How long is the Gate and TAGS class? What is TAGS?
Gate class for those identified as Gifted is 150 minutes a week.
Services for those identified as Tags is 50+ minutes a week. TAGS is the identification of students who tested in the 90th-97th percentile on the ability tests given. These students are also thinking at much higher levels than their peers.
Look in the GATE Canvas for the weekly schedule. GATE and TAGS class is held online using Google Meet. For students who are brand new to the Gate and Tags class, click on the onboarding tab to learn more.
What do we do during GATE and TAGS?
During class we work on stretching our brains through challenges, projects, puzzles, and riddles. We do hands-on engineering projects. We have a lot of fun in the GATE and TAGS class! You will have time to work with your peers and play games too. In all grades we learn about what it means to be gifted, our strengths, and build thinking skills. We always focus on a universal theme to help us make deeper connections to our learning across disciplines.
In 3rd grade we will connect our learning to the theme change. What is change? How can change be positive and negative? Why is change inevitable? Some fun projects that are planned for this year: build a clay brain model, build a spaghetti tower, build a parachute, design and build a tiny home.
In 4th grade we will focus on systems. What is a system? How are the parts connected to the whole? What sub-systems make up a system? Some fun projects that are planned for this year: Build a solar oven, build a wind-powered car, and design and build a theme park.
In 5th grade we will make connections to the theme power. What is power? Why is power influential? How can power be abused? Some fun projects that are planned for this year: Build a lunar pod, build a balloon rocket, and design a business to make bracelets.
Do I get grades in GATE class?
No, you are not graded with A, B, C, D, F in the Gate class. Rather, you are assessed on the GATE rubric that determines if you are exceeding, meeting, approaching or needs improvement with your creative thinking, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and learner behaviors. You are sent this rubric by email at the end of each semester. I will keep track of how you are doing on assignments within the GATE Canvas page and your participation during class. Students who do not come to class regularly, submit their assignments, or participate in class will receive needs improvement on the rubric. We will go over the rubric in class so you know what is expected.
How do I see my schedule, assignments, weekly class announcements, get my class Meet link, and contact the teacher?
In Canvas, you will be prompted to accept the invitation to the Gate class page. Once you accept, you will click on the schedule button to see your weekly schedule.
Click the contact the teacher button to see a welcome video and learn how to contact me through email, Remind, or Canvas inbox.
At the top of the Homepage you will see the weekly announcements that tell you and your parents about the week in Gate class.
If you click Modules, you will be able to see any assignments that are due.
If you click the Live Sessions button you will be able to click on my Meet link and see my nickname join code.
Do I get to stay in GATE each school year?
Once you are identified as Gifted, you stay in GATE class for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade as long as you stay in CCSD.
Students in Tags only stay as long as they are at NVLA for 4th-5th grade or if they move to a CCSD Title 1 school. Students are allowed to be tested twice for the Gifted program. Tags students who have only tested 1 time are encouraged to test again.
What are some things I can do outside of school?
Follow your passions! Make time to spend time doing things you love. Hang out with your family and friends. Read about things you are interested in. Solve riddles and puzzles to build your thinking skills. Don't forget to help yourself be a happier person by eating healthy, exercising, practicing be grateful, seeing the wonder in the world by staying curious, and being kind to yourself and those around you.
How is the Gate and Tags class different from the general education classroom?
Explores subject matter in a global context
Develops leadership skills
Develops producers, as well as consumers, of knowledge
Inspires inquiry, divergent, and critical thinking
Fosters creativity
Promotes complexity and higher level thinking skills
Enhances problem-solving strategies
Curriculum for gifted students is specifically designed to challenge academically advanced learners and provide experiences that require critical thinking, problem-solving, independent study skills, communication, and persistence in the face of challenges. Although the gifted and talented curriculum and the general education curriculum may be similar, the depth and intensity of learning activities within the gifted and talented curriculum make it distinctive.