Make October the Official Gifted Child Find Month
- Michelle Robinson
- Jan 4
- 3 min read
By October, teachers have had enough time to observe their students' learning patterns and behaviors. That's why I've made October the official Gifted Child Find Month in my district. Whether you call it Talent Search, Ability Spotting, or Gifted Recognition, the goal remains the same: identifying and nurturing our gifted learners.
Why October? October is the ideal time to focus on finding gifted students because:
Teachers have had ample interaction with students to notice advanced skills, learning speed, or creative thinking.
The back-to-school rush has settled, providing time for more thoughtful observation.
There’s still enough time in the academic year to provide support and resources for newly identified gifted students.
Some states do not return state testing data until late September.
Dedicating a specific month to Child Find streamlines the process, creating a focused timeline for identification, assessment, and planning. It also raises awareness among educators, parents, and the community about the importance of identifying gifted learners early.
To help you get started, I’ve developed the FIND framework. Here’s how you can use it in your school:
The FIND Framework for Identifying Gifted Students
F - Flagging PotentialTeach educators how to spot common characteristics of giftedness
Action Step: Use my Digital Grade-Level Gifted Classroom Screener to obtain data for all students within your chosen grade-levels. If you choose to focus only on one grade-level for the screener, you can provide all teachers with a Gifted Identification Checklist to help them recognize these traits during classroom activities and discussions. This can be a simple, printable guide available for download. (I have one in my resource locker)
I - Integrating AssessmentsUse both formal and informal assessments to capture a full picture of a student’s abilities. Formal assessments can include standardized testing, while informal assessments could be classroom observations, creative writing samples, or math problem-solving activities.
Action Step: Use the TCAP tab on the Digital Grade-Level Screener to record the top scores from your state testing data. I do this for all grade-levels, but you can choose what is best for your school. NOTE: If your school uses grade-level CogAT screener, congratulations! This is an excellent source for prospective GATE students.
N - Navigating Meetings & NetworkingCollaborate with fellow teachers, specialists, and parents to discuss potential gifted students. Set up meetings where all stakeholders can share observations and data. Set up parent meetings to obtain consent if individual tests are needed.
Action Step: Use a Parent-Teacher Meeting Agenda to structure productive meetings and help you stay on track. I always include a list of all documents I need so I won't forget!
D - Documenting, Developing Plans, Delivering OutcomesMake sure you document dates, meeting notes, and how the student moved through the process. Once a student is identified, schedule your eligibility meeting (if that applies in your state), create a personalized plan for your student, and regularly document their progress.
Action Step: Develop a tracking worksheets to monitor a student’s progress through the identification process. This should include how information is shared with gen ed teachers after the eligibility meeting and possible resources to help them support the new GATE student in the gen ed classroom.
Bonus: Consider creating a Gifted Onboarding system. Andi McNair has an excellent resource to help you get started.
Making Gifted Child Find Month a Reality
This October, take action by integrating the FIND framework into your gifted program. With a structured process in place, you’ll be able to identify and support gifted students early, giving them the tools they need to succeed.
Let’s make sure no gifted student goes unnoticed or unsupported. Are you ready to FIND the hidden potential in your classroom this October?
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