Smart Kid but No Inventions😅 Need Help with AAP Appeal!

[Anonymous]

Hi
I know appealing doesn’t hurt, so I’m going to try but honestly, I’m a bit disappointed and just looking for some hope.

My kid is in 3rd grade and already in AAP through principal placement. This year, I referred him through the regular process but he didn’t get selected.

His scores:
CogAT: 142
iReady Math (Fall & Winter): 99%
iReady Reading: 86% and 99%
(Last year’s iReady? Total chaos he was just clicking around like it was a video game.)

I’m not sure what to submit for the appeal. He’s not into making inventions like the other kids’ samples I saw😂but honestly, he’s really smart. He’s doing great in class and nothing seems hard for him.

Or maybe it’s just my mom goggles making me see it that way who knows?🥹🤣

If anyone’s been through the appeal process, I’d love to hear your thoughts. What did you include? What helped?

Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

Your write up is the most important. I would mention if you have not already all the positive about being successful in the level iv. Classroom but that position is not stable without the designation on his record. Talk about the high scores. Have your child Take a Wisc exam. Explain what it’s like not being in the level IV if he is not principal placed. Wrote every positive thing teachers have said about your child that aligns with giftedness ( use the old gbrs wording)

I did an appeal and explained how the selection to advanced math and principal placement was to subjective and left to much to chance. You have to prove that needs will not be met if your child is still in the general classroom. So write it as if your child is not in the principal placed position, and has to prove himself every year and that’s not a position anyone wants to be in.

[Anonymous]

Include samples of work that shows his critical thinking. Some ideas: writing samples, examples of him solving multi step math problems, toys or games he has built using everyday house items, etc.,
Also focus your write up on concrete examples of how he fits into the hope scale. And also why AAP is necessary for his growth potential (what he won’t get from GE).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Include samples of work that shows his critical thinking. Some ideas: writing samples, examples of him solving multi step math problems, toys or games he has built using everyday house items, etc.,
Also focus your write up on concrete examples of how he fits into the hope scale. And also why AAP is necessary for his growth potential (what he won’t get from GE).

I never included any specific discussion of what my dc would not get from Gen ed, in part because I didn't know enough about the differences and also because I didn't want to risk saying something that would be offputting. Instead I used all my space to provide ample examples to create a picture of what my kid is like (bright, motivated, creative). I did not include any multistep math prob solutions. Since it was already clear dc was strong in math I focused the work samples on showcasing other strengths. Also dc is not an inventor either but did construct lots of toys from random stuff around the house which I thought was creative. I gave a writing/drawing prompt to make an invention that could be helpful around the house and that was enough to generate something reasonably creative and thoughtful. In short, you have lots options. If I had to do it again I might have given a prompt asking dc to take different perspectives on something to show thoughtfulness. Last but not least, I covered my bases to give some examples social awareness and consideration of others.

[Anonymous]

Thank you guys for your advices
Is there any iq test would recommend to support my appeal !
Can I appeal just with iready since his winter iready for reading and math is 99%?
Is it would be enough?!

[Anonymous]

work samples:
showing step by step solving

a) 4-digit times 4-digit numbers
b) kangaroo questions

because difference between aap and regular class is just math

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you guys for your advices
Is there any iq test would recommend to support my appeal !
Can I appeal just with iready since his winter iready for reading and math is 99%?
Is it would be enough?!

Yes, call GMU STAT and schedule a WISC-V. Costs $$ but even if it doesn't support your case is informative about your child's strengths and weaknesses.

Otherwise, you could try just adding info on Iready and also some solid work samples (I think you get 4-5 pages).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:work samples:
showing step by step solving

a) 4-digit times 4-digit numbers
b) kangaroo questions

because difference between aap and regular class is just math

This is not the kind of advice our AART gave us. For the math sample, look for something that requires creative thinking to get a solution. We used a problem from NRICH Maths that was math but required spatial reasoning for my kid who did not-great on the CogAT non-verbal. Their problems are similar to the kinds of creative thinking worksheets that came home from the level I AART enrichment at our school in 1st and 2nd. My other kid did a board game based on math and explained their thinking behind the game. The game was not ground-breaking, similar to a hybrid between The Ladybug Game and Sleeping Queens, but it was still fun.

Then the AART said we definitely also needed language arts, and other subjects were a bonus. We typically did literature entries in the Reflections Art Contest which require an artists statement as well as the story/poem. The artist's statement showed the child's critical thinking. If you don't have something like that, just have your kid write a brief explanation of the sample. According to our AART you always want to have your child, in their own words, explain their sample.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:work samples:
showing step by step solving

a) 4-digit times 4-digit numbers
b) kangaroo questions

because difference between aap and regular class is just math

This is not the kind of advice our AART gave us. For the math sample, look for something that requires creative thinking to get a solution. We used a problem from NRICH Maths that was math but required spatial reasoning for my kid who did not-great on the CogAT non-verbal. Their problems are similar to the kinds of creative thinking worksheets that came home from the level I AART enrichment at our school in 1st and 2nd. My other kid did a board game based on math and explained their thinking behind the game. The game was not ground-breaking, similar to a hybrid between The Ladybug Game and Sleeping Queens, but it was still fun.

Then the AART said we definitely also needed language arts, and other subjects were a bonus. We typically did literature entries in the Reflections Art Contest which require an artists statement as well as the story/poem. The artist's statement showed the child's critical thinking. If you don't have something like that, just have your kid write a brief explanation of the sample. According to our AART you always want to have your child, in their own words, explain their sample.

I used those work samples for my two kids, both got in aap during 2nd grade (this year and 2023). i saw the worksheets from aart enrichment, are too simple and can't demonstrate how smart your kid is.

[Anonymous]

why would a 142 cogat require principal placement? what was the hang up?

[Anonymous]

AAP is mostly a farce. If you want him to have a shot, YOU invent something and pretend he did, like all the other uber competitive mommies do…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:work samples:
showing step by step solving

a) 4-digit times 4-digit numbers
b) kangaroo questions

because difference between aap and regular class is just math

This is not the kind of advice our AART gave us. For the math sample, look for something that requires creative thinking to get a solution. We used a problem from NRICH Maths that was math but required spatial reasoning for my kid who did not-great on the CogAT non-verbal. Their problems are similar to the kinds of creative thinking worksheets that came home from the level I AART enrichment at our school in 1st and 2nd. My other kid did a board game based on math and explained their thinking behind the game. The game was not ground-breaking, similar to a hybrid between The Ladybug Game and Sleeping Queens, but it was still fun.

Then the AART said we definitely also needed language arts, and other subjects were a bonus. We typically did literature entries in the Reflections Art Contest which require an artists statement as well as the story/poem. The artist's statement showed the child's critical thinking. If you don't have something like that, just have your kid write a brief explanation of the sample. According to our AART you always want to have your child, in their own words, explain their sample.

I like the board game actually but I don’t know if he is willing to make it 😌
Thank you for the advice really appreciated

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why would a 142 cogat require principal placement? what was the hang up?

I think his Iready in 2nd grade it was something in 80’s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AAP is mostly a farce. If you want him to have a shot, YOU invent something and pretend he did, like all the other uber competitive mommies do…

The kids who genuinely will enjoy AAP are the kind who will do their samples on their own, even if they require a little prodding.

Not saying other kids can't be successful, but if they really don't enjoy learning then they won't get what they could out of the program. No it's not an amazing program, but like everything else in life you get out what you put in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why would a 142 cogat require principal placement? what was the hang up?

I think his Iready in 2nd grade it was something in 80’s

My kid got in with a lower CogAT and iReadys in the 80s. We had a strong parent packet and the teacher believed she was smart (which is huge).