Help Your Child with an Assessment for Giftedness in Calgary
Giftedness, by definition, means a score at approximately the 98th percentile or higher on standardized measures of intelligence. Sharon Blott, an experienced psychologist, can help you with the assessment of the giftedness of your child. Sharon Blott Psychological Services offers assessment services in Calgary, Okotoks and the surrounding areas.
These measures include the Wechsler Preschool & Primary Scale of Intelligence™ (WPPSI-IV) for children under seven years of age and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children® – Fifth Edition (WISC-V) for older children and teens.
Characteristics
Gifted assessments are typically required for admission to a gifted program such as Westmount Charter School (WCS), Master’s Academy, Renert School, or the Gifted and Talented Education Program (GATE) as offered through the Calgary Board of Education (CBE). Alberta Education guidelines indicate that the criteria for giftedness consist of an IQ score of 130 (plus or minus five).
Common intellectual characteristics of students who are gifted include:
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Advanced intellectual achievement
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High motivation and interest
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Verbal proficiency
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Problem-solving ability
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Logical thinking
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Creativity
Students who may be more at risk emotionally, socially and academically include:
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Divergent thinkers who suggest ideas that are logical to them but unusual to classmates.
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Creative high achievers, particularly those with artistic gifts, may experience feelings of isolation or depression. As a result, they may be subject to anxiety, insomnia, feelings of worthlessness, loss of energy, or decreased ability to concentrate.
Challenges
Many gifted students require differentiated programming and support to meet their exceptional learning needs. Gifted students also experience typical developmental issues faced by all students.
These issues may be complicated by the exceptional learning needs and characteristics many gifted students demonstrate, particularly during adolescence. Gifted students may face various challenges, including perfectionism, underachievement, uneven or asynchronous development, and learning difficulties.
For some gifted students, a combination of characteristics may lead to difficulties with peer relations, avoidance of risk-taking, or excessive self-criticism.
Perfectionism
Perfectionism can be thought of as part of the experience of being gifted, which can be used in a positive way to achieve excellence.
Perfectionism is a pattern of characteristics and behaviours that includes compulsiveness about work habits, over concern for details, unrealistically high standards and rigid routines.
It can develop at various stages of development for various reasons, but for many, it is simply a part of their personality, not necessarily the result of parental pressure or outside influence.
Assessments
Gifted assessments are typically required for admission to a gifted program such as Westmount Charter School (WCS) or the Gifted and Talented Education Program (GATE) as offered through the Calgary Board of Education (CBE). Alberta education guidelines indicate that the criteria for giftedness consist of an IQ score of 130 (plus or minus five).
Westmount Charter School
A gifted assessment for Westmount Charter School can begin as early as 3.5 years of age in order to assess a child for Kindergarten admission. For additional information about Westmount Charter School admission, visit the Westmount Charter School.
The process involves a two-hour appointment that consists of:
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Consultation A 30-minute consultation with parents to discuss background information and to obtain consent for the assessment.
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Testing One-and-a-half to two hours of testing to administer an intellectual assessment (WPPSI-IV, WISC-V) immediately following the consultation.
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Follow-up A follow-up meeting within one week of assessment to discuss results and provide reports to parents if the child is gifted.
Gifted and Talented Education Program (GATE)
This is a gifted assessment for the Gifted and Talented Education Program (GATE) as offered by the Calgary Board of Education. For additional information about the program, visit The Calgary Board of Education website.
The assessment process consists of:
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Consultation A 45-minute consultation with parents to discuss background information and to obtain consent for the assessment.
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Assessment Two two-hour assessment sessions to administer an intellectual assessment (WPPSI-IV, WISC-V) and achievement test (WAIT-III).
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Follow-up A follow-up meeting within one week of assessment to discuss results and provide reports to parents.
* Please note: If your child’s results are not gifted, you have the option of not paying for a report or attending the final meeting. results will be communicated over the phone and/or by email at a reduced assessment rate of $500.00 due at the first appointment.
