April 28, 2008

Irvington TAG Parent Meeting

4/28 - Notes

• Irvington currently has 85 kids identified as TAG (with the last round of spring identifications)
• TAG pull-out/projects this year

Upper grades:  stock market (follows working of stock market + investing), tycoon game (focuses on strategy)

Middle grades:  chocolate caper mystery (recipes, logical thinking) and a pilot of

Saturday Academy LEAP classes focusing on invention/engineering + computer animation http://www.saturdayacademy.org/GroupOptions/tabid/96/Default.aspx

Lower grades:  frog math (focus on graphs, sorting + classifying) + honey tasting.  Will begin the “great honey robbery” – mystery solving

·        This year for the 1^st time there is a K TAG pullout group (focus on cooperative groups, gathering info, etc.)

·        All kids will soon be bringing home their TAG folders – work from this year.

·        Margaret will continue to hold TAG parent meetings next year (3). 

TAG Social + Emotional needs, Cherie Albaugh, school counselor

• Provided information on some of the social/emotional needs of TAG students.  Also provided some handouts on resources related to those needs.  One web resource suggested: www.sengifted.org  

TAG next year possibilities, Cynthia Macleod

• Margaret will be teaching 4 math + science classes per day next school year.  The addition of that responsibility will change her availability as TAG coordinator.  Cynthia + Margaret hope to fill in some of the need with the LEAP classes.  LEAP classes are fee for service. Cynthia will use some limited TAG funding, Title 1 funds + general school funds.  She is uncomfortable with parents paying for the classes out of pocket. 
• If LEAP continues next school year, it will be offered to more than just the middle grades (as piloted this year).
• Cynthia will require teachers to meet with TAG parents at least two times/year.  Once in October to review the PPS TAG Elementary Instructional Plans (EIP) and then again in the spring, if needed.  Cynthia + Margaret will figure out how that parent/teacher meeting might look for the upper grades b/c the upper grades have a number of teachers.
• Cynthia + Margaret are looking for parent volunteers to be trained in the Jr. Great Books program http://www.greatbooks.org/programs-for-all-ages/junior.html

Irvington currently has all the materials (was a parent run activity in the past).  It would currently focus on the lower + middle grades and be a part of the school day, not an after school activity.  Unsure what this might look like for the upper grades.  If you’d like to be considered as a parent volunteer (you would receive training) please contact Margaret mgreer1@pps.k12.or.us

·        A lot of time was spent discussing PPS TAG Elementary Instructional Plans.  For the uninitiated, you will receive a form requesting your input re what you think an individualized academic plan might look like for your child.  This form goes to the teacher.  You will then meet with your teacher (and child, if appropriate) and collaboratively make a plan for learning.  This meeting used to happen in November @ parent-teacher conferences but will now be moved to October.  In addition to working collaboratively with your learner + teacher throughout the year, you will have another opportunity for a formal conference in April.

·        Cynthia + Margaret encourage parents to work with their teacher to determine the best way to fit the TAG needs of the child.  Because every TAG kid is different, the needs will be different.  Parents are encouraged to work collaboratively with the teacher and child to develop a plan that works best for them.  

·        Ability grouping – due to scheduling Irvington will not be moving to blocked scheduling (all kids have math @ the same time, literacy, etc).  However, teachers have the flexibility to ability group within a class.  The staff is also investigating other creative ways to perhaps do ability groupings within grades.  Also, teachers have the flexibility to work with other teachers, on a case-by-case basis, to ability group between grades.  This is something you can approach with your individual teacher + work out, if appropriate.  Again, it goes back to that EIP. 

·        Homework – lack of rigor, not enough, not appropriate was also discussed.  Again, homework (and its content) can be worked out with the teacher in the EIP. 

·        Parents are highly encouraged to use the EIP, meet with teachers as needed to address the needs of their TAG learners.

Last updated by imurauskas on Apr 30, 2008 at 11:50 AM

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