Enrichment and Acceleration Opportunities at Kenilworth

At Kenilworth, we follow the TRC or TAG in the Regular Classroom model.  The TRC model was developed for schools with a large population of TAG identified students (greater than 40).  There are currently 58 students identified as Talented and Gifted in grades 2 through 5 at Kenilworth.  The components of the TRC model include:

• TAG students clustered in groups of 7 to 10 per classroom
• Advanced research and study skills
• Junior Great Books
• Higher Order Thinking Skills and Reading Comprehension Strategies
• Instruction and activities reflecting Multiple Intelligences Theory
• First in Math subscription website
• Differentiated instructional strategies in the heterogeneous classroom
• Acceleration (pacing and content)
• Curriculum compacting (pre-assessment)
• Tiered assignments (levels of challenge or open-ended assignments)
• Flexible grouping
• Independent study
• Learning/interest centers

At Kenilworth, enrichment and acceleration opportunities include, but are not limited to the following list.  This is not a comprehensive list and not all of these opportunities are available at every grade level. 

• Enrichment Groups in Math
• Above grade level math instruction
• Enrichment in Social Studies and Science
• Shooting Stars Program
• STEM Fair
• Above and Beyond the normal curriculum
• 2nd Semester Author Study and Interview with an relative
• Interest Centers (independent learning centers in the classroom)
• Small Group Instruction
• Open-Ended Assignments
• Maryland Project
• Acceleration by teaching the next grade curriculum
• Math Mysteries
• Real Life Math (project based self-selected home-based projects)
• Write-A-Book Literacy Competition
• Junior Achievement
• Literacy Circle (monthly genre study)
• Use of advanced/above grade level Trade Books in addition to leveled readers and anthology
• Traditional Literature Junior Great Books
• Use of above grade level texts aligned with current grade level Curriculum Framework Sequence
• Reciprocal Teaching (advanced students present to other students)
• PowerPoint Projects
• TAG Projects aligned with Social Studies Curriculum

The benefits of the TRC model are as follows:

• Embedded in daily instruction
• Not a once a week pull-out program
• Provides leadership opportunities for Gifted students
• Aligned with the Maryland Content Standards
• Differentiated for individual students based on their abilities and interests
• Continually sets the bar higher for gifted students so that they are challenged in all aspects of schooling, not just during TAG pull-out
• All staff are trained to use differentiated instructional strategies which benefits ALL children

TAG identification involves a balance of quantitative and qualitative measures following very specific procedures which include:

• Global Testing – all students are tested in grades 1 and 3. Students in grade 2 will take the Stanford 10 (SAT10) in preparation for identification in 3rd grade. Students may also be nominated in grades 2 and 4 through 7. Parent nonminations must be put in writing addressed to the TAG Coordinator prior to October 31, 2012.
• Multiple criteria – selection for the TAG program is based on the assessment of a variety of quantitative and qualitative measures which are aligned to meet the National Association of Gifted Children Exemplary Standards.
• Committee Recommendation – a group of school based professional educators analyze all appropriate data regarding placement recommendations.  The TAG supervisor or Specialist reviews, approves, processes, and codes TAG-identified students.
• Re-screening – yearly, TAG re-screens are initiated and monitored by the TAG Office.  Students with qualifying test data who do not qualify in other areas are recommended for re-screening later that year or first quarter of the next school year. 

In order to further address the learning needs of all children at Kenilworth, we offer the following extra-curricular activities for students regardless of whether they are identified for TAG:

• Daily Reading Log
• Literacy Circle
• Destination Imagination
• Wee Deliver
• Student Council
• Safety Patrols
• GOLD Team
• Dream Team
• Library Assistants
• Band
• Strings
• Choral Performances
• Peer Mediation
• Soccer Club
• Yearbook
• WKES

If you have specific questions regarding enrichment opportunities for your child, please schedule a conference with your child’s teacher. 

PGCPS Talented and Gifted Office Website