Gifted Coordinator
Gifted Education
Identification
The Identification and Services for Children who are Gifted provides the guidelines for gifted education in the State of Ohio under the Ohio Administrative Code 3301-51-15.
The following are the gifted programs offered at Teays Valley Local Schools:
Cluster Grouping - Grades 2-5: Students identified in math and/or reading are deliberately placed in one or more classrooms (cluster grouping) with service provided by the classroom teacher through a differentiated curriculum. These teachers are provided with opportunities for high quality gifted professional development annually.
V.I.K.E.S.: Voyages In Knowledge for Exceptional Students, for grades three through five in a resource room setting.
Honors Classes: in grades six through twelve in classroom setting.
Advanced Placement Courses: at Teays Valley High School.
Post Secondary Enrollment: in grades 11 and 12.
Gifted Program History
We have a long history of recognizing the unique needs of students who are identified as gifted. The V.I.K.E.S. program began in 1984 serving students who are identified in the area of superior cognitive ability. Third through fifth grade students with this type of identification participate in a weekly pull out program with a Gifted Intervention Specialist or GIS. The integrated curriculum is designed with a focus on critical thinking and problem solving skills in reading, math, science and social studies. Students participate in highly engaging and individualized lessons that include STEM, higher levels of Bloom’s taxonomy and independent research. The social and emotional needs of students are also addressed through the development of a growth mindset. Finally, students are expected to complete a research project to present their learning at our annual VIKES Achievement Fair.
Students who are identified with a specific academic ability in mathematics, reading or both receive enrichment services from a gifted certified teacher in a gifted cluster setting. For students who are identified in reading, emphasis is placed on independence of learning and critical thinking using a broad range of high-quality, increasingly challenging literary and informational texts. Students who are identified in math focus on solving complex problems using multiple strategies, justifying their conclusions, communicating them to others, and responding to the arguments of others.
For more information about our gifted program, contact the district gifted coordinator, Crystal Klochak at cklochak@tvsd.us or by calling 740.983.5000 ext 2117.