ADVANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAM ADVANCED ACADEMIC PROGRAM Flint Hill Elementary School Cee Stephens Advanced Academic Resource Teacher

FCPS Philosophy Each child has a unique profile of strengths and abilities. FCPS is committed to providing challenging learning experiences for all learners that build on their individual strengths and optimize their abilities. One size does not fit all. What is best for your child?

AAP Services at Flint Hill At Flint Hill Elementary, we offer ALL four levels of service. Our goal is to provide services that offer enrichment and appropriate learning opportunities for all of our students.

Level I Services Opportunities provided by classroom teacher or AAP resource teacher throughout the year with all students in K-6 Lessons and activities designed to develop critical and creative thinking skills as well as higher order thinking skills Critical and Creative Thinking Skills Lessons County wide resource Based on nine strategies to challenge students to use and apply knowledge in different ways

Level II Services Differentiated instruction in areas of academic strength Provided by classroom teacher in collaboration with the AAP resource teacher Literacy groups, math groups, research projects, WordMasters (3-6), Continental Math League (CML) classroom centers, interest centers and projects, etc. Differentiation can occur in the materials and resources used, the process for learning, or the product created

Level III Services Direct instruction provided by the AAP resource teacher or Level IV teacher for students identified by the local school in grades 3-6 Instruction may be collaboratively taught within the classroom and/or provided in pull-out groups

Level IV Services Full-time Advanced Academic Program, grades 3-8 Provides a challenging curriculum for identified gifted students Advanced Math is accelerated by one grade level Readings and resources are also presented at advanced levels Emphasis on affective as well as cognitive learning with ongoing opportunities for reflection and self- assessment

Local Level IV Services Full-time program One classroom per grade is designated the Level IV homeroom class Teachers have gifted endorsement or are currently pursuing it Only Flint Hill students are eligible for placement Only students identified by the county as Level IV eligible are guaranteed placement in the class Other placements in the class are made on a year to year basis

Resources William & Mary Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies Units, and Navigator Novel Units Junior Great Books Caesar’s English WordMasters Experimental Design Socratic Seminar Reading Above Jacob’s Ladder The Great Debate Project M 3 Hands on Equations Algebra Lab Gear Groundworks Great Expectations Continental Math League Algebra Problem Solver The Problem Solver Series CPO Science Jason Project units Clarion Science units DBQ units

Instructional Strategies Interactive notebooks Problem solving RAFT Questioning Think-Tac-Toe SCAMPER Jigsaw Kagan structures Independent research Graphic Organizers Simulations Multiple Intelligences DeBono’s Hats Anchor Activities Marzano strategies Interest centers Analogies Tiered assignments Flexible grouping Compacting Concept Development Document Based Questions Critical & Creative Thinking lessons

Determining Services Levels I through III are determined at the local school level through grade level collaborative teams and a local screening committee Level IV eligibility is determined through a county level screening process

Eligibility Decisions FCPS uses a holistic approach to eligibility and placement Information considered: Ability test scores: NNAT, CogAT, WISC, Otis Lennon, etc. Achievement test scores: SOLs, IOWA, Terra Nova, etc. Gifted Behavior Rating Scale (GBRS) Progress Reports Record of previous gifted services Work Samples Parent Questionnaire, certificates, awards, recommendations (Level IV screening only)

Testing Timeline CogAT: October 21-23: Second Grade and select students in grade 3-6 NNAT: November 20: First Grade and select second grade students Spring testing (done in February) is only for FCPS students who have enrolled after fall testing and are referred for Level IV services Private testing may be done through a licensed psychologist or GMU ( )

Screening Process for Level IV Grade 2: Pool Candidates Screening pool established by FCPS using test scores from the Naglieri Nonverbal Abilities Test (NNAT) administered in first grade and the Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT) administered in second grade Grades 2-6 Parents may submit a Level IV referral for 2 nd grade students not in the pool, and students in grades 3-7 Screening files are prepared by the local school, submitted to the central selection committee, reviewed by an oversight committee, and parents are notified by mail of eligibility decisions.

Screening Process: Step 1 Parent Referral deadline: February 3, 2014 Second grade pool candidates are automatically screened in the spring. No referral is necessary.

Screening Process: Step 2 ALL optional material due: February 3, 2014 Outside test results Student work samples Certificates, awards, letters of recommendation Parent questionnaire ALL optional material MUST adhere to the size and quantity restrictions.

Screening Process: Step 3 The local school screening committee meets to prepare and submit screening documents and files: Test scores Progress reports Gifted Behavior Rating Scale (aka GBRS) Work samples produced in school Optional materials provided by parent

Screening Process: Step 4 Central selection committee convenes in March and April. Screening Process: Step 5 Oversight committee meets in April to review all ineligible decisions.

Screening Process: Step 6 Parent notification letters are mailed in May Level IV program orientations are held in May Screening Process: Step 8 Screening Process: Step 7 Appeals must be submitted by May 3o, 2014 Appeals decisions are mailed in July, 2014

Parent information packet Timeline and due dates Testing information FAQs Levels of Service

Down the road... Middle School Honors Program Four core subject areas Greater levels of depth and complexity Open enrollment except Algebra in 7 th grade Middle School Level IV Center Program High School Advanced Placement International Baccalaureate TJHSST

Intelligence is not how much you know or how fast you learn, but how you behave when you don’t know the answer.

???Questions??? Please contact me: Cee Stephens Advanced Academic Resource Teacher