Program Overview of the
Talented and Gifted Program
"Wings"
The Talented and Gifted Program at Rock Valley Elementary was begun in
the fall of 1989. It is coordinated by a half-time staff person who has an
elementary teaching certificate and an endorsement in gifted education. The program
identifies students based on their general intellectual abilities. Students attend
"Wings" classes by grade level in a pull-out setting for two hours per week.
This usually begins in the first grade. Take-home packets which emphasize
reasoning skills are available to all kindergarten students. Activities for
identified students (first through sixth grades) include studying enrichment topics based
on student interests, practicing thinking skills, taking field trips, giving
presentations, working on the computer and other activities. In recent years
an attempt has been made to include all students in the regular classroom for special
activities, whenever appropriate. Examples of these types of activities are the
Geography Bee, Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl, Invention Convention, Physics Olympics and the
Community Search. Another part of the program is an informally identified pull-out
for advanced kindergarteners and first graders. The students in those groups are
determined by the classroom teacher using pretests. Therefore the students involved may
change throughout the year. If the classroom teachers desire materials to help them
modify the regular curriculum for gifted students, the "Wings" teacher is
available to help them find materials.
