Forum Index
»
Schools and Education General Discussion
Fairfax County GT Centers
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| There is a recent thread about GT programs in D.C. and surroundng areas, and I would greatly appreciate hearing any opinions or experiences from parents specifically about their DC's participation in the Fairfax GT Centers. I'm sure that experiences can vary significantly depending on the individual Center, but we would appreciate any information at all. We are considering moving our DC from private school to a GT Center and we are finding it a bit challenging to access word-of-mouth information since we are coming from outside the system. One concern we have is that a GT Center could be too "intense" for our DC (especially as the "new kid" -- DC would be moving to the Center in the later grades, not a 3rd grade "entry year"). DC is bright and usually motivated, but not super-advanced academically. |
Anonymous
|
I suggest posting your question on the Fairfax County Association for the Gifted's (FCAG) Yahoo group. There are over 400 GT parents that subscribe to the group and I'm sure you would learn a great deal from them.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FCAG/ |
Anonymous
| Great -- thanks PP! |
Anonymous
| Math may be an issue because they do just about 2 years of math in each year. In our GTC it isn't terribly intense and even in mid-5th grade new kids are very welcomed. It's a relatively small group so anyone new has so far been very quickly accepted. Reading given are typically 3-5 years ahead of grade level as well. If your child can't deal with the math advancement ie ready to be in 7th grade math now in 5th I'm not sure I'd do the GT Center just because there would be so much catch up work to do outside of school. The regular parts of the curriculum should be fine as long as your child is an advanced reader. |
Anonymous
OP here. Thanks, this is very helpful. Our DC would be entering in 5th and possibly as late as 6th. DC is a strong reader but is taking math only slightly one year ahead, not two, and I have to say that this appears to fit DC's level best as far as we can tell. |
Anonymous
| I wouldn't worry about your DC being the "new kid". Several new children test into GT each school year, and there is still enough of a mix between the three feeder schools that no clear cliques seem to form. |
Anonymous
| Definitely post to FCAG and ask about the particular GT Center you are considering. The Centers vary significantly. We are at White Oaks GTC and have had great experiences. New students transfer in every year and seem to be easily accepted by their peers. In fact, the kids seem to enjoy having someone new. As for math, if your GTC has a math teacher with a good reputation, they seem to be able to bring the kids along rather quickly. Since you have the summer to do some advance math review, I would use that time for math games in the subject areas that have not been covered and wouldn't be too concerned unless you have a child who is very math phobic. Many regular Fairfax elementary schools have adopted the "compacted math" program for their more advanced students, so you would probably be facing that issue even if you were moving to the neighborhood school. |
Anonymous
Is your child in a gifted-type program in the school he/she is currently in? If your child is not "super advanced academically" - what makes you think he/she should be in a gifted program in Fairfax? |
Anonymous
OP here. Although our DC has been accepted into the Fairfax GT center program, we are trying to determine if it is the best fit for DC. DC's private school does not have a "gifted" program per se but groups students in math and language arts according to ability levels. If every or almost every child in the GT program is "super advanced academically" (which, of course, also means different things to different people), it might not be the best fit for DC. If the program also includes bright, motivated children who are somewhat advanced (and/or perhaps quite advanced in some areas but not others), it might be a great fit. |
Anonymous
I was the one that asked the question you responded to above. Now your question makes more sense and I might be able to give my perspective. My husband is a Fairfax GT teacher. From what I gather, there are not many children in GT that are superstars in every subject. For the most part, they tend to be kids that are more motivated to learn/work than the average student. The subject matter is essentially the same as that covered by non-gifted curriculum but in more detail and with more projects. I think the exception to that statement is that the math tends to be accelerated. I'm not sure if this is what the County would say about their program, but this is what I gather from talking to my husband. Does that help? |
Anonymous
|
I was the one that asked the question you responded to above. Now your question makes more sense and I might be able to give my perspective. My husband is a Fairfax GT teacher. From what I gather, there are not many children in GT that are superstars in every subject. For the most part, they tend to be kids that are more motivated to learn/work than the average student. The subject matter is essentially the same as that covered by non-gifted curriculum but in more detail and with more projects. I think the exception to that statement is that the math tends to be accelerated. I'm not sure if this is what the County would say about their program, but this is what I gather from talking to my husband. Does that help?
Yes - that is very helpful. Thanks so much for taking the time to post. |
Anonymous
|
I have one gifted child in a GT center and one gifted child in a regular private school. Depending on why you want to make the switch, I think you might find the center a happy choice.
Pros of the center include a peer group of advanced kids (SO important), more advanced academics (though certainly not two years ahead, from what I've seen), and it's free. (Math is only one year accelerated in my daughter's 4th grade class.) Pros of private school are the smaller classes, possibly more differentiation if the school does that (our private school does, and our GT center does not, but the GT center is overall more advanced than private so it works better for our older child), and more and more frequent specials (art, music, and library are all more frequent than in public, where foreign language is only a PTA-run program before school, not part of the regular curriculum.) Our older child needs the more advanced academics and the more advanced peer group, so she is doing well at the GT center, though she misses the attention of a smaller class and misses the specials. She joined the 4th grade class in January and has made friends quickly and easily; everyone has been very welcoming. Our younger child right now needs the individual attention and hand-holding of a smaller class, and is passionate about his special classes, so he fits better in private school. I do agree with the GT teacher's wife's thought that not everyone is advanced in all areas. I actually wish the center's curriculum was more advanced than it is. Homework load is reasonable. I'm not perceiving any academic intensity or burden at this age. I think your description of your son would probably fit many children in my daughter's class. |
Anonymous
OP here. Thank you very much for this. You hit the nail on the head regarding the things we particularly appreciate about private school -- including the differentiation by subject, robust specials and small class sizes. It is a good academic fit, but as our DC has gotten older, we have had more questions about the social dynamics and financial commitment. Your perspective about private versus GT is particularly helpful. |
Anonymous
|
Is there a discussion board for Arlington County Public Schools? I'm looking for info on gifted ed and music programs, particularly feedback from parents at Arlington Science Focus.
Thank you |
Anonymous
I know there have some posts about Arlington Science Focus on the novamoms group. http://groups.google.com/group/Novamoms |