GT/AAP Decisions: JUST THE SCORES, PLEASE!

[Anonymous]

[list]Look at this!
They used a new form of the CogAT this year. After viewing the sample questions from this form vs. the sample questions available for the old form, the new test looks much easier than the older as it's largely picture based. I wouldn't be surprised if the scores were higher than previous years.

Here are sample questions from the new form...
http://www.riversidepublishing.com/products/cogAT7/content.html



I think the exams were very easy this year. My daughter said the questions were very easy and answers were all in pictures. . One of the question was, which barks and the pictures of the animals were provided. I heard that this is to help ESOL kids. Not sure if that is true. I wouldn't be surprised if the number of kids increased because of the easy tests. We haven't received our scores either.

Yes. They used CoGAT Form 7 this year. Looks like the second graders this year were guinea pigs for 2 things. NNAT in the first grade and CoGAT Form 7 in the second grade. The teacher read out the questions and kids didn't have to read anything. Wonder what the advanced placement has come to.

[Anonymous]

Reading has never been required for the cogat. Teachers have always read the questions aloud to the students.

But I agree that they were the guinea pigs. If scores were unusually high, I wonder if they'll raise the pool scores. It was 132 when my dd was in 2nd grade, so I know that they are able to adjust the score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone give me an idea what the parents referral packet includes? From FCPS info.on web, it seems that parent can submit up to 4 work samples and there is a referral form that parents can submit. Are these part of the parent referral packet? Anything else needed?

"Anything else" might include other testing, which does not count towards the not-to-exceed-5-pages portion of the parent referral. The not-to-exceed-5-pages portion can include anything, so it could include 2 pages of work samples, 2 recommendations, and a letter from you (as an example).

Check this -- last year parents could submit up to five pages of work samples PLUS five pages of letters, awards, or commendations (can include a parent letter as one of these five). You can reduce work samples to fit two or more on one page. Our AART advised us to use our child's best written work product, no math sheets, and no more than one page of artwork. They want to see writing. If you submit four pages of work samples, the school will supply the fifth. If you supply five, that bumps out whatever work sample the school would have provided (the school includes no work sample).

Not at our school. WSI and 5 other pages, including narrative write up, was all we were allowed to submit. We submitted no work samples or certificates/awards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone give me an idea what the parents referral packet includes? From FCPS info.on web, it seems that parent can submit up to 4 work samples and there is a referral form that parents can submit. Are these part of the parent referral packet? Anything else needed?

"Anything else" might include other testing, which does not count towards the not-to-exceed-5-pages portion of the parent referral. The not-to-exceed-5-pages portion can include anything, so it could include 2 pages of work samples, 2 recommendations, and a letter from you (as an example).

Check this -- last year parents could submit up to five pages of work samples PLUS five pages of letters, awards, or commendations (can include a parent letter as one of these five). You can reduce work samples to fit two or more on one page. Our AART advised us to use our child's best written work product, no math sheets, and no more than one page of artwork. They want to see writing. If you submit four pages of work samples, the school will supply the fifth. If you supply five, that bumps out whatever work sample the school would have provided (the school includes no work sample).

Not at our school. WSI and 5 other pages, including narrative write up, was all we were allowed to submit. We submitted no work samples or certificates/awards.

What is a WSI? And what narrative write-up are you talking about?
The guidelines are county-wide, not decided by each school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Not at our school. WSI and 5 other pages, including narrative write up, was all we were allowed to submit. We submitted no work samples or certificates/awards.

What is a WSI? And what narrative write-up are you talking about?
The guidelines are county-wide, not decided by each school.

This is what I found on the FCPS website:

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/packet/ParentInformationPacketFCPS.pdf

on Page 7 of the packet:

Guidelines
A maximum of four additional pages of student work samples, single-sided 8½” x 11” pages of student work (5
total with the required “Produced at School” page included)

Original stories, artwork, and other student work may be submitted in black and white or in color, reduced or enlarged from
the original, but must be on standard 8½“ x 11” writing, copying, photographic, or bond paper. Large/oversize pages, small
pages, cardboard, tag board, or construction paper may not be submitted. Larger/smaller pages, projects, and
photographs may be photocopied onto standard paper. Videos, DVDs, three-dimensional art, spiral paper, notebooks,
pocket folders, and two-sided pages may not be submitted. Work will not be returned.

A maximum of five single-sided 8½” x 11” pages of certificates, awards, honors, accomplishments, letters of
commendation, report of previous participation in advanced academic programs, and academic extracurricular
activities

Letters of commendation may be handwritten or typed from adults who know the student, including parents or other
relatives, music or art teacher, coach, etc. The appropriate input for FCPS personnel is the GBRSw/C. Therefore, letters
from FCPS staff members may not be submitted. Materials will not be returned.

And then on page 15 (for the Parent/Guardian Questionnaire):

Please print clearly or type; responses may be pasted onto form. Questionnaire may not be edited or retyped and responses must
fit on this form. Five pages of additional information may be submitted according to the guidelines. Fillable forms are available at
www.fcps.edu/is/aap/forms.shtml.

[Anonymous]

Do people really write letters of recommendation for their own kid? Does the committee really take the time to read how smart a mom thinks their kid is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do people really write letters of recommendation for their own kid? Does the committee really take the time to read how smart a mom thinks their kid is?

I know of parents that took a page to write about how their child did not do as well on one of the screening exams due to illness on the day of the test. I have no idea if the letter was read by the committee.

[Anonymous]

Its all percentile based right? So even if the test was 'easier' - which is a big assumption in itself - the kids will still be graded at the same level.

In addition, if its picture based - then it levels the playing field for many kids who are behind on reading.


So, I dont really believe that a nationally administered test can suddenly yield higher results.

Anonymous wrote:

[list]Look at this!
They used a new form of the CogAT this year. After viewing the sample questions from this form vs. the sample questions available for the old form, the new test looks much easier than the older as it's largely picture based. I wouldn't be surprised if the scores were higher than previous years.

Here are sample questions from the new form...
http://www.riversidepublishing.com/products/cogAT7/content.html

I think the exams were very easy this year. My daughter said the questions were very easy and answers were all in pictures. . One of the question was, which barks and the pictures of the animals were provided. I heard that this is to help ESOL kids. Not sure if that is true. I wouldn't be surprised if the number of kids increased because of the easy tests. We haven't received our scores either.

Yes. They used CoGAT Form 7 this year. Looks like the second graders this year were guinea pigs for 2 things. NNAT in the first grade and CoGAT Form 7 in the second grade. The teacher read out the questions and kids didn't have to read anything. Wonder what the advanced placement has come to.

[Anonymous]

Should we use this as a Just The Scores thread again or start a new one?

[Anonymous]

21:56, I think there can be a phenomenon happening here, in which more kids in Fairfax are scoring in the 97th and above per national percentile. As it is, about 10-12% of our county kids have been scoring at that level in at least one subpart of the testing. We are a county populated with an unusual number of very bright kids (spawn of very bright parents). If the next tier of kids, who would have normally scored in the 94-97th national percentile, are now being prepped by their parents, I think the county could end up with a much higher percentage of county kids scoring at 97th and above. My two cents.

[Anonymous]

Also, if the test was age-appropriate for 1st graders, but given to 2nd graders, then you might see more than 3% of FCPS 2nd graders scoring in the top 3% nationally ---- which means that this test was not a good measure for this population b/c it was too easy.

You could still just take the top 3 % of FCPS 2nd graders, but you're overriding what the test was testing.

[Anonymous]

In addition, if its picture based - then it levels the playing field for many kids who are behind on reading.


[list]If your child is behinde on reading there is no chance your child will be accepted into the AAP program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:21:56, I think there can be a phenomenon happening here, in which more kids in Fairfax are scoring in the 97th and above per national percentile. As it is, about 10-12% of our county kids have been scoring at that level in at least one subpart of the testing. We are a county populated with an unusual number of very bright kids (spawn of very bright parents). If the next tier of kids, who would have normally scored in the 94-97th national percentile, are now being prepped by their parents, I think the county could end up with a much higher percentage of county kids scoring at 97th and above. My two cents.

Excellent points

[Anonymous]

No - this is a intelligence test - and human brain can process images better than words.

I know several kids whose IQ is off the charts but are behind on reading - and they fully deserve to be in the AAP program. These kids will start doing better on the COGAT's in addition to the NNAT

Anonymous wrote:

In addition, if its picture based - then it levels the playing field for many kids who are behind on reading.


[list]If your child is behinde on reading there is no chance your child will be accepted into the AAP program.

[Anonymous]

PP: CogAT and NNAT are not intelligence tests, they are aptitude tests. That is what the AT stands for. Other than than, I agree with you.