When AAP is the wrong fit...

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for posting this. I've been torn about whether AAP is the right environment for our high ability but easily distractable DD. She often misses verbal instructions and written instructions on tests (sometimes not even answering the right question, yet demonstrating comprehension on what she thought the question was...) We are in the process of doing evaluations to try to determine what's going on. Your posting provides some light at the end of the tunnel regarding what might work to help her to be more successful. I believe this would still be an issue whether or not she's in AAP. It's just been made all the more apparent given the demands of the program.

[Anonymous]

if you believe that your kid is as genius as Steve Jobs was, dont send your kid there! that will kill the creativity. if your kid behaved like the young Steve Jobs, dont send there either. he/she will disturb the rest of the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:if you believe that your kid is as genius as Steve Jobs was, dont send your kid there! that will kill the creativity. if your kid behaved like the young Steve Jobs, dont send there either. he/she will disturb the rest of the kids.

Steve Jobs is overrated.

Yea homeschooling is da best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last year, when my son tested into AAP, we had real hesitation about putting him in the program. On paper, he's got all the right scores and skills. But he's the kind of kid who doesn't really understand why things like grades matter. When he's interested in something, he learns everything on earth about it. But if it doesn't spark his interest, it's like pulling teeth to get him to focus enough to learn it and to then demonstrate that learning on a test. I realize that no matter what setting he's in academically this is a trait that needs to change, because it will not serve him well. But in a program like AAP, where the expectation is that they are able to be more self-directed and self-motivated, I felt like were setting him up to fail.

We were swayed by his teachers and the counselor, so we enrolled him. They assured us that there are lots of quirky kids in AAP and that the teachers would get them all up to speed at the start of the year. Well, guess what? He's tanking. He not keeping up with the work, he's making tons of stupid mistakes on tests (doing things like bubbling in two answers because he can't be bothered to pick between them or copying the problem over rather than solving for the answer), and he's just generally miserable. Most of his friends are in the other classes, which makes the whole thing harder on him, because making friends is challenging for him. His current teacher (who I like a lot) agrees he's got the potential to succeed but that he doesn't seem to have the personality for it. And with every passing day he's falling more and more behind.

In the short term we're going to get a tutor, work on study habits, and try to reward his successes more, but in the long term I cannot imagine three more years of this. But when I suggest pulling him from the program next year, the response I get from almost everyone is horror at the mere suggestion. I just want my kid to be happy, to like school, and to learn. I get that AAP offers lots of great opportunities, but I don't think the trade-off is worth it for my son. On the other hand, I don't want him to feel like he failed with this program. Has anyone else been in this position?

This sounds so similar to an extremely bright boy we knew. He started shutting down after a few months of the AAP program (third grade). It was making him miserable. His interest in learning was being ground out of him, and he wouldn't do anything. The program didn't seem to be really designed for gifted/accelerated students--it was more jumping through project hoops. For third grade, that is too much for most kids. Some boys aren't ready for that kind of stuff at that age. His mom was the same position as you, wondering 'should I take him out?' and getting the same responses you are. They decided to have him return to his regular school, and he was happier and more successful in schoolwork.

You sound like a perceptive, secure parent. Your son is fortunate to have you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much for posting this. I've been torn about whether AAP is the right environment for our high ability but easily distractable DD. She often misses verbal instructions and written instructions on tests (sometimes not even answering the right question, yet demonstrating comprehension on what she thought the question was...) We are in the process of doing evaluations to try to determine what's going on. Your posting provides some light at the end of the tunnel regarding what might work to help her to be more successful. I believe this would still be an issue whether or not she's in AAP. It's just been made all the more apparent given the demands of the program.

One of the many benefits of an AAP Center is the expertise of the teachers and the staff. My DC is twice exceptional and the teachers and counselors at the AAP Center have so much more experience with these kids than most teachers at base schools (including in Local Level 4 classes). The teachers and counseling staff have helped DC figure out what accommodations work best in the classroom. DC was able to tell this year's teacher what would work well (seating away from the window, reminders about writing down homework assignments in a planner, etc.) and is getting practice at asking for these things of teachers directly, all before starting middle school.

[Anonymous]

OP , please consider testing your son for ADHD - Inattentive Type. 3rd grade seems to be when the issues with distractibility and inattention really come out (versus hyperactive type, which tends to be fairly obvious much earlier). My DD's ADD (old term but more accurate -- means attention deficit, not hyperactive) was noticed in 3rd grade. The symptoms were present earlier but weren't really noticable until the demands of 3rd grade made it obvious. She would get many answers on tests wrong, simply because she either failed to read the instructions or, more likely, decided for herself what she felt the question should be! Yet she knew the material. Also my DD is very quirky, has her very own way of writing that is hard to read but admittedly quite creative! She was "n"ing in 3rd and now, with lots of strategies in place to keep her on board and, yes, with meds, she is an A student. Not that the As are what we were going for, but her self-esteem was suffering in 3rd b/c she knew she wasn't performing as expected yet couldn't help herself from drifting away. Now she feels confident and views herself as a good student. Lots of kids have it - your son might not, but if he has ADD, then it isn't really an AAP or Gen Ed question - he is clearly bright so if he has ADD and gets help, then he can be successful in either setting. Try some testing while you work on other issues and see what comes up. Good luck! Don't listen to anyone else; do what you feel is best for him.

[Anonymous]

I totally agree wiith PP. Well said. Our girl is AAP and ADHD. Don't let anyone tell you that your gifted child should be placed out of AAP because of ADHD. Stand up for your child!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much for posting this. I've been torn about whether AAP is the right environment for our high ability but easily distractable DD. She often misses verbal instructions and written instructions on tests (sometimes not even answering the right question, yet demonstrating comprehension on what she thought the question was...) We are in the process of doing evaluations to try to determine what's going on. Your posting provides some light at the end of the tunnel regarding what might work to help her to be more successful. I believe this would still be an issue whether or not she's in AAP. It's just been made all the more apparent given the demands of the program.

Our DS was exactly like this. We used a therapy called CogMed that worked wonders. He is now thriving in AAP center . . . without meds! Good luck, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, can you share your experience with CogMed and what changes you've seen as a result?

[Anonymous]

It's expensive (about 2 grand) and purports to strengthen working memory (one of the few therapies with peer-reviewed studies to back up claims). That said, our DS's attentional issues were clearly caused by a working memory deficit (on tne WISC, DS's WMI was more than 25 points lower than his VCI and PRI before CogMed, much closer now). It is a computer-based program that the child completes at home, with a very intense five-week period that requires lots of parent involvement, then about a year of follow up. It was basically a silver bullet for my child, but of course your child's attentional issues may have a different root cause. You can find info by googling. We used Family Compass in Reston for this therapy.

[Anonymous]

Thanks 2:15 for sharing this. That's great to hear that your son responded well to CogMed and is thriving in the AAP program. When we receive our WISC scores next week, I expect to see a pattern similar to your DS'. It's great to know that CogMed could be an option if working memory turns out to be the issue for our DD (which I think it very well could be).