October
2007
At
some point in your teaching career, you will probably encounter an
Individualized Educational Plan (IEP). But did you know some
states offer IEPs specifically for gifted students? A Gifted IEP (GIEP)
is an educational plan developed for a gifted student with the goal of
providing an appropriate education based on a 'reasonable calculation'
of that student’s current educational performance level.
In other words, the GIEP adjusts the curriculum to meet the needs of
the student. Below are some frequently asked questions about
GIEPs.
What
is the difference between an IEP and a GIEP?
The
IEP is based on federal IDEA regulations, and giftedness is not
currently recognized in IDEA. GIEPs are based on state
regulations and vary according to each state’s
requirements.
How
will teachers know if their student needs a Gifted IEP?
Ideally
the classroom teacher will be present at the creation of the student's
GIEP, which is usually developed by a team of educators.
Absent that, the teacher responsible for the GIEP’s
implementation must
be given a copy. Identification and responsibilities vary by
state - there are extensive resources on 'Characteristics of the
Gifted' available. Please visit this ‘Characters’
sheet for an example.
Which
states provide Gifted IEPs?
According
to the Hoagies’
Gifted website,
the following states provide Gifted IEPs:
The
Davidson Institute’s State Policy
Database
is also a valuable resource for parents looking to understand their
state's regulations regarding gifted education. It is vital
for parents to understand the state and local regulations that apply to
their situation.
If
your state does not provide Gifted IEPs, what is an alternative option
for teachers?
There
are a few different options teachers can explore if GIEPs are not
available in their state. Teachers who are interested in
meeting the needs of gifted students in their classroom may wish to
become familiar with alternative teaching methods
such as independent study contracts. Encouraging students to
self-advocate will also help educators understand how to best meet
their needs. Finally, encouraging parents to advocate for
resources for gifted students can help provide a long-term solution to
the lack of GIEPs in certain areas.
We
would like to send a special thanks to Todd McIntyre, a special
education advocate in
Halloween
Inspired Lesson Plans
Please
remember, we’d like to feature lesson plans or ideas designed
by you in future Educators Guild Posts. If you would like to
share any outstanding lessons you have used with your gifted students,
please email them to edguild@ditd.org.
This month’s featured lesson plans are:
WebQuests
A
WebQuest is a lesson
plan format in which all or most of the information used is drawn from
the Internet. They are designed to utilize the
student’s time well, to focus on using information rather
than looking for it, and to support the student’s thinking in
terms of analysis, synthesis and evaluation.
A Rubric
for Evaluating WebQuests,
Here
you'll find a ready-made template for scoring or evaluating student
WebQuest projects, complete with scoring categories. Checklists with
additional scoring criteria to evaluate project fine points are also
provided.
Health Factor: Game Development
(grades 3-8)
In this WebQuest, a new board game company called Health Factor is
marketing a suite of board games that can benefit people by educating
them about healthy living. Specifically, the company would like to sell
games that teach about each of the human organ systems of the human
body. A committee representing Health Factor International is visiting
numerous schools to get ideas for these new board games. In order to
appeal to the committee, each game should highlight how a specific
organ system works, while teaching ways that young people can ensure
that their own organs 'stay healthy'.
Focus on the Future (grades 9-12)
This WebQuest is intended to engage students in a career focus
resulting in a projected monthly budget based on the average annual
earnings they can expect 10 years from the time they graduate from high
school.
If
you are looking for assistance, ideas or resources, please feel free to
contact us at edguild@ditd.org.
Davidson
Institute Updates
A
free, public school for profoundly gifted pupils on the
On
Monday, Nov. 19, 2007, The Davidson Academy will be hosting
a tour for prospective students and their families. For
details, visit www.DavidsonAcademy.UNR.edu/Explore.
____________________________________________________________________________________
2007
THINK Summer Institute Application Available
To download an application, please visit www.THINKSummerInstitute.org. ____________________________________________________________________________________
2007
Davidson Fellows Scholarship Applications Available
For more information on the Davidson Fellows, or
to download an application, please visit www.DavidsonFellows.org.
Quality
schools are the result of quality teachers going above and beyond the
call of duty. –Unknown