TAG (Talented and Gifted)


TAG Screening | TAG Probation | Saturday School | Fulton County TAG website | Renzulli Learning

 

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Day Camp Flyer (pdf)| Resources from Gifted Education Press

Description

The Talented and Gifted program (TAG) identifies gifted students based upon State Board of Education Rule 160-4-2-.38. All Fulton County students are screened for the gifted program twice a year. If a student is referred for the gifted program, the school must gather information in the areas of multiple criteria: mental ability, achievement, creativity and motivation. Students must qualify in three of the four areas of multiple criteria in order to be eligible for gifted services.

Philosophy

Intellectually gifted students require specialized educational experiences that promote the development and expression of their potential. If gifted individuals—as children, youths and adults—are to experience fulfilling lives and if society is to derive optimal benefits from gifted individuals’ uncommon potentials, an educational program must be structured to develop more fully their exceptional and varied abilities, interests and talents.

The Fulton County gifted program is a response to the need to address the unique learning characteristics, interests, personal needs and capabilities of gifted children. The program emphasizes the gifted student’s need for interaction with intellectual peers. Emphasis on the individual highlights the fact that there are differences among gifted students and a need for specialized educational experiences to meet these differences.

Basic to the philosophy of this program is the idea that no one teacher, resource or instructional method can meet the needs of gifted students. Education for the gifted is viewed as a cooperative endeavor characterized, facilitated and realized by the efforts of numerous individuals in the schools and community.

These goals are accomplished in middle schools by providing advanced courses for identified gifted students. Adjusting the rate and depth of their learning and using a variety of appropriate teaching methods provides differentiation of the basic curriculum. Challenging instructional activities are designed to intensify and extend their particular interests and aptitudes. Identified gifted students are served based upon their academic strengths and can be placed in up to four core curriculum areas—language arts, math, science and social studies. Educational experiences for gifted students provide the additional variety and flexibility necessary to adjust and extend the Fulton County curriculum to meet these individuals’ needs.

Program Goals

In accordance with this philosophy, the following program goals have been adopted:

  • To help teachers, administrators and parents identify gifted students and understand their unique abilities, needs and preferences.
     

  • To design and implement differentiated instructional experiences in the school and the community.
     

  • To develop in gifted students an accurate and increasing awareness of themselves, their abilities and their value to society.

Learner Goals

We believe that by meeting the program goals and objectives, we will be able to promote and achieve the following learner goals to develop:

  • Advanced research methods and independent study skills
     

  • Creative thinking and creative problem-solving skills in order to be generators of ideas and products which are original to the learners
     

  • Higher order and critical thinking skills
     

  • Advanced communication skills that incorporate new techniques, materials and formats in the development of products and ideas that will be shared with real audiences