Program OverviewThe middle school student receives gifted services in one

to four advanced content classes designed to challenge the gifted student through a rich and rigorous curriculum.

These classes include as well as extend and enrich the Fulton County core curriculum. They are a part of the student’s daily schedule.

Classes are taught by experienced professionals who have received an endorsement in Gifted Education from the Georgia Department of Education.

There is a priority on limiting class sizes.

Placement

Based on achievement scores, past academic performance, and teacher recommendations

Student may be served in each content area for which he/she qualifies

“B” or above in the subject area Test scores within two years on a nationally normed

achievement test as follows• Language Arts at or above the 90th percentile in total

reading• Social Studies at or above the 90th percentile in social

studies• Science at or above the 90th percentile in science

How is a TAG class different from an on-level class?

teachers use a variety of teaching strategies in order to encourage higher levels of thinking, creativity, and independent learning

including activities that develop independent learning skills

enrichment and/or academically accelerated material spend a larger portion of time on higher order skills such

as critical thinking and problem solving

adjust the pace and the complexity of the curriculum opportunities to move through core curriculum materials at

an appropriate rate

Sample Schedules

Student A

Period SubjectTeacher

1 Earth Science C Hooks 2 Language Arts

K Saef 3 Reading

B Straw 4 Team Time S Kwon 5 Social StudiesM Lee 6 Math 6A Clark

7 Phys Ed 6 J Saint 8 Art S Schofield

Student B

Period SubjectTeacher

1 Math 7 Adv A Farooqi 2 TAG LA C

Johnson 3 Spanish J

O’Kelley 4 Team Time S Kwon 5 TAG SS J

Robinson 6 TAG Science S Kwon 7 Chorus A Cole 8 Art S

Schofield

6th and 7th Grade• TAG Language Arts

8th Grade• TAG Advanced Language Arts

Classroom “Knowledge Tree”The students plant the “seed” of questions relating to science, and other students research and the answers

bloom as “leaves” all year round.

Welcome to Earth Science!

Science should…•..be hands-on •..be relatable•encourage students to explore

TAG Curriculum

You Can Expect Projects Like…Geology Unit

-Create a machine that will drill to the center of the earth

-Rock-a-Ween- tell the story of rock transformation with

a twist of Halloween Meteorology Unit

- Predict the next tropical storm of a chosen country and

create an evacuation planAstronomy Unit

-Race Around the Solar System- Astronomy Version of the

“Amazing Race” Resource Unit

-Research and create a proposal for City Council on best energy resource for City of Alpharetta in 2043 (30 years from now)

COMMUNICATE

CREATEHANDS-ON

SOLVE RESEARCH

THINK

Math Placement Determined by the general education teacher Based upon system guidelines Courses taught by a gifted endorsed teacher in

mathematicsMiddle School Mathematics Placement Guidelines for 2012-2013 School Year

Current Grade Level Student's Current Course

Student's Current Performance Next Year Placement Course Number

5th Grade

Math 5 On-Level

Level 1 or 2 on latest CRCT Math 6 On-Level 27.0210000

Math 5 On-level Unit Assessment Average ≥ 88% OR ITBS ≥ 90% AND Level 3 on latest CRCT

Math 6 Advanced27.0210040

Math 5 Advanced

Math 5 Adv Unit Assessment Average < 80% Advanced OR Level 1 or 2 on latest CRCT

Math 6 On-Level

27.0210000

Math 5 Adv Unit Assessment Average ≥ 80% AND Level 3 on latest CRCT

Math 6 Advanced27.0210040

Math 6Math 6 Summative Assessment Average ≥ 70%

Math 7

27.0220006 or27.0220046

Math

6th Grade Math 6 Adv. Math 7 Acc.

7th Grade Math 7 Adv. Math 8 Acc.

8th Grade Math 8 Adv. CCGPS Coordinate

Algebra Honors CCGPS Accelerated

Coordinate Algebra Honors

Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMP)

TAG Social Studies 6th & 7th Grades

Geography History Government Economics

8th Grade Georgia Studies

Evaluation of Student Performance

Student is evaluated on the same reporting system as in other classes (progress report with a numerical grade)

Evaluation based on test grades, assignments, and classroom performance

An annual review conference is held with parents to discuss student’s progress

If a student is experiencing difficulty in the gifted program, a conference is held to discuss continuation options of probation within or dismissal from gifted services