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Students in the Gifted Support program are assessed through the use of portfolios, rubrics, self-
assessment reflections, and progress reports. Students take home their portfolios once a quarter to
share their work with their families. In May, students lead their own portfolioconferences with their
families after preparing in class. Parents are encouraged to respond to this conference on the
provided reflection sheets.
Gifted Support progress reports contain both a student self-assessment section and a teacher
assessment section. Progress reports are distributed with the regular education report cards twice a
year at the end of each semester. (January and June)
The gifted support progress report has a grading system of “Advanced Beginner”, “Competent User”,
“Proficient Performer”, and “Expert”. There are definitions of these developmental levels on the gifted
progress report. In an effort to help the parents better understand the developmental levels, I have
included some additional information below that I hope you find helpful.
The work presented in the gifted support class is an extension of the curriculum in the regular
classroom. It is more challenging than the regular curriculum expectations. Although our rating scale
looks similar to that of the homeroom report cards, it has different rating descriptors. There are
plans to modify the gifted support progress reports to better match the regular report cards. In the
meantime, here is an analogy that I use with the students to help them understand how it works.
Imagine that in your regular class you are learning how to ride bicycles. You are really good at riding
bicycles so you are invited to join the gifted class to learn how to ride unicycles. It’s a similar skill but
more challenging.
Now you get to evaluate your progress on riding the unicycle. These are the scores you would use.
Advanced Beginner – You are an advanced beginner if you need some help with learning advanced
skills. You were great at the two-wheel bike but the unicycle is challenging. Maybe the teacher is
helping you balance or maybe you are using some supports to hold on to. With practice you know
you will get better and are learning a lot from the extra help.
Competent User - You are a competent user if you are learning to ride the unicycle with practice.
You can go short distances by yourself in a straight line. You are still learning how to turn without
feeling like you are going to fall. You like the teacher to watch you and make sure that you are doing
it properly. You think a lot about your balance and your body positions. A competent user might
need just a little bit of help, makes silly mistakes, and forgets to include details.
Proficient Performer – You are a proficient performer if you are able to ride the unicycle very well
independently. You can go forward and backward for long distances. You can turn right and left and
spin in a circle. You really don’t think a lot about balancing. Your body feels really comfortable when
you are riding. A proficient performer works independently with confidence.
Expert – You are an expert if you are so good at riding the unicycle that you are coming up with ways
to make it more challenging. Maybe you make an obstacle course for yourself with a slalom race.
Maybe you try to keep the wheel steady on a long chalk line that you draw on the ground. You can
also break down the skill of riding into smaller steps so that you could coach other riders and give
them pointers to improve their skills. An expert includes all of the details and finds ways to challenge
himself or herself.
Now, instead of thinking how our bodies are learning how to master a unicycle, we need to think
about how our minds are learning to master the skills presented in gifted support class.
*If a skill was not assessed during the semester, a N/A symbol is used.
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