WHY HAVE A GIFTED PROGRAM?
Children bring many talents into the classroom.
Some students have just the right combination of
background knowledge, skills, and motivation so that
classroom learning appears relatively easy for them.
They are successful consumers of school information
and may actually develop new ideas and applications
in the classroom. Other talented students may not
demonstrate their abilities in the classroom and may
be considered underachievers. Both of these groups
benefit from additional services to the regular
program that meets their special needs. That addition
is IMPACT.
IMPACT is an instructional supplement to
continue growth that begins in the classroom. For
children of high ability who also achieve well in
school, IMPACT is an opportunity to develop skills
in complex and creative thinking beyond the level
addressed by the regular school curriculum. For
children whose daily classroom work does not reflect
their measured abilities, IMPACT is also an
opportunity to harness and apply hidden talents. For
both groups, IMPACT is a necessary educational
program created to allow participating students to
reach their potential while developing self-confidence
and positive peer relationships.
WHAT IS IMPACT?
IMPACT stands for Independence Missouri
Program for Academically and Creatively Talented.
It serves identified students in grades 2-8 from every
elementary and middle school in the district.
Elementary students attend IMPACT one day a
week at the Santa Fe Trail Annex Center. During that
time, students participate in up to five or six activities
taught by the IMPACT staff. Classes are based on
thought-provoking content units in literacy, science,
social studies, and mathematics.
In middle school students attend IMPACT in their
designated school one class period each day.
HOW ARE STUDENTS REFERRED FOR
IMPACT Screening?
Teachers, parents, counselors, or a student can
initiate a referral to IMPACT. The deadline for
referrals for IMPACT is in late January. When a
student is referred for screening, parent permission is
required. In deciding whether to initiate Screening for
a particular child, parents and teachers should
remember two important points:
HOW ARE STUDENTS CHOSEN FOR
IMPACT?
IMPACT teachers work with classroom teachers
and building principals to identify students in grades
1 - 5 who should be referred for IMPACT. Referred
students will be screened 2nd semester. Students who
pass the screening and qualify for testing will test
with the counselors during the summer. Qualifying
students, who are tested at times other than the
summer, shall be placed in the program at the
beginning of a new semester.
The Missouri Department of Education has
established the identification criteria for participating
students. These criteria are based on test scores and
nominations. To qualify for IMPACT, students
must meet both state and Independence district
guidelines. Criteria are as follows:
Criterion 1 – IMPACT candidates, who have met the
screening requirements, must obtain two
nominations. Usually one is provided by the
classroom teacher and the other by the child's parent.
Criterion 2 – A global measure of intelligence from
the WISC-IV or another approved test.
Criterion 3 – A standardized, nationally normed
measure of academic achievement from a test such as
the Woodcock-Johnson Test of Achievement.
Or
Criterion 3 – Creativity scores from the Torrance
Test of Creativity
•
Students who perform well in the classroom are
not necessarily gifted. Most children with
average ability, family support and sufficient
motivation can be expected to meet the
requirements of the school curriculum. Not all of
these students have the necessary aptitudes to
apply their learning to the creation of new ideas
and products. Not all have the driving curiosity
about learning to invest one day each week away
from their teacher and classmates.
•
Some students who are unsuccessful in the
classroom are gifted. These youngsters
sometimes think in such a divergent way that
they have trouble focusing on one correct
answer. Their minds may operate so quickly that
they fail to take the time to work neatly or to
check for accuracy. Their interest may be so
strongly developed that they do not exercise the
self-discipline to follow through with external
requirements. They may be so aware of the ways
in which they are different from other children;
they choose to suppress their talents. Their
internal standards may be so unrealistically high
that they actively avoid taking risks of any kind.
IMPACT students do not have to re-qualify to
continue participating in the program. Students may
leave the program if it is determined by the school
and/or parents that the program does not meet the
needs of the student at a particular time.
HOW ARE IMPACT STUDENTS
EVALUATED?
The products created by IMPACT students are
self-evaluated, peer evaluated, and/or teacher
evaluated by using rubrics or project evaluation
sheets. In elementary school students will also
receive ongoing feedback from the staff about their
work habits, affective growth, and interpersonal
development. In middle school IMPACT students
receive mid-trister and trister grades.
Team meetings between the school staff,
IMPACT teacher, and/or parent can be held
whenever a student experiences difficulties in either
educational setting. These meetings can be initiated
by the classroom teacher, the IMPACT teacher, or
the parent. Cooperative plans are developed to
resolve existing problems.
Independence School District
201. N. Forest Ave.
Independence, MO 64050
(816) 521-5300
Dr. Dred Scott
Elementary IMPACT Coordinator
(816) 521-5300
Dr. Brad MacLaughlin
Middle School IMPACT
Coordinator
(816) 521-5300
Board of Education
Ann Franklin, President
Matt Mallinson, Vice-President
Jill Esry, Treasurer
Ken Johnston, Director
Jana Waits, Director
Denise Fears, Director
Greg Finke, Director
Santa Fe Trail Annex
1231 S, Windsor Road
Independence, MO 64055
Teachers
Mrs. Sheila Bonner
Mrs. Mary Fritchie
Independence
Missouri
Program for the
Academically and
Creatively Talented