Gifted Information

  • WHAT IS GIFTEDNESS?

    The state of Florida recognizes "giftedness" as "students who have superior intellectual development and are capable of high performance". Osceola County identifies these students through a variety of methods, including teacher identification, screening, and test data evaluation.

    Students who are identified as gifted may qualify for support services for their giftedness which can range from being grouped in classes with other gifted students, to being placed with teachers who understand their special needs, to having consulting teachers who meet with them on a regular basis.

    HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR CHILD MIGHT BE GIFTED?

    • Gifted students will often ask “why?” about everything

    • Gifted students will be heavily committed to a task they are interested in (this may not be school related…)

    • Gifted students may be very emotionally mature, expressing concerns about world issues at a young age or wondering about their place in the world.

    • Gifted students may be bored in class and sometimes do not have superior grades, yet they can answer every question the teacher asks.

    OSCEOLA COUNTY'S GIFTED PROGRAM

    In Osceola County, gifted students are served based on their individual needs at each individual school. While every school may serve gifted students differently, here are a few common programs found in our county:

    Elementary - Students in Elementary are often served through what is called a "cluster model". This means that students are placed in a classroom with other gifted students who can have challenging conversations with your gifted student and keep pace with them on activities. These classes are led by a Gifted Endorsed Teacher who has taken classes to understand what giftedness is and how it is best served. Classrooms should provide "differentiated instruction" that offers classwork for your student that is challenging to them and encourages productive struggle.

    Middle - Students in Middle Schools are often offered either the cluster model or a form of a gifted elective course. This course often focuses on supporting gifted students in their academic endeavors and providing support to help your students with their gifted asynchrony. Teachers of these courses are gifted endorsed and trained in understanding the talents and traps of giftedness.

    High - High Schools in Osceola County offer what is called the "Consultation Model". Gifted students on this model will be provided with a minimum of a 15 minute consultation on their giftedness and academics each month with a gifted endorsed teacher. These consultations can serve your student in topics from academic to life and problem-solving skills to collegiate support. Students can request help with scheduling, finding challenging opportunities, and getting enrichment during the school day. Some schools offer a gifted elective for incoming 9th graders to help them navigate high school and get to know the teacher who will be providing their consultations until graduation.

    Odyssey of the Mind - Most schools also offer the "Odyssey of the Mind" enrichment program that is great for helping your gifted student grow their creativity and enriching their learning. Students in this club are given problems that require a range of skills and creativity to accurately solve over the course of many months without adult help. Teams participate in a tournament in February. For more information on Odyssey, contact an administrator at your student's school, or visit the Osceola County Odyssey of the Mind page.

    GLIMPSE Academy - This camp is designed for gifted and high-achieving students in grades K-8. The students will participate in activities designed to promote team building, discovery, and problem-solving. The teachers will be using Enrichment Clusters and the Future Problem Solvers Curriculum to design lessons to promote higher-level thinking with the students.

    CONTACT INFORMATION

    Gifted Contact: Kris Rodgers, kris.rodgers@osceolaschools.net

    IMPORTANT LINKS