Those of you with kids in both AAP and gen ed...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The existence of AAP is ugly

It really is. Didn’t used to be, when it was GT. But definitely is now.

That's because most of the kids in AAP don't need to be there. Their parents want them there.

There are also kids in "Gen Ed" who COULD be there but their parents choose not to send them.

When the number of AAP classes equal the number of "gen ed" classes in a grade, it's not a truly gifted program. Even the teachers have said that.

[Anonymous]

AAP is not gifted and talented, the name says that. It is advanced academics. I am sure that there are a good number of kids in Gen Ed that would do fine in AAP. I am sure there are AAP kids who would do fine in Gen Ed. But there are kids that need something that is more advanced and challenging.

I do wish that FCPS would develop a Advanced LA class like they did for Advanced Math and that every school started the Advanced Math in third grade. This would help a ton so that kids who are ahead in Math or LA had a class that challenged them. It would reduce the push for parents of kids who are ahead in Math but not LA or LA but not Math to get into AAP so that their kid is able to do work at the right level in their strong suit.

Honestly, I think that the biggest issue with AAP is the parents who tell their kids that they are special because they are in AAP which turns into kids thinking they are better than others at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. And I think this is why many parents are desperate to get their kids in AAP. The gen ed one is in AAP level 3 but besides advanced math, it doesn’t seem to mean much.

Oh, yes! AAP of today is roughly similar to the “regular” education that FCPS offered a generation ago.

Don’t get into AAP? Expect overcrowded, mismanaged classrooms where instruction will be adjusted for the average/below- average student.

Don’t bother expressing concern that your solidly average student is struggling or needs additional help to grasp concepts or could benefit from being in an emerging reading group. You will be told that average is perfectly fine. True hands on help is reserved for ESOL learners.

My advice to the parents of the non-AAP’ers; expect nothing and DIY supplemental instruction (outside tutor, kitchen-table teaching and/or learning center like C2). Opt out of SOLs. Carefully review your student’s progress.

Oh- and handwriting, spelling, math facts and geography aren’t taught at all, so don’t bother expressing shock or dismay, just add this to your list of supplemental instruction that you’ll need to outsource.

-DH and I are FCPS graduates. How the mighty FCPS has fallen. It’s very sad.

[Anonymous]

Oh, yes! AAP of today is roughly similar to the “regular” education that FCPS offered a generation ago.

Don’t get into AAP? Expect overcrowded, mismanaged classrooms where instruction will be adjusted for the average/below- average student.

Don’t bother expressing concern that your solidly average student is struggling or needs additional help to grasp concepts or could benefit from being in an emerging reading group. You will be told that average is perfectly fine. True hands on help is reserved for ESOL learners.

My advice to the parents of the non-AAP’ers; expect nothing and DIY supplemental instruction (outside tutor, kitchen-table teaching and/or learning center like C2). Opt out of SOLs. Carefully review your student’s progress.

Oh- and handwriting, spelling, math facts and geography aren’t taught at all, so don’t bother expressing shock or dismay, just add this to your list of supplemental instruction that you’ll need to outsource.

-DH and I are FCPS graduates. How the mighty FCPS has fallen. It’s very sad.

I agree with a lot of this except - AAP ALSO does NOT teach handwriting, math facts, spelling, or geography....

[Anonymous]

Also to add:

just because your kid is in advanced math or AAP, does not mean they will or *should* take algebra 1 in 7th.

Especially with the new math pathways being discussed, who knows what will happen. I saw no difference in gened/aap except math but we are at a high SES school. it is or can be a bigger difference at title I schools or schools with more diverse SES among the families.

[Anonymous]

I am not going to read all the comments, but I will say this -

AAP is Language Arts, Science and Social Studies. MATH IS NOT AAP. Kids, regardless of program, can test into math. What is important is that you keep the math skills sharp for when they are tested for Algebra class in middle school, that is, the SOL and Iowa screening tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Oh, yes! AAP of today is roughly similar to the “regular” education that FCPS offered a generation ago.

Don’t get into AAP? Expect overcrowded, mismanaged classrooms where instruction will be adjusted for the average/below- average student.

Don’t bother expressing concern that your solidly average student is struggling or needs additional help to grasp concepts or could benefit from being in an emerging reading group. You will be told that average is perfectly fine. True hands on help is reserved for ESOL learners.

My advice to the parents of the non-AAP’ers; expect nothing and DIY supplemental instruction (outside tutor, kitchen-table teaching and/or learning center like C2). Opt out of SOLs. Carefully review your student’s progress.

Oh- and handwriting, spelling, math facts and geography aren’t taught at all, so don’t bother expressing shock or dismay, just add this to your list of supplemental instruction that you’ll need to outsource.

-DH and I are FCPS graduates. How the mighty FCPS has fallen. It’s very sad.

I agree with a lot of this except - AAP ALSO does NOT teach handwriting, math facts, spelling, or geography....

It did about 6-8 years ago. My current junior learned all of this in AAP and so did younger sibling. Homework was graded with comments on how to improve. Both had to study multiplication facts over the summer before 3rd grade. Is this gone now, too?

[Anonymous]

It did about 6-8 years ago. My current junior learned all of this in AAP and so did younger sibling. Homework was graded with comments on how to improve. Both had to study multiplication facts over the summer before 3rd grade. Is this gone now, too?

Multiplication over the summer - meaning by mom/dad - maybe but not usually told to people explicitly anymore.

No more handwriting, geography, spelling in most schools.

[Anonymous]

Also there's no homework at most ES anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It did about 6-8 years ago. My current junior learned all of this in AAP and so did younger sibling. Homework was graded with comments on how to improve. Both had to study multiplication facts over the summer before 3rd grade. Is this gone now, too?

Multiplication over the summer - meaning by mom/dad - maybe but not usually told to people explicitly anymore.

No more handwriting, geography, spelling in most schools.

This. 100%.

I'm actually ok with mostly no homework in ES. It's not necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. And I think this is why many parents are desperate to get their kids in AAP. The gen ed one is in AAP level 3 but besides advanced math, it doesn’t seem to mean much.

Oh, yes! AAP of today is roughly similar to the “regular” education that FCPS offered a generation ago.

Don’t get into AAP? Expect overcrowded, mismanaged classrooms where instruction will be adjusted for the average/below- average student.

Don’t bother expressing concern that your solidly average student is struggling or needs additional help to grasp concepts or could benefit from being in an emerging reading group. You will be told that average is perfectly fine. True hands on help is reserved for ESOL learners.

My advice to the parents of the non-AAP’ers; expect nothing and DIY supplemental instruction (outside tutor, kitchen-table teaching and/or learning center like C2). Opt out of SOLs. Carefully review your student’s progress.

Oh- and handwriting, spelling, math facts and geography aren’t taught at all, so don’t bother expressing shock or dismay, just add this to your list of supplemental instruction that you’ll need to outsource.

-DH and I are FCPS graduates. How the mighty FCPS has fallen. It’s very sad.

Weird, my kid is in Third grade in a language immersion program. They have had map quizzes in second and third grade. He has worksheets that were sent home that focused on math facts. We don't see spelling tests but he has words that he spells correctly that are not ones I would expect him to know and others that are still by what sounds he is hearing, so some spelling is happening.

I doubt that it is because he is in language immersion, they have the same curriculum as the Gen Ed kids but math and science are taught in the target language.

My Mom spent plenty of time working on school work with me in the 80's so I am not sure that is much of a change. But I was one of the kids who was struggling and getting services from the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It did about 6-8 years ago. My current junior learned all of this in AAP and so did younger sibling. Homework was graded with comments on how to improve. Both had to study multiplication facts over the summer before 3rd grade. Is this gone now, too?

Multiplication over the summer - meaning by mom/dad - maybe but not usually told to people explicitly anymore.

No more handwriting, geography, spelling in most schools.

This. 100%.

I'm actually ok with mostly no homework in ES. It's not necessary.

It's extremely limited at the middle school level now, too. Class time is given to do homework or the built in study hall is used. Time is completely managed for them. My kid's friend was selecting the general ed class in HS because she thought there would be little or no homework. And this was one of the good students. When will they learn that you may have to work outside school hours to do well in classes? Or does this apply only to AP classes nowadays?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AAP is not gifted and talented, the name says that. It is advanced academics. I am sure that there are a good number of kids in Gen Ed that would do fine in AAP. I am sure there are AAP kids who would do fine in Gen Ed. But there are kids that need something that is more advanced and challenging.

I do wish that FCPS would develop a Advanced LA class like they did for Advanced Math and that every school started the Advanced Math in third grade. This would help a ton so that kids who are ahead in Math or LA had a class that challenged them. It would reduce the push for parents of kids who are ahead in Math but not LA or LA but not Math to get into AAP so that their kid is able to do work at the right level in their strong suit.

….

+1

[Anonymous]

OP keep your daughter in AAP. Who cares about her grades. The curriculum is much better and the peer group is more advanced. It’ll be good for her as long as you de-emphasize performance and reward effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP keep your daughter in AAP. Who cares about her grades. The curriculum is much better and the peer group is more advanced. It’ll be good for her as long as you de-emphasize performance and reward effort.

Op is concerned about her kid being in gen ed.