Advanced Academics
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The advanced academic resource teacher and classroom teachers teach nine higher order thinking strategies across all subject areas and grade levels. The strategies are embedded in lessons that incorporate 21st Century thinking skills and extend and enrich the Program of Studies (POS) for all learners. Student responses to the lessons are also used to collect evidence of advanced academic potential in order to ensure equity and increase access to advanced academic programs.
Level I / AAP Access to Rigor (access for all students)
In kindergarten through grade six, all students are provided opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve. Critical and creative thinking strategies are used in classroom lessons. Your child's classroom teacher will use advanced academic curriculum each quarter. No parent referral is needed for this level of service.
Level II
Differentiated lessons are offered to students in areas of specific academic strength. The advanced academic resource teacher collaborates with classroom teachers to provide additional challenge through resources that extend and enrich the FCPS Program of Studies. Parents may refer students by completing a level II/III parent referral form.
Level III
Students identified by a local school screening committee for advanced academic services (Level III) are challenged through models and strategies designed to extend and enrich the POS in the four core subject areas. Students may receive direct instruction from the advanced academic resource teacher, or push into the local level IV class for instruction, in one or more areas of academic strength at their local schools. Each year a local committee screens all students in grades 3-6 for possible participation in advanced academic (Level III services).
Level IV
Camelot is a local level IV school. That means we offer Level IV services to students found centrally eligible through the county and that gives Camelot families an option to remain at their base school rather than attend the center school for Level IV services. Students found eligible for placement in a full-time Advanced Academic Program (Level IV) through a central selection process receive a highly challenging instructional program in the four core subject areas. The Level IV program is designed to meet the needs of advanced learners with a strong emphasis on higher level thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making. Students have ongoing opportunities for reflection and self-assessment that develop an understanding of the characteristics, demands, and responsibilities of advanced intellectual development. The AAP Level IV program for students in grades 3 through 8 offers identified students a highly challenging instructional program that follows the FCPS Program of Studies. Differentiation in the depth, breadth, and pace of instruction is designed to meet the needs of advanced learners with a strong emphasis on higher level thinking skills. Adaptations are made to the curriculum in order to provide an appropriate level of challenge for gifted learners with a strong emphasis on critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making. Students participate with the entire student body in school-based activities such as student government, physical education, band and strings, chorus, and other electives. The AAP Level IV program environment allows students to explore and express their ideas with other highly able peers. Teachers develop and implement units of study that lead to an understanding of the concepts, themes, and issues that are fundamental to the disciplines and that lead to an appreciation for relationships within and among disciplines. Students pursue independent investigations and ongoing research appropriate to the disciplines. They have ongoing opportunities for reflection and self-assessment that develop an understanding of the characteristics, demands, and responsibilities of advanced intellectual development.
Young Scholars
Young Scholars is designed to find and nurture advanced academic potential in students from historically underrepresented populations. Curricular interventions and support are provided through the collaboration of the classroom teacher and the advanced academic resource teacher. As students progress through elementary and secondary school, continuing support and opportunities for accessing rigorous coursework are provided by school staff. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) developed the Young Scholars initiative to increase the proportion of historically underrepresented students in its K-8 advanced academic programs. In this model, school administrators, teachers, and advanced academic resource teachers work together to find and nurture gifted potential in young learners and prepare them for more challenging and rigorous courses.