1. Level IV Screening Process and Building a Portfolio
Great Falls Elementary School

2. What – review of a students’ portfolio by six FCPS Educators
What is Screening?
What – review of a students’ portfolio by six FCPS Educators
Who – Classroom Teachers, AART’s, Administrators, Counselors, Speech Teachers, Specialists and Central Office AAP staff
How – after training on how to review a portfolio, educators each individually review and make a their own recommendation on eligibility
Where – Central Office – Fairfax Ridge
When – Late February and the 1st week of March 2016

3. How a Student Gets to Be Screened
Pool
A second grade student who has scored above a 132 on the NNAT-Naglieri (first grade)
A second grade student who has scored above a Composite 132 – Cognitive Abilities test
Automatically referred, no parent, teacher, self referral needed
Parent, Teacher, or Self Referral
Any student grades 2-6
Parents, teachers, or students fill out the referral form on the FCPS AAP website and submit it to Laura Hotaling by 3:00 pm, January 15, 2016 as per FCPS regulations
There will be no exceptions in regards to late referral forms

4. Test scores (SOL/Ability) ESOL level Special programs (immersion)
What is a Portfolio
GENERAL INFORMATION
Progress report
Test scores (SOL/Ability)
ESOL level
Special programs (immersion)
Teacher Commentary
Gifted Behaviors Rating Scale
6 WORK SAMPLES
2 submitted by school
4 submitted by parents/guardians (more information later in presentation)

5. Teachers’ role : gatherer of data
Taking notes on academic behaviors such as creativity, application of knowledge, motivation, pace of learning, extension of curriculum, leadership, critical thinking throughout the school year
Completing a Gifted Behaviors Rating Scale (GBRS) with Commentary
Gathering work samples for student portfolios
Creative and Critical Thinking lessons
Writing Sample
Math Sample demonstrating critical/creative thinking (M2, M3, Performance Tasks, Math Exemplars)

6. Gifted Ratings Behavior Scale (GBRS)
Filled out by the GFES committee (Mrs. Harper, Mrs. DeHart, Mrs. Schilling, Ms. Duvall, Classroom Teacher(s), Specialists, and AART)
Exceptional Ability to Learn
Exceptional Ability to Apply Knowledge
Exceptional Creativity/Productive Thinking
Exceptional Motivation
Ratings Scale
1 – rarely
2 – occasionally
3 – frequently
4 - consistently

7. Exceptional Ability to Learn
Exhibits exceptional memory
Demonstrates in-depth knowledge
Displays persistent, intense focus on one or more topics
Is highly reflective and/or sensitive to his/her environment
Learns and adapts readily to new cultures
Learns quickly and easily
Acquires language at a rapid pace
Learns skills independently and makes connections without formal instruction

8. Exceptional application of knowledge
Demonstrates highly developed reasoning
Employs complex problem-solving strategies
Uses and interprets advanced symbol systems in academics, visual arts, and/or performing arts
Understands, applies, transfers abstract concepts
Uses technology in advanced applications
Acts as an interpreter, translator, and/or facilitator to help others
Makes advanced connections and transfers learning to other subjects, situations, cultures
Communicates learned concepts through role playing and/or detailed artwork

9. Exceptional creativity/productive thinking
Sees the familiar in unusual ways
Does not conform to typical ways of thinking or perceiving
Is highly creative and/or inventive
Demonstrates unusual fluency and flexibility in thinking and problem- solving
Expresses ideas, feelings, experiences, and/or beliefs in original ways
Displays keen sense of humor
Is highly curious
Generates new ideas, new uses, new solutions easily
Perceives and manipulates patterns, colors, and/or symbols

10. Exceptional motivation
Demonstrates ability to lead large and/or small groups
Meets exceptional personal and/or academic challenges
Explores, researches, questions topics, ideas, issues independently
Is poised with adults and engages them in adult conversations
Exhibits a strong sense of loyalty and responsibility
Demonstrates exceptional ability to adapt to new experiences
Strives to achieve high standards especially in areas of strength and/or interest
Shows initiative, self-direction, and/or high level of confidence

11. Add commentary in bottom portion
Parent’s Role #1
REFERRAL FORM
If your child is not in the second grade pool or in grades 3-6 you must turn in a referral form to have your child screened!
Add commentary in bottom portion
MUST BE TURNED IN BY 3:00 PM, Friday, January 15th!
LOCATED
On GFES Specialist Blackboard Site – Advanced Academics
FCPS Website - Academics & Programs, Advanced Academics, Right hand side under Spotlights is forms, AAP level IV referral forms

12. PARENT/GUARDIAN QUESTIONNAIRE FORM Type out form
Parent Role #2
PARENT/GUARDIAN QUESTIONNAIRE FORM
Type out form
Use specific examples: “My child surprises me with their unusual knowledge”
Start taking notes now!
Your chance to communicate with the educator examining your child’s portfolio
LOCATED
FCPS Website – under forms

13. 4 sheets of 8x11 paper – front side only LEGIBLE AND EASY TO SEE!
Parent Role #3
WORK SAMPLES
4 sheets of 8x11 paper – front side only
LEGIBLE AND EASY TO SEE!
Halfsies  shrink down image to have two full sheets on one piece of paper
Use photos of creations
LABEL product with an explanation
Originals will not be returned
AWARDS/COMMENDATIONS/LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Submit up to 5 sheets of 8x11 paper
Don’t go overboard with recommendations and awards
Recommendation letters may not be from FCPS teachers

14. Math Sample from Mentoring Young Mathematicians (M2)
This is from a 2nd grade student.
It utilizes math vocabulary related to the concept and shows understanding of the big idea.
The student supports their answer with an example.

15. Math Non-Sample
While the 4th-grade student completing this sample scored perfectly, the work shows a rote process. This type of work is important, but does not showcase the type of problem solving thinking that would be good evidence for needing full-time placement in a level IV center.
Instead, showcasing a single problem that requires the student apply mathematics concepts to problem solve would be preferred.

16. Language Arts: Encapsulation
This is an encapsulation of chapter 18 of the book Bud, Not Buddy, whereby the student put important ideas from the chapter on a license plate.
This sample would be stronger if there was a short blurb pointing out that it was using the encapsulation strategy and verbalizing some of the symbolic ideas represented.

17. Language Arts Non-Sample
This word study sample shows the student does well sorting words and using them in sentences. It is not a strong language arts sample.
A stronger sample might include literary analysis, creativity, persuasive writing, etc.

18. Science: Plant analogies
A 2nd grade Spanish Immersion student created analogies about the parts of a flower in Spanish

19. Science Non-Sample
The student scored 100% on this plants quiz. However, the answers on it required recall of knowledge level information.
Possibilities for strong science work samples may include: designing an experiment, creating big questions for research, solving or inventing an engineering solution.

20. Social Studies: Johnoglyphics
A 3rd grade student created the following system, modeled on hieroglyphics, to teach toddlers to read.
In addition to connections to Social Studies content, this work sample shows fluency and elaboration in an original solution to a problem.

21. Social Studies Non-Sample
This sample shows the student is able to recall information about the 3 branches of government.
A preferred work sample might include: analysis of a primary source document, relating to different points of view in past or current events, making intra- or inter-disciplinary connections related to Social Studies content, etc.

22. Other work samples
This student created a series of comic strips and designed a web site where they were posted.
The comics and site showed a mature sense of humor in creating new products about every day topics.

23. Other Work Samples
This student created a poster of 4 Ways of Smart (Picture, Nature, Body, and Music).
The poster displays a strong sense of design.

24. Other work samples
This student created a comic, entitled “Chocolate,” with her spelling words for the week.

25. Parents will be notified of student eligibility : April 11-15 2016
TimeLine Update for notification of eligibility, level Iv orientations and appeals
Parents will be notified of student eligibility : April
Level IV Orientations to be held at local level IV schools and centers: April , 2016
Please check with your local level IV school and your center school for the exact date and time.
Appeals due to Advanced Academics Central Office: May 13, 2016
Notification of eligibility after appeals process: Sometime after June 10, 2016