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Gifted & Talented » K-4 Gifted and Talented

K-4 Gifted and Talented

 

NORTH BERGEN K-4 GIFTED AND TALENTED

Objective: To provide school-based Gifted and Talented services for grades K-4 in order to comply with N.J.A.C. 6A:8-3.1 and the Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act.


Rationale:  In order to comply with state requirements for gifted students, K-4 Gifted and Talented services must be developed to meet the individual needs of the gifted child. According to the National Association for Gifted Children, giftedness is:

“Students with gifts and talents perform—or have the capability to perform—at higher levels compared to others of the same age, experience, and environment in one or more domains. They require modification(s) to their educational experience(s) to learn and realize their potential. Student with gifts and talents:

  • Come from all racial, ethnic, and cultural populations, as well as all economic strata.
  • Require sufficient access to appropriate learning opportunities to realize their potential.
  • Can have learning and processing disorders that require specialized intervention and accommodation.
  • Need support and guidance to develop socially and emotionally as well as in their areas of talent.”

Specifically, the Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act “defines a gifted and talented student as a student who possesses or demonstrates a high level of ability in one or more content areas when compared to their chronological peers in the school district and who require modifications of their educational program if they are to achieve in accordance with their capabilities. ” Therefore, a criteria that uses various measures to identify students from various populations is presented that also includes twice exceptional students (students with an IEP, 504 plan, or diagnosed Autistic) and multilingual learners.


Identification Process: Students in grades K-4 will be identified for gifted and talented services using a matrix, including both quantitative and qualitative data. 

Kindergarten

  • Students in Kindergarten will be recommended by their current teacher by February. Data from the winter universal screener, Fastbridge, using Early Reading and Early Math will be used, along with their winter Fountas & Pinnelle guided reading level, and mid-year grades from the report card.  

1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grade

The following data collected from the previous school year will be used to identify gifted and talented students for the current school year:

  • Fastbridge universal screener (winter data)
    • Kindergarten into 1st: Early Reading and Early Math
    • 1st into 2nd: Early Reading and Early Math
    • 2nd into 3rd : aReading and aMath
    • 3rd into 4th: aReading and aMath
  • Fountas and Pinnell mid-year (winter) guided reading levels
  • NJSLA for grade 3 going into 4th grade
  • Standard Based Report Card (meeting or exceeding standards in ELA or Math)
  • Teacher recommendation for qualitative data

Data for all students will be collected and analyzed every subsequent year in order for students to be determined eligible for gifted and talented services.


Meeting the Criteria: K-4 students, who may be considered eligible for gifted and talented services in the current school year, shall meet the following criteria:

  • Kindergarten
    • Kindergarten teacher recommendation form
    • Winter Fastbridge overall scores in the 90th percentile or higher in either Early Reading or Early Math
    • Winter Fountas & Pinnelle reading level C/D or higher

  • Kindergarten into 1st Grade
    • Winter Early Reading or Early Math overall score in the 90th percentile or higher
    • Winter Fountas & Pinnelle guided reading level E or higher 
    • Kindergarten end of year standard based report card indicates student is meeting/exceeding standards in ELA or meeting/exceeding in math standards
    • Teacher recommendation form

  • 1st Grade into 2nd Grade
    • Winter Early Reading or Early Math overall score in the 90th percentile or higher
    • Winter Fountas & Pinnelle guided reading level K or higher
    • 1st grade end of year standard based report card indicates student is meeting/exceeding standards in ELA or meeting/exceeding math standards
    • Teacher recommendation form

  • 2nd Grade into 3rd Grade
    • Winter aReading or aMath overall score in the 90th percentile or higher
    • Winter Fountas & Pinnelle guided reading level M or higher
    • 2nd grade end of year standard based report card indicates student is meeting/exceeding standards in ELA or meeting/exceeding in math standards
    • Teacher recommendation form

  • 3rd Grade into 4th Grade
    • Winter aReading or aMath overall score in the 90th percentile or higher
    • Winter Fountas & Pinnelle guided reading level P or higher
    • 3rd grade end of year standard based report card indicates student is meeting/exceeding standards in ELA or meeting/exceeding standards in math 
    • NJSLA ELA or math scores at Level 4 or higher
    • Teacher recommendation form

 

Location: Gifted and Talented services may be held in the individual K-4 grade levels and in the classrooms at each respective school: Robert Fulton, Horace Mann, Lincoln, Lincoln Annex, Franklin, McKinley, Polk Street, and JF Kennedy. 


Curriculum: Gifted and talented students will follow grade level board approved curriculum, however to meet the individual academic needs of the gifted student, modifications for the rigor of the material may differ for these students in one or more of the identified domains. The curriculum for the gifted student may be accelerated to the student’s ability and compacted so that students can build on concepts and skills already mastered. Also, students may be grouped with other students with similar abilities for instruction or for completing projects. Further, gifted students may be pulled out of class to work on special programs/projects, school-wide enrichment programs, or may join an afterschool program that is designed to challenge what the gifted student has already mastered in a subject area. Various programs and activities may be suggested by the G & T committees, the classroom teacher, resource/supplemental teacher, and/or interventionists.


Identified gifted and talented students may also be serviced in the WIN period to meet their individual needs. Student individual needs may be determined by using several and various data measures in the classroom. The educator working with the student during the WIN period may provide small group or individualized instruction to target areas where the student may be challenged or the learning may be accelerated. Various online programs may also be utilized during the WIN period. Project based learning may also occur during the WIN period at the guidance and direction of the educator who is facilitating the period. 


Continuum of Services: The gifted and talented services in the North Bergen School District are needs-based services for students who possesses or demonstrates a high level of ability in one or more content areas when compared to their chronological peers and who require modifications of their educational program if they are to achieve in accordance with their capabilities. As such, educational alternatives for enrichment, acceleration, special grouping, and a specially designed program are available to meet the needs of the gifted and exceptional student.