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Academically  & Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Program

 

Enrichment at Immaculata

At Immaculata, enrichment opportunities span Kindergarten through 8th grade, offering a variety of engaging, cross-curricular learning experiences designed to meet the needs of advanced learners.

Grades K–2: Building a Foundation
Students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade are not formally identified for the AIG program. Instead, they are provided with opportunities to extend their knowledge in all subject areas through:

  • Cross-curricular activities
  • Collaboration between resource teachers and grade-level teachers

These experiences nurture curiosity and encourage deeper exploration of core subjects.

Grades 3–5: AIG Identification Process
Students in grades 3–5 may be considered for the Academically & Intellectually Gifted (AIG) program after the first quarter of each school year. Eligibility is determined using the following criteria:

  • Teacher nomination and recommendations

  • i-Ready benchmarks:

  • Spring scores from the previous year

  • Fall scores from the current year

  • Student portfolio including: Grades 2–3 work samples with descriptions showing above-grade-level work

  • Other nationally normed test results (such as IOWA or CogAT), when available for transfer students

Evaluation & Notification

  • The MTSS Coordinator oversees the evaluation process in collaboration with the AIG Committee (grade-level teachers, AIG teacher, and counselors).

  • Parents are notified annually if their child is identified for the AIG program.

  • Identification may change year-to-year based on student performance, which is reviewed annually.

  • Parents may opt out of AIG services at any time by contacting the AIG teacher and MTSS Coordinator.

Ongoing Review
Student participation in the AIG program is monitored throughout the year to ensure continued success.
Factors considered include:

  • Performance in AIG classes

  • Performance in the student’s homeroom

Habits of Mind
AIG students are taught to develop the following "habits of mind:"

  • Curiosity - Student enthusiasm leads to further exploration of subject matter and its implications 
  • Persistence - Student maintains focus and completes objectives
  • Creativity - Student develops new approaches to discovering, analyzing, and applying knowledge in ways that produce measurable results
  • Critical Thinking - Student thinks about problems in new ways by asking questions like, "What if?" and "Why not?" and generates meaning and solution that are explored, negotiated, constructed, and applied
  • Collaboration - Student works with his/her peers as both a follower and a leader to consider, refine, and/or build upon knowledge and its implications from his/her own and others' findings
  • ​Communication - Student presents, discusses, and reflects upon ideas in multiple ways

At the end of each quarter, parents will receive a report that assesses how their child is progressing with mastery of these habits of mind (consistently, sometimes, or rarely demonstrates).