Has anyone chosen NOT to send their kids to the Advanced Academics Program?

[Anonymous]

I have two children, one in kinder and one in second grade. My second grader made it to the pool. I was not expecting it, I was not hoping for it, it was not even on my mind. He is very bright and has an extraordinary memory, but also has attention deficit. I was in shock he finished the whole Cogat!!! Now I'm thinking of the hours of homework that he could have in the AAP. The hours of frustration because all he wants to do when he gets home is play. Sigh. My kindergartner is also very bright like her brother, but she actually likes to do the work, thrives on it, and wants to do more advanced subject matter all the time. I think she would be perfect for the AAP. Of course my whole family thinks I'm nuts, and that I have to submit all this supplemental materials in support of my second grader. But then, they are not the ones banging their heads against the table during homework time while my little one is climbing up a wall.

[Anonymous]

As an AAP parent with a bright and not necessarily "gifted" child - please do not overthink this. AAP homework is not demanding. Kids tend to do what their buddies are doing. If everyone in class does a little more work, then eventually your child will fall into that routine. On these boards, parents make AAP sound like an exclusive group with loads of work that precludes a child from having fun. It is none of that. 80% of the kids in this area will do well in AAP as defined. It is a pity so few make it to AAP.

[Anonymous]

OP, also think about your child's current school. Do they "get him?" Does he have a solid group of friends? Do you feel like he's happy and appropriately challenged? If you answer yes to these questions, then staying at the base school sounds like it might be a great choice for you. It's been posted here that when kids are in high school, it really doesn't matter whether went to an AAP center or stayed at their base school.

[Anonymous]

You can always wait until 5th grade and then activate it if you are interested later. I know parents who have not sent their kids. One activated in 5th, the other is sticking with our base school. I'm leaning toward skipping it if DS is accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can always wait until 5th grade and then activate it if you are interested later. I know parents who have not sent their kids. One activated in 5th, the other is sticking with our base school. I'm leaning toward skipping it if DS is accepted.

You can activate in the future through 8th.

[Anonymous]

I would go ahead and seek the AAP status.

This gives you flexibility throughout elementary school into JH. Perhaps it is not the right program right now, but it might be in 7th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an AAP parent with a bright and not necessarily "gifted" child - please do not overthink this. AAP homework is not demanding. Kids tend to do what their buddies are doing. If everyone in class does a little more work, then eventually your child will fall into that routine. On these boards, parents make AAP sound like an exclusive group with loads of work that precludes a child from having fun. It is none of that. 80% of the kids in this area will do well in AAP as defined. It is a pity so few make it to AAP.

Really, Bright but not Gifted? Interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an AAP parent with a bright and not necessarily "gifted" child - please do not overthink this. AAP homework is not demanding. Kids tend to do what their buddies are doing. If everyone in class does a little more work, then eventually your child will fall into that routine. On these boards, parents make AAP sound like an exclusive group with loads of work that precludes a child from having fun. It is none of that. 80% of the kids in this area will do well in AAP as defined. It is a pity so few make it to AAP.

Yes, it is a lot more homework. I have one child in AAP. I think my second DS would hate it, it might even turn him more against learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an AAP parent with a bright and not necessarily "gifted" child - please do not overthink this. AAP homework is not demanding. Kids tend to do what their buddies are doing. If everyone in class does a little more work, then eventually your child will fall into that routine. On these boards, parents make AAP sound like an exclusive group with loads of work that precludes a child from having fun. It is none of that. 80% of the kids in this area will do well in AAP as defined. It is a pity so few make it to AAP.

Yes, it is a lot more homework. I have one child in AAP. I think my second DS would hate it, it might even turn him more against learning.

Depends on the center.

At our center they do most of the work at school, with very little homework.

[Anonymous]

What center?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have two children, one in kinder and one in second grade. My second grader made it to the pool. I was not expecting it, I was not hoping for it, it was not even on my mind. He is very bright and has an extraordinary memory, but also has attention deficit. I was in shock he finished the whole Cogat!!! Now I'm thinking of the hours of homework that he could have in the AAP. The hours of frustration because all he wants to do when he gets home is play. Sigh. My kindergartner is also very bright like her brother, but she actually likes to do the work, thrives on it, and wants to do more advanced subject matter all the time. I think she would be perfect for the AAP. Of course my whole family thinks I'm nuts, and that I have to submit all this supplemental materials in support of my second grader. But then, they are not the ones banging their heads against the table during homework time while my little one is climbing up a wall.

My oldest is in 3rd grade AAP and I wish that I had not chosen it for him. It's just not a good fit for his personality. I think my younger child would do great there. It all depends on the child. My oldest misses his friends in general ed and grumbles about the work.

[Anonymous]

OP, I posted a similar question a few days ago and got entirely different answers. I would talk to your AART for an opinion from someone who has worked with your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an AAP parent with a bright and not necessarily "gifted" child - please do not overthink this. AAP homework is not demanding. Kids tend to do what their buddies are doing. If everyone in class does a little more work, then eventually your child will fall into that routine. On these boards, parents make AAP sound like an exclusive group with loads of work that precludes a child from having fun. It is none of that. 80% of the kids in this area will do well in AAP as defined. It is a pity so few make it to AAP.

Really, Bright but not Gifted? Interesting.

Why is this interesting? It's common knowledge that there are plenty of bright but not gifted kids in the "Advanced Academics Program".

[Anonymous]

I don't have the answer to this question because my son has never attended a center school and we've never pushed for that.

But our son does get pull out services at his school and he really enjoys them. He hasn't had to leave his base school (his friends), but he still gets a little extra challenge. Our son is very bright, he wants to do well in school, he enjoys helping other kids when he can. And he feels capable and smart at his base school - which is really important.

I think I would talk to your son's teacher and see why (or if) he/she thinks a center school would be a good match for your child. Some kids really do thrive in that environment. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Yes, we had different reasons for each. Our local ES is quite deep and there wasn't a big difference between the Center AAP and the local Gen Ed. Both DCs took the advanced math classes. Their ES now has a thriving and fantastic LLIV program that was offically introduced when youngest was in ES, but in reality was already in play for several years beforehand. Both are in HS doing well in their Honors and AP classes.