Welcome!!!

To the Mount Ida Public Schools

Bobby Barrett Elementary Gifted and Telented Program

The Mt. Ida Public Schools Gifted and Talented Program is designed to meet the needs of students who demonstrate a talent for upper level thinking skills, creativity, and problem solving.  The objective of the program is to provide in-depth thinking, personal challenges, and concepts at higher levels of abstraction or complexity.  The curriculum is meant to be interesting as well as provide creative experiences with challenging projects and quality production. The program services students beginning in Kindergarten and continuing through 12^th grade.

What Makes Giftedness?

Gifted and Talented students are those of high potential or ability whose learning characteristics and educational needs require qualitative differentiated educational experiences and/or services.  Possessions of these gifts or the potential for their development will be evidenced through an interaction of above average intellectual ability, task commitment, and/or motivation, and creative ability. 

Program Philosophy

The Mt. Ida School District has a commitment to help each child meet their potential.  The GT program is designed to assist each gifted and talented student to gain realistic and healthy self-concepts of their strengths, weaknesses, potential; and responsibilities to themselves, the school, the community, and society.

Characteristics of GT Students

Solves and learns new information quickly

Excels in one or more subjects

Asks relevant questions

Produces imaginative/original art

Tends to dominate others

Prefers the company of intellectual peers

Initiates projects and extensions of assignments

Generates complex, abstract ideas

Enjoys creating

Entrance into the GT Program

Referrals are taken throughout the year from students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members. 

Referred students are evaluated with the instruments of:  Mental Abilities Test (IQ), Achievement Test, Student GPA, Creativity Test, and HOPE Teacher Rating Scale.  Parental permission is granted before any testing can be administered.  Once all testing is complete, an identification selection committee meets and makes a decision based on the data collected.  Then permission is granted from parents for placed students to be serviced in the program.  Letters of notification are sent to all parents regardless of the placement decision. There is an appeals process which parents/guardians may use should they disagree with the identification selection committee’s decision.  There is also an exit policy in the event that the program does not continue to meet the student’s needs.

Elementary Program Options

-K-2^nd grade students are serviced through a 30 minute Enrichment class once a week during their Library class with the GT teacher.  Activities geared to develop their potential creativity and higher level thinking skills are built into the Library lesson.

-3^rd-6^th grade identified GT students are serviced through a pull-out class equaling 150 minutes a week. Activities are geared to utilize higher level thinking skills and challenge their creative and academic talents through research and technology projects (Presidents and self-selected topic of study for this school year), creative and critical thinking activities, and attending educational Field Trips. Students are encouraged to compete in academic competitions such as Quiz Bowl and compete in Chess competitions.

Expectations

GT students are expected:

-to master the same concepts that the regular classroom students master

-to maintain above average grades

-to complete quality projects in the GT classroom

-to participate in projects and activities offered by the GT program

I look forward to another great year with these wonderful students.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. My school phone number is 867-4778 and my e-mail is melissa.austin@mtidalions.org.