Universal Screening: In Adams 12 Five Star Schools, 2nd and 6th graders who are not already identified GT participate in the Universal Screening process for potential gifted and talented identification. Find more detailed information regarding Universal Screening in the Five Star District.

Important dates for the Universal Screening process at our school:  

All 2nd graders will be taking the NGAT test September 25 - 27 2024.  Students who are not here that day will be given makeups as soon as possible. 

Parent/Staff/Student GT Recommendation: All K, 1, 3, 4, 5 students can participate in the GT identification process by submitting a complete body of evidence. Find more detailed information regarding the GT recommendation process in the Five Star District.

If you are interested in having your child be considered for the GT identification process you need to contact your GT Advocate for school-specific information.  If you would like to nominate your student for GT identification testing please go here.  Late nominations will not be accepted.

Important dates for the GT Recommendation process at our school:

All grades testing at Mountain View will take place on November 13 and 14, 2024 (CogAT is a two day test for K, 1, 3, 4, 5 so nominated students will test both days).  The deadline for nominating a student for testing is October 21, 2024.   

Advanced Curriculum & Extended Learning: “The Vehicle”

Provides the depth and complexity needed to ensure meaningful academic growth

Our school offerings include: 

• Differentiated instruction and small group opportunities through enrichment, acceleration, extension, and compacting of grade level curriculum 
• 4th and 5th grade teachers guide their students through at least one project based learning unit each year
   

Differentiated Learning Pathways:  “The Roadmap”

Provides an education at the appropriate level of readiness and challenge

Our school offerings include: 

• Flexible grouping
• Knowledge of name, strength, and need of each child
• Teachers utilize data in order to determine what level of readiness and challenge is best suited for their learners, and design content and assignments that match.

Individualized Opportunities & Enrichment:  “The Customized Options”

Actively engages and motivates through interests and meaningful learning opportunities

Our school offerings include:

• Goal setting with students for their ALPs or in class work and project based learning
• Collaboration with families to figure out strengths and needs
• Co-curricular clubs are offered such as Battle of the Books, French club, Green team, signing choir, etc...
• ALPs include goals around academic areas of strength and social emotional areas of need

Social-Emotional Learning:  “The Destination”

Focuses on developing the whole child by balancing empowerment and accountability

Our school offerings include: 

• Every grade level has adapted the Zones of Regulation curriculum for SEL
• Dedicated time everyday in classrooms for SEL learning
• GT students work with teachers to come up with an appropriate SEL goal for their ALP
• GT students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade will be meeting with the GTA and SEL specialists to do focused social emotional groups based on social emotional issues specific to gifted students

News from Gifted & Talented at MVE

Social Emotional Learning

This month our 4th graders are learning about Inner Differences in SEL groups.  We will talk about asynchronous development and some challenges that may come along with that.  We will also think about some things we are really good at and some things that may be difficult for us and then think about how those strengths and difficulties might clash/how to do some positive self talk when that happens. 

5th graders are going to begin working on a Vision Board project that will take them through setting some goals for themselves and creating a vision board of those goals.  They will be writing their goals and why they select the images they have to help remind them of their goals.  

Camp GT 

Last week we had some local beekeepers come to visit us for Camp GT.  We had so much fun learning about bees and what hard workers they are!  The students had so many questions and they got to taste 2 different types of fresh, local Colorado honey.  They brought home honey dippers to use as well.  

PERFECTIONISM

Does your child struggle with Perfectionism?  Lisa Van Gemert is an amazing resource for information on giftedness.  She wrote a book called Perfectionism that is really great.  You can order it on Amazon or I also have a copy at school that I would be willing to loan out if anyone is interested in reading it-just let me know!

Classroom Teachers and GT Advocate (GTA) Collaborative Support of GT Students

In addition to the extensions that take place outside of class, Rachel Haas (GTA) also works with teachers to support students in the classroom. This collaborative effort is multifaceted, including professional learning about giftedness and gifted best practices, GTA classroom visits to stay connected with instruction and learning that is taking place, etc... 

Newly Identified? Spring is a time when many parents have received a letter from the school district to let them know that their student has been identified as GT or Gifted and Talented.  The world of gifted education can be confusing at first.  If you are new to the GT world, here are some resources that are a good place to start. 

-Two short videos that provide a great introduction to GT

- Video presentation on ALPs.  This is from 2020 but provides a good intro. Check out other information from our Parent Education Series.

- Reading: A Parents Guide to Gifted Children and The Survival Guide for Parents of Gifted Kids are great places to start.  

-Prefer to watch rather than read? Check out these 45-60 min conversations from a variety of gifted experts

MVE GT In the Know

Suggested Reading for Parents

• 101 Success Secrets for Gifted Kids by Christine Fonseca
• Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students 3rd Edition by Christine Fonseca 
• Overexcitability and the Gifted By Sharon Lind *senggifted.org
• Overexcitabilities: Five Unexpected Intensities 
• All About Intensities (a bit of a rabbit hole of interesting articles)
• Three Images to Explain Giftedness
• Embracing the Whole Gifted Self by Patricia Gatto-Walden, Ph.D

Upcoming Events from the Adams 12 GT Parent Group

September 11, 2024

Social Hour

One of the key goals of the Adams 12 GT Parents Group is to cultivate a strong and supportive community among the Adams 12 GT parent community.  To help parents find support and a feeling of belonging, we host informal meet-ups for parents of gifted and talented students in our district.   

​We alternate our social hours between weekdays and weeknights.  Our next social hour is Wednesday, Sept. 11, 11am-1pm, at Panera.  See the SignUp for details and to let us know you are coming!

​If you are in need of support but these times or location do not work for you, please email info@a12gifted.org and we can set up a virtual or in-person meetup that works for you.

September 23, 2024

Leadership and Liaison Meeting

Our next Leadership and Liaison meeting will be held on Sept. 23, 6:30-8pm at the ESC.  During this meeting, we will hear from our current school liaisons and discuss plans for this academic year.  We also welcome any parents who would like to know more about the liaison role.  If you would like to know more about the GT Parent Group activities, this is the meeting for you! Newcomers as well as familiar faces are welcome!  See the Sign Up for details and to RSVP.

If you would like to learn more about the GT Parents Group or just have general questions about gifted, please contact us at info@a12gifted.org. We'd love to hear from you!

October 1, 2024

Parent Education Series

Our first Parent Education Series of the academic year will address self-advocacy, an important life skill that many GT students struggle to employ at school.

On Tuesday, Oct. 1, 6:30-8:30pm, Deb Douglas will present "GT Carpe Diem: Empowering student voice through the four steps to successful self-advocacy."  In this session, parents will discover ways to help their gifted children experience the four steps to self-advocacy: 1) Acknowledging Rights and Responsibilities, 2) Self-assessing Learner Profiles, 3) Recognizing Options, and 4) Finding Advocates.

​​This presentation is free but please register HERE.  Translation into Spanish and free childcare is available to those that request it in their registration. 

October 20-22, 2024

CAGT Conference 2024, Purpose & Passion, is coming to Embassy Suites in Loveland, October 20-22, 2024!  

Each year CAGT brings Keynotes, Signature Series, Breakout sessions, and other conference events that provide learning, networking, collaborating and fun for all attendees.  This year's conference will feature Dr. Temple Grandin as well as Dr. Kristina Collins, Dr. Rick Olenchak, and Richard Cash, addressing the topics of how diversity, LGBTQ+, and the power of differentiation impacts our gifted children.  Registration is now open!

CAGT is currently accepting nominations for the 2024 Leadership Award and submissions for the 6th annual student art contest. 

• Living Documents Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) goals are part of a “living document” that is shared with parents, students, and all teachers who work with the student. . This living document has been shared digitally with parents and guardians and will follow students through elementary school and ideally, into middle school. This Living Document is a tool to make sure that all stakeholders know each student well, and that students know their goals and have the opportunity to revisit them in order to reflect and revise with their teacher’s support and guidance. If you as a family have things to add, please email me and the teacher and we can talk about those things. 

• Recommended Listen:  Mind Matters Neurodiversity Podcast Episode 12  All the Feels (And Then Some) “Emotional intensity varies from person to person, but among gifted people, it’s often markedly higher, and more of a challenge to understand and control. Critically-acclaimed author and former school psychologist Christine Fonseca joins us with her insight into emotional intensity among gifted people, on episode 12 of Mind Matters.

  • About the guest - Christine Fonseca works to help children and adults explore the authenticity of their own voices. She’s the author of several books in the area of giftedness and emotional intensity, including Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students. Christine provides professional development to help educators understand the social and emotional needs of the gifted. She has worked as a school psychologist in the elementary, middle, and high school levels, and currently works as a consultant to school districts on the behavioral and social-emotional needs of students.”

• Booklist for Kids - Looking for multicultural, engaging book recommendations for your gifted readers? Be sure to bookmark We Need Diverse Books for some great suggestions! 

• Recommended for parents -  Embracing the Whole Gifted Self by Patricia Gatto-Walden, Ph.D  I have this book in my professional library and have read through it and parts of it several times. It is a short, but highly informative read that provides a window into the minds of gifted people, and how they are more than just their intellect. I highly recommend reading or listening to this eye opening book.

• Here are a few short videos about the different essential skills that academic goals are based around for students. 

  • Creativity and Innovation essential skill

  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving essential skill

  • Inquiry and Analysis essential skill

  • Information Literacy essential skill

  • Academic/Informed Risk Taking essential skill

Helpful Links & Resources

• Parent Portal - GT Identification results

• Parent Portal - ALP Process

• Adams 12 GT Parent Facebook Group

• AD12 GT Page loads of great info and resources

• Adams12 GT Parent Group 

• Mental Health Wellness

• Code.org Parent Letter & Scratch - For Parents  Students may go to these free coding sites for enrichment by choice with permission from their teacher or at home