3rd Grade + Explorers

The purpose of the Wake County Public School System Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Program is to provide an appropriately challenging educational program for students who perform, or show potential for performing, at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment.

The Wake County AIG Program supports a unique nurturing component, 3rd Grade Explorers.  The AIG teacher works in partnership with third grade teachers to plan a variety of experiences designed to elicit high academic performance.   The teacher will teach (6) whole class lessons.  Our first lessons will focus on exposing students to the types of questions they will see on the CogAt.  The remaining 3 sessions will be focused on reading/writing, math, and thinking skills.  

During the Explorers classroom lessons, the AIG and the classroom teachers assess student performance during these experiences.  Students who demonstrate high performance participate in additional small group enrichment activities.  Some students may participate in one or more small group experiences, while other students may not demonstrate a need for this enrichment.  Participation in a small group experience does not mean that the student has been, or will be, identified for future AIG services.  

All 3rd Grade students will be screened for AIG services second quarter by using the CogAt (aptitude) test.   This year's traditional calendar testing window is November 4 - November 19.  Exact days will be shared with all 3rd grade families through Mr. Cohen's communications, the LES website, and classroom teacher newsletters in October.  

After those results come back, some students may be asked to take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (achievement test) for additional data if needed.

Evidence from 3rd Grade Explorers class and small group work may be considered with the informal indicators including student learning behaviors, student classroom performance and work samples, student interest, and student motivation.  Formal indicators, such as aptitude (CogAt) and achievement scores (Iowa) from norm-referenced tests as well as other grade level assessments, are also reviewed by the SBCGE committee to determine if differentiated services are needed.  

• 3rd Quarter - SBCGE will collect and analyze all 3rd grade data.  Explorer small groups will not be meeting this quarter. 

• 4th Quarter - AIG services for identified students will begin.