MVE Gifted & Talented Education Coordinator
Academics - Gifted Education Program
Gifted Education Program
What is Gifted Education? If a student is identified as Gifted, they may go to their neighborhood school (Mountain View) or apply for the Discovery Program that is located at another school. The Discovery Program is designed for students whose needs require intensity of instruction and acceleration beyond what can reasonably be expected from the regular school program. All students in Douglas County are given the CogAT, Cognitive Abilities Test, in 2nd & 5th grade (unless the school has 6th grade) as a universal screen for early intervention. If there is a need for a student to take the CogAT in another grade due to teacher recommendation or parent request, that is possible at grades K, 1, 3, & 4. Testing at these levels is solely for the purpose of possible Gifted identification.
What is an ALP?
An ALP is an Advanced Learning Plan. All students that are identified as Gifted have an ALP whether they go to their neighborhood school (Mountain View) 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, such as the CogAT, classroom work/assessments, other standardized measures, input from classroom teacher, parent(s), and student.
What does Gifted programming look like at Mountain View?
At Mountain View, we create ALP plans for students that have gone through a gifted identification process and qualify. The ALP is written with the Gifted Education Facilitator (Kate Bufton) 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) as well as affective needs.
At Mountain View, we value and support the depth and complexity of knowledge, not just what grade level a concept may be. Gifted students are put into cluster groups with other gifted students for peer connections. All students in our building read and write at their highest independent level. Sometimes additional grouping is needed in the area of mathematics. Some strategies that we use to meet needs at our building are: Flexible Grouping in reading and math, Content Acceleration, and Independent Study. Together the Gifted Education Coordinator, classroom teacher, student, and parent(s) meet to collaboratively develop goals and skills to work on each year.
What will this look like at Northeast Elementary School?
Northeast also follows the similar programming as Mountain View. Gifted students are put into Cluster Groups with other gifted students for peer connections. Each grade level has a classroom/classrooms in which students are clustered. Gifted students also meet with the Gifted Education Facilitator to develop goals and skills to work on in the classroom.
What will this look like at Sagewood Middle School?
Sagewood has many options for different levels of learning. Teachers will recommend based on their knowledge of the student and the choices that are offered. Parent and student input is taken as well.
What is the role of the Gifted Education Coordinator?
The role of the Gifted Education Coordinator is to coordinate the identification process as well as support in writing the ALP. If a parent is interested in applying for the Discovery Program, the coordinator can help with that process as well. The coordinator also collaborates with teachers in writing the goals, gathering support materials, analyzing data and adjusting plans as needed.
Resources
GIFTED CHILDREN'S BILL OF RIGHTS:
You have a right to
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know about your giftedness.
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learn something new everyday.
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be passionate about your talent area without apologies.
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have an identity beyond your talent area.
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feel good about your accomplishments.
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make mistakes.
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seek guidance in the development of your talent.
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have multiple peer groups and a variety of friends.
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choose which of your talent areas you wish to pursue.
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not to be gifted at everything.