboration model, students will be able to be guested into gifted and talented services on a 4 week data driven cycle.

Thank you for your partnership and your patience during this transition. I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to work with our students in new and creative ways this year!

Gifted & Talented Schedule ( As of  08/18/2025 )

Monday & Thursday

• 4th Grade: Math and Language Arts

• 3rd Grade: Language Arts

Wednesday

• Check-ins with All Grades

• First and Second Grade consultations

Tuesday & Friday

• 5th Grade: Math and Language Arts

• 3rd Grade: Math