Port Edwards School District

What Is Gifted & Talented?

In the Port Edwards School District, Gifted and Talented pupils are defined as those students who provide evidence of high performance in intellect, specific academic areas, creativity, the arts, or leadership.

Further Explanations of Port Edward’s

Gifted & Talented Categories

Intellectual: Students in this area demonstrate rapid development of language ability; large vocabulary; strong powers of reasoning, analysis or synthesis and high I.Q.

Specific Academic: Students in this area demonstrate rapid development of interest and ability in one or more of the specific academic areas of language arts, science, social studies or math. Vocabulary, enthusiasm, memory and recall for area of giftedness are outstanding; high aptitude for the field of study; performance above the work they do in other classes.

Artistic: Students in this area demonstrate high potential in the visual and performing arts, including art, music, and drama.

Creative: Students in this area demonstrate creativeness in oral, written, and nonverbal expression; flexible and elaborative in thinking. Strong visualization and imagination abilities.

Leadership: Students in this area demonstrate an ability to mobilize the capacities of a group to solve its problems, accomplish its goals, and/or meet its needs.

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Port Edwards Philosophy For Gifted & Talented Education

We at the Port Edwards Public Schools believe that it is our mission to offer a positive student-centered environment that provides opportunities that enhance learning for all students. To that end, we will provide systematic and continuous educational experiences that meet the needs of gifted and talented students. The program will strive to give students the opportunities to reach their highest levels of learning and accomplishment

We believe that gifted students exist in all levels of society, regardless of sex, race, socio-economic status, or ethnic origin. We will identify those students through their outstanding intellectual, creative, artistic, leadership and/or specific academic aptitudes. Our teachers will be trained to incorporate differentiated teaching techniques that will facilitate the learning of all students.

Recognizing the existence of a wide range of optimal rates of development, education of the gifted should provide for varied needs of those students whose high degree of ability taxes the capabilities of the regular education program.

The ultimate goal of the program is to provide opportunities through which students can discover their strengths and increase their abilities.

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How are students in the Port Edwards School District identified for the Gifted & Talented Program?

In order to meet the intent of Standard T (the Wisconsin state law that deals with gifted and talented students) the Port Edwards School District has developed procedures for identifying students who show exceptional abilities in various areas. Tests alone cannot identify the depth of a student’s talents, so our district also utilizes input from parents/guardians, teachers, and students when evaluating students for the program.

*Identification Tests that are used for recognizing students who show exceptional ability in Intellectual & Specific Academic Areas

Grade 1: Otis’ Lennon Achievement

Grade 5: Test of Cognitive Skills

Grades 2,4,6: California Achievement

Grades 4, 8, 10: Wisconsin Student Assessment

* After test scores are collected and tabulated in the fall semester of each school year, parents of qualifying G.T. students will be notified of their son or daughter’s entry into the program via a letter from the district.

Port Edwards identification process for Artistically Gifted students

Identification of students in the visual arts is based on recommendations from the art instructor(s) and/or classroom teachers. Identification of students in the area of music will be based on recommendations from the choral and band instructors.

Port Edwards identification process for students gifted in the Leadership Area

Classroom activities and extra-curricula’s give ample outlets for students to excel in this area. Our classroom teachers and developmental guidance programs provide stimulus and encouragement in this area to all students. Identification of these students will be based on the recommendation of classroom teachers and activity advisors.

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Daily Programming In Port Edwards: Differentiation

Our district does not practice a “pull out” philosophy, where gifted students are grouped exclusively with students of their ability levels. Instead, we believe that the best learning happens when the challenge comes via the teaching practice of the instructor, not the group of students one is with. With that in mind, our teachers in grades K-12 have been trained to differentiate their curriculum. Differentiation is modifying curriculum by the classroom teacher so that students of all ability levels are challenged to learn.

Within the past two years, teachers in our district have received various educational training opportunities regarding how to best instruct with a differentiated approach. Our teachers have been provided with numerous educational resources regarding differentiation, inservice time has been devoted to collaborative learning, lesson plan research and writing, and our teachers have heard a nationally known speaker on the topic of differentiation. In addition, our G.T. library offers books for our teachers on best practices for meeting the needs of gifted students, how to differentiate within the classroom, and other educational topics.

At the elementary level, more time is devoted to stimulating the reading ability of our younger students. Mr. Bena (G.T. Resource teacher) meets with readers from grades 1- 4 each day of the week to enhance the regular instruction that is received in the classroom.

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G.T. Opportunities Available to Port Edwards Students

In the regular classroom:

Learning Centers

Reading Workshop

Accelerated Reader

Creative Writing

Young Authors

Flexible Grouping

Publishing

Alternative Assessments

Writing Workshop

Vocabulary Extension

Problem Solving

Independent Studies

Student Selected Projects

Field Studies

Computer Simulations

Yearbook

Individual Voice Lessons

Individual Instrument Lessons

Internet Activities

Independent Studies

Advanced Art

Off-Campus Programming:

Saturday Enrichment UWSP

Drama Field Trips

Museum Visits

Arts Council Artist-In Residence

College Days For Kids

MidWest Talent Search Activities

Environmental Station Trips

Alexander House Exhibits

Science World

Math League

DNR Field Studies

WI Math Engineering and Science Test

All-Star Band

Solo Ensemble

Teacher World

Business World

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Port Edwards Public SchoolsBoard of Education Policy

Gifted and Talented Program

The School District of Port Edwards shall provide access, without charge for tuition, to appropriate programs students identified as gifted or talented in accordance with state laws and regulations and the district’s established gifted and talented plan.

LEGAL REF.: Sections 118.35 Wisconsin Statutes

121.02(1)(t)

PI 8.01(2)(t), Wisconsin Administrative Code

CROSS REF.: Gifted & Talented Plan

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Wisconsin State Standard T

(Standard T in the state of Wisconsin ensures access to an appropriate program for pupils identified as gifted and talented in public schools.)

“Each school district board shall establish a means for identifying gifted and talented pupils in each of the categories identified in s.118.35 (1), Stats. Multiple criteria for the identification of gifted or talented pupils shall be used including intelligence, achievement, leadership, creativity, product evaluations, and nominations. A pupil may be identified as gifted or talented in one or more of the categories under s.118.35(1), Stats. The school district board shall provide access, without charge for tuition, to appropriate programs for pupils identified as gifted or talented as required under ss.118.35(3) and 121(1)(t), Stats. The school district board shall provide an opportunity for parental participation in the planning of the proposed program.”

Gifted and Talented Pupils

Section 121.02 (1), Wis. Stats.

Each school board shall:

(t) Provide access to an appropriate program for pupils identified as gifted and talented.

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G.T. Internet Links for Parents

The following Internet links provide access to sites that are highly informative regarding various aspects of gifted & talented students. For other G.T. websites or summer opportunities for your child, please contact Mr. Jim Bena, Port Edwards G.T. Resource Teacher: benaja@pesd.k12.wi.us.

* The Wisconsin Association for Gifted & Talented:

http://www.focol.org/watg/

* The Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth:

http://www.wcaty.org/

* The National Association for Gifted Council:

www.nagc.org

* Gifted Development Center of Dr. Linda Silverman Krieger:

http://gifteddevelopment.com

* G.T. World:

http://www.gtworld.org/

* S.E.N.G.: Supporting Emotional Needs for the Gifted:

http://www.sengifted.org/