What does Gifted and Talented Mean in DISD?
The State defines a "gifted and talented student" as:
a child or youth who performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkable high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area, possesses an unusual capacity for leadership, or excels in a specific academic field. (Education Code 29.121) Gifted students require educational experiences beyond those normally provided by the general school program.
The Denton ISD recognizes that students identified as gifted and talented can come from all races, socioeconomic groups, geographical locales, and environments.
What type of curriculum is used with EXPO students?
The EXPO Program offers instruction for students identified by their general intellectual ability. EXPO curriculum provides educational opportunities for students to work together as a group, to work with other students of like ability, and to work independently.
Rigor - All EXPO Specialists are trained to design and provide diverse curriculum which not only reinforces the TEKS but differentiates and provides rigor to meet the special needs of Gifted and Talented students.
TPSP - Students demonstrate skills in self-directd learning, thinking, research, and communication through the use of the Texas Performance Standards Projects (TPSP). These units were designed through TEA based on TEKS at each grade level which are interchangeable based on student need.
Assessment systems that encourage high levels of student performances in multiple areas and are evidenced by the development of innovative products and/or performances which reflect individualtiy and creativitiy and are advanced in relation to students of similar age, experience, and/or environment are used througout the TPSP units.
Complexity - is encouraged as an extension of content across disciplines via the study of themes and problems and issues; examining relationships across disciplines over time and from multiple perspectives.
Depth - includes analyzing from the concrete to the abstract, familiar to the unfamiliar, known to the unknown; exploring the discipline by going beyond facts and concepts into generalizations, principles, theories, laws; investigating the layers of experience within a discipline through the details, patterns, trends, unanswered questions, and/or ethical considerations.
Critical Thinking and Creativity - fostered by the use of innovative/divergent reasoning ability, imagination, problem solving, and evaluative thinking.
The potential of the gifted and talented students will be maximized effectively through the use of Sandra Kaplan's Depth and Complexity Model throughout all EXPO curriculum.
What are the expectations for the students while in EXPO?
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To utilize higher, more complex-level thinking skills and to develop intellectual curiosity in critical, creative, and productive thinking.
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To develop the research skills and personal study skills necessary for self-directed learning through the use of Scholarly Behaviors.
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To conduct independent studies leading to research projects resulting in products of a professional level.
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To understand and apply the problem solving process in a cooperative group setting through the analysis of real life situations.
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To use listening, speaking, and written communication skills in order to integrate and extend skills from their general classrooms.
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To gain an understanding and respect of individual abilities, recognizing the likenesses and differences between themselves and others, while developing their own unique abilities.
EXPO expectations are accomplished by the students through the use of the following Scholarly Behaviors:
Setting Goals
Thirsting for Knowledge
Pondering Big Ideas
Asking Good Questions
Using Multiple Resources
Exercising Their Intellects
Bringing Tools
Saving Important Information
Seeing from Different Perspectives
What is utilized to add depth and complexity to the students' learning experiences?
The Sandra Kaplan Model of Depth and Complexity:
Language of the Discipline
Details
Patterns
Rules
Trends
Ethics
Unanswered Questions
Big Ideas
Across Disciplines
Multiple Perspecives
Relates Over Time
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Denton ISD EXPO Coordinator,
