Talented & Gifted Program
T.A.G.
Mission, Vision, Philosophy
MISSION:
Foster a caring & safe environment for all to connect, learn, & grow.
VISION:
Preparing all to value relationships, pursue excellence, & expand potential.
PHILOSOPHY:
In accordance with the Grundy Center School District Mission & Vision statement, the gifted program accentuates the vision to connect, learn and grow. As appropriate to meet the needs of advanced level learners, increased attention and opportunity is offered to practice the value of relationships, pursuit of excellence, and expanded potential at a deeper level.
Talented and Gifted program services are designed to support a learning atmosphere and experiences that provide opportunities for growth and development. Achievement Standards are in place to guide students through enrichment activities and a personalized plan. Self understanding, creative thinking, critical thinking, leadership, collaboration, and complex communication, when pushed to an advanced level, are powerful competencies that cross all curricular areas and elevate potential for future success.
Iowa Code
Who is considered talented and gifted?
257.44 Gifted and talented children defined:
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"Gifted and talented children" are those children who are identified as possessing outstanding abilities and who are capable of high performance. Gifted and talented children are children who require appropriate instruction and educational services commensurate with their abilities and needs beyond those provided by the regular school program.
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Gifted and talented children include those children with demonstrated achievement or potential ability, or both, in any of the following areas or in combination:
a. General intellectual ability. b. Creative thinking. c. Leadership ability. d. Visual and performing arts ability. e. Specific ability aptitude.
89 Acts, ch 135, §44; 2010 Acts, ch 1069, §72
Who Participates?
Gifted services are in place for teachers and students, grades TK - 12.
At the Elementary, TK-4 TAG advisors are available to support classroom teachers through observation and offering higher level push-in activities for individual students or small groups. To continue to meet the needs of identified students, pull-out sessions are embedded into the schedule for grades 3 and 4 and as needed for grades 1st and 2nd.
At the Middle and High School, students identified for the program meet during WIN or another arranged time. Interest inventories are completed, goals are developed and individual plans are put in place. Alongside personal plans, students work to improve skills of logic, strategy, critical thinking, collaboration and leadership.
Identification is based on multiple criteria: Nominations (from teachers, parents, and/or students), test scores of 95% or above, class norms, observations, and teacher surveys. Student participation will be reviewed throughout the year to determine if the program is appropriate for the student's needs. Rosters may change from year to year.
Completing a nomination form begins the process of student identification for the Talented and Gifted Program at Grundy Center Community Schools. Nominations may be submitted by professional educators, parents, peers, or self. Nomination shows support for exceptional talent and/or potential to perform well above grade level. Nominations will be reviewed along with academic performance, assessment data, referrals, and other relevant data to determine eligibility.
Resources for Parents
Resources for Students
Opportunities are always changing, check with a TAG advisor for additional information.
Belin & Blank Center - U of Iowa
Academic Decathlon has been a well supported and outstanding program for almost 30 years at GCCSD. Grundy Center AcDec is open to any high school student.
Battle of the Books Students read a selected set of books and then compete against other schools as they challenge their reading comprehension. Working as a team, students strategically become experts on the required books and challenge their ability to recall specific details.
Google Science Fair: is a completely online science fair, where students create and share their science fair project by the creation of a short video project. This project is only available to students ages 13-18 years of age. Information https://scholarshiparena.in/google-science-fair/
National History Day: is a national competition that challenges students to explore various concepts within history and present research findings through one of the following: a documentary, display, written paper, performance or a website. Some options may be completed as a team.
National History Day information
World Food Prize Youth Institute ‘The Iowa Youth Institute is a life-changing experience at Iowa State University where high school students engage with leading experts on critical global challenges, participate in hands-on activities, and explore exciting ways to make a difference in Iowa and around the world.’ Registration is generally in Feb-Mar and the event is in April.
Resources for Educators
TAG - You're It! Newsletter TAG in the Classroom
TAG - You're It! Newsletter Choice Boards
TAG - You're It! Newsletter Depth & Complexity
TAG - You're It! Newsletter Depth of Knowledge
TAG - You're It! Newsletter Identification
TAG - You're It! Elementary Newsletter Anchor Strategies
MTSS for Advanced Level Learners Guide
Hoagies' Gifted Education Page
Differentiating Instruction - Byrdseed
Iowa Talented & Gifted Association
National Association for Gifted Children
Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG)
Renzulli Center for Creativity, Gifted Education, Talent Development