Gifted and Talented :: Instructional Strategies & Professional Development

New! Online Staff Development for G/T Teachers developed by Sharon Hesser. You must register online first before taking the course.

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

Teachers will meet the educational needs of gifted students through a variety of ways that include (but are not limited to) …
• assessments appropriate to learning levels;
• compacting curriculum based on assessed needs;
• learning centers/ stations/contracts;
• Socratic Questioning/productive questioning;
• WebQuests, Problem-Based Learning and Inquiry Learning;
• Kaplan’s Model of Depth and Complexity;
• Themes and inter-disciplinary instruction;
• independent study and problem-based G/T designated courses;
• student research, product development and presentation;
• acceleration;
• collaborative grouping that leads to student generated knowledge;
• open-ended, student centered instructional environment that encourages student generated knowledge.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Teachers must have participated in at least five days or thirty (30) hours of basic Gifted and Talented professional development prior to teaching any of the four core subjects designated as services for gifted and talented students. In addition, teachers providing services to gifted students must receive annually six (6) hours of professional development in gifted education or district approved pre-AP or Advanced Placement training in assigned subject area.

*In the event that a teacher with less than 30 hours of G/T professional development must be assigned Gifted/Talented responsibilities, the campus principal will develop a written plan, signed by the teacher and principal, to insure required professional development is acquired during the first semester of the school year. (Form provided by Services for Gifted/Talented Students in GISD website filing cabinet.) 19 TAC § 89.2 (2) TSP 4, 4.1.2A

District will provide professional development to support teachers of gifted/talented students through the following:
• Gifted and Talented Academy in the summer to attain G/T basic 30 hours;
• At least 6 hours annual update during the year and/or summer -
o based on teacher need
o related to goal and objectives of gifted program.


19 TAC § 89.2(3); tsp 4, 4.2A

* District will conduct annual staff development survey to determine gifted education needs.

District will offer awareness training in Nature and Needs and Assessment and Identification of Gifted Students to encourage all teachers (including new), campus administrators, central office administrators, superintendent and school board members to become knowledgeable of needs and identification of gifted students.

Bilingual/ESL and kindergarten teachers will be expected to attain the thirty hours G/T basic professional development and annual update.

Principals, and counselors who coordinate assessment and identification at each campus, must have Nature and Needs, Assessment and Identification and Program Options for Gifted Students for a minimum of 6 hours of gifted professional development credit.

The Student Review Committee who is responsible for identifying gifted students must have at least one member who have the thirty (30) hours basic G/T professional development.

Six hours professional development for Student Review Committee members will be offered annually in the summer.


For more information about services for gifted and talented students or enrollment information, please contact:

Sharon Hesser
Gifted/Talented Program Director
Georgetown Independent School District
603 Lakeway Drive, Georgetown, TX 78628
(512) 943-5000 x. 3703