PREPARATION FOR NEWLY ACCEPTED 3RD GRADE AAP STUDENTS

[Anonymous]

Wow, 11:16 - really? I'm not a PP, but I'm finding this thread very useful to help navigate the post-acceptance process, which is new for us. Why alienate people with your postings?

If you have a child that's been through the first year of AAP, other parents (yes, even those of high-performing DCs) would love to hear your experiences.

[Anonymous]

Have an older child in AAP. We were warned about loads of homework and to have the multiplication tables down. We started out the summer with good intentions (ie drills), but kind of dropped it. DC started 3rd grade AAP w/out knowing all the multiplication tables. It was ok though, as DC ended up being the 2nd in class to pass through all the levels. One thing to pass on, they did it by 1's, 2's, 3's and you passed on through the numbes up to 12 vs mixed tables (which is what we started drilling on.)

Homework was almost non-existent as whatever little amount was given, DC usually managed to do on the bus ride home.

[Anonymous]

My experience, comparing the workload that DD gets in AAP to a child not in AAP is that my DD's workload is actually lower that the other child, but DD's are hard problems (sometimes). The other had (what I considered) a lot of tedious homework.

[Anonymous]

DD is a 4th grader in the center now. At the orientation for both our center and our Local Level IV program, (we went to both to help us decide) they said to review and memorize multiplication tables over the summer. We didn't.

She did great third grade at our Local Level IV and is one of the top 2-3 students in math in her center this year (according to the teacher). I will say that our school spent really no time at all teaching the kids their multiplication tables at school, so they did have to do it mainly on their own. I can see where some kids might struggle a little with this model.

[Anonymous]

13:50 again. And her homework load was very high (IMO) in third grade compared to Gen Ed, but is much more manageable this year in 4th. In 4th grade all writing is done in the classroom vs. at home, which helps things a lot.

[Anonymous]

Here's a biggie parents: MAKE SURE you fax that yellow parental acceptance form in and get that confirmation from the office. We got our confirmation today so we're set.

Last year, my friend forgot about it and got hers in under the wire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No worries - 3rd grade AAP math starts at the same level as other 3rd grade math classes in FCPS. If your child needs a summer math boost would depend on his/her performance this year, not on what is to come.

Thank you! This is good information. I didn't know that would be the case, especially as easy as math is for him now (in 2nd grade). He flies right through it and is not being challenged at all. I will go over his tables with him here and there over the summer. Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

PP: the thing is, they do not skip 3rd grade math per se....but at the end of the year, they are at a fourth grade level.

[Anonymous]

How about language arts? what kind of work they do in AAP 3rd grade in language arts?

[Anonymous]

how about writing? any parents have good suggestions on how to help kids with their writing skills? thanks a lot.