Talented and Gifted Program (TAG)
Students are referred to be considered for TAG identification by parents or teachers.
Students then go through our TAG identification process which includes gathering a variety of information about the student to make a determination related to their identification.
In order to be identified as talented and /or gifted students must meet each of the following criteria:
- The student demonstrates signs of potential gifts and/or talents in one or more major school areas.
- The student scores at the 97th-percentile or above on a state or nationally normed test designed to measure intellectual ability or academic talent.
- The student requires special educational services in order to realize his or her potential.
Students are identified in one of the following areas:
- Intellectually Gifted
- Academically Talented in Math
- Academically Talented in Reading
- Potential/Provisional
If you have questions regarding your student's identification, or the identification process, please contact Rebecca Smith.
Social/Emotional and Other Services for Gifted Students
A wide range of social and emotional needs accompanies each student's giftedness. Often times gifted students are more intense and feel things more deeply than their same-age peers. To support the social and emotional needs of our gifted students, our district offers TAG students meeting at least twice a month during lunch to discuss and receive support for their social needs with the TAG coordinator.
College and Career Opportunities
TAG students at Oaklea have opportunities to plan college/career days for their peers. In addition, they visit several colleges during the school year.
Academic Needs of Gifted Students
The Junction City School District is dedicated to providing a challenging learning environment where our students can discover new knowledge. Gifted students should be learning at an appropriate rate and level. The regular classroom teacher has become the major player in providing appropriate services.
- Rate of Learning measures the pace at which the student successfully progresses through the curriculum after being placed at an appropriate instructional level. A student's rate of learning varies depending on the subject, degree of interest, level of difficulty, learning style and point in the learning process.
- Level of Learning refers to the student's instruction level in the curriculum and place where the student will be successful, but will encounter knowledge and skills not yet learned or mastered. Level involves complexity of knowledge about the curriculum.
- Additional learning opportunities have been brought to our district by the Chintimini Foundation. Students participate in weekly groups doing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) activities. Oaklea students are offered a Beyond Math program to help meet their math needs.
Lending Library
Our growing lending library for students, parents, and teachers has books, games, movies and other materials related to gifted children and their unique needs. Our lending library is housed at Laurel.
Topics include:
- Parenting
- Teaching Support
- Mind games and activities
- Perfectionism
- Curriculum
- Sensitivities
- Characteristics
- Twice-exceptional children
This lending library has been brought to you through generous support from the Chintimini Fund and the Junction City School District.
Consultations
Contact Rebecca Smith, by phone, email or in person, to discuss issues and receive support related to:
- Academic challenges
- Social-emotional needs
- Home and school connection
- Parenting
- Other TAG-related concerns
Additional Resources
- Oregon Association of Talented and Gifted (OATAG) www.oatag.com
- National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) www.nagc.org
- Hoagies Gifted Education http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/
- Pro Profs Brain Games https://www. proprofs.com/games/
Academic Competition Groups
Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) |
Grades 3-5, 6-8 Meets Oct.- Mar. |
Lego League Jr. |
Grades 3-5 Meets Oct.-June |
Lego League |
Grade 5-6 Meets Oct. - Jan. |
Brain Bowl |
Grades 6-8 Meets Oct.- Mar. |
Speed Stacking |
Grades K-8 Meets Nov.- Apr. |
Rubik's Cube |
Grades K-8 Meets Nov.- Apr. |