When do 2nd graders in FCPS get CogAt test results back?

[Anonymous]

The name change happened this year, but I believe the change in the program has gradually happened over time. It used to be that a very small percentage were in the GT program. It has evolved into about 15% of students being in the program. A very small percentage of them are actually academically gifted. The name change now reflects what it is - an advanced academic program. The students in the program are doing advanced work. The children in the program may be smart; they may do well in school; they may even be in the top 95% in terms of test scores. But in all likelihood, no more than the top 1-2% of all students in FCPS are actually academically gifted. That means about 90% of the students AAP are not academically gifted (even if their parents think they are).

Anonymous wrote:Wait, the change from gifted (or GT) happened this year. I do not think there is any appreciable change from last year to this year. Rather, I think the change from GT to AAP was more to reflect that it is for academically gifted students, as opposed to artistically or athletically gifted.

I do agree, however, that it is not that stressful (at least for a child that belongs), and that the percent of students from neighborhoods is high...of the 2rd grade children I know (about 30 because my DD in in the thrid grade), 2/3rds are in AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It must depend what center you are at. My daughter is in 4th grade at an AAP center and she is totally overloaded with work. It isn't uncommon to spend 1.5 hours a night on homework. (Which can be a bit of a problem when you don't get off the bus until 4:45pm).
However, she has a very driven personality and doesn't mind all of the work... and she is totally and completely happy there. If that weren't the case, we'd send her back to the base school and reclaim some family time.

This is likely not the norm, as we have heard from other parents that their center kids don't have half as much homework as our daughter does.

Which AAP center is this?

What is the average size of AAP classes?

I would guess Haycock.
I know both Haycock and Louise Archer dismiss at 3:55pm, but another poster mentioned light homework at Louise Archer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:17:35: The main differences: 1) the children seem to have a bit more freedom, 2) they go into things in more detail, and 3) compacted math.

In the AAP classes, there is less "drill and practice", and more exploration and understanding.

We are waiting for the scores and referral, etc for our DC. She just started at FCPS this year in third grade and is bored to tears with the "drill and practice." The teachers think she will do better in AAP and so do we, but if it doesn't happen it will be okay. She spends a lot of time investigating things she wants to know more about and learning on her own - and the only negative at her recent conference was that she often finishes her work early and then pulls out a book to read or reads when she should be doing something else. This girl needs more work! A friend of hers is in AAP in the same school because her mom did the whole outside testing and referral last year, and the work sounds exactly like what my girl wishes she were doing, but not so much that she couldn't handle it. When my daughter's class reads something, the AAP class reads it and writes a paper on it or does a project on it. So it seems like the same curriculum but more in-depth study and work on the same topic.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is in 4th grade at an AAP center and she is totally overloaded with work. It isn't uncommon to spend 1.5 hours a night on homework.

A friend of mine has a DD in 4th at Colvin Run and she says this is typical.

My DD is in 4th at Mantua, and so far it is very manageable. She has about 45-60 minutes a night, not including long term projects, that so far she has been able to manage on the weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My DD is in 4th at Mantua, and so far it is very manageable. She has about 45-60 minutes a night, not including long term projects, that so far she has been able to manage on the weekend.

Similar situation here with a 4th grader at Canterbury Woods.

[Anonymous]

Does all this extra time to complete homework consist of just the kid doing the work, or the parent doing some teaching also in case the material was not covered adequately at school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:17:35: The main differences: 1) the children seem to have a bit more freedom, 2) they go into things in more detail, and 3) compacted math.

In the AAP classes, there is less "drill and practice", and more exploration and understanding.

We are waiting for the scores and referral, etc for our DC. She just started at FCPS this year in third grade and is bored to tears with the "drill and practice." The teachers think she will do better in AAP and so do we, but if it doesn't happen it will be okay. She spends a lot of time investigating things she wants to know more about and learning on her own - and the only negative at her recent conference was that she often finishes her work early and then pulls out a book to read or reads when she should be doing something else. This girl needs more work! A friend of hers is in AAP in the same school because her mom did the whole outside testing and referral last year, and the work sounds exactly like what my girl wishes she were doing, but not so much that she couldn't handle it. When my daughter's class reads something, the AAP class reads it and writes a paper on it or does a project on it. So it seems like the same curriculum but more in-depth study and work on the same topic.

Is your child older for the class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:17:35: The main differences: 1) the children seem to have a bit more freedom, 2) they go into things in more detail, and 3) compacted math.

In the AAP classes, there is less "drill and practice", and more exploration and understanding.

We are waiting for the scores and referral, etc for our DC. She just started at FCPS this year in third grade and is bored to tears with the "drill and practice." The teachers think she will do better in AAP and so do we, but if it doesn't happen it will be okay. She spends a lot of time investigating things she wants to know more about and learning on her own - and the only negative at her recent conference was that she often finishes her work early and then pulls out a book to read or reads when she should be doing something else. This girl needs more work! A friend of hers is in AAP in the same school because her mom did the whole outside testing and referral last year, and the work sounds exactly like what my girl wishes she were doing, but not so much that she couldn't handle it. When my daughter's class reads something, the AAP class reads it and writes a paper on it or does a project on it. So it seems like the same curriculum but more in-depth study and work on the same topic.

Is your child older for the class?

Actually, no. She is one of the youngest. She was born August 3 and just turned eight before starting third grade. She just moved to FCPS from a private school where they did a lot more work than what is expected of them now. Her own biggest complaint about school is why the spelling words are for "babies" and the math is things she did in first grade. From hearing my girlfriend tell me what her daughter does in AAP in the class across the hall from my daughter, it is much more what she is used to doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:17:35: The main differences: 1) the children seem to have a bit more freedom, 2) they go into things in more detail, and 3) compacted math.

In the AAP classes, there is less "drill and practice", and more exploration and understanding.

We are waiting for the scores and referral, etc for our DC. She just started at FCPS this year in third grade and is bored to tears with the "drill and practice." The teachers think she will do better in AAP and so do we, but if it doesn't happen it will be okay. She spends a lot of time investigating things she wants to know more about and learning on her own - and the only negative at her recent conference was that she often finishes her work early and then pulls out a book to read or reads when she should be doing something else. This girl needs more work! A friend of hers is in AAP in the same school because her mom did the whole outside testing and referral last year, and the work sounds exactly like what my girl wishes she were doing, but not so much that she couldn't handle it. When my daughter's class reads something, the AAP class reads it and writes a paper on it or does a project on it. So it seems like the same curriculum but more in-depth study and work on the same topic.

Is your child older for the class?

Maybe you should have kept her in private school.


Actually, no. She is one of the youngest. She was born August 3 and just turned eight before starting third grade. She just moved to FCPS from a private school where they did a lot more work than what is expected of them now. Her own biggest complaint about school is why the spelling words are for "babies" and the math is things she did in first grade. From hearing my girlfriend tell me what her daughter does in AAP in the class across the hall from my daughter, it is much more what she is used to doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:17:35: The main differences: 1) the children seem to have a bit more freedom, 2) they go into things in more detail, and 3) compacted math.

In the AAP classes, there is less "drill and practice", and more exploration and understanding.

We are waiting for the scores and referral, etc for our DC. She just started at FCPS this year in third grade and is bored to tears with the "drill and practice." The teachers think she will do better in AAP and so do we, but if it doesn't happen it will be okay. She spends a lot of time investigating things she wants to know more about and learning on her own - and the only negative at her recent conference was that she often finishes her work early and then pulls out a book to read or reads when she should be doing something else. This girl needs more work! A friend of hers is in AAP in the same school because her mom did the whole outside testing and referral last year, and the work sounds exactly like what my girl wishes she were doing, but not so much that she couldn't handle it. When my daughter's class reads something, the AAP class reads it and writes a paper on it or does a project on it. So it seems like the same curriculum but more in-depth study and work on the same topic.

Is your child older for the class?

Maybe you should have kept her in private school.


Actually, no. She is one of the youngest. She was born August 3 and just turned eight before starting third grade. She just moved to FCPS from a private school where they did a lot more work than what is expected of them now. Her own biggest complaint about school is why the spelling words are for "babies" and the math is things she did in first grade. From hearing my girlfriend tell me what her daughter does in AAP in the class across the hall from my daughter, it is much more what she is used to doing.

We would have kept her in private school if we could have afforded it - she was in the school since she was four. My husband has been out of work and underemployed a long time - we held on as long as we could. I figure a bright kid is bright no matter what is happening in school. We do plenty outside of school and she is a good thinker. If she gets AAP that is great, if the "scores" don't make it, then she is no less bright than she is today. Not a biggie. She seeks out education on her own and always asks questions and we feed her all she wants in answer. There are plenty of kids who don't get in AAP who grow up fine. IMO the drive has to come from inside - parents and family and love of learning mean more than the classroom they sit in.

[Anonymous]

"IMO the drive has to come from inside - parents and family and love of learning mean more than the classroom they sit in. "

Oops, that looks like it sounds snotty - it is not. I am in the middle of helping with homework, cooking, and talking to husband. Just meant that is how I deal with it - not that other values aren't valid.

[Anonymous]

Wow, very informative! I've heard a few parents talk about how they "prep'd" kid over the summer for COGaT/Naggliari--we'd didn't know anything about this. Some are now telling us to start NOW preparing for an appeal and have kid test at George Mason. Please help--is this true??

[Anonymous]

There are some parents out there that will always look for "option B," which isn't bad, it just floods the system with all this paperwork (e.g., test scores, art work, girlscout certificates, pictures of sports trophies) for the AAP staff. I'd recommend just letting the child's scores stand where they are and talk with the teacher to see what's best for him/her. If you're really intent on pursuing, an appeal of the initial decision is probably you're best bet, but I've heard other parents suggest cozying up with the center principal (e.g., PTA leadership) as an end round since the principal can fill out the classrooms as he/she sees fit.

[Anonymous]

20:20: I would not worry about the tests...but, talk to the teacher about if they think you dc should be in the AAP program. If they think so, then prepare a good package and work around the test scores. If they are less certain, and you think the child belongs, then get the child tested privately. Best resouce is the fcps web sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anone know? The teacher thinks she's gifted, but we don't. She's a people pleaser and works hard, but we think the GT program would be too stressful. I think the CogAt scores will help the teacher to see. I work with her a lot because it makes her less stressed at school, but I also think it makes it look like everything comes easily. I must sound nuts..the only FCPS parent who doesn't want their child in the gifted program?

Note that if your child is accepted into the AAP program, you can still elect not to put her in it those classes. Further, you can change your mind in future years, if you decide you do want her in the program...

So, you do not have anything to lose.