#gtchat Archive
Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT is a weekly chat on Twitter that takes place on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT and 5 p.m. PT in the U.S. For one hour, parents, educators, advocates and experts in the field of gifted and talented gather to share resources, links, authentic life experiences and insights about gifted issues.
Tuesday March 15, 2016
A1) The ‘Excellence Gap’ refers to gaps in achievement at advanced levels by underperforming groups.
Great reports for better understanding the Excellence Gap.
Twitter slow here too Also I have open Participate as well but it is not updating there for me?
A1) Competency must be addressed at every level of achievement; not just the minimum level.
I tried and it's not working for me either!
A1) Individuals in all demographic groups have the potential to achieve at advanced levels. Identification is key.
Thanks, I'll update link in blog post!
Equal Talents, Unequal Opportunities: Report Card State Support for Acad Talented Low-Income Ss (pdf) https://t.co/iw5Qrgjtiz
Q2) What has caused the existence and persistence of large excellence gaps?
A2) Excellence gaps occur due to inadequate funding/resources in schools serving low income/disadvantaged minority communities.
A2) Many different factors: poverty, discrimination, poor access to quality
education, psychosocial barriers, among others
I am following to learn. Sorry it's slow! Appreciate the links.
misunderstanding and miseducation about GT education contribute
A2) The focus tends to be on achievement gaps & excellence gaps are often brushed into the background.
A2) Identification, funding & teacher training to name a few. https://t.co/pQBOfUw9pu
Q2) What has caused the existence and persistence of large excellence gaps?
A2 Gifted students are a low priority in impoverished schools, just as in other schools
A2) Excellence gaps occur due to inadequate training for teachers working with underperforming subgroups of students.
Good point. All should be able to not just achieve, but soar. https://t.co/9XSLSYsQxv
A2) The focus tends to be on achievement gaps & excellence gaps are often brushed into the background.
A2) Excellence gaps exist because of attitudes about high achievement potential of low-income & minority students.
Q3) Why is it important to close the Excellence Gap?
Hi all, sorry I'm late! Carolyn K. of Hoagies' Gifted, Inc.
A3) 2 reasons: to improve the lives of gifted poor & minority students; to
provide our economy & culture with the talent it needs
Apologies 4 earlier disruption. Back to normal now!
We all benefit when GT students are actively educated instead of contained -
A3) If we do not close the EGs, we are wasting talent.
A3) A 5 percent reduction in 4th gr math excellence gap would increase performance at advanced levels by 80,000 Ss. (NAGC)
A2) I'll say the difference in Western Europe, is mainly because they wish to have "equality":ignore needs https://t.co/MIvIg8hJon
A2) Identification, funding & teacher training to name a few. https://t.co/pQBOfUw9pu
Q2) What has caused the existence and persistence of large excellence gaps?
A3) Reducing/eliminating excellence gaps an issue of equity/social justice, economic advancement, national security. (NAGC)
A3) BC we are leaving talent on the table. We are failing our best and brightest on a day by day year by year basis.
A3) Increasing # of Ss realizing their full potential puts nation back on the path to global leadership. (NAGC)
We’re already half way through Thanks for all the great sharing!
I'd like to thank Sen. Rubio for suspending his campaign in the middle of this . Couldn't wait a half hour?
Wow! That's not overstating it. We need the skills and talents of everyone. https://t.co/Nm9meAXyMf
A3) Reducing/eliminating excellence gaps an issue of equity/social justice, economic advancement, national security. (NAGC)
Hahaha absolutely - the slowest feed ever! https://t.co/gv7SVnXSmm
I'd like to thank Sen. Rubio for suspending his campaign in the middle of this . Couldn't wait a half hour?
Q4) How do we address and overcome the challenges presented by excellence gaps?
Agreed! lol https://t.co/VRiWXW9Ge9
I'd like to thank Sen. Rubio for suspending his campaign in the middle of this . Couldn't wait a half hour?
I seem to be getting only 1/2 the tweets, even using two sites (Tweetdeck and Tweetchat)
A4) Scott Peters & I just finished book on this, hard to summarize in 140
characters! But here are our “Big 6” strategies:
A4 Advocacy, education of teachers and the public, appropriately directed funding
A4) We have to focus on cultivating talent instead of simply reaching a benchmark.
A4) 1: realistic opportunities 2: universal testing & local norms 3: ability grouping 4: better educator prep & support
Universal testing is an absolute must. Then service
A4) All educators need to be trained in gifted education practices.
educate policy makers about the value of GT education-educate teachers about GT traits that educators don't understand
A4) 5:improved K-12 accountability systems w/adaptive testing 6:psychosocial
interventions (maybe just w/college students)
RT A4) All educators need to be trained in gifted education practices. <--our state (PA) is finally starting this!
Is this book available now?
A4) Increased awareness of excellence gaps must be achieved in order to address the challenges of closing the gaps.
it may be hard to focus on one thing now, but is about the future: We need more excellent ed for better candidates.
Now if we had a state budget!
A5) ESSA is pushing districts to show a year's growth for ALL kids including gifted, and our district had FAILED that mark 4 DECADES
we have goof identification policy in - but no requirement for service
RT A4) 1: realistic opportunities 2: universal testing & local norms 3: ability grouping 4: better educator prep &
RT Now if we had a state budget! <-- LOL that WOULD be a miracle!
A4) There needs to be continued national/ state-level focus on both equity & excellence in educational opportunity. (NAGC)
We have to make sure administrators know about what ESSA offers for gifted students.
Make that "good" not "goof" - we can have gifs but no edit function on Twitter?
We have to make sure we properly use assessments to help these students.
RT good ID policy but no req for service<--PA has fine print that allows gifted but has no needs beyond curric.
This will work : ) https://t.co/S4boS7hDt2
A4) 1: realistic opportunities 2: universal testing & local norms 3: ability grouping 4: better educator prep & support
can edit on Twitter on PC, but not on these add in products...
Q5) What effect will the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) have on closing the Excellence Gap?
A5) Not sure yet, as the regulations have yet to be developed. But it COULD mean more adaptive testing & better data reporting
Excellence Gaps: Role of Translational Research Implementing Large Scale Educational Change (Video) https://t.co/s3ouIMn2xY
A5) it's definitely helping in our district. They're going to cluster group, and teach gifted kids in SUBJECTS (not just enrichment)
Goof Identification could be a very useful test LOL
A5) ESSA throws it back to the states, we need to keep the pressure on at the state level. ESSA cracks door but we have to open it
A5) specifically notes gifted ed as a possibility for using Title II funding.
A5) Released data on excellence gaps via achievement test results to raise awareness among policymakers, educators, public. (NAGC)
What is Title II funding?
And TItle I. Both are huge developments. https://t.co/Z6KYd0dyFb
A5) specifically notes gifted ed as a possibility for using Title II funding.
Continued comparisons to PISA results perhaps?
Funding for Professional Development.
A5) State accountability systems require reporting disaggregated student achievement at each achievement level. (NAGC)
Our district (state?) using data 2 show that most elementary schools are not letting gifted kids progress, hired new GT coord to fix
A5) Remove practices that unintentionally inhibit advanced S performance: restrictive early entrance/acceleration policies. (NAGC)
Nat'l goof ID still only accurately classifies me 33% of time. Add retina scan? https://t.co/OZTXK2Wvw2
we have goof identification policy in - but no requirement for service
a5) but still have ID problem since dependent on teacher recommendation. District is heavy white anyway, gifted program worse
Heavy reliance on tchr recs almost always leads to disproportionality. Symptom of inadequate educator prep https://t.co/ak3RTLEqJU
a5) but still have ID problem since dependent on teacher recommendation. District is heavy white anyway, gifted program worse
A5 Really like idea of ability grouping for these kids - also socially/emotionally safe place for learning, expressing themselves
I have seen this work well ... wish it was used more. Again - need teacher prep! https://t.co/rGlL2GyOM2
A5 Really like idea of ability grouping for these kids - also socially/emotionally safe place for learning, expressing themselves
Final question coming up!
Our new coord is pushing teacher in-serv. and gifted teacher push-into classrooms. I'm looking forward to it!
Q6) Where do we go from here? What steps should be taken to ensure the momentum continues to close the Excellence Gap?
A6) 1/2 Keep EG data in front of policymakers. Get needs of adv students into
teacher & admin prep.
Other districts are taking the "opt gifted all out as 'not in need of gifted education' In spite of gifted ID" path. Scary.
A6) We have to make sure that policymakers and administrators understand the importance of closing the Excellence Gap.
A6) 2/2 Get excellence into your state accountability system.
A6) Advocates must be vigilant that local LEAs adhere to new rules in ESSA.
Q6 relentlessly respect the gifted student's right to learn something new every day
policymakers' and admins' kids are already in high-achieving districts and private schools; less "need" in their minds.
Absolutely! Couldn't have said it better, Jeanne! https://t.co/eumZJv73Ns
Q6 relentlessly respect the gifted student's right to learn something new every day
RT Q6 relentlessly respect the gifted student's right to learn something new every day <-- YES!
Very good point.
https://t.co/PN6KWxppXf
policymakers' and admins' kids are already in high-achieving districts and private schools; less "need" in their minds.
A6 Need for widespread public education
Folks in Kentucky should attend the town hall meetings to talk with Ed Commissioner about the importance.
A6) Advocates must continue to raise awareness of inequities in educational opportunities for all students.
Exactly the reason we have to show them the need.
A6) Must remember that this is becoming a global issue as well. Many Education Ministries follow US lead ... for better or worse.
With an emphasis on "all." If kids aren't challenged, they don't really have access to opportunity. https://t.co/evQgQ8xarV
A6) Advocates must continue to raise awareness of inequities in educational opportunities for all students.
And our research suggests every country has excellence gap problems. https://t.co/9lphYDnVKJ
A6) Must remember that this is becoming a global issue as well. Many Education Ministries follow US lead ... for better or worse.
We’re nearing the end of our chat today … final thoughts or questions?
We'll archive the chat and share the link via later today.
Thank you Lisa and advisory board, sponsors,supporters and everyone for an interesting
Data are depressing, but we should be energized: We firmly grasp the problem, & policymakers are coming around. Full speed ahead!
Thanks for hosting, Lisa!
Hopeful words! https://t.co/bUdchZOHVG
Data are depressing, but we should be energized: We firmly grasp the problem, & policymakers are coming around. Full speed ahead!
It's been a long time coming! https://t.co/r4g4HsApqm
Data are depressing, but we should be energized: We firmly grasp the problem, & policymakers are coming around. Full speed ahead!
Thanks to the wonderful staff for their continuing support; we couldn’t do it without them!
Thanks to the Advisory Board:
Special thanks to Dr. for being our guest today!
Before you go … build your Personal Learning Network and follow some of the folks whose comments you liked!
RT Thanks to wonderful staff for their continuing support; we couldn’t do it without them!<--Thanks!
Thanks to and for the invitation to tonight!
Just want to end by pointing out the need for parent advocacy and support.
Parents are interested. Let’s get them involved!
Yes ... now that ESSA has passed; parents need to make sure it's followed! https://t.co/y50mWGN96l
Just want to end by pointing out the need for parent advocacy and support.
Our next chat will be Tues March 22nd at 8E/7C/6M/5P (US)/Wed 23rd March at Midnight (UK)/11.00 AEDT/13.00 NZDT Please note changes
Next week we’ll be celebrating our 4th Anniversary with !!!
I feel like I still have a lot to learn. Thanks for focusing on this important piece!
I am sorry I missed this! I was really planning on participating. Looking forward to the transcript
Good seeing you ! Good luck with the ADAGE Gifted Ed conference at !
Nothing more important! Kids are gifted 24/7. Parent support is critical! https://t.co/smnMeq7zjM
Just want to end by pointing out the need for parent advocacy and support.
Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts & comments today. That’s what chats are all about!
