Gifted

Glendale Elementary School District is dedicated to challenging and engaging gifted students at every grade level, K-8, to recognize and reach their full potential, academically, socially and emotionally. The goals of the gifted program in the Glendale Elementary School district are:

To identify students who are gifted through a variety of measures appropriate for the population of the district.
To meet the academic and social/emotional needs of gifted children throughout the school day, every day.
To properly train teachers in the characteristics and needs of gifted children, and how to effectively differentiate curriculum for such students.
To integrate the 2010 NAGC Gifted Programming Standards to focus on student outcomes

Promoting educational potential is our goal in providing services for gifted students. Qualifying students in grades K-8 are provided learning activities designed for gifted children. GESD's curriculum is structured so that all students, including the academically gifted, can expand upon regular classroom assignments to the fullest extent of their abilities, emphasizing higher level thinking processes and "choices".

Additional Information

Gifted Program Overview

Overview of Gifted Services

Gifted Cluster Grouping Model

Cluster grouping is a full day gifted service model. Gifted students are grouped together in a classroom with teachers who have been designated by their principals. Gifted Strand teachers hold a gifted endorsement issued by the state of Arizona or are working toward acquiring one. Gifted Leads provide professional development in gifted education and facilitates the planning and implementation of differentiated curriculum and instruction through regularly scheduled monthly Gifted Strand meetings. Gifted Achievement Advisor provides support to Gifted Leads and Gifted Strand teachers through professional development, coaching, and facilitating with the planning and implementation of differentiated curriculum and instruction.

The teachers collaborate with parents to create a Gifted Differentiation Plan (GDP) to support the student in the classroom. GDPs includes: student information, student achievement profile, strengths & obstacles, a goal, and reflection.

In the Cluster Grouping Model, gifted students are clustered into mixed-ability classrooms at each grade level. It allows the teacher to meet the needs of all students while addressing the exceptional needs of the gifted students.

Gifted students receive instruction that is differentiated by content, process, product, learning environment, and assessment:

Content — Complex, abstract ideas presented in a variety of disciplines, including interdisciplinary curriculum
Process — Higher-level thinking through Bloom’s Taxonomy and the Multiple Intelligences
Products — Alternative methods of demonstrating mastery with a range of complexity
Learning environment — Student-centered, flexible grouping based on readiness, interests, and abilities
Assessments — Pre-assessment and testing out-of-grade level curriculum.

Placement Identification

Gifted Placement & Identification

Students are assessed in three areas (verbal, quantitative, and non-verbal) using the CogAT assessment. The state of Arizona requires placement for students scoring at the 97th percentile or higher on state-approved tests. GESD offers gifted services for students who score at or above 95% in one or more areas at all of our campuses.

A student is assessed on the NNAT assessment if they scored between a 90%-94% in any of the three areas on the CogAT assessment. GESD offers gifted services for students who score at or above 92% on the NNAT assessment.

Parent Resources

Contact

Gifted Records Request:

Ms. Rebecca Moehring

Coordinator for English Language Arts and Social Studies

(623) 237-7234

Testing

Testing is available throughout the school year, for all existing kindergarteners through 8th-grade students who attend a GESD school. Testing will take place during the school day. If you would like your child tested, you need to notify your child’s teacher.

nomination form

Fill out nomination form and bring to your child's teacher if you would like your child tested for gifted.

Testing Dates & Types

Testing Dates & Types

This testing takes place in three sessions each year. Testing takes place at school.

Beginning of school testing window
- 2nd and 5th grade students - Blanket Testing - end of August/beginning of September
Fall testing window
- 3rd-8th grade students – End of October through December
Winter testing window –
- Kindergarten – 1st grade students – February/beginning of March

* 2nd grade and 5th grade blanket testing – all 2nd and 5th grade students currently enrolled and attending a GESD school will be tested using the CogAT.

Tests

CogAT - Cognitive Abilities Test is a multiple-choice K-12 assessment that measures reasoning skills with different types of verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal questions. The CogAT is a group-administered aptitude test.

NNAT - Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test is a nonverbal test used for qualifying K-12 students for gifted and talented programs. The NNAT utilizes shapes and figures to evaluate problem-solving and reasoning abilities of a child without relying on their language skills.

new gifted parent portal

Logo Image

Logo Title

In This Section