Gifted & Talented Program
We help gifted students reach their full potential
At American Leadership Academy, we want to help each and every student reach her or his full potential. Our gifted program allows students with gifted or accelerated capacities to thrive in an environment that is both challenging and appropriate for their unique needs and learning styles. This furthers our mission to provide the best educational experience for as many students as possible in a moral and wholesome environment.
Schedule a tour today to learn more about your school's Gifted Education Program!
Gifted Program Overview
Gifted students in grades 2-6 participate in a pull-out program, in which they attend a separate class twice a week. This pull-out class is offered during designated “enrichment” blocks, and allows gifted students to participate in all general classroom activities
For a full detailed layout plan of our AZ Gifted Education Program see our Gifted Scope & Sequence.
Webb's Depth of Knowledge
In this program, gifted students are able to work among their peers on cross-curricular units that extend beyond the general lessons. Gifted teachers utilize Webb's "Depth of Knowledge" scale to encourage students to reach their full potential.
| DOK-1 | DOK-2 | DOK-3 | DOK-4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| RECALL & REPRODUCE | APPLY KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS/ BASIC REASONING | STRATEGIC THINKING | EXTENSIVE THINKING |
| Who? | How did it take place? | How can I make use of it to solve a problem? | What do you think, feel, or believe? |
| What? | Why did it take place? | Why does it solve the problem? | What will or could happen? |
| Where? | How does it operate? | What is the cause, effect, or reason? | What is the relationship? |
| When? | Why does it operate? | What are the intended and unexpected outcomes? | How did it influence? What if? |
Testing for Gifted Program at ALA
American Leadership Academy uses the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), a widely-used, state-approved assessment to assess specific reasoning skills in areas that strongly correlate to academic success. The CogAT consists of three areas:
Verbal - used to assess a student's vocabulary, efficiency and verbal memory, ability to determine word relationships, and the ability to comprehend ideas.
Quantitative - used to assess a student's quantitative reasoning, problem solving abilities, and abstract reasoning.
Non-Verbal - used to assess a student's reasoning abilities through the use of spatial and figural content.
This test may be taken by any student who is referred by parents, teachers, or qualified ALA staff members. Qualification for gifted services is based on performance on this assessment. Students who score at or above the 97th percentile expectation for their grade will be considered eligible for the ALA gifted program. Placement testing for the gifted program occurs during the Fall and placement status is reviewed each spring.
Meet the ALA Queen Creek Gifted Teacher
Ms. Autieri
Kelly Autieri is the Gifted Teacher at the ALA Queen Creek Elementary school. She has a Bachelors in Education and an endorsement in Gifted Education. She has been teaching for about 15 years with 10 of those years at ALA.
Ms. Autieri became a teacher because she is passionate about educaiton and wants to make a difference for children. She enjoys being creative in her lessons and finding ways to make learning more engaging and fun. She loves to set goals for both her and her students, to see how much they can accomplish together.
Monthly Newsletters
Stay up to date with ALA Queen Creek's Gifted Program! Our monthly newsletters highlight the exciting achievements, upcoming events, and inspiring projects our gifted students are working on.
Monthly Newsletters
Student Spotlight
Check back for Student Spotlights!
Learning Tools
FAQ - Questions About Gifted
Contact Us
Please contact your school's Gifted Teacher for any additional questions you have about gifted program testing, teachers, methods, or curriculums.
Schedule a campus tour and learn more about what makes American Leadership Academy the best choice for your gifted child.