Roswell TAG Extending the Curriculum for the Talented and Gifted

TAG teachers: Laura Kouns, English/Language Arts Laura Kouns, English/Language Arts  Department Chair  TAG Directed Study Approval  Senior Advisor Sandi Dabbs, Mathematics Sandi Dabbs, Mathematics  TAG Testing  Junior Advisor Laura Light, Foreign Language Laura Light, Foreign Language  TAG Internships  Sophomore Advisor (A-L) Nancy Moeller, Social Studies Nancy Moeller, Social Studies  Governor’s Honor’s Program  TAG Registration  Freshman Advisor (A-K) Megan Nettuno, Science Megan Nettuno, Science  Science Fair  Freshman Advisor (L-Z)  Derek Shackelford, English/Language Arts  Sophomore Advisor (M-Z)

What is TAG in High School? It is an enrichment program that allows students to explore a wider variety of topics than the regular curriculum does It is an enrichment program that allows students to explore a wider variety of topics than the regular curriculum does It is an item on their transcript that shows they did something above the regular requirements for a diploma It is an item on their transcript that shows they did something above the regular requirements for a diploma

What are the advantages of being in TAG? Provides the gifted student with opportunities: Provides the gifted student with opportunities: to explore a topic of interest with depth over time to explore a topic of interest with depth over time to work with intellectual peers and professionals in a discipline to work with intellectual peers and professionals in a discipline to engage in creative thought and production in real-world settings to engage in creative thought and production in real-world settings Includes advisement for class planning and college selection Includes advisement for class planning and college selection Enhances transcript for college Enhances transcript for college

High School TAG – Six Ways Seminars (mini-courses) Seminars (mini-courses) Independent Projects Independent Projects Advanced Placement Classes Advanced Placement Classes Directed Study Classes Directed Study Classes Career Internships Career Internships College courses (here & there) College courses (here & there)

Seminars All Freshmen take a seminar once per week All Freshmen take a seminar once per week They select a topic from eight or more options They select a topic from eight or more options This takes the place of one class per week This takes the place of one class per week The class period used for this seminar rotates weekly The class period used for this seminar rotates weekly

Seminars (cont.) Seminar registration takes place the second week of the semester Seminar registration takes place the second week of the semester Students should see a TAG teacher if they feel they cannot miss their regular class that week Students should see a TAG teacher if they feel they cannot miss their regular class that week Students earn credit/no credit for their grade at the end of the semester Students earn credit/no credit for their grade at the end of the semester

Independent Projects Similar to a seminar Similar to a seminar Meets once per week Meets once per week Students choose the topic of interest to them Students choose the topic of interest to them With a teacher, students design the curriculum and the evaluation methods With a teacher, students design the curriculum and the evaluation methods Students earn credit/no credit for their grade at the end of the semester Students earn credit/no credit for their grade at the end of the semester

Advanced Placement College level coursework approved by the College Board College level coursework approved by the College Board AP classes are typically offered in 10 th -12 th grade AP classes are typically offered in 10 th -12 th grade When a student registers for TAG and indicates enrollment in an AP class, that is all they need to do to receive TAG credit that semester When a student registers for TAG and indicates enrollment in an AP class, that is all they need to do to receive TAG credit that semester

Advanced Placement (cont.) “…AP courses alone do not constitute a comprehensive program that will sufficiently address the needs of a broad range of gifted learners…” (Hertberg-Davis & Callahan, 2008) “…the pressure to list numerous AP courses on college applications reduces opportunity for significant immersion in higher-order thinking, independent research, interdisciplinary study, field work, creative out-of-the-box thinking, or deep specialization all of which are considered essential to the coming workforce…” (Gallagher, 2009)

Directed Study Available at all grade levels Available at all grade levels A self-directed course with guidance from a teacher A self-directed course with guidance from a teacher Encourages independent research and advanced problem-solving Encourages independent research and advanced problem-solving Meets daily as a scheduled class Meets daily as a scheduled class Student earns elective credit Student earns elective credit Student earns numerical grade for the course Student earns numerical grade for the course

Career Internship Available to TAG juniors and seniors in good standing Available to TAG juniors and seniors in good standing Provides on-the-job experience in a career field of interest to the student Provides on-the-job experience in a career field of interest to the student Students leave school to go to internship site on a regular basis Students leave school to go to internship site on a regular basis Students earn elective credit Students earn elective credit Students earn a numerical grade Students earn a numerical grade

Career Internship A county liaison helps students find their first internship assignment A county liaison helps students find their first internship assignment Examples of past interns: Examples of past interns: Civil Engineering (Katie) Civil Engineering (Katie) Orthopedic Surgery (Lindsay) Orthopedic Surgery (Lindsay) Immigration Law (Faris) Immigration Law (Faris) Graphic Design (Cicek) Graphic Design (Cicek) Technology Help Desk (Daniel) Technology Help Desk (Daniel) Prerequisite – Inside Link to the Outside World seminar Prerequisite – Inside Link to the Outside World seminar

**TAG Advisement** An extra benefit of TAG TAG advisement takes place at least once a semester for all TAG students. TAG advisement takes place at least once a semester for all TAG students. Students have another adult to answer questions, plan their schedules or help with college applications. Students have another adult to answer questions, plan their schedules or help with college applications.

Student Rights and Responsibilities Gifted programs are mandated by the State of Georgia. Gifted students have a right to participate in gifted services. Gifted programs are mandated by the State of Georgia. Gifted students have a right to participate in gifted services. It is the student’s responsibility to decide whether to attend the TAG seminar or not. It is the student’s responsibility to decide whether to attend the TAG seminar or not. If a student misses his or her seminar, he or she should see the TAG teacher for a make-up assignment as soon as possible. If a student misses his or her seminar, he or she should see the TAG teacher for a make-up assignment as soon as possible.

TAG Probation & Dismissal TAG probation means a student did not get credit for the current semester. Notice is mailed home to parent. TAG probation means a student did not get credit for the current semester. Notice is mailed home to parent. In order to return to good standing, he or she MUST participate in TAG the following semester and get credit. In order to return to good standing, he or she MUST participate in TAG the following semester and get credit.

TAG Probation & Dismissal If a student does not receive credit for two consecutive semesters, he or she is dismissed from TAG for one semester. Notice is mailed home to parent. If a student does not receive credit for two consecutive semesters, he or she is dismissed from TAG for one semester. Notice is mailed home to parent. At the end of that semester the student may return to TAG by telling a TAG teacher he or she wishes to do so. At the end of that semester the student may return to TAG by telling a TAG teacher he or she wishes to do so.

Stay in Touch Fulton County Supporters of the Gifted Fulton County Supporters of the Gifted Keeps parents informed Keeps parents informed Supports gifted education at state and local levels. Join today! Supports gifted education at state and local levels. Join today! Automatically makes you a member of Georgia Association for Gifted Children (GAGC) Automatically makes you a member of Georgia Association for Gifted Children (GAGC) National Association for Gifted Children National Association for Gifted Children