ARLINGTON SCIENCE FOCUS SCHOOL
GIFTED SERVICES
2013 - 2014
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John Kirkman,
Resource Teacher for the Gifted
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John.Kirkman@apsva.us
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School Phone: 703/228-7670
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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.
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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
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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 ebook 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 midOctober.
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
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NNAT2 or Naglieri
Non-Verbal Ability Test
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Given to all ASFS
second graders this
Thursday, October 3rd.
30 minute timed test
Computer based
Parent report of scores
provided by APS.
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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
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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)
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Creative/Critical Thinking Skills
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Daily Differentiation to meet the needs of our students.
GIFTED SERVICES TARGET
SPECIFIC AREAS OF STRENGTH…
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Specific Academic
Aptitude, K-12
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English
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
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Visual or Performing
Arts, Grades 3-12
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Visual Art
Vocal Music (Chorus)
Instrumental Music
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Band/Orchestra
ENRICH AND EXTEND
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Supplemental materials allow students to:
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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
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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…
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Beyond the Textbook:
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- Hands-on-Equations
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- Computer based sites
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- W&M units
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- Project M² or M³
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- Hands-on Geometry
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- Math Dice
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Number Sense
Computation and Estimation
Measurement
Geometry
Patterns, Functions, Algebra
Probability and Statistics
SCIENTIFIC EXTENSIONS
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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)
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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
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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 – SUPPORTING
DIFFERENTIATION FOR STUDENT
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Resources for Parents:
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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)
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Arlington Public School’s Parent Advocacy
Group
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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
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Visit the Arlington Public Schools –
Gifted Services link on the APS Web Site
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www.apsva.us/giftedservices
Cheryl McCullough, Supervisor, Gifted
Services
703-228-6160 or cheryl.mccullough@apsva.us
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