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Students, staff highlight Isle of Wight County gifted program at Smithfield Center STEAM Day
Summary
Students and staff described the Isle of Wight County Public Schools gifted program at a Smithfield Center STEAM Day, emphasizing daily pull-out instruction (about 30 minutes), hands-on STEAM activities, an annual gifted-and-talented expo, and the program'7s role in developing critical-thinking and communication skills.
Students and staff from Isle of Wight County Public Schools described the district'7s gifted program at a STEAM Day event at the Smithfield Center, saying the program gives advanced learners dedicated instruction time and hands-on opportunities to develop critical thinking and communication skills.
A student said, "Being gifted means I think different than other kids, but it still makes me special," describing gifted learners as those who "think outside of the box" and seek abstract ways to solve problems. Another student explained STEAM Day activities: "In science we made snow. In math we did addition. Art we did a flag about ourselves. We made ski jumpers for engineering." The student added the event felt like "fun" but was also a chance to "put my brain to the test and find solutions."
A staff member explained the program'7s design: allowing "30 minutes a day to come to the gifted resource teacher'7s classroom" for instruction at students'7 levels. The staff member said these pull-outs provide space for exploration, productive struggle and development of deeper critical-thinking skills, and described district activities that separate gifted students from their regular classmates for targeted experiences, including an annual elementary STEAM Day "held at the Smithfield Center" where "all 100 plus students come together."
The district has also restarted a gifted-and-talented night, this year themed "Imagine," in which students interpret the theme through a project they complete and present at an expo for families and friends. The staff member said the expo gives students practice answering questions and communicating their learning.
On program priorities, a staff member said, "I think reaching our gifted students is just as important as reaching our students with special education needs," noting gifted learners have different learning needs and that the district aims to "continue to develop and evolve our gifted program to meet the needs of our students."
Students and staff framed creativity and imagination as essential to innovation; one student said, "If we all thought the same, then no new inventions' would be created." The event combined short pull-out instruction, cross-school interaction, and showcase activities that district staff said are intended to advance both academic and communicative skills.
The district did not state a date for the event in the transcript and provided no formal action or vote during the remarks. Future steps or program changes were described as ongoing development rather than formal decisions.
