TJ prep in 6th grade?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ mom here -- everybody prepped in 6th & 7th grade.

Another TJ mom here. My child did not prep and we know many other kids who did not prep. We knew some kids who prepped in sixth and seventh grade when my child was in middle school, but I would not say that everyone at TJ prepped.

My kid didn't prep. He did do lots of STEM clubs by choice not through parental pressure.

I hope you're right. I have a DS who is a semi finalist this year & wants it. He sat through the practice test on the website & did well in math (49/50), but meh in English (40/50). He is a top ranked member of an academic team, but not one with a pure STEM focus (like MathCounts) and has been active with his instrument (school jazz band, solo & ensemble, district band etc). He has done a lot of STEM summer & school year enrichment, but because he wants to. So not a traditional TJ resume. Great grades (all As and one A- in one of the top TJ feeders). The one teacher who has already written a recommendation for him said it was very strong and he stands out. I do worry that we have done him a disservice a by not pushing for a more STEM focused resume and signing up for TJ prep. I tell him to be himself, and if he is not accepted it's because TJ is not a good fit. But it's hard to be a parent in this area and not try to game the system.

Don't worry about your child needing to do all the usual STEM activities. My child did not prep and did not do the "usual suspect" STEM activities, but instead was involved in a very time consuming sport after school and during summers. He had all As through 7th and 8th grades and high scores on both parts of the TJ test. He had done some really interesting science projects for class and his teachers could tell that he had a good mind for math. His teachers wrote about his high achievement in school even with spending so much time doing a sport. They described him as a really good fit for TJ, and that turned out to be true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ mom here -- everybody prepped in 6th & 7th grade.

Another TJ mom here. My child did not prep and we know many other kids who did not prep. We knew some kids who prepped in sixth and seventh grade when my child was in middle school, but I would not say that everyone at TJ prepped.

My kid didn't prep. He did do lots of STEM clubs by choice not through parental pressure.

I hope you're right. I have a DS who is a semi finalist this year & wants it. He sat through the practice test on the website & did well in math (49/50), but meh in English (40/50). He is a top ranked member of an academic team, but not one with a pure STEM focus (like MathCounts) and has been active with his instrument (school jazz band, solo & ensemble, district band etc). He has done a lot of STEM summer & school year enrichment, but because he wants to. So not a traditional TJ resume. Great grades (all As and one A- in one of the top TJ feeders). The one teacher who has already written a recommendation for him said it was very strong and he stands out. I do worry that we have done him a disservice a by not pushing for a more STEM focused resume and signing up for TJ prep. I tell him to be himself, and if he is not accepted it's because TJ is not a good fit. But it's hard to be a parent in this area and not try to game the system.

If his TJ entry has not been a concern for you until now, why make it a concern now? dont worry there are many other schools out there. TJ environment is competitive with prepped kids getting in scores. Just keep him away from that competitive pressure. Let him enjoy his interests outside TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do people who get into HYP prep for the SATs?

No, no. Never. If they are "meant" to get into HYP, they will ace the SATs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would put my kid through all the preps needed to get into these kinds of programs - even if he did not make it, or choose not to go for it.

Why? Because I think that any kind of educational prep and practice is never wasted. It will be helpful in some form or another. I also do not think there is anything wrong in prepping for academics or exercising to become fit and healthy. Same thing.

Exactly the opposite. Every hour 6th graders in our neighborhood spend at Sunday afternoon TJ prep is an hour they are not spending jumping on the trampoline or playing capture the flag with the other neighborhood kids.

Yep. The operative word here is "playing." Kids this age need to play more than they need to prep. Plenty of that comes down the road with high school. Take it from someone with older kids who's seen her share of early burnouts and college meltdowns. Too much drilling at young ages is not healthy over the long-term.

Wow! Tell me the name of the neighborhood where the 6th graders are spending their Sunday afternoon playing capture the flag with other neighborhood kids?

I would love to live IRL Mayberry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would put my kid through all the preps needed to get into these kinds of programs - even if he did not make it, or choose not to go for it.

Why? Because I think that any kind of educational prep and practice is never wasted. It will be helpful in some form or another. I also do not think there is anything wrong in prepping for academics or exercising to become fit and healthy. Same thing.

Exactly the opposite. Every hour 6th graders in our neighborhood spend at Sunday afternoon TJ prep is an hour they are not spending jumping on the trampoline or playing capture the flag with the other neighborhood kids.

+1 from a math teacher. Every year I hear sad stories from at least a couple students. They tell me how their parents want them them to go to TJ but they want to stay and go to our high school. Stop with the prep classes. They will be accepted if they are meant to go to TJ.

Wouldn't that be a little narrow minded! Other kids look sad to you because they don't follow your child's play schedule. Stop this and that classes? Are you making any sense telling people what they should and should not do? are you OK?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would put my kid through all the preps needed to get into these kinds of programs - even if he did not make it, or choose not to go for it.

Why? Because I think that any kind of educational prep and practice is never wasted. It will be helpful in some form or another. I also do not think there is anything wrong in prepping for academics or exercising to become fit and healthy. Same thing.

Exactly the opposite. Every hour 6th graders in our neighborhood spend at Sunday afternoon TJ prep is an hour they are not spending jumping on the trampoline or playing capture the flag with the other neighborhood kids.

+1 from a math teacher. Every year I hear sad stories from at least a couple students. They tell me how their parents want them them to go to TJ but they want to stay and go to our high school. Stop with the prep classes. They will be accepted if they are meant to go to TJ.

Wouldn't that be a little narrow minded! Other kids look sad to you because they don't follow your child's play schedule. Stop this and that classes? Are you making any sense telling people what they should and should not do? are you OK?

NP here. By all means criticize the teacher poster who might actually have some perspective outside her own family experience. I think the defensiveness on these boards comes from people who are committed to doing whatever it takes to get their kids into these schools or accelerated no matter how it affects the kid. Deep down you sense the prep classes are a little ridiculous and that the kids who excel at TJ don't need them. But it's easier to attack the teacher than question your actions or motivations.

I say bravo to these kids to speaking out to an adult, even if their parents won't listen. I know one brilliant girl in fact, who purposely bombed the TJ test just so she wouldn't have to go there. Kind of sad she was put in that position to begin with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD told me that few of her classmates won't be able to have playdates with her since they have started attending TJ prep classes every weekend. And it lasts for a year. I never thought of putting my DD to any tutoring centers or TJ prep, but to be honest, I felt a bit pressure after my DD conversation. Do you?

Sounds like a prep center trying to get kids in as early as 6th grade.

If you are not, please don't start the craziness again. So far it was AAP, now working people up for TJ .

Yeah, pretty soon it'll be SAT prep then God forbid, MCAT and LSAT prep. Heck I foresee one day people preparing for their Bar exam! Horrors!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD told me that few of her classmates won't be able to have playdates with her since they have started attending TJ prep classes every weekend. And it lasts for a year. I never thought of putting my DD to any tutoring centers or TJ prep, but to be honest, I felt a bit pressure after my DD conversation. Do you?

Sounds like a prep center trying to get kids in as early as 6th grade.

If you are not, please don't start the craziness again. So far it was AAP, now working people up for TJ .

Yeah, pretty soon it'll be SAT prep then God forbid, MCAT and LSAT prep. Heck I foresee one day people preparing for their Bar exam! Horrors!!!!

One thing to prepare for tests when you're practically an adult. Another entirely when you're still a kid. I know that culturally this is common in countries where standardized tests determine the entire track your future takes, but that has never been the U.S. model. Sad for us all that it is becoming standard practice. Unhealthy for the kids and disappointing for schools where those with the most resources in time and money to throw around have the advantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ mom here -- everybody prepped in 6th & 7th grade.

Another TJ mom here. My child did not prep and we know many other kids who did not prep. We knew some kids who prepped in sixth and seventh grade when my child was in middle school, but I would not say that everyone at TJ prepped.

My kid didn't prep. He did do lots of STEM clubs by choice not through parental pressure.

I hope you're right. I have a DS who is a semi finalist this year & wants it. He sat through the practice test on the website & did well in math (49/50), but meh in English (40/50). He is a top ranked member of an academic team, but not one with a pure STEM focus (like MathCounts) and has been active with his instrument (school jazz band, solo & ensemble, district band etc). He has done a lot of STEM summer & school year enrichment, but because he wants to. So not a traditional TJ resume. Great grades (all As and one A- in one of the top TJ feeders). The one teacher who has already written a recommendation for him said it was very strong and he stands out. I do worry that we have done him a disservice a by not pushing for a more STEM focused resume and signing up for TJ prep. I tell him to be himself, and if he is not accepted it's because TJ is not a good fit. But it's hard to be a parent in this area and not try to game the system.

If his TJ entry has not been a concern for you until now, why make it a concern now? dont worry there are many other schools out there. TJ environment is competitive with prepped kids getting in scores. Just keep him away from that competitive pressure. Let him enjoy his interests outside TJ.

I have an ADHD kid. Until the middle of of 7th grade, I would have said that TJ was a terrible idea-- that he would flunk out because he would never turn his homework in, and did not have the executive functioning skills to succeed. But over the last year, he has started on medication, gotten his sh*t together, pulled great grades, gotten very involved in the school and started to talk about wanting TJ. So why now? A combination of maturity and DC deciding TJ is something he wants for himself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would put my kid through all the preps needed to get into these kinds of programs - even if he did not make it, or choose not to go for it.

Why? Because I think that any kind of educational prep and practice is never wasted. It will be helpful in some form or another. I also do not think there is anything wrong in prepping for academics or exercising to become fit and healthy. Same thing.

Exactly the opposite. Every hour 6th graders in our neighborhood spend at Sunday afternoon TJ prep is an hour they are not spending jumping on the trampoline or playing capture the flag with the other neighborhood kids.

Yep. The operative word here is "playing." Kids this age need to play more than they need to prep. Plenty of that comes down the road with high school. Take it from someone with older kids who's seen her share of early burnouts and college meltdowns. Too much drilling at young ages is not healthy over the long-term.

Wow! Tell me the name of the neighborhood where the 6th graders are spending their Sunday afternoon playing capture the flag with other neighborhood kids?

I would love to live IRL Mayberry!

No capture the flag here but definitely Nerfgun warfare through the yards! We live in Red Fox Forest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would put my kid through all the preps needed to get into these kinds of programs - even if he did not make it, or choose not to go for it.

Why? Because I think that any kind of educational prep and practice is never wasted. It will be helpful in some form or another. I also do not think there is anything wrong in prepping for academics or exercising to become fit and healthy. Same thing.

Exactly the opposite. Every hour 6th graders in our neighborhood spend at Sunday afternoon TJ prep is an hour they are not spending jumping on the trampoline or playing capture the flag with the other neighborhood kids.

Yep. The operative word here is "playing." Kids this age need to play more than they need to prep. Plenty of that comes down the road with high school. Take it from someone with older kids who's seen her share of early burnouts and college meltdowns. Too much drilling at young ages is not healthy over the long-term.

Wow! Tell me the name of the neighborhood where the 6th graders are spending their Sunday afternoon playing capture the flag with other neighborhood kids?

I would love to live IRL Mayberry!

Not sure if you are being sarcastic? The 10 or so kids in our cul de sac, age 6-13, spend pretty weekend afternoons/ evenings playing these sorts of group games (freeze tag, capture the flag, hide and seek, etc) . It's nice that all of the kids in our cul de sac get along and participate, and it's nice to see them laughing and running around (even the rising hs aged TJ applicants!). I was not aware this was an unusual situation? I assumed this is what kids do. Chantilly 20171.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would put my kid through all the preps needed to get into these kinds of programs - even if he did not make it, or choose not to go for it.

Why? Because I think that any kind of educational prep and practice is never wasted. It will be helpful in some form or another. I also do not think there is anything wrong in prepping for academics or exercising to become fit and healthy. Same thing.

Exactly the opposite. Every hour 6th graders in our neighborhood spend at Sunday afternoon TJ prep is an hour they are not spending jumping on the trampoline or playing capture the flag with the other neighborhood kids.

Yep. The operative word here is "playing." Kids this age need to play more than they need to prep. Plenty of that comes down the road with high school. Take it from someone with older kids who's seen her share of early burnouts and college meltdowns. Too much drilling at young ages is not healthy over the long-term.

Wow! Tell me the name of the neighborhood where the 6th graders are spending their Sunday afternoon playing capture the flag with other neighborhood kids?

I would love to live IRL Mayberry!

Not sure if you are being sarcastic? The 10 or so kids in our cul de sac, age 6-13, spend pretty weekend afternoons/ evenings playing these sorts of group games (freeze tag, capture the flag, hide and seek, etc) . It's nice that all of the kids in our cul de sac get along and participate, and it's nice to see them laughing and running around (even the rising hs aged TJ applicants!). I was not aware this was an unusual situation? I assumed this is what kids do. Chantilly 20171.

That is so great that the kids are out and playing. Seems like so many now are indoors on electronics or their phones..

Re TJ prep - heard today that some kids attend > 1 TJ prep at the same time - that is truly how they spend their weekends