Lubbock ISD Gifted and Talented

April 2026

April and May bring lots of testing at school ... which often brings more unwanted behaviors in the classroom. Encourage your child to look for patterns and wonder about their learning, even if the classroom environment is focused on review.

Some ideas for home and the classroom:

• talk calmly about tests and test review, if you are going to discuss them at all
• ask about feelings and help your child name those feelings based on their description (don't put words in their mouth)
• remind your child that they are not their test score, no matter what happens
• ask your child's teacher how they are keeping students engaged that are not needing heavy review, or have your child ask their teacher what they can do instead

If this is your first time receiving the Gifted/Talented newsletter for Parents, please subscribe at the bottom to continue receiving it! If there is something you would like to see in the newsletter, reach out using the contact information at the bottom.

For more information about Gifted and Talented, please visit the Lubbock ISD GT website.

In the last legislative session, one of the outcomes was HCR64, which designated the first full week of April as Gifted and Talented Students Week for the next 10 years. We want to use this week to bring awareness to what gifted services are, why they are necessary, and how students are identified for services. Check out our Facebook page during that week for more information.

H-E-B Family Nights at FiberMax Center for Discovery are back for 2026!

Make it a monthly family tradition and come explore, create, and learn together at the FiberMax Center for Discovery.

FREE admission for everyone, hands-on STEM crafts, door prizes, and delicious snacks. Craft limited to the first 200 kids.

Mark your calendars and bring the whole crew!

Test review can drive a child crazy that does not need to review for the test. If your child gets frustrated when testing is brought up and you are not concerned with how they do, as long as it is their best effort, I would leave it alone. However, they may want to do some quick vocabulary practice or math fluency. Let them own the journey.

Test prep is foundation and skill based. Some students don't need that. Advanced learners may benefit from a short period of fluency or "Show me what you know", but not for weeks.

🍇Add Depth

There are many ways to add a deeper level of thinking, even on STAAR questions used for practice.

• Can you find the pattern? Are there questions that seem to repeat over and over? How can that help you when you are taking the real STAAR test?
• What if this question said "What would have happened if ..." instead of "What happened next?"

For more information about strategies being used to support your advanced learner, reach out to your campus teacher or administrator, or Advanced Academics (contact information at the bottom)!

Looking for some help or guidance with your GT child? Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented host parent webinars and post recordings afterward in both English and Spanish. Check out the list of past webinars by visiting their website: txgifted.org/webinar

In July 2020, I joined the Advanced Academics team as the G/T Instructional Specialist for Lubbock ISD. I am so excited to work with our teachers and students, and make positive changes in the area of Gifted and Talented in our district!

Email: sarah.gibson@lubbockisd.org
Website: https://www.lubbockisd.org/o/lisd/page/gifted-and-talented-information
Phone: (806)219-0333
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lubbockgt