Gifted Qualification and Services Determination
ANSWER DOCUMENT
Using the state and local manuals as a guide, determine if each of these students qualifies for gifted
services. Determine relative strengths and weaknesses as indicated by assessment results, then make
suggestions as to services and/or differentiation that would benefit the student.
For each example, respond to the following items.
1.
A. Does this student qualify? If yes, Option A or
Option B? Why did you choose that Option? If no,
why not?
B. Describe this student’s strengths.
C. Describe any weaknesses or areas of concern.
D. Explain services and/or differentiation areas
you would recommend for this student.
2.
A. Does this student qualify? If yes, Option A or
Option B? Why did you choose that Option? If no,
why not?
B. Describe this student’s strengths.
C. Describe any weaknesses or areas of concern.
D. Explain services and/or differentiation areas
you would recommend for this student.
3.
A. Does this student qualify? If yes, Option A or
Option B? Why did you choose that Option? If no,
why not?
Yes, this student qualifies under option B. The
student scored in 3 out of the 4 areas. Iowa
reading score was a 90, Portfolio score was a 92,
creativity test score was a 90.
The student’s strengths are in the areas of: nonverbal, creativity, reading, and portfolio work
(student’s work samples from the teacher).
This student is weak in quantitative areas of:
problem solving, logical puzzles/brain teasers, &
solving math problems with numbers & patterns.
I would recommend the target program;
however, this student needs daily practice with
logical number sense and patterns (possibly in
guided math instruction where number & logic
problems & pattern work can be taught as
stepped activities where the problems begin
easy, then get increasingly harder each time);
working in pairs or small groups would help
increase scores in these math areas.
Yes, qualifies under option A. Their Cogat
composite was a 99 and Iowa reading was a 90.
The student’s strengths are: mental abilities,
problem solving, reading, verbal & non-verbal.
Weak in the areas of motivation and creativity.
I would recommend the target program for this
student due to test scores. He needs activities
that will keep him focused and engaged because
he is not an independent worker (possibly taught
in small groups or paired learning). A study skills
group would also help with organizational skills;
use colored folders or a binder with dividers. In
addition, give this student topics he is interested
to help motivate him.
No, This student does not qualify because they
only have 1 out of the 4 areas filled for option B.
B. Describe this student’s strengths.
C. Describe any weaknesses or areas of concern.
D. Explain services and/or differentiation areas
you would recommend for this student.
4.
A. Does this student qualify? If yes, Option A or
Option B? Why did you choose that Option? If no,
why not?
B. Describe this student’s strengths.
C. Describe any weaknesses or areas of concern.
D. Explain services and/or differentiation areas
you would recommend for this student.
5.
A. Does this student qualify? If yes, Option A or
Option B? Why did you choose that Option? If no,
why not?
This child is highly motivated, reasonable to say,
a high achiever, gets fairly good grades and has
creative ideas which are probably demonstrated
through classwork.
This child is weak in reading, math and problem
solving work.
I would recommend small group instruction in
these areas of weakness; (possibly in guided
math instruction where word problems can be
taught as stepped activities where the problems
begin easy, then get increasingly harder each
time or guided reading where close reading can
take place). Individual help or extra tutoring in
math and reading skills would also help to help
increase test scores.
Yes, this student qualifies through Option B. Their
Cogat verbal score was a 90, Iowa reading score
was a 95. Additionally, the TTCT was given and
the score was 91 (3 out of 4 areas makes them
qualify).
This student demonstrates strengths in verbal
skills & reading. His TTCT score shows a great
deal of potential in creativity.
This child’s motivational score is average, so
he/she is probably not entirely interested in
school, nor will they be a high achiever. Their
non-verbal area also demonstrates a weakness.
This student needs more instruction with nonverbal activities such as projects that require oral
presentations (they can begin with small group or
partner projects, then eventually independent). It
would be beneficial to use lots of visuals, shape
relationships and hands-on activities when
solving problems.
No, this student did not qualify because they only
had 1 out of 4 categories for option B.
B. Describe this student’s strengths.
Mental ability is this student’s strength.
C. Describe any weaknesses or areas of concern.
Intelligence is high, but has a motivation score
that is very low. They may have another issue at
hand (ADD, ADHD, LD), so special education
services should be notified (possibly begin RTI),
especially if the child isn’t scoring up to their full
mental ability potential. The discrepancy range is
D. Explain services and/or differentiation areas
you would recommend for this student.
6.
A. Does this student qualify? If yes, Option A or
Option B? Why did you choose that Option? If no,
why not?
B. Describe this student’s strengths.
C. Describe any weaknesses or areas of concern.
D. Explain services and/or differentiation areas
you would recommend for this student.
7.
A. Does this student qualify? If yes, Option A or
Option B? Why did you choose that Option? If no,
why not?
B. Describe this student’s strengths.
C. Describe any weaknesses or areas of concern.
D. Explain services and/or differentiation areas
you would recommend for this student.
so great between the motivation score and the
cogat composite score. Their reading score is
below average; Iowa total is average between
math and reading combined.
This student should be recommended for special
education services (begin Tier 2 for RTI and call a
meeting with parents to review scores).
Needs small group reading setting in the
classroom to practice needed skills and maybe
individual tutoring to help improve the 46 below
average reading score.
No, this student did not qualify because the
NNAT score was not high enough. Usually with a
creativity test score like this, the student would
have the TTCT given to them. No evidence of this
was shown.
The student shows strengths in both math and
quantitative ability.
Areas of concern are this student’s verbal skills
and low Iowa test score total.
I would recommend daily practice with word
analogies & problem solving practice in smaller
groups preferably in guided math instruction
where word problems can be taught as stepped
activities where the problems begin easy, then
get increasingly harder each time. Guided reading
where close reading can take place would also
help their reading score.
Yes, This student qualifies through Option B. Both
the CAIMI math score and the SS were a score of
90. The Iowa math score is 91, the reading score
is 99 and non-verbal component score is 98.
These options qualified in option B.
The student demonstrates strengths in Reading
and non-verbal skills. Math score is good as well.
Verbal and quantitative scores are average, and
both the TTCT and motivation scores are average
as well.
Qualifies for gifted, so I would recommend the
program; however, this student needs practice in
many areas including verbal skills, quantitative
skills, number pattern practice, number sense to
solve problems, and word analogy practice. Small
group or paired instruction would work best with
this student. Number Talks and guided math
would help, as well as instruction with non-verbal
activities such as projects that require oral
presentations (they can begin with small group or
partner projects, then eventually independent). It
would be beneficial to use lots of visuals, shape
relationships and hands-on activities when
solving problems.
8.
A. Does this student qualify? If yes, Option A or
Option B? Why did you choose that Option? If no,
why not?
B. Describe this student’s strengths.
C. Describe any weaknesses or areas of concern.
D. Explain services and/or differentiation areas
you would recommend for this student.
Yes, This student qualifies through Option A. The
NNAT (96) counts as a composite score and the
math Iowa 94 is a qualifying score.
This student demonstrates strengths in both nonverbal and mental abilities (NNAT).
I would be concerned with their low motivation
score and average creativity score.
Student may need verbal practice skills, reading
skills and comprehension practice (this can be
done in small group guided reading instruction
using close reading with high-interest passages
and retelling of events done orally to help with
verbal practice skills.) May need extra practice &
guidance to help with organization (colored
folders and binder with labeled tabs) as well as
motivation (having the student choose the topics
he is most interested in reading and/or
researching about.
Summary - Discussion with Mentor:
I thoroughly discussed each component of both options A & B with my gifted mentor, Bill McAllister.
He explained in detail how he often tests students who JUST miss the mark with an 85 percent in
creativity and motivation. There are so many students who seem like they aren’t going to be eligible,
but there are loopholes, which end up making them qualify. He explained the TTCT, the Hawthorne
Gifted tests and teacher checklists they use to test the students’ motivation & creativity in class
(which I found highly interesting). He shared with me how he continues to use the
evaluation/guideline (appendix F) in the gifted procedures manual even after eight years of teaching
ALP students. Whatever works is what I say! He explained the importance of parental consent and
extended testing when qualifying students for the gifted program in Cobb County. I didn’t realize how
extensive this can get. I feel like I learned so much in that short period of time. He is very
knowledgeable in this area; I feel more confident knowing I have someone to go to I f I ever have
questions about the gifted program.