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Personal Characteristics Of Gifted and Talented Students

Gifted and talented children are all very unique.  They have different interests, different personalities, and different areas of high ability.  However, these children also share certain traits.  It is the degree to which they exhibit these traits that sets them apart.  If most of these characteristics describe your child or your student, you may wish to consider screening.

Student Selection
 

Referral
Parents, students, staff, and members of the community may refer a child for screening.  The program serves academically capable students who demonstrate superior intellectual ability and outstanding academic achievement in the four content areas.  The profile of a student placed in the program usually includes:

·             Achievement and cognitive test scores above the 90^th percentile

·             Non-verbal abilities test scores above the 90^th percentile

·             Strong parent and teacher recommendations

·             Work demonstrating unusual depth and/or complexity

Identification
A Student Selection Committee at each school conducts identification of the gifted students.  Each Selection Committee recommends students for placement after meeting and reviewing their scores on the various screening instruments.

 Placement
All students are screened in the Kindergarten.  After that, screening will take place once a year for all nominated students.  Any student meeting the criteria will be accepted into the program.

Program Description

Curriculum
The curriculum will be differentiated to provide depth and complexity to the curriculum that encompasses the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and the Edcouch-Elsa ISD Academic Standards.  Students will be taught problem solving, creative, and research skills, as well as affective skills.  This will result in advanced-level products and performances.

Elementary
The gifted students spend most of their time in a regular heterogeneous classroom, but they are pulled out for a given period of time.  A special teacher who designs a differentiated curriculum specifically for the gifted students carries out instruction.
 

Secondary
At the secondary level, a coordinator is available at each school to assist students with planning appropriate and challenging programs.  A wide variety of enriching electives, honors, and Advanced Placement courses are offered in each of the four core areas of Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science.

Edcouch-Elsa’s Program for the Gifted and Talented Student

Goals
Edcouch-Elsa’s program for the gifted and talented student includes these goals:

·             To provide students with instruction in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills with appropriate enrichment, acceleration, and in-depth study

·             To develop self-esteem, allowing students to realize and acknowledge their own and others skills and talents.

·             To have graduates who produced products and performances of professional quality as part of their program services.

 
Parental Involvement

Communication and cooperation between home and school are important factors in helping gifted and talented children use and develop their abilities.  The district conducts several Parent-Teacher meetings throughout the school year to discuss the needs of the gifted and talented children and the program.  Parents are encouraged to visit and observe the gifted and talented classroom at any time.  Contact your child’s school to set up appointments.