1. Welcome to our TAG Parent Night! “Every student is a star, and every star can shine.” 2015-2016 Mrs. Silva

2. TAG Weekly Schedule Monday- Second Grade Tuesday- Third Grade Wednesday- Fourth Grade Thursday- Fifth Grade Friday morning- First Grade Friday afternoon- Kindergarten (2 nd semester) Every day we work on: Logic/Analogies Vocabulary Habits of Mind Math/Science Humanities Hands-On STEM Challenges Project-based research

3. TAG Program Overview Pull-out program: Explorers : Identified as high- performing, but not as TAG students- Grades K-2 Innovators : Identified as TAG after reassessment in Second Grade- Grades 3-5 *** Fifth Grade students are reassessed to help with middle school class choices and placement. General Education: Challengers: Identified as high-performing, but do not qualify as TAG ***Teachers are required to differentiate for Challengers when they have already mastered the material being taught.

4. TAG Learning Themes Second Grade- Structures/Engineering Third Grade- Inventions/Marketing Fourth Grade- Ancient Roman Civilization Fifth Grade- The Middle Ages First Grade- Patterns: Nature vs. Man *** Students work on independent research and will complete a project of their choice to reflect learning at the end of each semester.

5. Interactive Notebooks We use our notebooks daily in TAG, for every part of our day. This is a Spiral notebook with dividers that hold many class activities and some assignments. *This stays in the classroom! This holds everything we will be doing in this class. It should help your child stay organized and have everything in one spot. Donations of spiral notebooks are greatly appreciated! Students will fill up their current notebooks by the end of the first semester of school.

6. Folders Each TAG student has a take-home folder, color- coded to match their grade level. They take their folders home weekly with notes, the monthly newsletter and homework, sometimes. Students are responsible for bringing folders to class with notes and homework completed on their TAG class day.

7. In the General Education classroom… Your child is placed with a certified teacher who is trained to work with gifted students. They are grouped with others of similar ability. Students receive differentiation to meet their higher- level learning needs. Students are not required to make up work they missed while in TAG. They are to be instructed on any new material they missed.

8. Supplies Wish List 3-subject spiral notebooks Paper plates/cups Pencils StrawsNotebook PaperCrayons TapeHand SanitizerKleenex Glue SticksBaby WipesLysol Wipes

9. Important Dates TAG Referral Dates: October 26-November 13 TAG Testing, K-5: November 30-December 17 Second Grade Reassessment: April 18-April 22 *** Report cards go home twice a year.

10. Testing Students nominated for TAG will be tested at the end November. Second grade Explorers will be re-assessed in April, to determine placement in TAG as Innovators. TAG students are not pulled during testing windows.

11. The Parent’s Role Support your child’s creativity, curiosity and interests Let them share what they’ve learned Ask them about their day Nurture interests through books, classes and/or experiences Volunteer for the Parent Advisory Board Learn about how to support your child Encourage them to work hard and strive for greatness

12. Ways to support your Gifted Learner Books The Survival Guide for Parents of Gifted Kids Helping Gifted Kids Soar A Love for Learning: Motivation and the Gifted Child Why Bright Kids Get Poor Grades and what You can do about it Organizations Texas Association of Gifted and Talented: TAGT (membership and scholarships are available ) Duke TIP: scholarships, camps, academic programs, college prep National Association of Gifted and Talented: NAGC (membership, scholarships, parent resources)

13. Ways to nurture your gifted learner: San Antonio Museum of Art Free on Sunday, 10-12 Free Family Day, 1 st Sunday McNay Museum Free on Thursday, 4-9 Free Family Day, 1 st Sunday Institute of Texan Cultures Free on 2 nd Sunday Witte Museum Free on Tuesday, 3-8 Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts 4-H National/State Parks Library Saturday Morning Experience- Trinity SW School of Art- Saturday Morning Discovery

14. Conference Times MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday 12:00-12:459:00-9:4510:30-11:157:30-8:159:45-10:30 I am happy to schedule a conference with you during my conference time or over the phone, if it is more convenient. I am also available after school, by appointment, after 3:00.

15. Mrs. Silva’s INFO jsilva@judsonisd.org School Phone: (210) 662-1060 Also, please visit my webpage on the Candlewood Elementary website for up to date information!