Bright Child or Gifted Learner?
The following chart provides some guidance in thinking about your child. This was taken from here.
Admittance to the Enrichment Program at Point Road School
In 2nd grade, we administer the CogAT test to all students.
Here is a definition of the CogAT. The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) measures students’ learned reasoning abilities in the three areas most linked to academic success in school: Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal. Although its primary goal is to assess students’ reasoning abilities, CogAT can also provide predicted achievement scores when administered with The Iowa Tests. While CogAT is well-suited to help educators make important student placement decisions, such as selecting students for Gifted and Talented programs, exclusive features such as the Ability Profile Score can be used to expand the educational opportunities of all students.
Depending on the results of the CogAT, students might then take the SAGES test. Here is a definition of the SAGES.
The SAGES-2 measures both aptitude and achievement. Aptitude is measured via the reasoning subtest. The child is asked to solve analogical problems by identifying relationships among pictures and figures. The other two subtests assess achievement. On one of these subtests, the child answers questions about language arts and social studies; on the other, he or she answers questions about mathematics and science.
Also at this time, parents and teachers will be asked to complete a SIG form for their child. Here is a definition of the SIG. Scales for Identifying Gifted Students (SIGS) offers the most comprehensive observational instrument available for identifying gifted students ages 5–18. Used as part of a comprehensive process for identifying gifted children, SIGS offers schools an instrument with extensive statistical and research support. This standardized, norm-referenced instrument is completed by teachers or parents and provides an effective method for identifying gifted children.
After all these tests are completed, along with student grades and some additional internal tests completed online, scores are entered into a matrix. Based on the scores, points are awarded and the total points for each student must equate to a schoolwide threshold in order for the student to be accepted into our Enrichment Program.
Here is a definition of the CogAT. The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) measures students’ learned reasoning abilities in the three areas most linked to academic success in school: Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal. Although its primary goal is to assess students’ reasoning abilities, CogAT can also provide predicted achievement scores when administered with The Iowa Tests. While CogAT is well-suited to help educators make important student placement decisions, such as selecting students for Gifted and Talented programs, exclusive features such as the Ability Profile Score can be used to expand the educational opportunities of all students.
Depending on the results of the CogAT, students might then take the SAGES test. Here is a definition of the SAGES.
The SAGES-2 measures both aptitude and achievement. Aptitude is measured via the reasoning subtest. The child is asked to solve analogical problems by identifying relationships among pictures and figures. The other two subtests assess achievement. On one of these subtests, the child answers questions about language arts and social studies; on the other, he or she answers questions about mathematics and science.
Also at this time, parents and teachers will be asked to complete a SIG form for their child. Here is a definition of the SIG. Scales for Identifying Gifted Students (SIGS) offers the most comprehensive observational instrument available for identifying gifted students ages 5–18. Used as part of a comprehensive process for identifying gifted children, SIGS offers schools an instrument with extensive statistical and research support. This standardized, norm-referenced instrument is completed by teachers or parents and provides an effective method for identifying gifted children.
After all these tests are completed, along with student grades and some additional internal tests completed online, scores are entered into a matrix. Based on the scores, points are awarded and the total points for each student must equate to a schoolwide threshold in order for the student to be accepted into our Enrichment Program.
High Achiever, Gifted Learner, Creative Thinker
This article might also be helpful when thinking about your child's abilities.