KISSAM INTERMEDIATE

CHISD Gifted and Talented Handbook

Referral Process Overview

In compliance with the CHISD handbook, Kissam begins accepting referrals for Gifted and Talented screening now.  

• 4th-6th grade referrals are accepted until April 24th, and decisions are made by May 30th.

If you believe your child may be gifted, please ask the front office for a referral form. If you cannot come in person to the school, please call and we will send a packet home with your child.

What does the screening process look like?

Portfolios building evidence toward a child's giftedness are assembled once a referral is begun.

• Students complete at least five Kingore activities, which measure critical and creative thinking. 
• Students complete the NNAT3, a nonverbal assessment measuring pattern and problem-solving skills.
• Parents complete an inventory of student abilities and behaviors.
• Teachers complete an inventory of student abilities and behaviors.
• Scores from grade level appropriate assessments are compiled.
• Additional artifacts of giftedness may also be included. 

The campus coordinator assembles a team of Gifted and Talented certified professionals to review each portfolio. This committee reviews each portfolio blind; they are not allowed to know what children they are reviewing to maintain a bias free approach to their judgments. 

Once the committee has reviewed the portfolios and signed off on conclusions, letters are sent home notifying parents. 
 

Public Announcement of Gifted/Talented Referral Period
 

Each year Chapel Hill ISD accepts referrals for students who may need Gifted/Talented Services for the school year. This program is designed for students who exhibit intellectual and creative thinking abilities at an extraordinary level not normally served in the regular classroom. Services are provided only upon identification of education needs of the student. Anyone wishing to refer a student attending Chapel Hill ISD in kindergarten through twelfth grade this school year is asked to go by the student’s campus office and request a copy of the referral form. This form must be returned to the school by January 27th for Kindergarten, and April 13th for Grades 1-12. Those unable to go by the school should call the campus counselor to request a form be sent to them.

Texas Performance Standards Projects
https://www.texaspsp.org/
* All information is taken from the TAGT (Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented) Website: 

TAGT Website: Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented
Free Online GT Resources
Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented

Scholastic Learning At Home
Teaching Remotely for Grades K - 12 | Free Resources and Strategies
For Parents & Educators
Day by Day Projects to keep kids thinking, learning and growing.

Kentucky Association for Gifted Education
http://kagegifted.org/resources2020/
For Parents & Educators
Excellent Website for General Subject Areas, Virtual Tours, Fun Websites, Math Websites, Language Arts/Story Telling/Reading, STEM, Arts, Coding, Critical Thinking, and Mental/Physical Health Resources. 

NuMinds Enrichment
https://www.facebook.com/NuMindsEnrichment/
For Parents & Educators
Every hour, 9-5, we are Facebook Live broadcasting a NuMinds "variety show," complete with Inspirational Messages, roleplay, storytelling, and interactive STEAM lessons for K-2, 3-5, and in Spanish. Tune in; tell us what you like (or don't!), so we can keep real, inspired learning alive during this crisis. 

Live Facebook broadcasts; videos are saved on the NuMinds Enrichment facebook feed.

National Inventors Hall of Fame​
https://www.invent.org/blog/stem-activities
https://www.invent.org/blog
For Parents & Educators
We invite parents and educators to check out our blog filled with many easy, fun, and engaging STEM activities. The National Inventors Hall of Fame is proud to support our educational partners across Texas and beyond during this difficult time. We believe that learning happens everywhere. These STEM activities will provide children the opportunity to explore, experience and collaborate to continue building lifelong thinking and problem solving skills. As an example, we guide you through creating your own at home compost with materials in and around your home! Enjoy! Stay safe. Visit our blog for up to date trends, information and STEM activities for all. There is no expiration! We invite you to subscribe to our newsletter for continuous updates and learning opportunities!

Earth X
https://earthx.org/education/#lesson-plans
https://www.planet911.org/
For Parents & Educators
Developed by EarthX in collaboration with Big Thought, we offer a free K-12 Downloadable STEAM curriculum aligned with National Standards and with TEKs.  Designed to offer projects to support existing lessons. Index and resource page included.
Registration email is required for download - no expiration date - no limits on use.

Houston Museum for Natural Science
http://www.hmns.org/hmns-at-home
For Parents & Teachers
HMNS at Home - we're bringing our Museum to you! In doing our part to flatten the curve of COVID-19, we are offering a digital museum experience. We know, with school closures, that bringing educational content to you is more important than ever! From the comfort of your home, dive into our online collection with video archives, virtual tours, Beyond Bones Blog, and more!

Save the HMNS at Home webpage – more exciting educational opportunities heading your way

Mensa for Kids
https://www.mensaforkids.org/read/blog/at-home-learning-resources-for-kids/
For Parents & Educators
Living room turned into a makeshift classroom? We’re here to help with hand-selected lessons and activities for cooped-up kids.

You CAN Do the Rubik's Cube​
http://www.YouCanDoTheCube.com
For Parents & Educators
Learn to solve the Rubik's Cube with our online resources! Students can use the online solution guides to learn to solve, and educators/parents can guide lessons with our Learn to Solve curriculum (all available at no charge). When schools are back in session, educators can use the code TAGT20 to receive prepaid return shipping when requesting to borrow a class set of Rubik's Cubes (up to 36 cubes only--no charge to borrow the education sets). No log in required.

Box Out Bullying
http://www.boxoutbullying.com
For Parents & Educators
A leader in the field of bullying prevention, Box Out Bullying is offering materials to promote social emotional learning and peace in the home.  Perfect for families with siblings. Our easy to use lessons and materials promote bystander empowerment, addressing potential problems, and creating empathy.   Visit boxoutbullying.com/contact/. Fill out the contact us form and you'll recieve access to dynamic activities and materials.

BIG IDEAS for LITTLE SCHOLARS
https://bigideas4littlescholars.com/
For Parents & Educators
The site is a collection of recommended learning resources designed for use with K-8 gifted and advanced students, organized by grade level and discipline (math and logic, literacy, etc.). There are many links to free resources and the blog includes MANY ready-to-use FREE lessons and activities specifically designed for more advanced students.

Free Parent Webinar
https://www.txgifted.org/webinar
Beyond "Full Potential": Reconsidering What Success Means for Gifted Children
April 7, 6:30 p.m.

Colin Seale

All parents want their children to be successful. But parents of gifted children often feel an added pressure to unleash their child's "full potential." This webinar will give parents of gifted children powerful, but practical tools to understand the harms of the "full potential" myth and practical tools to move towards a more healthy, hopeful, and happy path to set children up to excel. ​
 

Ken Ken Puzzle
https://www.kenkenpuzzle.com/play_now
Free online puzzles. Cool math games. Number games.​
For Parents & Educators
KenKen.com has it!  (More addictive than Sudoku or Kakuro? You decide!) Educational games for kids.  It's Free! No special login instructions.

Texas State University, Talent Development Program
https://www.txstate-epdc.net/digital-badging/
For Parents & Educators

Teachers can replicate lessons and instruction that integrate FREE NASA content and resources for students while earning CEU credits and/or create a FREE community of students to complete their own online learning while earning cool NASA digital badges. For educators or parents who want students to work independently on exciting NASA digital badges, you will need to complete the "Using Badges with Students" 1-hr educator badge before creating your own student accounts.

Dr. Kristina Henry Collins: k.henry.collins@txstate.edu

Texas Wildlife Association
https://www.texas-wildlife.org/program-areas/youth-on-demand-webinars
For Parents & Educators
Youth On-demand Webinars
Accessible anytime - 24/7
Just choose a program, fill out the form and the program will begin. Interactive questions with follow-along worksheets. FREE anytime!

• Kissam Gifted and Talented Facebook Page
  Join our Gifted and Talented Facebook page!
  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1320128741508997/