According to the Iowa Department of Education, “gifted and talented children include those children with demonstrated achievement or potential ability, or both, in any one or more of the following areas: General intellectual ability, Creative thinking, Leadership ability, Visual and Performing arts ability, or Specific ability aptitude.”
In the always-changing landscape of education, programs catering to the extra needs of “gifted” students have to continue to develop to meet the diverse interests and talents of the children served. TAG has transitioned from a rigid structure to one that is fluid and adaptive. Students are encouraged to participate at different levels based on their developmental stages and willingness to work toward their full potential. TAG is no longer a "have to," but a "get to."
No one understands this better than CGD’s TAG Instructor, Tanja Jensen. One of the first changes implemented by Jensen was the diversification of the curriculum. She encourages students to choose their area of interest focus. Jensen shared an example of this with The Wright County Monitor, “The 6th-grade students are doing ‘Project Plant the Moon’ from Iowa State right now and using a moon simulation and soil mixture to [know how it would be to] try to grow food on the moon.”
The students are competing against other students in the nation. They are planning a trip to the Center for Performing Arts on March 22 to see NASA Engineer Kobie Boykins. The engineer is set to lead one of the most ambitious NASA missions. Boykins and his team will search for signs of life on one of Jupiter’s four moons. Another area that is gaining attention is the ommunity outreach the TAG group is partaking in.
Students are actively involved in volunteering in the community. Students can lead programs at the Senior Citizens Center, or give their helping hands to packaging for Meals in the Heartland or aiding the local nonprofit Gift of Giving. Jensen has hope that serving the greater good will lead to more empathy in her students. “We are always looking for more places to help others,” Jensen shared with The Wright County Monitor.
Jensen is always looking to add more students to the TAG program as well. In recent years, the identification of students who are “talented” or “gifted” has changed. Before high test scores would be the only qualifying criteria for entrance into the special education program.
Jensen shares factors such as test scores, grades, creativity measured through the Cog AT Test of Creativity, specific abilities, leadership skills, and even bilingualism are considered. Teachers can make their referrals for students to be in the program as well. There is a large array of talents beyond top grades and test scores that are now considered.
The program offers multiple enrichment programs for students including, art contests, mathathons, battle of the books, and quiz bowl participation. Jensen stresses the importance of keeping the program fluid and adaptive. Students are encouraged to participate at different levels of the program based on their own development stages and willingness to work to their full potential.
Besides changing entrance qualifications, the fundamental concept of the TAG program that differs from previous years is the philosophy of student-driven learning. Jensen offers surveys to gather feedback from her students at regular intervals. This allows her to better understand what her students need and for them to shape their own learning. The annual science fair is an example of this philosophy.
Additional opportunities are provided for TAG students thanks to community collaborations with organizations such as The Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa State University, and Iowa Wild.
