Prep classes for HGC and MS magnet tests

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From personal experience, Dr Li and APlus classes have minimum impact on the magnet tests.

I would 100% agree. And I speak from personal experience as well. The kids who get in from Dr Li and Aplus classes are those that would have gotten in even without Dr Li and Aplus. That is the reason that these prep classes are not able to help the students who are not strong to begin with.

The high achievers have had a lot of enrichment for the high achievers long before they even came to the prep classes. However, I do believe that it will marginally improve the performance of those kids who are already in the 90s (percentile), and sometimes that can make a difference.

This improvement can be achieved by practicing at home with SSAT books if one wants to go that route.

[Anonymous]

Is it more like SSAT? I thought the math was similar to SCAt.

[Anonymous]

not cogat??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:not cogat??

Hgc is like Cogat. MS math is like SCAT.

[Anonymous]

Stop pushing these kids!! They are either gifted or not, stop forcing them to overstudy, tutor, extra work to try and compete with gifted kids. Love your child for who they are not. Pressuring kids at age 8/9? Test prep. Insanity.

If your kids need test prep, they do NOT belong in HCG and Magnet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop pushing these kids!! They are either gifted or not, stop forcing them to overstudy, tutor, extra work to try and compete with gifted kids. Love your child for who they are not. Pressuring kids at age 8/9? Test prep. Insanity.

If your kids need test prep, they do NOT belong in HCG and Magnet.

That may be true for HGC. My kid who is in HGC is ver driven re getting into ms magnet. I think that does require some prep though he is not taking a class.

[Anonymous]

Stop pushing these kids!! They are either gifted or not, stop forcing them to overstudy, tutor, extra work to try and compete with gifted kids. Love your child for who they are not. Pressuring kids at age 8/9? Test prep. Insanity.

If your kids need test prep, they do NOT belong in HCG and Magnet.

Absolutely not true, since both dumb students and super smart students participate in test prep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop pushing these kids!! They are either gifted or not, stop forcing them to overstudy, tutor, extra work to try and compete with gifted kids. Love your child for who they are not. Pressuring kids at age 8/9? Test prep. Insanity.

If your kids need test prep, they do NOT belong in HCG and Magnet.

Actually they do. Kids who prep (classes, enrichments, doing worksheets etc) get into HGC, magnet ms and hs and then Ivy League colleges. It is a matter of how much you want to succeed and how hard you are willing to work. If a kid can work hard and get into any institution - he deserves to be there. If an athlete works hard and wins at the Olympics, they deserve their medal.

However, if you think that your kid should not prep, that is your prerogative. For the rest of the parents and students who think that they are ready for the challenge these magnet programs offer, just ignore these people. They deliberately give wrong advice, bad mouth the programs and try and mislead people.

Replace "Gifted" by "Hard working and Dedicated" and it becomes easier to understand what the majority of high achievers do to become high achievers. No God is coming down from heavens to bestow the "GIFT" of superior knowledge to your child contrary to what you would like to believe about your snowflake.

[Anonymous]

How many of these melted snowflakes would dare say Michael Phelps, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady do not deserve the rewards of their hard won effort and preparation. This trio probably worked 10 times harder and longer than ANY of their peers over a lifetime in their trade since they were tots. (TONS of coaching, prepping, film, technique, and game study and expensive camps).

Hardly born gifted ... Masters of Prep!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop pushing these kids!! They are either gifted or not, stop forcing them to overstudy, tutor, extra work to try and compete with gifted kids. Love your child for who they are not. Pressuring kids at age 8/9? Test prep. Insanity.

If your kids need test prep, they do NOT belong in HCG and Magnet.

Actually they do. Kids who prep (classes, enrichments, doing worksheets etc) get into HGC, magnet ms and hs and then Ivy League colleges. It is a matter of how much you want to succeed and how hard you are willing to work. If a kid can work hard and get into any institution - he deserves to be there. If an athlete works hard and wins at the Olympics, they deserve their medal.

However, if you think that your kid should not prep, that is your prerogative. For the rest of the parents and students who think that they are ready for the challenge these magnet programs offer, just ignore these people. They deliberately give wrong advice, bad mouth the programs and try and mislead people.

Replace "Gifted" by "Hard working and Dedicated" and it becomes easier to understand what the majority of high achievers do to become high achievers. No God is coming down from heavens to bestow the "GIFT" of superior knowledge to your child contrary to what you would like to believe about your snowflake.

PP- Finally a voice of reason on this forum. I think like you do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Actually they do. Kids who prep (classes, enrichments, doing worksheets etc) get into HGC, magnet ms and hs and then Ivy League colleges. It is a matter of how much you want to succeed and how hard you are willing to work. If a kid can work hard and get into any institution - he deserves to be there. If an athlete works hard and wins at the Olympics, they deserve their medal.

Kids who prep also don't get into those programs. And kids who don't prep do get into those programs. One question is, does the prepping make a difference in getting admitted? Another question is, does getting admitted (and going) make a difference in life outcome?

[Anonymous]

Maybe prepping can help certain kids that are on the edge. I have 2 kids. One did not apply. He is VERY hard working but that doesn't mean he is a great student in terms of test scores. He didn't apply. Seond one hardly works at all but only lost 3 points total on the HGC test with no prepping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop pushing these kids!! They are either gifted or not, stop forcing them to overstudy, tutor, extra work to try and compete with gifted kids. Love your child for who they are not. Pressuring kids at age 8/9? Test prep. Insanity.

If your kids need test prep, they do NOT belong in HCG and Magnet.

Actually they do. Kids who prep (classes, enrichments, doing worksheets etc) get into HGC, magnet ms and hs and then Ivy League colleges. It is a matter of how much you want to succeed and how hard you are willing to work. If a kid can work hard and get into any institution - he deserves to be there. If an athlete works hard and wins at the Olympics, they deserve their medal.

However, if you think that your kid should not prep, that is your prerogative. For the rest of the parents and students who think that they are ready for the challenge these magnet programs offer, just ignore these people. They deliberately give wrong advice, bad mouth the programs and try and mislead people.

Replace "Gifted" by "Hard working and Dedicated" and it becomes easier to understand what the majority of high achievers do to become high achievers. No God is coming down from heavens to bestow the "GIFT" of superior knowledge to your child contrary to what you would like to believe about your snowflake.

What is "prepping"? Doing some worksheets at home once in a while? Or something more, like having a tutor or going to tutoring classes? Or all?

I think "prepping" (tutors, programs, etc..) for older kids (MS/HS) is fine. But, I think it makes some or a lot of parents uncomfortable when you talk about prepping a 7/8 yr olds. They are so young, and "prepping" them seems like adding so much stress in their lives at such a young age. It's only ES. And even if the kid was prepped to get in, if that kid is not really HGC material, then what happens once the kid is in HGC? Will that kid struggle a lot more in class because there is no parent or tutor in class to help that kid? Sure, the parent can help with HW, but not with classwork. I think the teacher will see through that.

But, I agree, that working hard is more important than being "gifted" or smart in terms of succeeding in life. Being in HGC is not a guarantee that they will succeed in life.

I dislike the term "Highly Gifted Center". Most of these kids are not really "gifted", just really "bright" and probably work hard. I would prefer if they changed the name to "magnet" or something.

My DC is in HGC and the only "prepping" DC has ever done is a couple of workbooks at home once in a while, nothing regimented. But, we have enforced the "do your best" ethos.

[Anonymous]

I dislike the term Highly Gifted Center bc people find it very off putting. But I do think these kids are often brighter than the bright kids who don't get in. I don't see too many admission errors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dislike the term Highly Gifted Center bc people find it very off putting. But I do think these kids are often brighter than the bright kids who don't get in. I don't see too many admission errors.

That is an odd reason to dislike the name.

The whole point of the Center is to provide an environment for students whose home school cannot meet their needs. What else would you call these students?