Thoughts on TAG program?

[hereyago]

My DD11's friend is in the Talented and Gifted program at their new school. They are in the 6th grade. Now, DD's friend has always had really good grades up until this point.

Her DM was talking to me before their concert, both girls are in band. And she was saying that her DD was getting C's and a D now into the 2nd semester interim period. I was like What?!

Then another friend of DD's had been getting straight A's in her private school, now she is A/B student and in the TAG program as well.

Both girls are really bummed because up until this point in their school learning, they were making the highest grades.

So here is my question: has your child been in a TAG program and then their grades not be as high as when they weren't in TAG? And what do you think of your child's TAG-or whatever it may be called in your area-program? Any advice I could give to friends parents?

 

[mjkacmom]

A's and B's in TAG - not a problem. I'd be upset about C's and D's (have yet to see any of those!). Our TAG is a pullout program that you have to be invited to test into. Both dd8 and ds11 love it, because it's only about 6 kids per grade, and it's fun. However, I told them if their grades started to suffer because they were missing other material, I'd pull them out.

 

[Christine]

I never saw grades slip when my son was in TAG. It, too, was a pull-out program but by 6th grade there is more involvement.

I think the TAG program is a great program for ANY student. My son loved it and loved the way the learned things in TAG versus the traditional classroom. I thought that all students could benefit from it in the early elementary years.

I'm sure in 6th grade it gets really hard. Maybe your DD's friend really doesn't belong in there at this point.

 

[hereyago]

The D was in English and the DM said she had failed 2 vocabulary tests. Up until now, she was the type of kid who really didn't have to study, or should I say, didn't really study. She got a C in band, which obviously isn't in the TAG program, and a C in foreign language which is part of the TAG curriculum.

And the other girl who had been in private school every year until now, never got a B on her report card, so that in itself is kind of shocking to her.

 

[SC Minnie]

To me the program is more of an advanced level-- it doesn't mean the child is 'gifted or talented'. Anyway, DD has been in it since 4th grade and is now a soph. I have told her from the beginning that if her grades drop below a B for more than one grading term I will pull her out of the program. IMO if she can't maintain at least a B then she is not fully grasping the material.