Key School Gifted Services 2014 - 2015

1. Key SchoolGifted Services2014 - 2015 • Micaela Mejia Pond –Coach Pond Resource Teacher for the Gifted • micaela.pond@apsva.us • School Phone: 703/228-4210

2. Warm Up Activity • Who is in the room? • What brought you out on this rainy night? • What do you hope to learn about? • What do you remember about the gifted program? • PLEASE TURN TO YOUR TABLE MATES AND DISCUSS.

3. Information Cards: On each table, you will find cards for you to complete providing me with your contact information. If I am not able to answer your question tonight, write it on the back of the card, and I will contact you via email or phone. • Questions: There will be time for GENERAL questions throughout the presentation. If you have a specific question you wish to ask about your child, please see me following the meeting or contact me via email or phone.

4. Coach PondKey School Teacher of the YearCelebrating my 20th year of teaching!Student of Christa McAuliffe University of Wisconsin- Madison Go Badgers! George Mason University Arlington Parent

6. The Role of the Resource Teacher for the Gifted • Promote differentiation strategies in the classroom • Collaborate and co-teach lessons in classrooms with clusters of identified gifted students • Teach critical-thinking and creative-thinking lessons in classrooms K-5 • Provide enrichment and supplemental resources to teachers • Provide professional development about gifted education to teachers • Facilitate the gifted identification process

7. Gifted Services at KEY • I work in partnership with the classroom teachers and the math coaches on collaborative instruction. • Our method of services at Key vary with the needs of the child. We have moved towards a push-in model and only pull out when absolutely necessary. • Creative/Critical Thinking Skills K-5 Monthly Lessons • Daily Differentiation to meet the needs of our students.

8. Cluster Grouping • Students in grades K-5 have been clustered into classrooms with intellectual peers. • Clusters are usually made of 4-8 students. • The Resource Teacher for the Gifted (RTG) supports the classroom teachers in planning extension lessons and activities for students who have already mastered grade-level skills and content. • Support from the RTG may look different at different grade levels, depending on the needs of the students.

9. Gifted Services target specific areas of strength… • Specific Academic Aptitude, K-12 • English • Mathematics • Science • Social Studies • Visual or Performing Arts, Grades 3-12 • Visual Art • Vocal Music (Chorus) • Instrumental Music • Band/Orchestra

10. What has changed? • Increased emphasis on collaboration and co-teaching between the classroom teacher and the RTG • Increased use of push-in services for RTG to co-teach in the regular classroom • Increased focus on providing more consistent differentiation and challenge for advanced students in the regular classroom

11. New Student Ability Tests • NNAT2 or Naglieri Non-Verbal Ability Test • Given to all Key second graders in the fall. • 30 minute timed test • Computer based • Parent report of scores provided by APS. • CogAt or Cognitive Abilities Test • Given to all Key fourth graders in the fall computer based • To assess students’ abilities in reasoning and problem solving using verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal (spatial) symbols • Parent report of scores provided by APS.

12. English/Language Arts • Reading • Matched to student skill level, including robust vocabulary study, and critical-creative thinking responses. • Writing/Grammar • Developing deeper levels of elaboration and depth in student writing either by student interests or response to reading choices. • Word Study • Spelling and vocabulary leveled to student skill and designed to further extend their working vocabulary.

13. Mathematics Curriculum and Beyond… • Beyond the Textbook: • - Hands-on-Equations • - Computer based sites • - W&M units • - Project M² or M³ • - The Problem Solver • - Math Dice • Number Sense • Computation and Estimation • Measurement • Geometry • Patterns, Functions, Algebra • Probability and Statistics

14. Scientific Extensions • APS: • Outdoor Lab (day or overnight) • Planetarium visits • Science in the School Yard • Elementary Engineering • Student driven research-centered projects

15. Social Studies Extensions • Exploring historical events and the world around us: • Student-centered research projects on topic of choice as it relates to units • Considering National Geographic Geography Bee (Grades 4 & 5) • History Alive!

16. Critical-Thinking Skills

17. How are students identified as gifted? 4-step identification process: 1. Screening 2. Referral and Data Collection 3. Identification Committee Decision 4. Appeal

18. Step 1: Screening • All students at Key are screened each year to decide whether they have learning needs beyond the regular instructional program. • We consider: • Testing data • Teacher observations • Parent information • Classroom performance • Honors or awards

19. Step 2: Referral • Referrals can be made by: • Teachers • School staff • Parents/guardians • Community members • Most referrals are submitted January through March. • Deadline for referrals is April 1st • Parent referral forms can be found on the Gifted Services Website or requested from the RTG

20. Gathering Eligibility Data • The RTG collects data to help determine a student’s eligibility for Gifted Services, including: • School-based assessment data • Nationally-normed testing data • Parent information • Student work samples • Teacher checklist of observed behaviors

21. Step 3: Identification Committee Decision • Committee includes classroom teacher(s), the RTG, and an administrator. • All eligibility data is reviewed. • A decision is made about the appropriateness of Gifted Services for the student. • Decisions are usually made in May, for services to begin the following school year. • Parents are notified by mail of the decision.

22. Step 4: Appeal • Parents may appeal the decision. • Level One Appeal: • At the school-level with the principal • Requests must be submitted in writing within 10 days of notification of the decision • Level Two Appeal: • At the county level with the Gifted Services Administrative Appeals Committee • Requests must be submitted in writing within 30 days of Level One decision

23. Role of Parent – SupportingDifferentiation for Student • Resources for Parents: • National Association for Gifted - www.nagc.org • Virginia Association for Gifted - www.vagifted.org • Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted - www.sengifted.org • Support your child’s interest to pursue social and cultural opportunities within and beyond his/her strength area(s) • Maintain communication with your child’s classroom teachers, Coach Pond, as well as Laurie Dodson and Sandra Small to monitor social and academic progress

24. Gifted Services Advisory Committee (GSAC) • Arlington Public School’s Parent Advocacy Group • Part of Advisory Council of Instruction • Monthly meetings • If interested in serving on this committee, please contact Beth.Dowd(co-chair of GSAC) at bdowdcgo@aol.com or Cheryl McCullough (Supervisor, Gifted Services) at cheryl.mccullough@apsva.us

25. Arlington Public Schools Gifted Services • Visit the Arlington Public Schools – Gifted Services link on the APS Web Site • www.apsva.us/giftedservices Cheryl McCullough, Supervisor, Gifted Services 703-228-6160 or cheryl.mccullough@apsva.us

26. GRACIAS!EXIT CARDS • Please tell me your name, your child’s name and the best way to reach you. • Do you have any remaining concerns or questions? • Was the presentation useful? If so how? If not, why? • Would you be willing to volunteer for any special projects?