Roswell TAG 2011-2012

1. Roswell TAG2011-2012 Extending the Curriculum for the Talented and Gifted

2. Laura Kouns, English/Language Arts (colvin@fultonschools.org) Department Chair TAG Directed Study Approval Senior Advisor Sandi Dabbs, Mathematics (dabbs@fultonschools.org) TAG Testing Junior Advisor Laura Light, Foreign Language (lightl@fultonschools.org) TAG Internships Sophomore Advisor (A-L) Nancy Moeller, Social Studies (moellern@fultonschools.org) Governor’s Honor’s Program TAG Registration Freshman Advisor (A-K) Megan Nettuno, Science (nettuno@fultonschools.org) Science Fair Freshman Advisor (L-Z) Derek Shackelford, English/Language Arts (shackelfordd@fultonschools.org) Sophomore Advisor (M-Z) TAG teachers:

3. 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 item on their transcript that shows they did something above the regular requirements for a diploma

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

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

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

7. Seminars (cont.) • 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 earn credit/no credit for their grade at the end of the semester

8. Independent Projects • Similar to a seminar • Meets once per week • Students choose the topic of interest to them • 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

9. Advanced Placement • College level coursework approved by the College Board • AP classes are typically offered in 10th-12th 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

10. 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)

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

12. Career Internship • Available to TAG juniors and seniors in good standing • 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 earn elective credit • Students earn a numerical grade

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

14. **TAG Advisement**An extra benefit of TAG • 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.

15. Student Rights and Responsibilities • 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. • 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.

16. TAG Probation & Dismissal • 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.

17. 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. • At the end of that semester the student may return to TAG by telling a TAG teacher he or she wishes to do so.

18. Stay in Touch • http://www.fultongifted.org/ • Fulton County Supporters of the Gifted • Keeps parents informed • Supports gifted education at state and local levels. Join today! • Automatically makes you a member of Georgia Association for Gifted Children (GAGC) www.gagc.org • www.nagc.org • National Association for Gifted Children

19. What are your questions?