Talent Development

What does it look like

at the elementary and
secondary levels?

Why?
Why do we provide for Talent
Development opportunities in Cobb
County?
1.

2.

Meet the needs of high-achieving/highlyable students who have not qualified for
gifted services
Serves as a method to develop cognitive,
academic, and creative thinking skills.

Who are highly able students?

Students who do not qualify for gifted
services but have excellent scores on:
Iowa total reading, math or composite
CogAT verbal, quantitative, and/or
composite
Milestones
Other data as identified at school

Talent Development
At the elementary school level

Elementary School

What?
What is Talent Development at the
elementary school ?

A service model to build and develop

cognitive, academic, and/or creative
talent
Activities either complement instruction in
the core content areas or develop and
extend skills which may be applied in core
content areas

Elementary School

How?
How are Talent Development services
determined?

Selected from recommended models provided by ALP

Department
Guided by the school goals and administrative focus
(may or may not exist at every school)
Determined via conversation with school
administration
Varies by grade levels involved and number of
students participating
Looks different at elementary, middle and high schools

Elementary School

Who?
Who is involved?

Target teachers (gifted) without a full

caseload of gifted identified students
Has

an available day or class period when

not meeting with gifted students

Students and/or grade levels identified by

data and/or teachers

Elementary School

How?
How is Talent Development provided?

Collaboration with a group or individual for

differentiation strategies
Direct Instruction
Small group pull-out
Labs -Problem solving/STEM/Writing
Kindergarten classes
Advanced Content classes - open to rubric-identified
high achievers in Reading, ELA and Mathematics
4th

grade 2015 -16

5th grade 2016 -17

Student selection based on determined

need
Academic

extension
Problem solving
Creativity development
Logical reasoning

Resources include
Hands

on Equations (algebraic thinking)

PETS (Primary Education Thinking Skills
series)
Other selected materials

Elementary School

When and Where?

When and where does Talent
Development take place?

Mostly in fall semester; some schools

continue in spring
Whole class and/or small groups
Both push-in and pull-out models are
appropriate, depending on the focus,
purpose, and number of students involved

Talent Development
At the middle or high school
level
The term Talent Development is rarely
used, but the concept exists in practice.

What?
Middle school
Advanced

Content classes are open to

school-identified high achievers

Includes high school credit classes offered at

MS campus
Provides opportunities develop cognitive,
academic, and/or creative talent

Academic

Habits course

(optional available elective)

Curriculum concentrates on developing the

skills needed to be successful with the
expectations and levels of rigor experienced
in advanced level classes

What?
High school
High Achieving students who meet the
identified criteria may participate in
Honors courses
Advanced Placement Courses AP test
score may qualify for college credit
Magnet Schools based on achievement
and interest
Move on When Ready (MOWR)completing college coursework for high
school and college credit

Additional opportunities available

Cobb County High School Course curriculum is available for:
Quest for Success

For students who have potential to take honors and Advanced Placement
classes in high school. The Talent Development class will concentrate on
developing the skills needed to be successful and expose students to the
expectations and levels of rigor they will experience in these advanced
level classes. These skills include higher order thinking, critical reading,
note taking, organization, study skills, research skills problems solving
and goal setting. Students should be self-motivated and open to trying
new ideas.

Tools for Academic Success (concurrent enrollment in an AP class

required):

This course is designed to support students concurrently enrolled in AP

courses. The course emphasizes advanced note-taking, writing,
organization strategies, study techniques, collaborative learning, and
problem-solving. Course expectations are consistent with those of an AP
class; research, writing, and problem-solving experiences are intended to
support success in an AP class and on the AP exam.

Summary
Cobb County provides Talent Development
opportunities in all levels for highly able students
who may not have qualified for gifted services.
Services look different at different levels and different
schools, but the purposes remain the same:
To develop cognitive, academic, and/or creative
talent.
To develop the skills needed to be successful with
the expectations and levels of rigor experienced in
advanced level classes.
To open doors to opportunities inside and outside of
the classroom.

Talent Development in Cobb

County Schools
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