Can tutors write a recommendation letter for AAP?

[Anonymous]

In the referral packet, one of the optional materials to include is academic extracurricular activities. If a child went to a Math center, say gasp, to be tutored, wouldn't that count as an academic extracurricular activity?

What about if the child participated in an Math competition, such as Math kangaroo that is sponsored by the Math center?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Lots of kids test at a higher grade level for math or reading but it doesn't mean we put them in that grade for those subjects. I do think the committee is more interested in what a child does on his own initiative rather than what their parents do for them, such as putting them in extra classes or getting them tutors. Also, it really can look as though the child only tested at a higher grade level because of the tutoring.

When a child comes home from school and does more academics at home with a tutor, it's not that surprising that he would do well at school. It is more impressive when a child shines in academics while spending out of school time doing sports or scouts or drama or music.

But why not? Isn't that AAP does? Don't they put the 3rd graders into 4th grade math? Isn't that the whole point of the Advanced Academics Program?

PP here with citing an example. In this scenario I was proposing- child says he/she is bored. Parents get the kid tested on an achievement test to see what's going on with the kid-- PRIOR to being tutored. What about for those kids who were not in-pool but then scored high on the WISC and then parent-referred. Those parents are also trying to get their kids into a curriculum that better fits their kid. They find out their kid IS smart, and therefore should be in AAP. The scenario I pointed out is the same thing, a test shows the kid is capable of 7th grade math in 4th grade, then by gosh, as a parent, wouldn't you want the child to have access to that kind of tutor support instead of going absolutely insane doing double digit multiplication in 4th grade gen ed math?

And if the child is tutored and does better at school-- isn't that the point of all tutoring?

Go ahead and send in that letter from the tutor. I'm just telling you how it may look to the committee. If you think it will impress them that your child needed extra help at home, by all means, send it in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Why would a student who had gotten to the 7th grade level by themselves suddenly need to be spoonfed to get any further?

Because, duh! School doesn't end in 7th grade!

But if you suddenly discovered that your child had gotten to seventh grade math, why wouldn't you assume that the same things that had driven them to seventh grade, that is their own curiosity and intelligence, would take them to 8th grade and beyond. Why would they suddenly no longer be capable of self-directed learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go ahead and send in that letter from the tutor. I'm just telling you how it may look to the committee. If you think it will impress them that your child needed extra help at home, by all means, send it in.

But I'm not the OP

I'm not sure if it was the OP or a different poster who mentioned they are having their 4th grader tutored for 7th grade math.
I do wish the committee would recognize that especially with a case like this one- where you have a 4th grader who, if he/she gets into AAP would get in as a 5th grader would have already "lost out" on 3rd and 4th grade AAP. If you have a child who didn't get into AAP as a 3rd grader, who is asking for higher level math, and is capable of it, that tutoring shouldn't necessarily be perceived negatively.

Now for those kids who were being tutored in K, 1st and 2nd grade to specifically get into AAP? I can get why that might be perceived negatively by the committee.

[Anonymous]

For those who do not understand how a coach or music teacher could have meaningful input: I am a music teacher and church choir director, and my husband has been a baseball coach for many years. We have both been asked numerous times to write AAP letters. For me, the parents who have asked me, are the parents of children who really have shown abilities beyond their years. I can comment on their ability to keep up with peers many years older. I can comment on their reading, listening, ability to focus. Of course, I can comment on their music skills, but in these letters, I tend to focus on the academic qualities that I think are pertinent. I am a teacher, who has worked with children for 20 years. Honestly, I think my opinion might be held in higher regard than some college kid who is teaching a Lego class. My DH can comment on a child who has a deeper understanding of the game, or a child who is very coachable, and tends to listen to/follow directions well. He can comment on children who ask insightful questions about the game, or comment on field distances, ball trajectory, etc. We both can comment as parents of an AAP student in 6th grade.

We asked our oldest DS's religion teacher. He had been with DS for 3 years. He had 3 boys, 2 of which were already in AAP. He had already told us many times how DS was a leader, and seemed to understand the class topics more deeply than many. I think that was valuable input.

Who really knows what the committee sees as important though?

[Anonymous]

I understand the value of a music teachers rec, or a religion teacher who sees the kid in a classroom situation, or even a dance teacher who regularly witnesses a child's ability to recall and memorize complex patterns and sequences, but I still fail to see the relevance of a sports coach"s recommendation and how that is applicable to advanced academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand the value of a music teachers rec, or a religion teacher who sees the kid in a classroom situation, or even a dance teacher who regularly witnesses a child's ability to recall and memorize complex patterns and sequences, but I still fail to see the relevance of a sports coach"s recommendation and how that is applicable to advanced academics.

Hit eend too soon.

The qualities that a sports coach is going to tout and which make a child successful in sports are social, EQ skills like leadership and physical prowness. Wonderful and valuable skills to have, but not academic skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:clergy, art teacher, piano teacher, karate teacher, basketball coach, ballet teacher, neighbor or relative who is the education field...u get the idea

I thought AAP stood for "advanced academics," not advanced art, music, or sports. Why on earth would one of these recommendations present any value?

If you look at the specific behaviors listed in the GBRS (http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/packet/Fillable_AAPGBRSwithCommentary.pdf), many of them are demonstrated in arts, music and sports programs. If the letter of recommendation highlights those behaviors, it seems like it would be worthwhile to submit it.

I don't know how the committee views tutors, but there's nothing that requires the individual has to say they're a tutor. They could just say "I've know Susie for 2 years and I've witnessed her do .... "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those who do not understand how a coach or music teacher could have meaningful input: I am a music teacher and church choir director, and my husband has been a baseball coach for many years. We have both been asked numerous times to write AAP letters. For me, the parents who have asked me, are the parents of children who really have shown abilities beyond their years. I can comment on their ability to keep up with peers many years older. I can comment on their reading, listening, ability to focus. Of course, I can comment on their music skills, but in these letters, I tend to focus on the academic qualities that I think are pertinent. I am a teacher, who has worked with children for 20 years. Honestly, I think my opinion might be held in higher regard than some college kid who is teaching a Lego class. My DH can comment on a child who has a deeper understanding of the game, or a child who is very coachable, and tends to listen to/follow directions well. He can comment on children who ask insightful questions about the game, or comment on field distances, ball trajectory, etc. We both can comment as parents of an AAP student in 6th grade.

We asked our oldest DS's religion teacher. He had been with DS for 3 years. He had 3 boys, 2 of which were already in AAP. He had already told us many times how DS was a leader, and seemed to understand the class topics more deeply than many. I think that was valuable input.

Who really knows what the committee sees as important though?

I like you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:clergy, art teacher, piano teacher, karate teacher, basketball coach, ballet teacher, neighbor or relative who is the education field...u get the idea

I thought AAP stood for "advanced academics," not advanced art, music, or sports. Why on earth would one of these recommendations present any value?

If you look at the specific behaviors listed in the GBRS (http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/packet/Fillable_AAPGBRSwithCommentary.pdf), many of them are demonstrated in arts, music and sports programs. If the letter of recommendation highlights those behaviors, it seems like it would be worthwhile to submit it.

I don't know how the committee views tutors, but there's nothing that requires the individual has to say they're a tutor. They could just say "I've know Susie for 2 years and I've witnessed her do .... "

But other than in the leadership section, they are not skill demonstrated in sports.

In multiple places, those behaviors are specifically noted to be academic, not social.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:then who will be the best person to write a recommendation letter other than parents?

Your AART will write one for your child. Just ask. IMO they are the best if they like your child and your child will get in first round with an AART referral.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:then who will be the best person to write a recommendation letter other than parents?

Your AART will write one for your child. Just ask. IMO they are the best if they like your child and your child will get in first round with an AART referral.

This is wrong. The AART will fill out the GBRS. That's his/her job. No FCPS employee is allowed to write an AAP recommendation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:then who will be the best person to write a recommendation letter other than parents?

Your AART will write one for your child. Just ask. IMO they are the best if they like your child and your child will get in first round with an AART referral.

This is wrong. The AART will fill out the GBRS. That's his/her job. No FCPS employee is allowed to write an AAP recommendation.

It is correct that a FCPS employee cannot write a recommendation for an AAP application. I have not seen any documentation that says a FCPS teacher cannot fill in the referral form. I believe that can be done by parents, teachers, even the child themselves. If you look at page 5 of this link http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/packet/ParentInformationPacketFCPS.pdf you will see the referral can come from those groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:clergy, art teacher, piano teacher, karate teacher, basketball coach, ballet teacher, neighbor or relative who is the education field...u get the idea

I thought AAP stood for "advanced academics," not advanced art, music, or sports. Why on earth would one of these recommendations present any value?

If you look at the specific behaviors listed in the GBRS (http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/packet/Fillable_AAPGBRSwithCommentary.pdf), many of them are demonstrated in arts, music and sports programs. If the letter of recommendation highlights those behaviors, it seems like it would be worthwhile to submit it.

I don't know how the committee views tutors, but there's nothing that requires the individual has to say they're a tutor. They could just say "I've know Susie for 2 years and I've witnessed her do .... "

But other than in the leadership section, they are not skill demonstrated in sports.

In multiple places, those behaviors are specifically noted to be academic, not social.

I disagree....In sports, you have things based on pure ability, and you have learning....where to go, what to do. THe desire to improve can be seen in enthusiasm for trying new thing...sports is a microcosm of learning (from a former girls softball coach).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:then who will be the best person to write a recommendation letter other than parents?

Your AART will write one for your child. Just ask. IMO they are the best if they like your child and your child will get in first round with an AART referral.

This is wrong. The AART will fill out the GBRS. That's his/her job. No FCPS employee is allowed to write an AAP recommendation.

It is correct that a FCPS employee cannot write a recommendation for an AAP application. I have not seen any documentation that says a FCPS teacher cannot fill in the referral form. I believe that can be done by parents, teachers, even the child themselves. If you look at page 5 of this link http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/packet/ParentInformationPacketFCPS.pdf you will see the referral can come from those groups.

You are getting the referral form and the recommendation letter confused.
Yes, the parents or the teacher can fill out the referral form. Usually, it is the parent who fills out the referral form but if the teacher suspects that the parents may not do it, or can't do it, then the teacher can fill out the referral form.

The recommendation letter is part of the optional materials that is submitted with the referral form. Any FCPS employee cannot write a recommendation letter.