TAG

PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY/RATIONALE

In its attempt to meet the educational needs of each student, the Nodaway Valley CSD believes that every student is entitled to an educational program that meets their learning needs. Because of this mission, the school district supports the following core beliefs in relation to gifted education:

• Students who exhibit exceptional academic skills are entitled to an educational program that meets their learning needs. 

• Educational learning opportunities should be designed to meet the unique educational needs of talented and gifted students.

• The district will provide specially designed instruction and related activities through cooperative efforts of the TAG teacher and general education teachers in the general education classroom.

The TAG Program facilitators/teachers and the classroom teachers plan and provide differentiated programming for those students who have needs beyond the existing grade level curriculum. The TAG program is designed to assist identified students in reaching their greatest academic potential/cognitive needs and fulfilling their affective needs so that they will be prepared for productive, successful lives beyond school as stated in the district mission statement.

Nodaway Valley identifies in the areas of general intellectual ability, specific academic aptitude, and creativity.  The target population is those who possess outstanding abilities or talent beyond age and grade-level peers and/or are capable of high performance, require an appropriate instruction and educational services commensurate with their abilities and needs that go beyond those provided by the general school program.

PROGRAM GOALS

1. To help students gain an understanding of themselves, their abilities, and giftedness.

2. To provide an extensive learning environment which will enable each child to fully develop his/her intellectual and creative abilities through challenging instructional activities.

3. To provide for the development and utilization of students’ thinking abilities, creativity, research skills, and problem-solving techniques.

4. To help students accept responsibility for self-directed learning.

5. To help students recognize and develop their cognitive and affective skills and promote awareness of support services for these skills.

6. To provide students with additional extended learning opportunities, support, and resources to enhance their education.

STUDENT LEARNING GOALS

1. To gain an understanding of his/her abilities, giftedness, and affective needs.

2. To develop his/her cognitive and affective abilities, talents, and skills.

3. To develop and utilize problem solving and critical thinking abilities.

4. To be self-directed, independent, life-long learners.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Primary Students-Grades K-2

Students needing enrichment in grades K-2 are served in the regular classroom and in pull-out small group sessions.  Students are identified as needing extended learning opportunities through classroom teacher observations and recommendations.  Extended learning opportunities to support individual learning needs are identified and provided through collaboration with the classroom and TAG teacher in "small group" meeting times.  The TAG teacher and classroom teacher involve and report progress to parents. At this level, classes with the TAG teacher are simply called "enrichment" or "small group" as it is not a formal identification process.

Identification for K-2 enrichment includes:

• • noticing that students are excelling beyond grade-level standards

  • teacher nomination for above-level learning

  • use of "characteristics of gifted children" checklist by teacher

  • Exceptional classroom work samples

  • FAST reading/math screener -1 grade level above proficiency (end of year)

Elementary/MS Program-Grades 3-8

Identified talented and gifted students in grades 3-8 are served in the regular classroom through differentiated curriculum and in small group sessions with the TAG teacher for extended learning programs.  The TAG teacher works cooperatively with classroom teachers to identify appropriate curriculum and extended learning opportunities.  Classroom differentiation in reading, math, science, and technology is provided on an individual basis depending on student skills and individual learning needs.  The TAG extended learning program includes exploratory activities, thinking skills, problem solving, individual development, independent investigations and interpersonal skills.

Identification for TAG is a complex task with many factors considered and combination of 3 required, including:

• • 95%ile on subject-area ISASP (Iowa Assess.) test

  • subject-area teacher recommendation 

  • 120 SAS (standard age score) on Cognitive Abilities Test (reasoning skills test)

  • FAST reading/math screener - 2 years above grade level proficiency

  • high creativity, motivation or learning characteristics as measured by Renzulli scales

  • Superior products/performances in the classroom

Secondary Program Grades 9-12

The TAG program for secondary TAG students includes differentiation in the regular classroom, possible academic acceleration, and extra-curricular offerings such as entering STEM or writing competitions, elementary mentoring, or producing a student magazine. Any student who has been served in the TAG program in previous years is eligible for high school TAG offerings.

STUDENT NOMINATION FOR TAG

Student nominations for the Talented and Gifted program can be made by parents, staff, peers, and a self nomination by the student.  If you would like to nominate your student for this program please fill out a form. Forms can be picked up at the NV Elementary School office.  Please contact Gena Ward at 743-6136 or gena.ward@nodawayvalley.org if you have any questions. 

(This does not guarantee your child with receive TAG services)

Upcoming Events for Middle School TAG

State Science Fair in Iowa- 

Regional competition: March 23 @Storm Lake

State competition: April 4-5 @Hilton Coliseum 

National History Day- 

Regional competition: March 11 @IWCC Council Bluffs

State competition: April 29 @Des Moines Iowa Event Center

Here's a past presentation about our program!