WHAT IS “GATE TEN”?
Who is it for?
How do they get in? (Qualify)
What do they do?
Lovejoy Gifted Association


The LGA is a not-for-profit advocacy group for
all gifted children in Lovejoy ISD. Membership is
open to all persons interested in the mission of
the organization.
Academic Enrichment:
http://www.lovejoyisd.net/MP.cfm?P=6566
INTRODUCTIONS



Leslie O’Daniel – Elementary GT Coordinator
Shelley Cano – GT Teacher, Lovejoy & Hart
Elementary
Melinda Hervey - GT Teacher, Puster &
Lovejoy Elementary
Who is it for?
JUST SMART
OR
GIFTED ?
What’s the difference?
GIFTED OR JUST SMART?
Questioning Style
Very Smart – ask questions that have answers
Gifted – ask questions about abstract ideas, concepts, and
theories without easy answers.
Learning speed and application of concepts
Very Smart – learn in a step-by-step fashion until they
grasp a concept
Gifted – jump over steps and move quickly to concept
understanding; do not like reconstructing steps
GIFTED OR JUST SMART?
Emotional Outlook
Very Smart – show emotion but can get over an
upsetting incident fairly easily
Gifted – Experience heightened, all-consuming
emotions and have difficulty getting over an
upsetting incident
Level of Interest
Very Smart – Curious about a wide variety of things
Gifted – Show intense curiosity about nearly
everything or immerse themselves in a topic of
current interest.
GIFTED OR JUST SMART?
Language Ability
Very Smart – Learn new vocabulary easily but use
words in speech typical for their age
Gifted – Use extensive and advanced vocabularies,
understand verbal nuances, enjoy puns and word play,
often talk over the heads of their age peers
Concern with Fairness
Very Smart – State firm opinions about fairness but in
personal terms
Gifted – Show intense concern about fairness and
equity, typically on a more global scale
HOW DO THEY QUALIFY?
Five assessment measures
 3 objective and 2 subjective
 96% National Percentile Rank
 Cross District Line on 4 of 5 measures
(categories) to be considered

HOW DO THEY QUALIFY?

Subjective Measures

Observations of Parents

Observations of Teachers
HOW DO THEY QUALIFY?

Objective Measures


Screening Phase
Reasoning Assessment


All Kindergarten students
In Kindergarten classroom with the
GT teacher and Kindergarten teacher.
Possible Tests that we will use:
- WISC-III
- CogAT NonVerbal
- NNAT2
- OLSAT
EXAMPLE QUESTION
FROM A REASONING TEST
?
HOW DO THEY QUALIFY?

Objective Measures continued
Small group ~ during January and February
Aptitude Assessment – CogAT, SAT, WIS-III,
WIAT, etc.
 Achievement Assessment – Iowa Test of Basic
Skills (ITBS), Standford Achievement Test, ACT,
ITED, etc.

HOW DO THEY QUALIFY?

Identification Profile





Reasoning
Teacher Checklist
Parent Letter
Kindergarten Abilities Test
Kindergarten Achievement Test
PROFILE SHEET
Student A’s Profile

Category 1 – Aptitude
Verbal - 85
 Quantitative - 90


Category 2 Achievement
Reading - 96
 Math - 88

Decision: NO
Category 3 Reasoning - 85
 Category 4 - Parent
Recommendation – 96
 Category 5 - Teacher
Recommendation - 96

PROFILE SHEET SAMPLE 2
Student B

Category 1 - Aptitude
Verbal - 98
 Quantitative - 90


Category 2 Achievement
Reading - 96
 Math - 98

Decision: YES
Category 3 Reasoning - 85
 Category 4 - Parent
Recommendation – 96
 Category 5 - Teacher
Recommendation - 96

HOW DO THEY QUALIFY?
All K students take Reasoning test
 Parents may refer a student for further
assessment
 Based on these scores, & teacher
observations, additional referrals for
further assessment may be made
 Additional assessments will be
administered, scored & plotted on the
Identification Profile
 Gate Ten Selection Committee will convene
to make placement decisions
 Parents will be notified

WHAT DO THEY DO?

If student qualifies

Begins Pull Out by March 1st (This year the
week of February 24th.)

The students who have qualified for GATE 10
services leave their homeroom teacher and
come into the GATE 10 classroom for the lesson.

Will attend 90 minutes each week (could be in
two sessions, rather than one long session)
WHAT DO THEY DO?
K-2 Program Goals
Emphasis on higher level thinking skills
 Emphasis on product-oriented learning to
develop creativity
 Develop decision-making and problem
solving
 Provide for emotional growth

WHAT DO THEY DO?
Curriculum includes:
 advanced levels of creative & critical
thinking,
 group dynamics & independent study,
 research skills,
 problem solving,
 oral & written communication skills,
and
 decision making
WHAT DO THEY DO?

Brainteasers

Logical Thinking Activity/Journal Activities

Deductive Reasoning Activities

Wonders Unit
WHAT DO THEY DO?

If student does not qualify
Weekly in-class lessons will continue
 Center activities
 Enrichment activities

WHERE DO I GET THE PAPERWORK TO
REFER MY CHILD?
The referral is due on Friday,
January 10th by 4:00 p.m.

www.lovejoyisd.net
Departments
 Gifted & Talented Services


Forms ~
 K-5 Referral
 Permission for Testing
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
For additional questions, please
contact:
Leslie O’Daniel
leslie_o’daniel@lovejoyisd.net