PARENT NIGHT FOR TAG

Tom Smith, PrincipalShawna Holden, Assistant PrincipalJalpurnia Blalock, TAG Coordinator

The secret in education lies in respecting the students.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUOTE

Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.

-John F. Kennedy

AGENDA

Vision of Prince George’s County Public School TAG Program ?

How are students identified as TAG? How is the TAG program implemented at

Vansville Elementary School? What programs are offered to TAG identified

students? What can parents do to get involved? Question/Answer session?

INTRODUCTION

Principal: Mr. Smith TAG Coordinator: Mrs. Blalock, 4th Grade

Teacher TAG Committee Members: Mrs. Soto, 3rd Grade Teacher

Ms. Coleman, 2nd Grade Teacher

Ms. Roane, Special Educator

THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUOTE!!!

The main part of intellectual education is not the acquisition of facts but learning how to make facts live.

--Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

VISION OF PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL TAG

PROGRAM The vision of Prince George’s County Public

Schools TAG Program is to provide all Talented and Gifted Students from diverse cultural, ethnic, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds with the opportunity to reach their full educational, social and emotional potential in an instructional setting appropriate for his or her needs. All TAG students will be provided a dynamic learning environment which challenges them to develop their intellectual ability, creative and artistic talents, and leadership skills. All teachers of TAG students will understand the characteristics of gifted students, possess knowledge of appropriate instructional strategies, and implement those strategies to meet students needs and support student achievement.

TAG PROGRAM AT VANSVILLE Vansville a TRC (TAG in the Regular Classroom)

school. Classroom teachers offer appropriate advanced

activities and incorporate the TRC model. The TRC model was developed for schools with a large population of TAG identified students (greater than 40). 

The components of the TRC model include:TAG students clustered in groups of 7 to 10 per classroomAdvanced research and study skillsHigher Order Thinking Skills and Reading Comprehension StrategiesInstruction and activities reflecting Multiple Intelligences TheoryFirst in Math

TAG PROGRAM AT VANSVILLE

Differentiated instructional strategies in the heterogeneous classroomAcceleration of pacing and contentCurriculum compactingTiered assignments with levels of challenge or open-ended response optionsFlexible groupingIndependent studyLearning/interest centers for independent workEnrichment

BENEFITS OF THE TRC MODEL

The benefits of the TRC model include enrichment opportunities that are aligned with the Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum that are embedded in daily instruction instead of a periodic pull-out program taught in isolation.  The TRC model provides gifted students with leadership opportunities in the general classroom as well as differentiated opportunities geared to the individual students’ abilities and interests.  The TRC model continually sets the bar higher for instruction in all aspects of school as teachers plan open-ended assignments that are challenging to all students as well as our gifted students.  

IDENTIFICATION PROCESS

Teacher NominationsTeachers provide parents with a

checklist and complete a teacher checklist. Checklists and grades are submitted to the TAG Coordinator. Test data, teacher checklist, parent checklist, and report card grades are used to screen all students for eligibility for the TAG program. Nominations must be made by November 25.

IDENTIFICATION PROCESS

Test Nominations Grades 1 and 3Students scoring 80% or above in

the areas of reading, math and ability will be included on a nomination list sent from the TAG office. The TAG Coordinator will notify teachers and provide teachers with a letter informing parents. Parents and teachers will need to complete a checklist. Parents will be notified in writing of their child’s eligibility or ineligibility status.

IDENTIFICATION PROCESS

Parent/Student NominationsParents and students must

submit in writing a request for nomination for screening. Teachers need to provide the parents with a checklist that must be completed and returned. Teacher must complete a teacher checklist. Submit checklists (both teacher and parent) and quarter grades to the TAG Coordinator. Screening will begin at the end of the first quarter. Nominations must be made by November

THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUOTE!!!

The fact we must remember is that we are educating students for a world that will not be ours but will be theirs. Give them a chance to be heard.

-Dr. Carlos P. Romulo.

PROGRAMS FOR THE TAG IDENTIFIED STUDENTS

Science Club Year Book Club Imagination Destination*** Chorus Instrumental Music Book Clubs (within the classrooms) Technology (within the classrooms) Chess Club Art Club

THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUOTE!!!

The ability to ask questions is the greatest resource in learning the truth.

--anonymous

POSSIBLE FUTURE PROGRAMS

Robotic’s Club Destination Imagination Spelling Bee Drama Club Algebra and Pre-Algebra Clubs Accelerated Math (after school) Accelerated Reading (After school) Write-A-Book Competition

PARENT FEEDBACK

What type of clubs/organizations would you like to see implemented at Vansville?

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

We need parents to volunteer to support the teachers and the programs offered to students at Vansville Elementary School. With your support, teachers can implement more programs in the classroom and programs/clubs will flourish. Please consider donating your time and resources to support our students. Please sign the lists today.

DESTINATION IMAGINATIONWHAT IS Destination ImagiNation®?

Destination ImagiNation® (DI) is an international non-profit organization that teaches life skills and expands imaginations through youth-centered, team-based creative problem solving. Adult Team Managers oversee the teams and act as guides throughout the process.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO JOIN?

3rd-5th graders at Vansville may participate in Instant Challenge Club and Teams

Instant Challenge Clubs are starting now.

K-2nd graders may participate in the Rising Stars Program.

DESTINATION IMAGINATION

WHAT DOES A TEAM DO?

Teams of 5-7 students work together during the year to solve their choice of one of 5 challenges. The team then presents their solution to their central challenge and solves an instant challenge at the South Central Regional Celebration of Creativity. Qualifying Teams then present their solutions at the Maine State DI Celebration. Finalists from States can compete at Global Finals.

HOW OFTEN DO TEAMS MEET?

Once a team is formed, the members will decide how competitive they want to be and how often they want to meet. Historically, teams meet once a week until January when they go to two times per week, and possibly more as the Regional Celebration approaches.

DESTINATION IMAGINATION

Coordinator: Mrs. Blalock at jalpurnia2.blalock@pgcps.org

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION about Destination Imagination?

Check out this International Problem-Solving Program at: http://www.createme.org/2011/2010-2011%20Sneak%20Peeks.htm

CreateME.org http://www.marylanddi.org (Maryland Destination

ImagiNation) http://www.idodi.org/ (Destination ImagiNation)

DESTINATION IMAGINATION

http://www.marylanddi.org/ http://www.idodi.org/

THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUOTE!!!

Too often we give students answers to remember rather than problems to solve.

 

---Robert Lewin

CLOSING

Would you like to have future meetings? This will keep us connected. The meetings would be quarterly.

If you provide me with an email, I will inform you about events related to TAG education.

Consider starting a Parent Committee for the Advancement of TAG (CATAG)

Volunteer as often as you can.

IMAGINE, BELIEVE, ACHIEVE

Imagine what can be accomplished for all students, if we believe and work together, we can achieve our goals.