Gifted Resources

At the high school level, gifted students receive a variety of services depending on their needs. All freshmen are required to pass a transition course we call "Reality 101" and gifted students take that class together with one of the gifted teachers. They can also opt to take classes that gifted teachers are certified to teach that include enrichment activities. Gifted students also have the option to take a class called "Research" in which they design and conduct a personal project with the oversight of the gifted facilitators. This may be an extension of another class, a special interest project, a community engagement project, or skill development for greater success in other classes. Gifted students may also elect to have a gifted homeroom with other gifted students of all ages.

Gifted services at the middle school level are designed and delivered according to student needs. Students are in a class with their intellectual peers while they cover the curriculum for different classes in the communications department. Students take Middle School 101 during 6th grade, Tech and Careers during 7th grade, and Leadworthy during 8th grade. The content for these classes focuses on students’ Individual Plans of Study (IPS), where they explore their current and future interests, strengths, learning styles, and career matches. In addition to students working on a common, whole-group curriculum, they also engage in enrichment activities that encourage creativity, higher-level thinking, and address their academic needs. All gifted students have an individualized education plan (IEP) with self-directed goals that address their individual needs.

At the elementary level, gifted students receive extensions in reading and/or math tier times at least once a week based on their individual needs. During these enrichment groups they work alongside same grade level peers that have also shown high ability in reading and/or math. We utilize Continental Math League (CML) to challenge students with math problems up to two grade levels above their actual grade. For reading, we use Junior Great Books (JGB) which is a compilation of classic and modern literature. Students explore the texts through discussion, vocabulary activities, and written assignments. While CML and JGB are the foundation of the extension program, there are many other logic puzzles, visual/spatial activities, mini-projects, and brain teasers that we may do as well. 

Some students also receive three 90-minute blocks of in-depth studies at a centralized location. Identified students travel from their attendance building to Derby Hills Elementary (Alcove) to work with like-minded students from all nine elementary schools. During the in-depth studies, students have the opportunity to grow socially, academically, and creatively while looking at subjects with more depth and breadth. Units have included a recyclable art project, insects, space, bridge building, World Peace Game, and more.

• Underrepresented Populations Article
• Kansas State Department's Eligibility Indicators
• Recognizing Gifted Short Article

• Australian Association for Gifted Teacher Resources
• NAGC Teacher Resources
• ASCD Six Strategies for Teaching Gifted Students

• Special Education Process Handbook

• Kansas State Department Resource Links

• NAGC- For administrators

• Low Self Esteem

• Signs of Perfectionism

• Sad or low much of the time

• Texas Association for Gifted-Decision Making

• Rainforest Mind Blog- Decision Making

• Davidson Institute-Dealing with Stress

• SENG- Stress Management

• Gifted and Talented International- What do we know about Gifted kids and Stress