Edweek gifted blog, email list

Edweek's "Unwrapping the Gifted" blog has many posts worth checking out -

The most recent one addresses medical misdiagnosis among gifted children, and the August post looks at the idea that learners are all equal but not the same.

If you didn't sign up to be on an email list at the fall TAG meeting, please send your email address to Virginia (virginialaforte@me.com). We'll add your address to the email list we started at the 2012 meetings, and Virginia is setting up a facebook page so we can share ideas. All emails will be bcc:d for privacy.

Have a wonderful break!

Jan. 31 app. deadline for OATAG summer scholarship

The Oregon Association of Talented and Gifted is offering a summer scholarship of up to $500 for current 4th through 8th graders.

Here are the details -
Students may be nominated by themselves, parents, teachers, or community/civic group leaders.
The deadline for submitting nomination packets by mail or e-mail is January 31, 2014.
The recipient will be notified by March 10, 2014.
The award may be used for a summer program of the recipient’s choice.

Click here for the application & more information from OATAG

TAGAC meeting Tues. night

The next TAGAC meeting is this Tuesday, 12/10 at 6:30p. at the Blanchard Ed Services building, 501 N. Dixon. Go upstairs to the conference room near the elevator - there will be signs to guide you to the right room.

This is a committee work session as no PPS staff will be present. The draft agenda includes reports/action items from the differentiation subcommittee and the TAG budget subcommittee.

Guests are always welcome at TAGAC meetings.

Here's a link to the agenda - http://www.pps.k12.or.us/files/tag/TAGAC_Agenda-2013_Dec_draft1.pdf

Gifted learners and Common Core

The new Common Core state standards have come up at recent TAGAC meetings and families have many questions. Dr. Matier, PPS' Director of Instruction, has briefly discussed connecting PPS' TAG services and acceleration policy to both the Common Core standards and Smarter Balanced testing as they roll out in our district.

We will post info. as it is available - and please send any articles that you think may be of interest.

For now, here is the National Association of Gifted Children's faq page on Common Core 

And its position paper on Common Core is here.

Reminder - Nomination forms due tomorrow

IDPF forms to nominate your child for TAG testing are due to Alameda Nov. 15 - that's tomorrow (Friday).

There are forms on the TAG board in the front hall and also at this link. Scroll down to find the identification process forms in six languages.

If you have questions about TAG testing, nomination or the TAG program, contact your child's teacher and TAG coordinator Christy Caton (ccaton@pps.net).

TAGAC meeting this Tuesday

The TAGAC (district TAG advisory council) meeting is this Tues., 11/12 at 6:30p. at the Blanchard building, 501 N. Dixon. 

On the agenda - district presentation on the new single-subject acceleration framework, appointment of new members and review of the new OMSI/Saturday Academy TAG enrichment budget menu. 

Here's more information - http://www.pps.k12.or.us/departments/tag/9090.htm

 You don't need to be a member to attend!

Alameda family science night signups

Family science nights are next Monday, Tuesday and Thursday for all students! Thanks to the Alameda volunteers who work so hard to set these up to nurture a love of science in our kids. The nights are FREE and the theme this time is Earthquakes and Buildings. Families can choose one night to attend.

Here's the signup link.

TAG Meeting Materials & Overview

Here are some of the slides and handouts from Wednesday's meeting -

Overview of TAG

TAG terms

Building TAG plan

Questions to ask your child's teacher

Help with Bridges 1 Math Curriculum/Homework

Bridges and students who need challenge problems/extensions

Bridges 2, written for Common Core

TAGAC flyer from Virginia and Amy


Here are the main takeaways - TAG nomination forms, or IDPFs (identification process forms), are due Nov. 15 at the latest (earlier is better - talk to your child's teacher about nomination NOTE - PPS' TAG site gives an IDPF 'deadline' of the 4th Monday of November, but Alameda requires families to get these forms in by 11/15 to allow enough time for teachers to collect work samples - thanks!!).

Mr. Lurie repeatedly stressed that you should feel comfortable approaching your child's teacher if you feel his/her learning needs are not being met, if you feel students are not being challenged, or if you have concerns about homework. That is part of their job and they are trained to differentiate so that students are learning at the proper rate and level. This includes students who have surpassed benchmarks. When you request an individual TAG plan, teachers have 30 days to craft one with your input. Here's that link again.

If you can't resolve the issue with your child's classroom teacher, or you feel your concerns are not being addressed soon enough, he wants to help. Contact him, Ms. Van Der Wolf or Ms. Caton for next steps.

We had lots of good questions about everything from homework extensions to last year's after-school math class to possible Saturday Academy enrichment from the district's new "menu of options" for TAG funds. Under the new system, PPS approves use of the funds and schools must make a plan by Oct. 30. This year, Alameda's TAG funds will mainly go to pay for TAG Coordinator professional development (= teacher training). Mr. Lurie offered to set aside $500 to match our efforts to set up advanced enrichment with additional fundraising/volunteers. It would most likely have to take place during late starts, because we don't have the physical space to do pullouts at this point. Mr. Lurie and Ms. Van Der Wolf have also budgeted some TAG $ so that nominated & TAG-identified students can get scholarships for the Oregon Writing Festival.

Fall TAG meeting

Thanks to those of you who attended the school TAG meeting on Wed. night! Mr. Lurie, Ms. Van Der Wolf and Ms. Caton presented and answered a lot of parent questions about identification, individual TAG plans, enrichment classes and more.

Ms. Van Der Wolf has given me digital copies of the presentations and handouts and I'll get them on this site by next week. I'll also post a brief summary of the Q&A.

If you are not already on the Alameda TAG email list and didn't sign up Wed., please email Virginia at virginialaforte@me.com . All the emails will be bcc:d because we know many of you have privacy concerns. Thanks!

Reminder - school TAG meeting is Wed., 10/16 at 6p.!

Alameda Fall TAG meeting for current/prospective parents of TAG students

Wed., Oct. 16
Time - 6:00-7:00 PM
Where - Alameda library

The meeting will cover nomination & testing and Alameda's building TAG plan. 

Virginia and Amy will pass out some information and we'll have a bcc: email opt-in list. We hope to get some more communication going so that parents can share advice, set up playdates, etc.


Hope to see you there!

PPS TAG website

TAGAC has started updating and reorganizing the PPS TAG website at
http://www.pps.k12.or.us/departments/tag/

Look for many more changes!

The new TAGAC section of the site outlines the group's priorities -
http://www.pps.k12.or.us/departments/tag/9090.htm

Even if you can't attend the evening council meetings, the group would welcome your help on one of four committees. I'll continue to post highlights on our Alameda blog, but please check the TAGAC page for updates and more details. Thanks!

TAGAC meeting Tues. at 6:30p

Please spread the word! Virginia La Forte and Amy Mason Doan are working with TAGAC this year but ANYONE can attend these meetings. We still need more members advocating for middle and high school students. Thanks.

Please accept my invitation - on behalf of the Portland Public Schools TAG Advisory Council (TAGAC) - for the Council's next meeting happening on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 from 6:30-8:00 PM at the District Administration Building, 501 N. Dixon St., 97227. We meet on the second floor in the Mazama Room. (First meeting room on the left after going through the cafeteria.)

Among the topics we will be discussing are:

1. Call for heads of Curriculum and Equity Committees (Mark Feldman, Council Chair)
2. Differentiation Committee discussion on definitions of types of TAG
Services (approx 45 min) (Terese Bushnell)
3. Communication Committee discussion of planning document (Brenda Ray Scott)

We will also hear from the District's Director of Instruction, Curriculum, and Assessment Dr. Kimberly Matier and Council Chair Mark Feldman on various TAG matters.

Let me know if you'd like more information about this Council's role. Thank you! Brenda Ray Scott, adept_diva@hotmail.com

Oregonian story on OATAG Conference & TAG advocacy

Today's Oregonian has a nice piece by Amy Wang (who attended last week's TAGAC meeting). The article covers the OATAG conference as well as ideas for improving TAG instruction.

Click here to link.

Alameda Fall TAG Meeting - Oct. 16 at 6p

Alameda's fall TAG meeting for parents/guardians is October 16 in the Alameda library.

Time - 6:00-7:00 PM

The meeting will cover nomination & testing and Alameda's building TAG plan. 

---The building TAG plan outlines how Alameda will meet TAG students' instructional needs. It is a schoolwide document.

---The individual instructional plan (a.k.a. individual TAG plan or IIP) is something that you may request if you feel your child's learning needs will be met better with a customized plan. Please discuss this with your child's teacher. Click here to link to the elementary school individual plan document.

Mark your calendars!!

TAG enrichment budget options - Saturday Academy and OMSI

Here are some of the classes that schools can offer TAG students during the school day or during late starts.

Kimberly Matier worked hard over the summer to negotiate attractive rates for PPS schools. TAG-identified students and students working at the appropriate rate/level can participate. The goal here is to make it easier for schools to set up appropriate plans for the TAG budgets so that the money is not forfeited at the end of the year.
 

TAG Advisory Council Meeting Recap

We had lots of new faces at the TAGAC meeting last night. I'll post the minutes when they're approved, but here's a quick recap of Director of Instruction Kimberly Matier's presentation -

-The TAG Coordinator role will no longer be primarily clerical. Clerical responsibilities have been shifted away to other staff. The TAG Coordinator will attend five mandatory professional development meetings on how teachers are expected to meet TAG students' learning rate & level needs in the classroom. The meetings will be Sept. 26, Oct. 24, Jan. 23, Feb. 27 and April 24. The information will be shared with all teachers at staff meetings. The TAG Coordinator will also help teachers write individual instructional plans.

-Final approval of TAG enrichment budget items - which are now totally separate from the TAG Coordinator budget - now rests within the TAG department. Since these are TAG funds, schools are not supposed to use the funds for general schoolwide enrichment/clubs as they have in the past. If schools neglect to use the funds, which has been a problem over the past four years, they will lose control over how to direct the money.

-Schools have until Oct. 30 to plan how they will use their TAG enrichment budgets. Kimberly Matier has negotiated attractive group rates with Saturday Academy and OMSI for differentiated group instruction, which can happen during the school day. I'll post the menu of class choices as soon as I have a digital copy. TAG-identified students and students working at the appropriate rate/level & nominated by teachers can participate.

-The acceleration policy for math and for english language arts will be posted on the TAG website this Friday.

-TAGAC Communication head Brenda Ray Scott is now able to make changes to the PPS TAG website, which should result in a more user-friendly and updated site.

That's it for now - please email me or Virginia LaForte if you have any questions or ideas about TAGAC. Your child's teacher is the best point of contact for individual instructional rate/level and individual TAG plan questions. Thanks!

TAG Advisory Council Meeting & Committees

This year, the TAGAC (district parent TAG Advisory Council) is organizing around four committees - Differentiation, Curriculum, Equity and Communication.

If you can't attend the TAGAC meetings (6:30p. one Tuesday evening a month), you can still help out with committee work. The group is determined to build off of last year's survey findings with specific goals and requests for PPS. Please email chair Mark Feldman at ppsmark@feldmark.com if you would like to help with a committee.

The first meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 6:30p. in the Mazama room of Blanchard Ed Services Center at 501 N. Dixon.  Mazama is on the second floor by the cafeteria.

Thanks!

Common Core and Gifted Education

Here's a good overview of how the new Common Core standards might affect gifted students and their teachers. Click here to read the NAGC (National Association for Gifted Children) summary.

And click here to read the NAGC's position paper on Common Core.

TAGAC meeting Tues., Sept. 17

Welcome back!

The schedule of TAG Advisory Council Meetings has been finalized, and the first meeting is Tues., Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mazama room of Blanchard Ed Services Center at 501 N. Dixon.  Virginia La Forte and Amy Mason Doan have volunteered to represent Alameda this year, but we would love to have help. Please email Amy if you are interested in working on talented & gifted issues at the PPS, school or state level.

At the Sept. 17 meeting, TAG director Kimberly Matier will talk about the new role of the TAG coordinator and the new options that principals have for using TAG budgets.

We need new members, especially representatives from middle and high schools and members who reflect the diversity of PPS.

Looking forward to working with many of you this year! And please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions about the TAGAC's work.

Altair School for gifted students - Meeting July 21

A new private school for gifted students is opening on the West side. I don't think they have firmed up the location yet - details below.

Hope everyone is having a fantastic summer.

-Amy

--------------------

Please join us for an Information Session this Sunday, July 21st.

When: Sunday, July 21, 3:30 PM

Where: Beaverton Community Center, 12350 SW 5th St # 100 in the Vose Room

Please RSVP to info@altairschool.org

The Altair School, a new independent school for gifted young students, will be opening this September. For our first year, we'll offer a blended 5-6 year old class and a blended 7-9 year old class with the intent of adding one class each year through 5th grade. A part-time schedule is available. Student can choose to attend 5 days/week or 3 days/week.

The Altair School was designed around the needs of highly gifted learners. Altair teachers are committed to knowing each child, personally and academically. We believe a safe, caring community allows inquiry and love of learning to flourish. Our teachers continually assess each student's knowledge, abilities and effort, encouraging each child to do his or her personal best. Our inquiry-based program teaches students to be active participants in their learning, sift through data efficiently and ask great questions.

For gifted children, sensitivities and overexcitabilities are important considerations as well. Our staff is knowledgeable and effective in helping students discover techniques to manage their sensitivities and OEs so they can enjoy the positive aspects of these personality traits. We want our students to experience a joyful learning environment where they can learn life skills and resilience.

Learn more at www.altairschool.org Feel free to contact me directly if you would like more information.

Thank you,
Rebecca
___________________
Rebecca Taylor
rtaylor@altairschool.org
650.387.6051

6/11 TAGAC meeting

Highlights from the 6/11 TAG Advisory Council Meeting -

Amy Doan and Virginia La Forte represented Alameda.
Mark Feldman was elected Chair for 2013-2014. Brenda Ray Scott will continue her work with the title of Past Chair and Communications lead.
TAGAC has formally requested that PPS improve communication on the acceleration policy. The math acceleration policy was approved in Oct. 2010 and you can see a copy here, but it is not on the PPS site. TAGAC wants families to know about both grade and single-subject acceleration options, and will continue to work on synchronized math and reading times to ease acceleration.

Brenda Ray Scott has met with PPS' Web designers and has approval to help redesign and continually update the TAG and TAGAC sections.

The group discussed policy around cluster grouping and PPS confirmed that some schools cluster group. TAGAC requested a list of schools that cluster group, as most attendees reported that schools spread advanced learners throughout classrooms to 'balance' the classes.

Members reiterated their interest in a teacher poll. We'd like to know what teachers think of district TAG policy & practices, what support would help & what is/isn't working.  Teacher poll seems a natural follow-up to the family poll.

TAGAC will meet over the summer - dates tbd.

Here's a 6/9 NY Times article on the return of ability grouping

Have a wonderful summer!
 

Article & Meeting

-Today's Trib has a cover story on ACCESS' new home, "patchwork" gifted services in neighborhood schools and the future of the Rose City Park building. Here's the link - http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/154033-program-for-gifted-gets-new-home-room-to-grow

-The final TAGAC (TAG advisory council) meeting of the school year is next Tues., 6/11. Details below. Virginia La Forte and I plan to share TAGAC duties next year, but we WELCOME help. The TAGAC meetings are open to all. If you are interested in participating as a formal member or just as an occasional attendee, please come.

Please spread the word about our mailing list to any families who are interested. Thanks!

-----------------

Hello! Here is your friendly reminder of the next TAGAC meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 6/11 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the BESC (District admin. building) at 501 N. Dixon St, 97227 Mazama Room (second floor). Please RSVP by June 7 so that I can have the appropriate number of materials and seats available.

At this meeting, we will elect officers, review the TAG 101 meeting, report on progress with our work plan for the TAGAC priorities, and other matters.

TAG issues in Eugene

This is from today's Eugene Weekly article about TAG corrective action orders. 

"Ten years ago, when Wischnowski enrolled her son in kindergarten, she says, her efforts to get him more challenge were met with insults and derision. When he was TAG identified in third grade, she says, “I wanted him to at least read books at his level.” She was told that her son couldn’t bring books from home or the school library because they were distracting.

Wischnowski’s son tested out of third grade math and got an A in his new fourth grade class. When her son changed schools the following year, he scored 98 percent on a year-end math exam but was told his new school didn’t allow acceleration and wouldn’t recognize his completed work from the other school (both were in 4J). Her son repeated a year of math with double homework."

Click here to read the full article.

ACCESS growth story

Here's a brief opb article on ACCESS' growth plans for next year.

Writing Celebration May 29 for 4th and 5th graders

Third Annual Writing Celebration

05/29/2013, 6:30pm to 8:00pm

The third annual Writing Celebration will be held on May 29th from 6:30 - 8:00 PM at Barista (1725 NE Alberta). This is a time to share extracurricular writing or a piece from school that students are particularly proud of and want to share with a larger audience. Finished pieces may include:

• Poetry
• Short Stories
• Graphic Novels
• Excerpt from a longer work
• Essays
• Short Plays
• Family Stories
• Comics
• Tall Tales

Registration and a rough draft should be turned into teachers by May 17th (an incorrect date was put on some of the forms - please make a note of this date.) Permission slips will be sent home along with a guideline for entries. Contact Amy Compton (amycompton@me.com)

TAG helpers needed & a thank you!

With only one TAGAC meeting left in the year, I wanted to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent Alameda and advocate for your families. While the year has been incredibly busy, and the wheels within the district can move very slowly, the group did achieve many of its goals. The TAG survey went out and we pressed for transparency around the results. We have an action plan, there are new guidelines for the TAG budget, and Dr. Matier has created a new menu of TAG enrichment services which she will unveil next fall. A series of 'TAG 201' meetings next year will, I hope, help demystify TAG lingo and teaching approaches. We had a ton of press coverage which has put the spotlight on the needs of TAG students.

At the school level, the site council reviewed our Alameda TAG survey and agreed to spell out clear plans for the budget and to incorporate the feedback into our building TAG plans. At the state level, the TAG bill is still alive thanks to personal testimony and your many letters of support.

Our amazing auction chair Virginia LaForte and I plan to share TAGAC duties next year, but our work is barely beginning and we could use help! We want to make sure that all of these plans have tangible results in the classroom. If you are interested in attending TAGAC meetings and working on the committee, we would love to have your help. Please email me if you can help advocate for TAG students at the school, district and state level and if you can help work on late-start or other TAG enrichment activities. (amasondoan@gmail.com).

TAG 101 meeting Wed., May 8

Families of newly-identified students - 

TAG 101 at Marshall High School is on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 from 7-8:30 PM. 

Director of Instruction Dr. Kimberly Matier will introduce parents to district staff, discuss what services to expect in the classroom, and discuss rights and responsibilities. TAG 101 will be more hands-on than in past years, with opportunities to try out examples of TAG lesson strategies.

ALSO - 

Dr. Matier and the TAG parent advisory council are planning something new - meetings for ALL families that will, we hope, help increase understanding of how TAG instruction should work within PPS. Dr. Matier is working on a new 'menu' of TAG services - both school-day and enrichment - and a plan to address rigor & lesson relevance. (Think of the new meetings as "TAG 201"...) More details early next fall.

New York Gifted & Talented Exam Scoring Errors

Here's an update on Pearson test scoring errors in NY, which has many public gifted & talented programs and several schools that require 97% scores.

"According to Pearson, three mistakes were made. Students’ ages, which are used to calculate their percentile ranking against students of similar age, were recorded in years and months, but should also have counted days to be precise. Incorrect scoring tables were used. And the formula used to combine the two test parts into one percentile ranking contained an error."

Calculation errors affected 4,735 students - Click here for the complete NY Times piece.

Free 'App Camp' for Middle School Girls this Summer

Know a middle-grade girl with an interest in technology? There's a new camp launching  - App Camp For Girls. Here's the info. on the camp and their free beta week this summer.  After June 28, the camp will cost $300 to $350 per session.

We are doing a "beta" (or trial run) of App Camp For Girls in order to test our program. No one has tried to teach girls how to make iPhone apps in one week before!
The Beta session will take place June 24 - 28, 2013, at TaborSpace on S.E. Belmont near Mt. Tabor. It's a wonderful space for creative endeavors and we are looking forward to working there. The schedule is 9 am to 4 pm.http://www.appcamp4girls.com/app-camp-beta/

Misunderstood Face of Giftedness Article

This article by the director of SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted) got lost in the shuffle when it appeared earlier in the month. It's well worth your time so I'm reposting - click here.
SENG spoke at last year's TAG 101, and their website (at right under Links) has many useful resources.

ACCESS moving to Rose City Park

ACCESS Academy will move to the Rose City Park building next year. Details here.

TAG 101 Meeting - Mark your Calendars

Families of newly-identified students - 

TAG 101 at Marshall High School is on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 from 7-8:30 PM. 

Director of Instruction Dr. Kimberly Matier will introduce parents to district staff, discuss what services to expect in the classroom, and discuss rights and responsibilities. TAG 101 will be more hands-on than in past years, with opportunities to try out examples of TAG lesson strategies.

ALSO - 

Dr. Matier and the TAGAC are planning something new - meetings for ALL families that will help increase understanding of how TAG instruction will work within PPS. Dr. Matier is working on a new 'menu' of TAG services - both school-day and enrichment - and a plan to address rigor & lesson relevance. (Think of the new meetings as "TAG 201"...) More details early next fall.

TAG Advisory Council meeting tonight

TAG advisory council meeting tonight:
Tuesday, 4/9 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Location:
BESC (District admin. building) at 501 N. Dixon St, 97227 Mazama Room (second floor)

We have a packed agenda that will include clarifying Dir. of Instruction Dr. Matier's plans for TAG curriculum and TAG enrichment 'menus,' schedule for principal/TAG coordinator TAG training,  TAG 101 and the district's position on ACCESS' size and location.

Please join me! Visitors, new members and questions you'd like me to share with TAGAC are welcome.

-Amy 

Amy Mason Doan, amasondoan@gmail.com

TAG News and Coverage

The O's Amy Wang covered some TAG news, including the recent survey results - click here

the director of SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted) wrote a thoughtful article for The Huffington Post  - click here

and...

Families of newly-identified TAG students, please remember to mark your calendars for TAG 101 May 8 at the former Marshall High School, 3905 S.E. 91st Ave. (time TBD)

ACCESS on OPB Think Out Loud April 2

ACCESS will be featured on OPB tomorrow at 12:06p.m., and my understanding is there will be some discussion of TAG in neighborhood schools. Here's the show promo post -

http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/shows/gifted-kids-access-program-must-move/
--------------------
The talented and gifted (TAG) program in Portland Public Schools known as ACCESS has been struggling for years now to try to meet the demand for space in its unique program. Students who get into the program must score in the 99th percentile and prove their academic needs are not being met elsewhere.
The last round of changes in the Jefferson cluster of schools originally directed ACCESS to move from Sabin School to King School, but that plan fell apart. As of this writing, there's no word about where they might go for the fall, leaving parents of current and waitlisted students in the dark.
Is your child a TAG student? Are their needs being met? Are you one of the roughly 220 ACCESS students? What's your experience at ACCESS?

Cryptography class - second session signups!

Cryptography Math Enrichment Class

Alameda will be offering another session of math enrichment for students with strong math skills to be taught once again by Katie Melchor. There will be two classes—one for 1st and 2nd graders and another for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. The theme for both groups will be Cryptography: Making and Breaking Secret Codes. Each week, students will briefly learn about one specific secret code that has been used in history. Then students will use problem solving and algebraic concepts to make/break that specific code. The math behind it will be differentiated for the different age groups.

Classes will meet for one hour after school with the 1-2 class meeting on Mondays and the 3-5 class meeting on Tuesdays, both beginning the week of April 8th and lasting for six weeks. Enrollment will be limited to 15 students. Students need to be able to attend all six classes. Please sign up in the office with Chris or Nancy by April 3rd. There are only a few spaces available for each class, as there are several students who were wait-listed from the first session. If we wind up having more interest than space allows we will need to use a lottery system to fill the classes to make it fair. 

Thank you to Ms. Melchor, Ms. VanDerWolf and Mr. Lurie for making this class happen. The kids seem to absolutely love the secret code theme and have learned a lot.

Today's Tribune Article & Opinion piece

This week's Trib has an in-depth article on ACCESS that covers the results of the district TAG survey. Thanks again to those of you who filled out the survey as PPS is taking the results quite seriously. 

And Mark Feldman, a fellow member of the TAG parent advisory council heading the Differentiation subcommittee, has written an Opinion piece with a list of specific recommendations for improving TAG education. 

Please continue to share your ideas with me, with Principal Lurie, and with Kimberly Matier at PPS. Thank you. 

Saturday Academy TAG Challenge Camp

Saturday Academy has posted details on its summer TAG Challenge Camps at Reed and U of Portland. Here's the link.

If you have information about other summer opportunities (or any other TAG-related news), please email me so that I can share links here - thanks!
Amy (amasondoan@gmail.com)

ACCESS on OPB

OPB aired a big piece on ACCESS today. Also, there was a lot of discussion about ACCESS at this week's TAGAC meeting.

Topics ranged from what the true entrance requirements are & what they should be to the impact on other schools if ACCESS expands, ACCESS as a priority vs. better TAG services in neighborhood schools, and possibilities for scaling ACCESS teaching/ability grouping strategies across PPS.

Here's the link - 

http://www.opb.org/news/article/demand-is-high-but-space-is-small-at-program-for-gifted-portland-students/

TAG 101 Meeting & Saturday Academy class

The district started mailing out TAG identification letters this week, so I encourage new families to mark your calendars for the TAG 101 meeting on Wednesday, May 8 at Marshall High School in the evening. More details to come.

This is the first meeting for parents of TAG students identified in the 2012/13 school year. It's your chance to hear from district staff, discuss what services to expect in and out of the classroom, and discuss rights and responsibilities. District TAG head Dr. Kimberly Matier has many plans for improving the TAG program in PPS and she will share some of her news in May.

I'm also very happy to answer any questions you may have about the TAG parent advisory committee's work and advocacy at the state, district and school levels. (amasondoan@gmail.com). Specific classroom concerns about challenge, rate & level should be discussed with TAG coordinator Kiya Masunaga (kmasunaga@pps.net), principal Lurie (rlurie@pps.net) and A.P. Pamela VanDerWolf(pvanderw@pps.net).

We are still hoping to use any remaining TAG budget for a Saturday Academy class or two this spring! If you are interested in helping, please email me or Virginia LaForte (virginialaforte@me.com). Thank you.

HB 2877

House Bill 2877, which would help stabilize funding & services for talented & gifted students in Oregon, passed the House Education Committee yesterday with a unanimous (9-0) vote. The bill has a long way to go, but thank you to those of you who have written in support of the bill.

You can find the latest on HB 2877 here

And see examples of written testimony here and here (timeline of state TAG funding/bills)

Audio testimony from the March 11 hearing is here under Archives, March 11 House Education Committee

This chart, presented to the committee, shows TAG spending trends

TAG Survey Results

The district TAG Survey results are out. Parents of TAG-identified/TAG-potential students should receive a hard copy of the survey summary this week. You can also read the summary letter here.

As noted in the letter, detailed survey results are available in the Alameda school office. All school principals received school-specific results, with any identifying info. removed from the comments.

Thank you for spending time on this survey so that PPS and the state can analyze how our current state TAG mandate is implemented day to day across the district. TAG chief Dr. Kimberly Matier is taking the results very seriously and has already implemented several changes in an effort to improve the program. 

If you have any questions/ideas about the results or the TAG council's work, please feel free to contact me or Dr. Matier (kmatier@pps.net). Please continue to bring any specific concerns about your child's classroom TAG needs to teachers, TAG Coordinator Kiya Masunaga, Assistant Principal Pamela VanDerWolf and/or Principal Lurie.

Thank you,

Amy

ACCESS information night

ACCESS has added another information night -Tues., March 19 at 6p. in the Sabin School auditorium. Here's more information on the ACCESS alternative program.

Today's Op-Ed about TAG in the Tribune

The March 7 Tribune has a letter about TAG from one of the state's most experienced advocates.

"The most common myth we hear is that these students are already doing well and don’t need additional services. This is not true. No one expects talented young gymnasts or violinists to train themselves. Gifted students don’t teach themselves either. Doing nothing means doing harm to these children and to society at large."...

Testimony on TAG Bill - House Bill 2877

OATAG will testify before the state House & Senate Education Committees this month to support Bill 2877, which would provide state funding for TAG services. The group is looking for parents from around the state to share their stories about the need for state-funded gifted services. Here's a message from OATAG's Margaret DeLacy - 

"On Monday at 1:00 the House Education committee will be hearing a bill in Salem that would enhance services for gifted students throughout Oregon. I am very much hoping that there are a few parents out there who might be willing to tell legislators what you have told the School Board and administration here--that gifted students need services. You would be talking to a friendly group of legislators, who are interested in helping. If anyone is willing to do this, please give me a call at 503-774-7017 and leave a message."

 

Or consider sending an email. Even a brief, conversational message about your family's experience with TAG services and other issues can help shape the state's priorities at this critical time. Here's background on the bill.

Thanks!

Send emails to -

rick.berkobien@state.or.us

rep.saragelser@state.or.us,
 rep.jeffreardon@state.or.us,
 rep.sherriesprenger@state.or.us,
 rep.johnhuffman@state.or.us,
 rep.julieparrish@state.or.us,
 rep.shemiafagan@state.or.us,
 rep.davidgomberg@state.or.us,
 rep.chrisgorsek@state.or.us,
 rep.genewhisnant@state.or.us,
 sen.markhass@state.or.us,
 sen.timknopp@state.or.us,
 sen.leebeyer@state.or.us,
 sen.jeffkruse@state.or.us,
 sen.arnieroblan@state.or.us

Review State School Report Cards

Please take 20-25 minutes to review Oregon's existing state school report card format and its potential replacement. Click here to review the report cards.

The new version has a 'Challenge' section that briefly touches on TAG, but does not offer much detail or clear incentives for schools to serve students who already meet/exceed state benchmarks. Please share your thoughts with ODE - thank you!!

Alameda Science Nights

There are still some spots remaining for Science Night on Tues., Feb. 26! The theme this month is heredity and genetics. Click here to sign up for the Feb. 26 session - 6:30p. in the cafeteria (the other two sessions are full but check back for cancellations). Alameda Science Nights offer an exciting opportunity to share and explore science with your children in a fun and relaxed way. The Science Team designs the experiments and does all of the set up and clean up. You and your child just show up, engage in some good hands-on science fun, and learn something interesting and new.

The sessions are open to all Alameda students and a parent or guardian. Each family is invited to attend one of the three nights in February.

Thank you to the hardworking Science Team for putting these nights together. 

Portland Trib Article on PPS TAG

This morning's Tribune has a thoughtful cover feature on TAG struggles in PPS. The story touches on many of the issues raised at the spring and fall TAG meetings.

AP credits article in today's Oregonian

Interesting reading on AP credits in today's Oregonian -
Oregon trails the nation at helping high school students to gain Advanced Placement college credits 
 
Another point of view -
AP Classes Are a Scam
 
and Grant HS Principal's fall memo on AP classes/rigor

Girls Lead Beaumont Team Needs Members

For those of you with older students and friends at Beaumont -

'Girls Lead club, which was formed after the closure of Tubman, is looking for more "mathletes" to compete in a national math competition called Mathcounts on February 8th. We have four teams registered from Beach, SEI, Winterhaven and Beaumont. Beaumont team needs three more students - preferably 8th graders. Please email me at jyotiraghu@yahoo.com if you know anyone who might be interested.'

February testing and Access applications

-Alameda's TAG testing for TAG-nominated students is scheduled for February - contact Pamela VanDerWolf or the district TAG office if you have any questions about testing (pvanderw@pps.net and district TAG office 503-916-3358).

-PPS Access Academy for grades 1-8 posted its application schedule today at http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools/access/ . The application deadline is March 22 at 3p.

There are information nights on Feb. 13 and Feb. 19, but no tours scheduled at this point since Access is unsure of its location for next year. Access is currently at Sabin school & admits highly capable students who perform at the 99th percentile on nationally normed tests for aptitude and/or achievement in any or all of the following areas: reading, math, or general intellect.

PPS Communication on TAG Budgets

This Admin. note went out to all schools last week; it outlines guidelines for the TAG budget. Dr. Matier wants all PPS schools to fully use their budgets and has many creative ideas. I knew many of you would be interested after our discussion during the fall TAG meeting. If you have more suggestions on how schools can use the TAG budget, please contact me so that I can share them with Dr. Matier and the TAG committee - thanks!

SCHOOL TAG BUDGET AND EXPENDITURES 
Dear Principals,
Please monitor your TAG budget and expenditures. Each school’s TAG budget is set up under your school’s dept. ID and can be accessed through PeopleSoft.  If you need assistance with use of your TAG budget, please contact the TAG Office at 916-3358.
Schools that do not use their TAG funds are in jeopardy of losing oversight of that budget.
Required and Acceptable Uses of TAG Funds;
1.  Extended responsibility for the TAG Coordinator
2.  Hourly rate for teachers who advise/supervise clubs and extracurricular activities
3.  Tuition assistance for students (contact the TAG Office for the correct procedure)
4.  Materials and supplies to support TAG students/programs
Please note:  Expenses charged to the building’s TAG budget that exceed the school’s allocation will be transferred via journal entry to the school’s Consolidated Budget.  Finance/Budget will prepare this journal entry at the direction of the TAG Office.
The use of a building’s TAG funds must be reflected in the building’s TAG plan.
Kimberly Matier, Director of Instruction, Curriculum & Assessment, K-12
916-2000 x74247   kmatier@pps.net

Education Town Hall TONIGHT

Education town hall with Chief Education Officer Rudy Crew, ODE and Portland Assn. of Teachers is tonight, Jan. 24 at 6p. in the Vollum lecture hall at Reed College. http://events.reed.edu/

Are talented & gifted students getting their learning needs met?
Please let the state know YOUR education priorities, including what you think of current TAG services & where you see room for improvement. Question sign-up begins at 5:30p. Questions will be read and answered during the second half of the evening. 

If you can't make the town hall, send your feedback here - ODE Chief of Staff Sarah Pope at Sarah.Pope@ode.state.or.us .

Welcome back from Winter Break!

--Here's info. on the FREE after school math classes at Alameda open to all kids starting later this month. These are open to all kids with high math ability but spots seem to be going fast. Call/visit the office to sign your child up. UPDATE - Signups are closed due to an overwhelming response and there will be a lottery for both class sessions, but the class will be offered again after March break. Kids who don't get in this time will be first in line for the next session. 

There's a fun & challenging cryptography project --

Cryptography Math Enrichment Class

We will be offering a math enrichment class for students with strong math skills to be taught by our very own math teacher extraordinaire, Katie Melchor. We will have two classes—one for 1st and 2nd graders and another for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. The theme for both groups will be Cryptography: Making and Breaking Secret Codes. Each week, students will briefly learn about one specific secret code that has been used in history. Then students will use problem solving and algebraic concepts to make/break that specific code. 

The math behind it will be differentiated for the different age groups. Classes will meet for one hour after school with the 1-2 class meeting on Mondays and the 3-5 class meeting on Tuesdays, both beginning the week of January 28th and lasting for six weeks. Enrollment will be limited to 15 students. Students need to be able to attend all six classes. Please sign up in the office with Chris or Nancy by January 18th.

The classes are funded by foundation dollars, and Mr. Lurie and Ms. Vanderwolf have worked hard to set them up. Kids don't need a TAG designation to attend. While math differentiation during the school day remains a priority, this is a great opportunity for kids who love math.

--Also, PPS' TAG director has set up a districtwide plan for making sure that all schools use their TAG budgets from now on. I've been promised that there will be better communication from the district to schools and that school TAG directors will pool ideas on successful TAG programming. School board member Greg Belisle has taken a particular interest in this issue and has vowed to keep it on the board's radar this year.