1. Take this online quiz as a starting point.
2. Learn more about giftedness through this guide and an outline of the common characteristics of high achievers, gifted learners and creative thinkers.
3. Print and complete this parent observation checklist, then return it to Shea's mailbox in the front office to begin the conversation.
Identification for gifted learners is an ongoing process based on a body of evidence with three or more data points (95% or higher in the same subject area) from a variety of cognitive and academic assessments and behavioral surveys. Data most commonly comes from the sources.
When your child receives a qualifying score on any of the mandated assessments (NNAT and CMAS), Shea will reach out to you to discuss next steps. If you would like to proactively learn more about your child's ability levels, you may request the CogAT, ITBS or SIGS throughout the school year.
Cognitive Aptitude Tests
Academic Subject-Area Knowledge Tests
Behavioral Survey
1. We will write an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) for the 2018-2019 school year with measurable and meaningful academic and social/emotional goals designed in collaboration with his/her teachers and support staff as needed, with a clear system for progress monitoring. Goals are always linked to grade-level standards.
Save the date! We'll be writing ALPs after school on Wednesday, October 3rd.
2. I will check in monthly with you, your child and the relevant teachers to monitor progress and provide additional support as needed.
3. Note that programming goes beyond an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP). It is system wide, incorporating individualized levels of structure, affective guidance, differentiated instruction and content extensions.
Gifted and Talented Point of Contact - Shea believes in ensuring all students have access to high-quality education, and has built a career on supporting those who need specific learning supports to thrive in the classroom and beyond. She'll work with your crew leaders, specials teachers and/or support staff to provide enrichment and more. Contact her at shea@odysseydenver.org or call/text (646) 641-4300. She'll be available at school from 10 am - 2 pm on Wednesdays starting in November.
The Book Room - Julie is passionate about offering lots of challenges and freedom to kids of all kinds through our school library. You can reach her at julie@odysseydenver.org.. Here are a few reasons for visiting the book room:
The Adventure Program - Ben is committed to an adventure program that has a positive impact on students over time specifically centered around Habits and leadership. There are infinite opportunities for growth and challenge on each of our outdoor crew experiences. You can reach Ben at ben@odysseydenver.org.
Expedition - The Expeditionary Learning model holds incredible potential for students to be stewards of their own learning, become experts through research and hands-on experiences, and demonstrate their knowledge and skills to an authentic audience. You will learn more about the robust and thoughtful, student-centered approach to learning through each crew's expeditions from teachers at Back To School Night. These expeditions truly are a cornerstone of Odyssey's school structure and are rich with opportunities for differentiation, challenge and enrichment.
Specials - Chad and Becky are experts in their fields of physical education and studio / visual arts, respectively, and are excited to support students who show a particular interest and skill for these talent areas through structures such as P.E. talent shows and art exhibitions. Contact them at chad@odysseydenver.org and becky@odysseydenver.org.
Interested in starting or joining a team? Contact Minda McGurk, DPS Academic Activities Coordinator, at malinda_mcgurk@dpsk12.org or call (720) 423-2065.
Destination Imagination (DI) (grades K-8) - If your child is creative, crazy about puzzles, loves to pain and draw, can build anything out of cardboard boxes, writes amazing stories, thinks up whimsical new worlds, has a flair for drama and acting, is totally into science, or has rewired your toaster into a working time machine (or wants to), then you may have a Destination Imagination child. DI is an international educational program that gives kids an outlet for their creativity, while teaching them leadership, teamwork, positive thinking, project management and so much more. Teams of 2 to 7 kids from 3rd grade through university level solve one of six open-ended challenges in their own unique ways and present their solutions at regional tournaments in the spring. There's a noncompetitive Rising Stars challenge for Kinder - 2nd graders as well. Visit https://dpsdi.weebly.com/ for more information. Interested in previews of the challenges this year? Check them out here!
Semantics / Spelling Bee (grades 3-8) - If your student is interested in participating, you're welcome to coordinate with Bill Shaefer at 303.322.0479 to participate in competitions. Visit http://www.dpssemantics.com/ for more information.
National Geographic Bee (grades 4-8) - A national contest designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography. Each registered school holds a school-level Bee to determine its one school champion, who then takes a written qualifying test that determines the top 100 students in the state who qualify for the Colorado Geographic Bee. More information can be found here: https://dpsnationalgeobee.weebly.com/.
Brain Bowl (grades 6 - 8) - A challenging and fun opportunity for students to participate in a rapid response general knowledge competition that promotes teamwork and enthusiasm for academics. Brain Bowl provides a framework for students to expand their classroom learning by using analysis, application, knowledge, and comprehension skills. Students from DPS compete in the Central Region, which includes metro Denver schools districts as well as districts to the east. Questions are asked from all academic areas. More information can be found here: http://www.optimistbrainbowl.org/.
Mathletics / Math Olympiad (grades 5 - 8) - Mathletics is a DPS competition that incorporates the Mathcounts program to provide our students an opportunity to build math skills, strategic problem-solving skills, and sharpen analytical ability. DPS holds competitions for 5th and 6th graders and another competition for 7th and 8th graders- utilizing the Mathcounts School Test. More information is available here: https://dpsmathletics.weebly.com/. Math Olympiad information is here.
National History Day (NHD) (grades 4 - 8) - NHD is directed by the state office based on CU Denver campus. NHD Junior is a poster contest for 4th and 5th graders designed to prepare students in upper elementary school for successful completion of History Day projects in middle and high school. Visit https://clas.ucdenver.edu/nhdc/ for more information.
Stay in the know - follow DPS Gifted and Talented on Facebook.
Denver Public Schools (DPS) - The Gifted and Talented team is focused on leading the nation in providing equitable, high impact gifted programming. We strive to ensure that gifted and talented students are engaged, rigorously challenged and supported to reach their full emotional, intellectual, and creative potential. By equipping students to become successful, critical, compassionate, and collaborative individuals, we are preparing them to become leaders and citizens of the 21st century. Visit https://studentequity.dpsk12.org/gifted-talented/ for more information. Here is a short list of offerings this school year:
Community Resources Inc. (CRI) - Community Resources Inc. is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit that has served the students, families, and staff of Denver and Denver Public Schools since 1972. The goal of our organization is to enhance the education of students utilizing hundreds of volunteers from the Denver community who share their time, knowledge and enthusiasm. Each year CRI creates and coordinates thousands of programs that reach over 90,000 student contacts. CRI organizes the Academic Mentors Project as well as family nights and special events. Learn more - and consider volunteering to be a mentor! - here: http://cri.dpsk12.org/. You can learn more from Laura Kent, Academic Mentors Program Manager, at laura_kent@dpsk12.org.
Gifted Development Center (GDC) - We are a non-profit organization supporting giftedness throughout the lifespan. We also build awareness and understanding of giftedness, through research, advocacy and development of national policy. Our philosophy is child-centered: we put your child first. We focus on understanding your child’s inner world (overexcitabilities, emotions, perceptions, relationships, personality, etc.), rather than on his or her potential for success. We see giftedness as a pervasive way of being in the world, not as being "gifted in...." Visit http://www.gifteddevelopment.com/ for more information on advocacy, counseling, books and articles, events and more.
http://sengifted.org/ - supporting emotional needs of the gifted
http://www.nagc.org/ - national resource with articles, conference information and more
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/ - library of resources for parents, educators and students