Salem Academically or Intellectually Gifted Program (AIG)
Welcome to the Salem AIG Homepage!
On this site, you will find information about the services provided in middle school for gifted students, the programs and competitions we sponsor, and examples of student projects and learning experiences.
Program Overview
AIG students are diverse, especially middle school AIG students, so the services provided must align with their unique needs as well. Gifted students are served primarily through differentiated lessons and activities provided by their core teachers, the content specialists, in the regular education setting. The AIG teacher works closely with these core teachers to help plan differentiated activities. Gifted students may be pulled out from classes on occasion for specialized instruction and/or the AIG Teacher may join the core teacher in the classroom for co-teaching opportunities. Gifted students will also work directly with the AIG Teacher during Spartan Time, our enrichment/ remediation period.
Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted Student
Middle school is a time of tremendous change in the lives of adolescents and gifted students are no exception. Coupled with typical adolescent changes, gifted students also face additional pressures of perfectionism, living up to family and societal expectations, as well as fitting in with their age peers and academic peers. Given the changes these young people are navigating, gifted services in middle school oftentimes center on relationship building, critical thinking and problem-solving to establish trust and rapport upon which academic rigor can be built. Parents are encouraged to help their child set realistic expectations and support them as they work to achieve these goals.
Mrs. Jennifer Howland, AIG Teacher
Please feel free to contact me with any questions! jhowland@wcpss.net
(919) 363-1870 Ext. 21568
Follow me on Twitter! @mrsjhowland