Gifted and Talented Services

 

According to the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students, teachers are required to obtain 30 hours of G/T professional learning before they provide services to identified G/T students. Professional Learning must include topics related to the nature and needs of gifted students, assessment and identification of gifted students, and curriculum of gifted students.

 

Region 7 ESC offers two different types of training to meet the varied professional staff development needs of schools, face-to-face or online in the Canvas Learning Management System.

 

 

According to the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students, teachers who provide instruction and services that are a part of the district's defined gifted/talented services receive 6 hours annually of professional learning in gifted/talented education that is related to state teacher education standards.

 

Region 7 ESC offers three different formats of training to meet the varied professional staff development needs of schools, webinar via Zoom, online in the Canvas Learning Management System, and face to face at the service center. We also offer a few workshops that are a combination of two formats, either Canvas/Zoom or face to face/Zoom.

 

 

Workshops, hosted either at the Region 7 ESC or on-site in your district, provide teachers with research-based information in an integrative, collaborative environment.

 

Below is the list of current 6-hour update workshops. To register, click on the number provided or email Melinda Coop, mcoop@esc7.net. The workshops are held via webinar in Zoom unless otherwise indicated.

 

G/T 6 Hour Update Workshops:  Webinar/Zoom	Date	Click Workshop Number to Register
G/T and Technology: Whimsical Rigor	June 10, 2021 Canvas LMS PreWork Webinar/Zoom	181729
G/T: Economically Disadvantaged Gifted/Talented Students	June 24, 2021	181738
G/T and Technology: Whimsical Rigor 2.0	July 15, 2021 Canvas LMS PreWork Webinar/Zoom	181730

Are you an administrator or counselor who is responsible for implementing and directing your district's gifted/talented program? According to the State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students, administrators and counselors who have authority for service decisions are required to complete a minimum of six hours of professional learning that includes nature and needs and service options for gifted/talented students. (19 TAC §89.2(4))

 

Region 7 ESC offers workshops and training specifically designed for your needs with workshops that are conducted several times throughout the year. To register, click on the workshop number or email Melinda Coop, mcoop@esc7.net.

 

G/T: Administrator Workshops	Date	Click Workshop Number to Register
G/T: Training for Teachers and Administrators with Supervisory Duties	May 18 , 2021 Webinar/Zoom	181638
G/T: Training for Teachers and Administrators with Supervisory Duties	June 28, 2021 Webinar/Zoom	181639
G/T: Training for Teachers and Administrators with Supervisory Duties	July 20, 2021 Webinar/Zoom	181640

Region 7 ESC offers informational workshops for teachers and students participating in the various competitions.

 

Teachers will learn how to coach/guide their students. Tips and techniques will be shared, and novice coaches will have the opportunity to connect with experienced coaches/sponsors to learn strategies on how to best prepare their students.

 

Students will learn how to prepare for their leadership roles in the Model United Nations and Mock Trial seminars.

 

Teachers must register themselves to attend either the teacher or student workshop. Select the training, and click on green toggle button and then the workshop number to register or email Kellie Henley, khenley@esc7.net.

 

G/T: Teaching Skills Through Storytelling 1-3   Location:   Region 7 ESC Kilgore, TX   Date: September 21, 2021   Workshop Registration:   183918   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893	MUN New Teacher Training   This training is intended for novice teachers who have never sponsored Model United Nations before. If you are an experienced MUN sponsor, you will attend MUN Teachers' Meeting   Location:   Region 7 ESC Kilgore, TX   Date: September 10, 2020   Workshop Registration:   161078   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893	MUN Teachers' Meeting   Location:   Region 7 ESC Kilgore, TX   Date: September 10, 2020   Workshop Registration:   161078   Workshop Registration:   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893
Mock Trial Teacher Meeting   Location:   Region 7 ESC, Zoom Kilgore, TX   Date:   January 22, 2021   Workshop Registration:   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893	Innovative Inventions: The Inventor's Workshop   Location:   Region 7 ESC Kilgore, TX   Date:   February 11, 2021   Workshop Registration:   166574   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893	Robotics Teacher Meeting Design Specifications   Location:   Online Course   Date:   September 21 - November 13, 2020   Workshop Registration:   161518   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893
Robotics Teacher Meeting Competition Details/Materials Distribution   Location:   Region 7 ESC Kilgore, TX   Date:   February 9, 2021   Workshop Registration:   173316   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893	Robotics in the Elementary Classroom Grades 1-3   Location:   Region 7 ESC Kilgore, TX   Date:   February 23, 2021   Workshop Registration:   175664   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893

You have just received the honor of being in charge of your district’s G/T program. Some coordinators are lucky enough to be only a G/T Coordinator, but in most cases, G/T coordinators have many other hats to wear. Our Region 7 ESC G/T web pages and program resource links offer a great deal of information that can be helpful to coordinators, so we encourage you to keep these pages bookmarked. Here are a few more tips to help you get started on your new job.

 

Tips for New Coordinators

1. Read through the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students. Make notes, ask questions, and reflect on your district’s gifted/talented services.
2. Be sure you have the contact information for the Region 7 ESC G/T specialists handy. There is no such thing as a silly question when you are new, and you will have many of them! Donna Ashby and Carla Cheshire are the Region 7 ESC G/T specialists are ready to answer all of your questions. They will be happy to help you as you get started as a new coordinator!
3. The State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students states, “Teachers as well as administrators who have supervisory duties for service decisions are required to complete a minimum of six hours of professional development that includes nature and needs of gifted/talented students and service options for gifted/talented students (19 TAC §89.2(4))."  Region 7 ESC offers this training as a face-to-face session to meet the diverse needs of our districts and charter schools.  To register, click on the G/T Professional Development tab and click on Administrators/Counselors for a list of workshops being offered.
4. Begin to look at your district or charter's G/T program. Find out how each of your campuses is providing services. For example: Pull-out, Push-in, Full-time gifted only, Full-time inclusion, Special day school
5. On each of those campuses, find out who is coordinating and delivering G/T services. Be sure there is documentation to support that each of the assigned G/T teachers has the required G/T training. View the Region 7 ESC's professional development offerings for teachers who need training by visiting the G/T Professional Learning tab and clicking on 30 Hour Basics or 6 Hour Updates.
6. Talk to the administrators on each campus and find out if administrators and counselors have had the required G/T training in nature and needs, service options, and social emotional learning.
7. Look at your list of identified gifted students at each campus. Confirm that they are in class with a G/T trained teacher and are receiving services.
8. Look at your district or school's assessment and identification procedures. Find out how your students are identified. Is data being collected from multiple sources for each area of giftedness served by the district?  Look at your demographics to see if your gifted program reflects the district's demographics. Does your assessment process allow for student exceptionalities? Are students being assessed in languages they understand or with nonverbal assessments?
9. Ask each campus principal to recommend a classroom you could visit to observe challenging curriculum and instruction. After visiting several classrooms, review your district or school's G/T curriculum framework. Did you see evidence of that framework on your visits?
10. Review your district's G/T comprehensive manual or program guide. Compare it to the district's Local EHBB. Are these two documents aligned? Do they reflect what is happening on your campuses?

Well, you are assigned to teach gifted students! Now what?

 

Get ready to embark on what might be the greatest and most rewarding job you've ever had!

 

1. Connect, connect, connect with others in the field of gifted education. Oftentimes, especially in smaller districts, you might be the only teacher of the gifted. 
2. Become familiar with State law regarding gifted education by reviewing the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students.
3. Know what it means to be gifted. Who are the gifted? Are all kids gifted? What do you think? The State defines gifted students as “… a child or youth who performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who: a) exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, and/or artistic area; b) possesses an unusual capacity for leadership; or c) excels in a specific academic field.
4. Become an advocate for your students. Stay current in research and best practices regarding gifted education.  
5. Complete (if you haven’t already) the required foundational 30 clock hours of professional learning that includes nature and needs of gifted/talented students, identification and assessment of gifted/talented students’ needs, and curriculum and instruction for gifted/talented students.
6. Understand the curriculum and instructional policies regarding gifted education. Section 4 of the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted encompasses curriculum and instruction. In fact, the section header states, “Districts meet the needs of gifted/talented students by modifying the depth, complexity, and pacing of the curriculum and instruction ordinarily provided by the school.” 
7. Differentiate! Do you know what can be differentiated? How? For a quick reference, visit The Differentiator. You’ll like the Differentiation Central website, too!
8. Provide opportunities for your gifted students to shine and accelerate in their areas of strengths. Region 7ESC offers many opportunities for gifted students through our student seminars.
9. Read this article…it’s worth your time. 
10. Be flexible! Programs and services for gifted students are designed to meet the needs of the students. Students should not be made to conform to a “set” program. In fact, the State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students mandates that gifted students are assured an array of learning opportunities that are commensurate with their abilities and that out-of-school options relevant the their areas of strength are provided.

We hope you find this information helpful! And as always, you have help right here at Region 7 ESC. Be sure to contact us if you have questions or need assistance!

These are some recommended websites that can guide you and help answer questions you may have regarding a district's responsibilities in identifying and serving gifted/talented students. Please know that the Region 7 ESC G/T staff is always here to provide support and clarification. Feel free to contact us.

 

Clicking on the links will navigate away from the Region 7 ESC G/T website.

 

TEA Gifted Education Page	Equity in Gifted/Talented Education	TEA State Plan FAQs
Estudios Program Models	Gifted/Talented Teacher Toolkit	Gifted/Talented Teacher Tookkit II
Texas Performance Standards Project	Small Schools G/T Resource Guide	Twice Exceptional Students & G/T Services

The Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students forms the basis of GT services and accountability. It includes standards for programs that are defined as:

• “Accountability”   These standards reflect actions required in state law or SBOE rule.
• “Exemplary”  Provides viable targets that districts may strive toward.

Click on the images below to access the TEA's Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students. You may also visit the TEA Special Student Populations webpage for more information.You may also visit the TEA Gifted and Talented Education webpage to learn more.

 

The Imagination Fair provides gifted students in grades 1 - 3 the opportunity to showcase storytelling in an interactive format. Prior to the event, these students research various forms and genres of storytelling, learn about stories from other cultures, and discover the impact of storytelling throughout history. They then either choose a story or create their own story to tell during the Imagination Fair. A professional storyteller will begin the day telling interactive stories and later will work with a select group of students to help them develop and refine their storytelling skills to share with the Imagination Fair participants. To culminate the event, students participate in a hands-on creative problem solving activity.

 

Region 7 ESC offers several choices in various locations for schools to attend. Select the date that best fits your schedule. Click the green toggle button. Then click on the session number to register, or email Kellie Henley, khenley@esc7.net.

 

Storytelling Teacher Workshop Grades 1 - 3   Location:   Region 7 ESC, Zoom Kilgore, TX   Date: September 21, 2021   Workshop Registration:   183918   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893

Imagination Fair   Location: Region 7 ESC, Zoom Kilgore, TX   Date: October 11, 2021   Workshop Registration:   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893

Imagination Fair   Location:   Date: October 26, 2021   Workshop Registration:   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893

Innovative Inventions for grades 4 – 8 provides gifted students with an opportunity to participate in the inventive process. As a result, these students will gain an understanding of the processes of innovation and creative thinking and develop an appreciation of the inventive process through the creation of an original, feasible idea. The investigation will culminate in a student invention showcase held annually at Region 7 Education Service Center. During the event, students will also participate in Contraption Construction. Contraption Construction encourages creative problem-solving and cooperation among teams of students to solve a simple task by designing a complicated contraption.

 

Region 7 ESC offers several different events. Select the date that best fits your schedule. Click the green toggle button. Then click on the session number to register, or email Kellie Henley, khenley@esc7.net.

 

Please note: The 2021 Innovative Inventions competition will be conducted in an online format via Zoom. Information and details will be shared at the Innovative Inventions Teacher Workshop on February 11. You may also contact Donna Ashby with questions. dashby@esc7.net

 

Innovative Inventions Teacher Workshop   Date:   February 11, 2021   Location:   Virtual via Zoom   Session Registration:   166574   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893	Division 1: 4-5 Grades   Date:   April 27, 2021   Location:   Virtual via Zoom   Session Registration:   175085   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893	Division 1: 4-5 Grades   Date:   April 29, 2021   Location:   Virtual via Zoom   Session Registration:   175221   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893
Division 2: 6-8 Grades   Date:   April 30, 2021   Location:   Virtual via Zoom   Session Registration:   175227   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893

How does a team get started?

A team advisor - a teacher, an attorney, or even student leaders – will need to register his or her team online and pay the registration fee by the deadline, December 15. Early registration is encouraged even before all team members are gathered, so that current members can be ready/prepped before the case materials launch in October. Important: There can only be one team of 6-10 members per high school. Therefore, if many students are interested, please have an internal competition, or try-outs, to determine who is on the Varsity team. Also, please notify the school principal and others at the school who may be interested in starting a team of your participation, so that more than one team does not register. Once the team is registered for the competition, teams are provided with a copy of the case materials for the year (included in the registration fee) and these contain the rules, procedures, and the case problem itself. The case for the year is usually released each October. Teams should secure assistance from a local attorney or judge to help with courtroom decorum and trial skills – even for one day this is helpful! Also, helpful materials and links are provided to new teams via this website.   

 

Competition 2020 - 2021 Information Coming Soon!

The Region 7 ESC Model United Nations is a long-term simulation in which gifted students in grades 6-12 can research the social, political, and economic factors and issues that determine the identity of a sovereign state. The research culminates in a two-day Model United Nations meeting in which these students serve as delegates from their chosen nation. Debates, resolution writing, student products, decision making, collaboration, problem solving, and persuasive, impromptu, and formal speaking all play a significant role in the success of each delegate and in the Region 7 ESC Model UN itself. All resolution content is student researched and written under the guidance of district personnel and reviewed by committees made up of participating districts. Students are also provided with myriad opportunities during the event to showcase their research through issue collages, maps, and a digital documentary and multimedia presentation. Region 7 ESC facilitates this event to help districts meet the requirement of the Texas State Plan for Education of Gifted/Talented students in meeting out-of-school options relevant to students' areas of strength.

 

 

We offer five events in two different locations for students to participate. This is a two day event. You will need to register for both days. Select the grade level, location, and date that best fits your schedule. To register, click on the session numbers or email Kellie Henley, khenley@esc7.net

 

Model UN NEW Teacher Training   G/T: Go International - Model United Nations NEW Teacher Training   Date:   September 2, 2021   Location:   Region 7 ESC Kilgore, TX   Session Registration:   182572   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893	G/T: Model United Nations Teachers' Meeting   Planning Meeting for Teachers/sponsors of Model UN Teams   Date:   September 9, 2021   Location:   Region 7 ESC Kilgore, TX   Session Registration:   183915   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893	Middle School 1   You must register for both days. See below.   Day 1:   Date:   January 14, 2021   Location: Virtual, Zoom   Session Registration:   166396   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893   Day 2:   Date:   January 15, 2021   Location: Virtual, Zoom   Session Registration:   166402   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893
High School 1   You must register for both days. See below.   Day 1:   Date:   January 11, 2021   Location: Virtual, Zoom   Session Registration:   166382   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893   Day 2:   Date:   January 12, 2021   Location: Virtual, Zoom   Session Registration:   166389   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893	Middle School 2   You must register for both days. See below.   Day 1:   Date:   January 21, 2021   Location: Virtual, Zoom   Session Registration:   166417   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893   Day 2:   Date:   January 22, 2021   Location: Virtual, Zoom   Session Registration:   166420   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893	Middle School 3   You must register for both days. See below.   Day 1:   Date:   January 25, 2021   Location: Virtual, Zoom   Session Registration:   166424   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893   Day 2:   Date:   January 26, 2021   Location: Virtual, Zoom   Session Registration:   166428   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893
High School 2   You must register for both days. See below.   Day 1:   Date:   January 28, 2021   Location: Virtual, Zoom   Session Registration:   166452   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893   Day 2:   Date:   January 29, 2021   Location: Virtual, Zoom   Session Registration:   166453   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893

Region 7 ESC offers robotics opportunities for teachers and gifted students in grades 1 – 3 using the LEGO® Education WeDo™ Construction Set. Robotics at this level provides these students with opportunities to explore and investigate simple machines, learn iconic programming, design schematics, incorporate math, literary, language, and science, solve problems through creative problem solving strategies and design and create working robotic models. Students can showcase their skills and design during the WeDo™ Celebration held annually.

 

 

Region 7 ESC offers four different dates for students to participate. Select the date that best fits your schedule. To register, click the green toggle button. Then click on the workshop number or email Kellie Henley, khenley@esc7.net.

 

May 4, 2021   Location:   Virtual via Zoom   Session Registration:   180007   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893

May 5, 2021   Location:   Virtual via Zoom   Session Registration:   180008   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893

May 6, 2021   Location:   Virtual via Zoom   Session Registration:   180009   Contact Kellie Henley khenley@esc7.net (903) 988-6893

Region 7 Education Service Center offers robotics programs for gifted students in grades 4 – 12. At this level, students are afforded opportunities to explore concepts associated with robotics through cross curricular connections. There are two different competitions, a design competition in the fall and an arena competition in the spring. Participation in the design competition is not required to compete in the arena competition. Teams may choose to participate in the spring arena competition but not submit a competition board for the fall design competition.

 

The fall design competition, consisting of 2 divisions, 4-8 and 9-12, engages students in the exploration of the state standards to create a multi-disciplinary theme which incorporates tasks for the robot to complete on the board. The design competition is aligned to the state goal for gifted/talented students giving them opportunities to demonstrate skills in self-directed learning, thinking, research, and communication as evidenced by the development of innovative products.

 

The spring arena competition features the winning designs from the fall competition. Grades 4 - 12 are divided into three divisions where teams compete head-to-head, navigating their way around formidable obstacles and performing complex tasks.

 

 

• Intermediate: Grades 4 - 5
• Middle School: Grades 6 - 8
• High School: Grades 9 - 12