Did anyone opt out of G&T? What are the pros/cons?

[Anonymous]

I did G&T growing up. No downsides. We live in a different state that does not have it and I really wish we had something like that program here.

It was socially also a really good thing for me. I thrived better in smaller group settings, and I was very quiet and wasn't given opportunities to socialize outside of school, so it helped having that built in smaller group of classmates who were similar to me.

The curriculum was also just better. Non-repetitive, more challenging, more interesting, and more engaging. There were a couple subjects that I did not get into G&T for until later years, and I didn't do so well or enjoy those classes. The standard classes were more about volume of work, repetition, and the large class format was hard too, because you didn't get to engage, you had to do a lot of waiting for everyone to catch up, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. We did not opt out of GT. Also, enriched and supplemented at home so that the kid was not bored and was learning new things without any pressure of academics.

The biggest pro is the cohort and the parents. The kid gets to be in a normal classroom experience surrounded by like-ability kids and the classroom is conducive to learning. This is a way to create an environment of learning and support around them.

This is part of my hesitation. In our district G&T is provided through small group pull out sessions. It’s not center based and no separate formal classrooms until middle school.

It may not be a bad thing because they are still learning with like ability kids even in pull out sessions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. We did not opt out of GT. Also, enriched and supplemented at home so that the kid was not bored and was learning new things without any pressure of academics.

The biggest pro is the cohort and the parents. The kid gets to be in a normal classroom experience surrounded by like-ability kids and the classroom is conducive to learning. This is a way to create an environment of learning and support around them.

This is part of my hesitation. In our district G&T is provided through small group pull out sessions. It’s not center based and no separate formal classrooms until middle school.

So? That is better than nothing. G&T programs are a small supplement, they aren’t a comprehensive academic program. You still will need to provide learning opportunities on your own outside of school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. We did not opt out of GT. Also, enriched and supplemented at home so that the kid was not bored and was learning new things without any pressure of academics.

The biggest pro is the cohort and the parents. The kid gets to be in a normal classroom experience surrounded by like-ability kids and the classroom is conducive to learning. This is a way to create an environment of learning and support around them.

This is part of my hesitation. In our district G&T is provided through small group pull out sessions. It’s not center based and no separate formal classrooms until middle school.

This is what I experienced as a child and it's fantastic. It's a lifeline to a better world. It's the only part of elementary school (academically) that I have vivid recollections of.

No clue why you would consider opting out. There is no downside. (my kids are in a district with no G and T (DCPS) and I would love this for them.)

[Anonymous]

I did. Virginia Public school. Due to high test scores, the school wanted to test my daughter and I said no. She had some behavior issues and I knew the kids being tested, and likely admitted to the program, would not be a good fit for her socially. I also knew the G&T teacher was not a great teacher. I thought she needed more time to learn to be a better student in a regular classroom.

It worked out fine. When it was time for middle school, the middle school didn’t have a program, but grouped GT kids together in classes. By then she had outgrown some of her immature behavior and was a better student all around.

She took many high school APs, got decent, but not spectacular grades, excelled in her sport, and is a D1 athlete at a large state public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. We did not opt out of GT. Also, enriched and supplemented at home so that the kid was not bored and was learning new things without any pressure of academics.

The biggest pro is the cohort and the parents. The kid gets to be in a normal classroom experience surrounded by like-ability kids and the classroom is conducive to learning. This is a way to create an environment of learning and support around them.

This is part of my hesitation. In our district G&T is provided through small group pull out sessions. It’s not center based and no separate formal classrooms until middle school.

This is what I experienced as a child and it's fantastic. It's a lifeline to a better world. It's the only part of elementary school (academically) that I have vivid recollections of.

No clue why you would consider opting out. There is no downside. (my kids are in a district with no G and T (DCPS) and I would love this for them.)

Narc parents sabotage their kids, unless they get supply out of them doing well, then they tiger mother them

[Anonymous]

I think that it depends on the services that the G&T tag can unlock. We live in a district that does push-in enrichment, but a lot of it is participate in an academic contest that they weren't interested in or do more homework in subjects they didn't want to do. There isn't a separate AAP style classroom, but so many of their classmates are high achievers that they always had a peer group.

Instead, we did a lot of outside enrichment, heavy on extracurriculars, and lots and lots of unstructured free time with friends. They loved learning on their own terms and they enjoyed the time with their friends. Now they are in high school. They both select the most rigorous courses and are achieving results similar to their "gifted" peers.

All of this to say it depends on the G&T program, it depends on the kid and the time and resources that you have to put into outside activities. There's one right or wrong answer, just what's a good fit for your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the general bashing you’re referring to is more about there not being enough G&T services/opportunities, not that G&T programs themselves are bad.

Or are complaints about G&T offerings not being sufficiently challenging, even though they are better than the general education offering.

[Anonymous]

This is a useless question without saying which school system you’re in, and it also sounds like you’re a couple of years away from it being an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. We did not opt out of GT. Also, enriched and supplemented at home so that the kid was not bored and was learning new things without any pressure of academics.

The biggest pro is the cohort and the parents. The kid gets to be in a normal classroom experience surrounded by like-ability kids and the classroom is conducive to learning. This is a way to create an environment of learning and support around them.

What kind of enrichment and supplementation do you do at home? We are moving/switching schools and it’s too late for my kid to test for the G&T classroom. Looking to do enrichment at home that’s not too time-consuming.

[Anonymous]

Without know what school you are in or what they offer it’s hard to answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. We did not opt out of GT. Also, enriched and supplemented at home so that the kid was not bored and was learning new things without any pressure of academics.

The biggest pro is the cohort and the parents. The kid gets to be in a normal classroom experience surrounded by like-ability kids and the classroom is conducive to learning. This is a way to create an environment of learning and support around them.

This is part of my hesitation. In our district G&T is provided through small group pull out sessions. It’s not center based and no separate formal classrooms until middle school.

This is what I experienced as a child and it's fantastic. It's a lifeline to a better world. It's the only part of elementary school (academically) that I have vivid recollections of.

No clue why you would consider opting out. There is no downside. (my kids are in a district with no G and T (DCPS) and I would love this for them.)

Narc parents sabotage their kids, unless they get supply out of them doing well, then they tiger mother them

Oh ok. So basically no what parents do they are wrong, according to you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. We did not opt out of GT. Also, enriched and supplemented at home so that the kid was not bored and was learning new things without any pressure of academics.

The biggest pro is the cohort and the parents. The kid gets to be in a normal classroom experience surrounded by like-ability kids and the classroom is conducive to learning. This is a way to create an environment of learning and support around them.

What kind of enrichment and supplementation do you do at home? We are moving/switching schools and it’s too late for my kid to test for the G&T classroom. Looking to do enrichment at home that’s not too time-consuming.

I'm curious about enrichments too. Trying to figure this out.

Also are there any meet up groups or other ways to find gifted kids in the DC area? (We don't have a good option for GT program/center until middle school)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is g&t

gifted and talented

[Anonymous]

For a few years every parent in my district refused to let their kid go, because the teacher screamed at them and routinely made at least 2 or 3 kids cry every day. Eventually things changed and kids started going again.