LVISD G/T Parent Newsletter - Spring 2015

Lago Vista Independent School District
Spring 2015
LVISD Gifted & Talented Update
Excellence in EVERYTHING we do!
LVISD Philosophy of Gifted Education
The Lago Vista ISD Gifted & Talented program helps develop selfactualized learners by encouraging effective communication, guiding
learners to be focused and self-directed, nurturing interpersonal and
intrapersonal skills, and focusing on independent research study skills,
as well as developing critical and creative thinking and problem
solving skills.
Check out the new LVISD
Gifted & Talented Website!
If you haven't had a chance to check out the new Gifted and
Talented website, please do so! The page includes lots of great
resources for parents, including the recently published LVISD
G/T Handbook. There you can find information on program
design, identification, furloughs, and exist procedures, as well as
parent information and resources. Visit the new site by clicking
on the Curriculum & Instruction department tab on the Lago
Vista ISD homepage at http://www.lagovistaisd.net.
Save the Date!
February 1
Spring Referral Deadline
for Grades 1-12
February 6
5th Grade Field Trip to
the Austin Aquarium
and Microsoft
April 9
April 28
Spring G/T Showcase
Middle School Field Trip
to the Scarborough
Renaissance Festival
Spring G/T Showcase
LVISD will be hosting a G/T Showcase on Thursday, April 9th
from 6:30-8:30pm. The location for this event has yet to be
determined, so stay tuned! The purpose of the G/T showcase is
to highlight and share the amazing work of our Gifted and
Talented students with parents and the community. In grades 18, students are participating in the Texas Performance Standards
Project, the state's curriculum resource for Gifted and Talented
instruction. Our kids have been working very hard and we are
excited to showcase their work. We hope to see you there!
District Mission
Lago Vista ISD will equip students for the rigors of the 21st century by preparing them
for a global based digital economy. Lago Vista ISD will be recognized as a leader in
educational innovation through technology, facilities, curriculum, volunteerism, and
instruction.
Lago Vista Independent School District
Spring 2015
Lago Vista Elementary G/T
Update
TPSP Projects Are Taking Shape!
LVES students have been working hard and are gearing up
for the Spring G/T Showcase. In grades 2-4, students are
about to flex their engineering muscles by building
prototypes of their inventions. Students in 1st grade will get
their creative juices flowing by writing stories about their
chosen animals.
Field Trips
LVES students spent an exciting day at "Science in the
Movies" at Stunt Ranch in Austin. This spring (after
STAAR testing), elementary students will visit the Hill
Country Science Mill in Johnson City, which opens its
doors for the very first time this Valentine's Day. The Hill
Country Science Mill is excited to provide students with a
safe and permissive environment to explore, question, and
discover. Through interactive and innovative exhibits and
programs, their goal is to inspire and engage students to
pursue life-long careers as scientists, engineers, researchers
and technology leaders of tomorrow. For more
information, please visit http://www.sciencemill.org/.
A Very Special
Thank You!
Thank you to Mr. Michael Smith for
taking the time to visit our elementary
G/T students to talk about his
invention, The Yip Yap Pipsqueak.
He showed off the latest version of the
Pipsqueak that he and his wife,
Angela Smith, launched in Las Vegas
a few weeks ago. The kids asked great
questions and we really appreciate him
coming out to visit. Thank you!
We Want Your
Feedback!
Please participate in a brief parent
survey on Gifted and Talented
Services in LVISD. Your
feedback is appreciated!
https://www.surveymonkey.com
/r/RZWHJRV
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Lago Vista Independent School District
Spring 2015
Lago Vista Middle School
G/T Update
LVMS Student Recognition
Lago Vista Middle School entered 11 projects
created, written, or drawn by 7th and 8th grade
G/T students to this year's Scholastic Art and
Writing Awards. 7th Grader Sarah Stark will
be recognized with a Silver Key award at the
Art and Writing Awards Ceremony and
Reception. She entered the architecture
category with 'Cleopatra's Pyramid’, which she
created out of Styrofoam along with a journal
entry she wrote from Cleopatra's point of view.
Congratulations, Sarah!
We also want to recognize the following
students for their excellent submissions to the
Scholastic Art and Writing Contest:
Field Trips
On February 6th, Mrs. Morrow will take
students in 5th grade to the Austin
Aquarium and to the Microsoft Corporation
in Austin. Students will participate in a
mini-camp at Microsoft where they will
learn how to design, edit, and publish mobile
games on modern technology devices.
Digital Architecture Design: Jonah Kelley
Digital Architecture Design: Ben Carlton & Nate
Spiers
Digital Architecture Design: Joe Joslin
Drawing: Madeleine Van Tassell
Poetry: Nathan Sussman
Short Story: Juliessa Aguilar
Drawing: Shannon Dyke
Drawing: Kip Ross
Digital Art: Isaac Rohne
Also in February, students in grades 6-8 will
go see La Belle at the Bob Bullock Museum
then travel to downtown San Antonio for the
Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum and the World
Record Museum. Stay tuned for more
information from Mrs. Burke!
Also, kudos to our G/T students who are
participating in UIL One Act Play:
Finally, on April 28th, students in grades 6-8
will have the opportunity to visit the
Scarborough Renaissance Festival in
Waxahachie. For more information, please
visit http://www.srfestival.com/.
Lighting Manager: Kip Ross
'Old Man': Jonah Kelley
'Fairy': Juliessa Aguilar
'Little Girl': Sarah Stark
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Lago Vista Independent School District
Spring 2015
Lago Vista High School
G/T Update
Calling All High School G/T Students!
We are excited to announce that Mr. Cody Pruitt has taken the
helm of the LVHS Gifted and Talented Program. High School
G/T students will begin having opportunities to participate in
enrichment with Mr. Pruitt during afternoon TEAM time this
spring. There will also be high school field trip opportunities
for G/T students.
What is G/T Independent Study Mentorship?
This course is based on the Exit Level Texas Performance
Standards Project (TPSP) for gifted/talented students that
offers a non-traditional learning experience to those students
who have the ability to create innovative products or
performances. Students will work individually with a
teacher/facilitator who will help them locate a project mentor;
arrange internships, field work/visits, interviews; and monitor
their long-term projects. Students will develop a product
proposal, compile a portfolio, conduct in-depth research, and
prepare for a public presentation to be evaluated by an
audience that includes experts in the field of study. The product
is required to have real-world application and tangible
documentation. Course projects, if of professional quality, may
meet the Advanced Measures requirement of the Distinguished
Achievement Program.
Student Recognition
Kelsey Mumford and Emily
Wheeler were named Commended
Students in the 2015 National Merit
Scholarship Program! These two
young ladies scored in the top 3.5%
of PSAT takers across the nation,
earning scores higher than 1.45
million students.
Congratulations!
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Want more
information?
For more information on the
G/T Independent Study
Mentorship, high school
students may contact Mr. Pruitt
or the LVISD High School
Course Guide.
Lago Vista Independent School District
Spring 2015
Parent Connection: What is the Texas
Performance Standards Project (TPSP)?
How does it help Gifted Learners?
The Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP) is the
state curriculum resource for gifted/talented (G/T)
education. The TPSP is designed to help districts reach the
state goal for gifted/talented students:
Students who participate in services designed for gifted
students will demonstrate skills in self- directed learning,
thinking, research, and communication as evidenced by the
development of innovative products and performances that
reflect individuality and creativity and are advanced in
relation to students of similar age, experience, or
environment.
– Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students
The performance standards project helps us to raise the
expectations, document the learning, and assess the
achievements of our gifted learners. The results of the
performance standards project will help us to better meet
the needs of gifted and talented students in Lago Vista ISD.
Why is Lago Vista ISD using the TPSP?
The Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented
Students specifically states that students should be provided
with “a continuum of learning experiences…that leads to
the development of advanced-level products and/or
performances such as those provided through the Texas
Performance Standards Project.”
Gifted programs across the nation undervalue the needs of
gifted learners by filling enrichment time with brainteasers,
puzzles, and trips to the library. While these activities are
enjoyable for students, they alone are unlikely to meet the
needs of gifted learners. The goal of the TPSP is to
challenge gifted learners, engage them in self-directed
learning, and allow them to explore areas of interest.
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G/T Parent
Advisory
The G/T Parent Advisory held
its first meeting on January 13th.
Consisting of two G/T parent
volunteers from each campus,
the G/T Parent Advisory will
review data and service design
information to evaluate our
program's compliance with the
Texas State Plan for the Education
of Gifted/Talented Students. Using
the criteria for Recognized and
Exemplary programs, the
committee will make
recommendations for program
enhancements that will be shared
with the District Education
Improvement Council (DEIC).
Finally, the G/T parent advisory
will assist in the annual review of
the new Community Based
Accountability Measures which
are reported to the Texas
Education Agency each August.
There will be two additional
meetings where
recommendations will be drafted
to present to the DEIC for
inclusion in the improvement
planning processes. Final
recommendations will be posted
on the LVISD G/T website and
shared with all G/T parents.
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Lago Vista Independent School District
Spring 2015
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How can I support the use of the
TPSP in our Gifted and Talented
program?
child loves science, get science books and
science kits and visit science museums. Kids
who can explore their interests are more likely to
keep their love of learning alive.
“Why do I have to do this?”
2. Expose Your Child to New Ideas and Areas
“Is this for a grade?”
Sometimes a child lacks motivation because he
or she hasn't yet been exposed to what might be
a life passion. A child whose true passion is
music but who has never had a chance to
explore it will not be able to unlock that passion.
Keep an open mind; it's your child's interests
that are important.
“Can I just play Mindcraft?”
Implementation of the TPSP can be challenging
for the campus G/T facilitators, especially as
they guide students through the process for the
very first time. At times, you may find that your
student struggles with motivation because, let's
face it, to truly reach the high level of excellence
that our gifted learners are able to achieve, the
TPSP research and projects require a lot of
effort. Parents can assist and support the
implementation of the TPSP by helping to
motivate your students and by encouraging them
to put forth their very best effort.
3. Use Short-Term Goals and Rewards
Sometimes a large task overwhelms a child. It's
not that the task is difficult, but the child may
not be able to see the light at the end of the
tunnel. Rather than begin the task, a child will
give up before he or she even begins. Help your
child see the task as a series of smaller tasks.
Make each small task a goal and try setting a
reward for that goal. Sometimes rewards won't
be necessary once a child is able to see the task
as a manageable one.
What are ways that I can motivate my
Gifted Learner?
While motivating some gifted children can be
difficult, there are ways that parents can help
students find the love of learning that comes
through pursuing areas of extreme interest
through guided and independent research. The
following tips are adapted from Top 10 Ways to
Motivate Gifted Children by Carol Bainbridge:
4. Help Your Child Learn to Manage Time
When they start school, gifted children usually
have few problems keeping up with work. They
learn quickly and easily. While that may sound
like a real advantage, it can lead to problems.
These children may never learn to manage their
time in order to get work done. At some point,
whether in high school or college, they may feel
overwhelmed by the work they need to complete
and don't know how to set time aside to
complete tasks. Teach your child how to create
and use a time-management schedule.
1. Nurture Your Child's Interests
To nurture your child's interests, provide
opportunities for him or her to learn and explore
that interest. For example, if your youngster
loves dinosaurs, get fact and fiction books about
dinosaurs and visit natural history museums. If
your child loves music, get toy (or real)
instruments and consider music lessons. If your
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Lago Vista Independent School District
Spring 2015
(continued)
they are being asked to do and their goals and
interests. A child who wants to be an astronaut
should know that math and science is important
in those jobs. A little research may be necessary
to find requirements of various jobs. However,
unmotivated gifted children generally don't focus
on anything but the present. Two weeks in the
future is even hard for some of them to imagine.
5. Praise Your Child's Efforts
Gifted kids sometimes have trouble connecting
personal effort to achievement. Much of what
they do and learn comes easily to them, so they
can achieve with little effort. To help a child
succeed, praise efforts at success and make that
praise specific. For example, instead of saying
"Nice work," it's better to say something like,
"You worked hard on your science project; you
really earned that A." However, avoid the
reverse: don't say things like, "If you worked
harder, you would do better."
9. Turn Homework Into Creative Games
Gifted children love a challenge, so by turning
otherwise dull homework into a challenging
game, you can get your child to do it. Some
children like to race, so you can ask them to see
how quickly they can get it done -- without
mistakes. Checking their work lets them see you
care about it. Another creative approach to
homework is to link it to an interest. For
example, a dull math worksheet can be the
decoding assignment of an astronaut's space
mission to Mars. Unless the work is done
correctly, the mission will fail. Even the smallest
mistake can create a problem that can cause the
mission to fail.
6. Help Your Child Take Control
Gifted underachievers sometimes see
achievement as something beyond their control.
If they succeed, it is due to luck or some other
external factor. This attitude makes them feel
like effort is pointless. Praising their efforts can
help, but these children also need to understand
the role personal responsibility plays in success.
The way you talk about your own life sends a
message. Complaining about your boss or
blaming your boss for your lack of success at
work sends the wrong message.
10. Keep in Mind that Motivation is Not
Always About School Achievement
7. Keep a Positive Attitude About School
We often equate motivation with school
achievement. However, it's important to note
that some children are highly motivated to
achieve goals, but those goals are unrelated to
school. A gifted teen, for example, may be more
interested in creating a volunteer community
program for the elderly or for the
underprivileged.
Children need to see that their parents value
education. Even if a child's problems in school
are the school's or teacher's fault, you need to be
careful of what you say. Negative attitudes
toward school in general will transfer to your
child. If school is a problem, you can point out
that even though problems can occur, education
is still valuable and effort will eventually lead to
success. Blaming the school will allow the child
to avoid personal responsibility.
It's important to remember that while you may
get your child to get homework done, he or she
may never be truly motivated to do it.
8. Help Your Child Make Connections
Between Schoolwork and Their Interests
Remember: Achievement is Not the
Same As Motivation!
Sometimes children lack motivation because
they don't see a connection between the work
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Lago Vista Independent School District
Update on LVISD Gifted &
Talented Identification
The G/T identification rate for the State of Texas on the 2013 Texas
Academic Performance Report (formerly AEIS) was 7.7%. The
identification rate for Lago Vista ISD in 2013 was 5.8%. For the fall
2014 referral window, LVISD received 42 referrals for G/T testing.
The G/T facilitators on each campus screened students and met as a
committee with the Director of Curriculum & Instruction to review
testing information and determine placement for each student. Of
the students tested from the fall referral window, the committee
determined that 11 students qualified for G/T services.
The identification of 11 students raises the district-wide
identification rate from 5.8% to 7.0%. Thus far, we appear to be
demonstrating positive progress towards closing the G/T
identification gap in LVISD. As of January 2015, Lago Vista ISD
serves 95 Gifted & Talented students district-wide. Our next referral
window closes February 1. In addition, universal kindergarten
screening for Gifted and Talented begins in February.
Gifted & Talented Contacts
Lago Vista Elementary School
Heather Womack
heather_womack@lagovista.txed.net
Lago Vista Middle School - 5th Grade
Rachael Morrow
rachael_morrow@lagovista.txed.net
Lago Vista Middle School - 6-8th Grades
Tracy Burke
tracy_burke@lagovista.txed.net
Lago Vista High School
Cody Pruitt
cody_pruitt@lagovista.txed.net
Lago Vista ISD
Dr. Suzy Lofton
suzy_lofton@lagovista.txed.net
Spring 2015