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Arlington Science Focus School Gifted Services 2013 - 2014. John Kirkman , Resource Teacher for the Gifted John.Kirkman@apsva.us School Phone: 703/228-7670. Information Cards: On each table, you will find cards for you to complete providing me with your contact information.
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Arlington Science Focus School Gifted Services2013 - 2014 • John Kirkman, Resource Teacher for the Gifted • John.Kirkman@apsva.us • School Phone: 703/228-7670
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.
Parent Book club • This fall I am offering a Book Club for Parents, here at ASFS. • The book topic will address the needs of gifted learners. • If you are interested, please complete an interest slip, found on the tabletops…
Social & emotional Needs of the Gifted Learner • This fall I will offer a “Lunch Bunch” group for students that would help them address social and emotional issues they may encounter. • This group will focus on ideas presented in the book “The Survival Guide for Gifted Kids” by Judy Galbraith. • Each student who registers is asked to pay for their own copy of the book. As we work through the topics in the book, students will want to take notes in the margins and record ideas discussed with the group. The book is available as an e-book for students with e-Readers. • Flyers will go home with fourth and fifth grade students this week. • Students will be signed up on a first-come-first served basis. If there is enough interest the first group will begin mid-October.
Art Enrichment • This year we are working to develop more art talent here at ASFS. During the school year all students in grades one through five will receive three additional art lessons. • These lessons will follow a rotation schedule similar to Science City lessons. • The groups of 10-14 students will explore an art skill that is outside of the regular art curriculum. • Mr. Trueheart is conducting the third, fourth and fifth grade lessons while Ms. Arnett is working with our first and second graders. • We began our second rotation group today.
New Student Ability Tests • NNAT2 or Naglieri Non-Verbal Ability Test • Given to all ASFS second graders this Thursday, October 3rd. • 30 minute timed test • Computer based • Parent report of scores provided by APS. • CogAt or Cognitive Abilities Test • Given to all ASFS fourth graders on Tuesday, October 29th • 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.
Gifted Services at ASFS • I work in partnership with the classroom teachers and other area specialists in collaborative instruction. • Our method of services at ASFS vary with the needs of the child. • - Classroom-based instruction (push-in) or - breakout groups (pull-out) • Creative/Critical Thinking Skills • Daily Differentiation to meet the needs of our students.
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
Enrich and extend • Supplemental materials allow students to: • build upon prior knowledge • engage in activities to conceptualize knowledge • participate in higher order thinking • respond to assignments according to their diverse learning styles
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.
Mathematics Curriculum and Beyond… • Beyond the Textbook: • - Hands-on-Equations • - Computer based sites • - W&M units • - Project M² or M³ • - Hands-on Geometry • - Math Dice • Number Sense • Computation and Estimation • Measurement • Geometry • Patterns, Functions, Algebra • Probability and Statistics
Scientific Extensions • APS: • Outdoor Lab (day or overnight) • Planetarium visits • ASFS: • Investigation Station • Outside the Box Day (November) • Science in the School Yard • Elementary Engineering • Habitat Day (April) • Jason Project Groups (3rd, 4th and 5th) • Student driven research-centered projects
Social Studies Extensions • Exploring historical events and the world around us: • Student-centered research projects on topic of choice • Exploring program – National History Bee – as possible option for ASFS students • National Geographic Geography Bee (Grades 4 & 5) • ASFS sent Adam Sherinian to the Virginia State Bee last spring. • Before school Geography club to build interest prior to the classroom and school-wide Geography Bee.
Gifted Services Identification Process • The window to refer a student for gifted services begins in March 2014. • At the March PTA meeting and separate Parent Coffee meetings - I will present the nuts and bolts of the process. • Teachers will receive materials for referral prior to the March Parent-Teachers conferences to ensure the topic is discussed at that time. • Please contact Mr. Kirkman to discuss this process at any time.
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, Mr. Kirkman, as well as Mrs. Hawthorne to monitor social and academic progress
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 Michele Ginnerty (co-chair of GSAC) at mginnerty@verizon.net or Cheryl McCullough (Supervisor, Gifted Services) at cheryl.mccullough@apsva.us
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