Introduction
Introduction
This Web Quest is designed to help you understand how and why some classmates are considered “gifted” and receive special instruction. Throughout this WebQuests you will learn what is a gifted student, how can you identify one, and what are some things that they might do different than you when learning in the classroom.
I remember being in second grade. The teacher pulled six of us out of the classroom. We had to take a variety of tests. These test were extremely difficult for most second graders. Only one of the six of us passed the test. After that, that student left the classroom everyday for half a day. It wasn’t until a few years later that I realized that student was gifted and was receiving special instruction.
Many students have similar stories, or have noticed that there are some students who receive special attention and instruction. Not every student that needs special instruction has a disability. Sometimes it is because they need to be challenged because regular instruction is a little too easy for them.
Task
Your task is to follow the process, which will guide you in your understanding of how to identify and serve gifted students.
At the end of each section you will be asked to answer a variety of questions. The answers to these questions can be found within the provided website links. You will open these links in a new window or tab to make navigation between the website and Web Quest easier. Please answer all questions in complete sentences to recieve full credit.
Process
Identifying Gifted Students
What is a gifted student?
A gifted student is a student who shows exceptionality in one or more areas of learning that significantly exeeds grade level standards.
How do we Identify a gifted student?
The identification process varies based on the school district and based on the student. Not every gifted student is alike. Some are gifted in specific subject areas, while others are gifted all around. Most school districts use a variety of tools to identify gifted students. Some are objective (quantifiably measured) while others are subjective (personally observed).
Identifying Gifted Students Link
Click on the link and read through the entire page. Then read the following questions and answer based on what you read in the webpage. Be sure to go back to the webpage for guidence as you answer the questions.
What are at least three identification instruments used to identify gifted students. ?
What are the three phases to identifying gifted students?
There are multiple people who can recommend a student to be tested for the school’s gifted program. These people include teachers, parents, peers, or the student. It is important to recognize specific characteristics that many gifted students may have. Normally, noticing these characteristics is the first step to being identified as gifted. Also many gifted students will show an unusual talent in one or two specific areas.
Gifted Characteristics and Talents
Click on the link and read through the entire page. Then read the following questions and answer based on what you read in the webpage. Be sure to go back to the webpage for guidence as you answer the questions.
List three possible characteristics of a gifted student.
What are the six areas in which a gifted student may show an unusual talent?
Identification in Pitt County
Students who are recommended for the gifted programs will take an MCI Test. The two main subject areas tested are Math and Reading. Students must score a specific score to be pulled out for special instruction in either of those subjects. If the student scores and overall score that is extremely high, then he or she will be placed in the STRIDE program.
What are the required scores to be pulled for math and reading?
What is the required score for a student to qualify for STRIDE?
Serving Gifted Students
Inclusion Classrooms
In many school districts, there is not the funding or resources for a gifted program. This means the gifted student will remain in the general education classroom. It is the teacher’s job to differentiate or change the instruction to meet the needs of the gifted student. One way to help meet the needs of a gifted student is to create an environment that allows students to do projects and activities at their own level and pace. Also when students are working in groups it is important for the gifted students to work together because they can work on more challenging material to meet their learning needs.
Go to this link and scroll down to where you see “Creating a Learning Environment” and “Allow for flexible grouping” Read through those sections to the end of the page. Then answer the following questions.
Serving Gifted Students/ Inclusion
What are some examples of how teachers can change the classroom environment to meet the needs of gifted students?
What are some examples of how teachers can organize and monitor grouping to meet the needs of gifted students?
Gifted Programs
Most school districts will have a gifted program where the gifted students will be pulled out for either part of the day or all day. In Pitt County public schools, there are programs for Academically and Intellectually Gifted Students in math, and Academically and Intellectually Gifted students in English. During these programs students are pulled out for 90 minutes each week to advance their skills in whichever subject they are gifted in. Pitt County also has an all day program called STRIDE for 4th and 5th grade Academically and Intellectually Gifted students.
What does STRIDE stand for?
What is STRIDE designed to do?
Evaluation
Once you have turned in you written answers, I will use this rubric to grade your work.
Evaluation Rubric
| Criteria | Possible Points | Points Earned |
| Student was on task through the entire Web Quest | 5 | |
| Student answered all questions. | 5 | |
| Student answered all questions in complete sentences. | 5 | |
| Student answers came from the provided links. | 5 |
Total:
Conclusion
You have now completed the activity! I hope you enjoyed learning more about gifted students. Please look over your score and go back and see what you may have missed. I also want you to go back to those websites during your free time to learn more about identifying and serving Gifted students. Maybe there is someone in your class or even yourself that hasn't been identified yet!
Credits
Websites Used During the Web Quest
National Society for the Gifted and Talented. Giftedness Defined.http://www.nsgt.org/giftedness-defined/
Smutny, Joan. Eric Clearinghouse on Disabilitiesand Gifted Education. Teaching Young Gifted Children in the Regular Classroom (May 2000.) http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/eric/e595.html
Pitt County Schools. Academically or Intellectually Gifted. http://www.pitt.k12.nc.us/Page/53
National Asscociation for Intellectually Gifted. Identification. http://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/gifted-education-practices/i…