Our GT Teacher Patrick Seeney has created this page for current BR students/parents. Please check it out!
In the Denver Public Schools, “gifted and talented” means those students whose demonstrated abilities, talents and/or potential for accomplishment are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational needs. These students perform, or show the potential of performing, at remarkably high levels in intellectual, specific academic or creative areas when compared with others of their age and experience.
Gifted and talented children are present in all student groups, regardless of gender, disability, English language proficiency, economic status, ethnic or cultural background.
It is a Denver Public Schools’ policy that ALL students be screened for gifted services at the school level. Identification is based on multiple criteria from behavioral, academic, and creative domains.
In addition to the universal screener (Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test) administered in Kindergarten, 2nd and 6th grades, parents of students in other grades may nominate students to take the CogAT (Cognitive abilities Test) for HGT identification to attend a magnet program. For more information, please visit the DPS GT website.
For more information, please review our district identification page.
The short answer is all teachers. We at Bill Roberts believe that all children should be provided with the highest levels of instruction and rigor. Classroom teachers are the first tier in providing differentiated activities to meet the needs of all our learners. We have two full time teachers who provide specific GT instruction and support to our identified and high-achieving students. Both support classroom teachers with co-planning, providing resources and pushing in to the classroom to offer additional differentiation. Our GT students receive services through a variety of methods, including:
Instruction and services for students may look different across our grades:
Elementary
At Bill Roberts, we provide pull out instruction for gifted students in 1st-5th grades. During pull out instruction time, small groups of students meet with a GT specialist. The specialist provides activities that help students learn problem-solving skills by thinking creatively and abstractly. Our intent is to push students’ learning and thinking to a deeper level. Pull-out groups are “fluid,” meaning they will be flexible and change throughout the year based on teacher assessments, students’ needs and individual skills.
Both Ms. Young and Mr. Seeney push into classrooms to work with all learners. While in the classroom, our GT teachers look for gifted traits/characteristics in students who are not identified, provide individualized instruction, observe how learners interact with their peers, and monitor students’ progress towards reaching their affective goals.
Middle School
Our school offers enrichment programs for GT students in 6th-8th grades. Students are given more freedom to explore learning opportunities that fit their interests/needs. Students may choose their electives, participate in a variety of multidisciplinary enrichment programs, take part in a mentorship program (students are recommended by teachers), and conduct an independent study. We are always looking for new ways to reach our students with unique learning opportunities, such as the science fair and spelling bee. Stay up to date with additional opportunities by checking out our Bill Roberts GT Website.
Looking for more ways to support your child? Visit our Resources page to access material for students and articles for adults.