Enrichment to keep up with AAP

[Anonymous]

I know a family having a kid at AAP in ES, and their child does enrichment at home on math and reading throughout the school year & summer time. Parents work from home, so they get a lot of workbooks for her to work on. She does not do any sports, music/art class, summer camp but academic only. Parents tell me that they prepare her a year ahead to get through AAP easier.

What is the purpose of AAP if kids have to be enriched this way to keep up? Does most AAP kids in ES have to do enrichment to keep up or else struggling or falling behind? I though AAP is designed for kids that are naturally born smart.

[Anonymous]

2/10

[Anonymous]

you thought wrong.

AAP can be for any student that meets the. requirements. hard work and innate genius are often indistinguishable.

[Anonymous]

Was the first thread on this not enough for you? 🙄

[Anonymous]

You have to understand the course sequencing in high school.
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/high-school-course-sequencing/mathematics

For example, for math, high school gen ed start with Algebra on 9th grade, and finishes at 12 grade at Pre-Calculus.

Advanced high school math would require starting Algebra sometime in middle school as honor class, and finish Calculus at grade 12.

AAP student would start Algebra at 7th grade, and finish Calculus at grade 11.

For certain students exhibit advance math ability, they can start Algebra at 6th grade (emphasis: Algebra is a high school class!) and that student would finish calculus at grade 10, and have two more years to take more advanced math or physics classes. It looks impressive on college application. That's the goal.

So that family could be shooting for more advanced math than AAP, and shooting for MIT or CalTech. They don't need enrichment to "keep up" in AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to understand the course sequencing in high school.
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/high-school-course-sequencing/mathematics

For example, for math, high school gen ed start with Algebra on 9th grade, and finishes at 12 grade at Pre-Calculus.

Advanced high school math would require starting Algebra sometime in middle school as honor class, and finish Calculus at grade 12.

AAP student would start Algebra at 7th grade, and finish Calculus at grade 11.

For certain students exhibit advance math ability, they can start Algebra at 6th grade (emphasis: Algebra is a high school class!) and that student would finish calculus at grade 10, and have two more years to take more advanced math or physics classes. It looks impressive on college application. That's the goal.

So that family could be shooting for more advanced math than AAP, and shooting for MIT or CalTech. They don't need enrichment to "keep up" in AAP.

Neither MIT not Caltech would be impressed by someone from NoVa finishing calc in 10th - there are so many students doing much better, e.g. the middle schoolers qualifying for USAJMO

[Anonymous]

We do a lot of "enrichment" if enrichment is providing access to above grade level, but very much at knowledge level workbooks. My kid is not yet AAP age (and honestly, not sure he would get in due to his ADHD). But he loves math and can complete math workbooks independently. Outside of playing board games or screens or reading, there are not really other activities he reliably chooses for himself, so he goes through a lot of workbooks.
We don't do this to get into AAP or make AAP easier, or really anything actively about school.

As a kid, I played baseball and was pretty good. I practiced in the backyard during the off season. My parents encouraged me by providing access and maybe sometimes pushing me if, but generally just supporting. I didn't practice to make it easier to be on travel teams or have to practice less to stay on them. I practiced because it was something I enjoyed and wanted to be good at.

[Anonymous]

What do people think about tutoring? I was talking to a neighbor the other day who was bragging their second grader got into L4 AAP. In the same breath she was telling me about he needed tutoring 3 days a week to keep up with the current curriculum. The way she talked about this, it didn't seem like the tutoring was enrichment, but more focused on current materials. I felt bad for the kid and that it seems like his mom is setting him up for a tough path.

There were definitely some racist undertones to the whole thing and she made clear that she wanted her kid out of the "visibly different demographic make up" of the 3rd grade classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do people think about tutoring? I was talking to a neighbor the other day who was bragging their second grader got into L4 AAP. In the same breath she was telling me about he needed tutoring 3 days a week to keep up with the current curriculum. The way she talked about this, it didn't seem like the tutoring was enrichment, but more focused on current materials. I felt bad for the kid and that it seems like his mom is setting him up for a tough path.

There were definitely some racist undertones to the whole thing and she made clear that she wanted her kid out of the "visibly different demographic make up" of the 3rd grade classroom.

+1 totally agreed- tutoring for intervention 3x a week is a LOT! I assume the AAP teachers ain’t gunna have time for intervention and constant review. They will move pretty quickly since most kids will understand the new material.

[Anonymous]

I hear one mom saying that their daughter takes Mathnasium because she wasn’t keeping up in AAP. Another admitted that they use Kumon 3x a week or they fill that child wasn’t getting it at school. A recent dad rushed his daughter off to RSM for a class. Two other kids we just learned have been attending a half day tutoring class every Saturday. People are doing it all over and we just were completely oblivious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear one mom saying that their daughter takes Mathnasium because she wasn’t keeping up in AAP. Another admitted that they use Kumon 3x a week or they fill that child wasn’t getting it at school. A recent dad rushed his daughter off to RSM for a class. Two other kids we just learned have been attending a half day tutoring class every Saturday. People are doing it all over and we just were completely oblivious.

These students shouldn’t be in AAP. If they need remediation, AAP is not for them. Math is definitely one of those contents where you need a strong foundation and since everything will build from there. Without that foundation, there will be lots of holes… sorry for those kids. Those enrichment places should be used for kids who love math and love the challenge, not for tutoring to be in AAP. I’m sure when those students get to MS their teachers will boot them to Gen Ed Math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear one mom saying that their daughter takes Mathnasium because she wasn’t keeping up in AAP. Another admitted that they use Kumon 3x a week or they fill that child wasn’t getting it at school. A recent dad rushed his daughter off to RSM for a class. Two other kids we just learned have been attending a half day tutoring class every Saturday. People are doing it all over and we just were completely oblivious.

These students shouldn’t be in AAP. If they need remediation, AAP is not for them. Math is definitely one of those contents where you need a strong foundation and since everything will build from there. Without that foundation, there will be lots of holes… sorry for those kids. Those enrichment places should be used for kids who love math and love the challenge, not for tutoring to be in AAP. I’m sure when those students get to MS their teachers will boot them to Gen Ed Math.

+1

[Anonymous]

Some families prioritize education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a family having a kid at AAP in ES, and their child does enrichment at home on math and reading throughout the school year & summer time. Parents work from home, so they get a lot of workbooks for her to work on. She does not do any sports, music/art class, summer camp but academic only. Parents tell me that they prepare her a year ahead to get through AAP easier.

What is the purpose of AAP if kids have to be enriched this way to keep up? Does most AAP kids in ES have to do enrichment to keep up or else struggling or falling behind? I though AAP is designed for kids that are naturally born smart.

Parents of average kids rely on outside enrichment to make their child appear gifted. Spending $$$$ helps them secure advanced placements for programs like AAP and TJ. There's nothing new here. It's been going on forever.

[Anonymous]

Worry less about others - what they do is none of your business.