The Further Steps Forward Project seeks to improve the ability of schools within the city, state, and region to identify and educate underserved populations of the gifted. The goals of the project are 1) to identify, develop and test screening instruments specific to the targeted middle school student, and 2) to create and promote professional development in the field of gifted education, especially within this underserved population.

As an alternate pathway to pen and paper based assessments we have developed activities that are designed to highlight gifted characteristics in students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Academic gifts are commonly assessed through traditional testing methods, but too often students from low socio-economic homes lack the opportunity to develop their gifts to the point of being recognized through this pen and paper method of evaluation. In this booklet we have gathered interactive enrichment activities that are designed to create opportunities for these children to display their gifts and potentials. They may be used in classrooms, after school programs or community centers. In addition we have identified behaviors that we feel are appropriate to the target population. They are to be used as a guide to observation of students involved in the program.

We hope that these activities enable you to witness students “turning on the switch” as their creative potential is highlighted.