SAGE Referral Resources

Characteristics and Traits

No gifted individual is exactly the same, each with his own unique patterns and traits. There are many traits that gifted individuals have in common but no gifted learner exhibits traits in every area. The traits and information that follow may help you better understand whether or not your student is gifted.

Gifted students have both positive and negative traits and behaviors. Not surprisingly, the negative traits can mask giftedness. The documents below are characteristics and traits that may help you in identification and in writing the teacher referral paragraph.

Characteristics of Gifted Learners

Common Characteristics of Gifted Individuals

Traits of Gifted Learners

Gifted Characteristic Students in Poverty

Wide range of interests not necessarily related to school
Specific talent with exceptional memory or knowledge
Creative
Unusual imagination
High energy levels
Insightful
Great story tellers
Desire to perform with mixed message from peer groups (It's not cool to be smart)
Discrepant identification profiles

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Gifted Student, Edwards, L., Flynt P., Knight S., Lay R., & Stockman D.

SAGE Screening & Testing Process

The flow chart below provides an overview of the process for SAGE screening and testing. You can also click the link to view on the SAGE Website.

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SAGEScreeningandTestingFlowchart_1.pdf

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Completing A Referral

Accessing SAGE Referral Information:

District Webpage
Staff Links
NKCSD SAGE Application
You will need to login to the system: Username: Your 9 number Password: Your District Password

Be sure to have all test data readily available. Once the process has begun, it must be completed in one setting.

F & P Reading Level
Fastbridge aReading and aMath Percentages
CogAT Score
MAP Results (If Applicable)
District Benchmark Assessments

Be sure to follow each of the steps listed on the application page at the beginning of the referral process. It is key that the parent and principal receive the email. The application will not go forward until parents have completed the parent portion of the referral. I find it best to call parents and make sure they received the email. The system will send to the parent listed first in Powerschool.

STEP #1: Application Welcome Page

You will need to login to begin the process. Login is located in the upper right corner.

STEP #2: Login

Username: Your District 9 Number

Password: Your District Password

STEP #3: Referral Directions

Review the directions. After you have completed the referral you will come back to this page and follow the steps to send the parent and principal email.

STEP #4: Select the Type of Referral

The first step in the referral is to select is the referral is a parent initiated or teacher request.

STEP #5: Select In District or Home School

Next, you will select if the student is already in district or if it is a home or private school student.

STEP #6: Select the School

Then, you will select the school and enter the student's name. If they are in district information will populate for them from Powerschool.

You will then enter the students scores and complete your narrative write up.

Tips for the Narrative Write Up

Be specific on observed behaviors and academic performance. Use the gifted characteristic charts provided and note any that are observed with examples. For example, the student is highly curious about topics, learns rapidly, recognizes patterns, asks probing questions or strives to have deeper understanding of the why.
Make note of academic performance. Are there current intervention or enhancements that you are doing to meet the students needs? For example, is the student going to another grade level or class for a subject? Is the student getting enhancement work in math because they have surpassed their peers? Are the student's scores not reflective of their true ability due to timed test anxiety?
Make note of any social and emotional behaviors that are observed or noted. Is the student highly sensitive, do they appear to have a synchronized development, do they prefer adult conversation over peers, do they make up their own rules to games at recess?

Further Questions?

Contact our Administrative Assistant, Rebecca Mason, at rebecca.mason@nkcschools.org or check out our resources below.

Website: https://www.nkcschools.org/Domain/43
Location: 6889 North Oak Trafficway, Gladstone, MO, USA
Phone: 816-321-5350
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nkcsage

Twitter: @NKC_SAGE