S.O.A.R
Scholastic Opportunities for Academic Rigor
"Children and youth with outstanding talent who perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment."
- US Department of Education, 1993.
SOAR classes meet twice a week and give students opportunities to engage in both self-directed and cooperative project-based learning. During Genius Hour time students are encouraged and challenged to think beyond the curriculum and develop projects that relate to their personal academic interests. Projects, competitions, and field-trips sponsored by the NJ Consortium for Gifted and Talented Programs are also included in the SOAR curriculum.
Students are pulled out of their regular education classes in order to attend S.O.A.R. and are responsible for all missed work. Typically, students come to S.O.A.R. twice per week. Currently, the 2023-2024 S.O.A.R. schedule is as follows:
3rd/4th grade: Tuesday and Wednesday
5th/6th grade: Thursday and Friday
7th/8th grade: Wednesday and Friday
Eligability testing for the SOAR program will be conducted in the spring after NJSLA testing for students in grades 3, 4, and 6.
Determining qualification for the RVS G&T program is a multi-faceted process.
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Grade
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Identification
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Pre-Kindergarten
Differentiated Instruction
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- Characteristics and Traits of a Gifted Preschooler
- Teacher Observation
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Kindergarten
Differentiated Instruction
Whole Class Enrichment
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- Characteristics and Traits of a Gifted Preschooler
- Teacher Observation
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First Grade
Differentiated Instruction
Whole Class Enrichment
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- TABs Classroom Observation Checklist
- Diagnostic Test Results
- Report Card Grades
- Teacher Observation
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Second Grade
Differentiated Instruction
Whole Class Enrichment
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- TABs Classroom Observation Checklist
- Diagnostic Test Results
- Report Card Grades
- Teacher Observation
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Third Grade
Pull-Out Program
Differentiated Instruction
Whole Class Enrichment
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- TABs Classroom Observation Checklist
- Diagnostic Test Results
- Cognitive Test Results
- Report Card Grades
- Teacher Observation
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Fourth Grade
Pull-Out Program
Differentiated Instruction
Whole Class Enrichment
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- TABs Classroom Observation Checklist
- Cognitive Test Results
- NJSLA Scores
- Report Card Grades
- Teacher Observation
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Fifth Grade
Pull-Out Program
Differentiated Instruction
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- TABs Classroom Observation Checklist
- Cognitive Test Results
-NJSLA Scores
- Report Card Grades
- Teacher Observation
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Sixth Grade
Pull-Out Program
Differentiated Instruction
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- TABs Classroom Observation Checklist
- Cognitive Test Results
- NJSLA Scores
- Report Card Grades
- Teacher Observation
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Seventh Grade
Pull-Out Program
Differentiated Instruction
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- TABs Classroom Observation Checklist
- Cognitive Test Results
-NJSLA Scores
- Report Card Grades
- Teacher Observation
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Eighth Grade
Pull-Out Program
Differentiated Instruction
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- TABs Classroom Observation Checklist
- Cognitive Test Results
- NJSLA Scores
- Report Card Grades
- Teacher Observation
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As required by the NJ Department of Education, students are compared with their peers. Students scoring in the top 5-10% of their class in the majority of the categories are considered to participate in the RVS SOAR Program in grades 3-8.
Please review the criteria below that describe some of the different characteristics of gifted children.
Boonton Township District Policy for Gifted and Talented: Link Here
New Jersey's Definition of Gifted and Talented Students
"Gifted and talented students" means those exceptionally able students who possess or demonstrate high levels of ability, in one or more content areas, when compared to their chronological peers in the local district and who require modification of their educational programs if they are to achieve in accordance with their capabilities.
NJAC 8-1.3
A Comparison of Gifted Children and Bright Children
"I am neither especially clever nor especially gifted. I am only very, very curious." -Albert Einstein
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A Bright Child:
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A Gifted Learner:
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Knows the answers
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Asks the question
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Is interested
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Is highly curious
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Is attentive
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Is mentally and physically involved
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Has good ideas
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Has wild, silly ideas
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Works hard
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Plays around, yet tests well
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Answers the questions
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Discusses in detail, elaborates
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Top group
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Beyond the group
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Listens with interest
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Shows strong feelings and opinions
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Learns with ease
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Already knows
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6-8 repetitions for mastery
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1-2 repetitions for mastery
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Understands ideas
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Constructs abstractions
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Enjoys peers
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Prefers adults
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Grasps the meaning
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Draws inferences
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Completes assignments
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Initiates projects
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Is receptive
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Is intense
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Copies accurately
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Creates new design
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Enjoys school
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Enjoys learning
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Absorbs information
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Manipulates information
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Technician
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Inventor
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Good memorizer
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Good guesser
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Enjoys sequential presentation
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Thrives on complexity
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Is alert
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Is keenly observant
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Is pleased with own learning
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Is highly self-critical
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Taken from: Janice Szabos, Challenge Magazine
Tennessee Association for the Gifted: http//www.tag-tenn.org