Gifted Education in New Mexico

Gifted Education : 

Gifted Education E. Stapleton Elementary Rio Rancho, NM

Gifted . . . Defined : 

Gifted . . . Defined According to the state of New Mexico a child is considered gifted if: He or she is a student who demonstrates an intellectual ability (IQ of 130+) paired with subject matter aptitude/achievement (for example: Math, Reading, or Writing), OR creativity/divergent thinking, or problem-solving/critical thinking So, IQ + subject matter Or, IQ + creativity/ critical thinking From the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC):

Gifted Characteristics : 

Gifted Characteristics Learns easily and rapidly Is highly imaginative.  Super creative, either in ideas or visually Has a high degree of curiosity.  Asks many questions.  Is interested in a wide range of things. Understands global issues Reasons things out, thinks clearly, recognizes relationships, comprehends meanings. Insightfulness Has longer attention span and interest span. Can often form generalizations and use them in new situations. Has a large vocabulary which is used easily and accurately. Enjoys reading, usually at a mature level. Can follow directions easily, but may not always pay close attention to those directions. Can get lost pursuing own thoughts. Can appear to be daydreaming or not paying attention. From Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page

Gifted Characteristics : 

Gifted Characteristics Has a good or unique sense of humor Can use materials, words or ideas in new ways. Has a strong desire to excel or can be an underachiever. Uses a great deal of common sense and practical knowledge. Is a leader in several kinds of activities.  Is often asked ideas and suggestions.  Is looked to by others when something must be decided. Quirkiness Always wants to know more, almost to the point of annoyance Excels in one or more subject areas Excellent problem solver From Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page

The Process : 

The Process Parent/Teacher notices characteristics Teacher starts referral packet Brook will screen using the K-BIT2 Completed packet is submitted to Tammy K. SAT chair, Tammy K., schedules first SAT meeting Administration, SAT chairs, parents, Brook, and teacher attend 1st SAT MDT meeting (set up by Melissa) This meeting involves Melissa, Brook, parents, and teacher Student is then tested by a diagnostician MDT to discuss results IEP if student has qualified: discuss program and placement Rio Rancho Public Schools

Educational Needs : 

Educational Needs Enrichment - act of making fuller or more meaningful or rewarding  Grouping - Two or more students that are gathered/ located together. Acceleration - increasing the speed or rate of learning Leadership - ability to lead Character Education – learning about moral or ethical quality Creativity - the ability to go beyond traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination Critical Thinking - the mental process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to reach an answer or conclusion

Curriculum Considerations : 

Curriculum Considerations Gifted Services Should: Provide an opportunity for gifted students to work with other gifted students, Permit students to pursue self-selected research, Allow students to accelerate and enrich general education curriculum, practice affective learning, utilize problem solving, and apply creativity and critical thinking skills. General Education Should: Be founded in the Universal Design for Learning Theory which offers: Multiple means of representation to give learners various ways of acquiring information and knowledge, Multiple means of expression to provide learners alternatives for demonstrating what they know, and Multiple means of engagement to tap into learners' interests, challenge them appropriately, and motivate them to learn.

Special Issues : 

Special Issues Twice – Exceptional: behavioral disorders, emotional disturbances, learning disabilities (Dyslexia, written language, auditory processing, etc.), ADHD, etc. Underachievement: ability does not match potential Perfectionism: a personality trait that finds anything less than perfect is unacceptable Social/Emotional Needs: gifted students may need help with personal, social, family, educational and/or career problems Minority Populations: students who are gifted and have cultural/ linguist considerations or from poverty Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted

Misconceptions : 

Misconceptions Being Gifted is an achievement. A student can study for an IQ test. Gifted kids have it easy. Gifted kids are lazy. Gifted kids are gifted in all academic areas. Gifted kids don’t need help; they’ll do fine on their own. Gifted education programs are elitist. Doing more work is helpful to gifted students. All gifted students need to make straight A’s. Gifted students enjoy school. It helps gifted students to teach other students. Gifted students are from upper-middle class Caucasian families. From National Association of Gifted Children

Administrators, teachers and parents should know: : 

Administrators, teachers and parents should know: The nature of giftedness Procedures for identifying giftedness The needs of gifted students Forms of instructional delivery Curriculum models for the gifted The need for differentiated instruction, which includes higher order thinking skills, critical thinking skills, inductive and deductive reasoning The needs of culturally, linguistically, economically disadvantaged gifted students, as well as those with disabilities Social and emotional needs of gifted students The guiding principles from national organizations that deal with gifted issues From the Technical Assistance Manual for Gifted Education in New Mexico:

People We Know : 

People We Know Albert Einstein Thomas Edison Leonardo Da Vinci Marie Curie

Current People We Know : 

Current People We Know First Lady Michelle Obama Bill Gates Madonna Reggie Jackson

Resources : 

Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page Characteristics of the Gifted Child retrieved from http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/characteristics.htm New Mexico Administrative Code TITLE 6 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION CHAPTER 31 SPECIAL EDUCATION PART 2 CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES/GIFTED CHILDREN http://www.nmcpr.state.nm.us/nmac/cgi-bin/hse/HomepageSearchEngine.exe?url=http://www.nmcpr.state.nm.us/nmac/parts/title06/06.031.0002.htm;geturl;terms=gifted+education New Mexico Association for the Gifted http://www.nmgifted.org National Association for Gifted Children http://www.nagc.org Rio Rancho Public Schools Gifted Determination Process retrieved from http://www.rrps.net/PDF/SpecialServices/Gifted.pdf Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted Tips for Helping Gifted, Highly Sensitive Teens & Kids Cope with Trauma By Sharon M. Barnes, MSSW, LCSW retrieved from http://www.sengifted.org/articles_social/barnes_tips_helping_highly_gifted.shtml Technical Assistance Manual for Gifted Education in New Mexico: http://www.ped.state.nm.us/Humanities/Gifted/dl09/GiftedEducationTA2008.pdf Resources