AAP Orientations

[Anonymous]

Our orientation at westbriar was ok. They read out of powerpoint presentation too but it was informative.

Principal, asst. principal, couple of AAP teachers gave info about AAP services. PTA president also gave her inputs about various after school activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our orientation at Keene Mill last night was AWFUL. We were on the fence to begin with, but now I want to run the other direction. Long, boring presentation that didn't impress me or my 2nd grader. Teachers read from Power Point with very little enthusiasm. They kept emphasizing that we should spend our summer "making their lives easier" by ensuring kids knew multiplication tables and how to type properly. Student panel was absurd with many comments along the lines of: "The best thing about the AAP program here is that you don't have to be with those kids who don't understand anything anymore." Tour was ridiculous - hallways only, no classrooms, no specials rooms, etc.

Our base school doesn't offer Local Level IV, so now we don't know what we're going to do. Feel like we are stuck between a rock and a hard place...

Lovely kids.

[Anonymous]

Ours was tonight and I really enjoyed it. Informative, well planned and my child is super excited. They had current parents and children talk too. I was hesitant because they are starting a renovation, but I am sold despite that fact. The principal was refreshingly honest and very friendly far different the my local school principal. Can't wait!

[Anonymous]

Ours was great. It was quite informative and it was clear from the student presentations that they were pretty happy with their situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our orientation at Keene Mill last night was AWFUL. We were on the fence to begin with, but now I want to run the other direction. Long, boring presentation that didn't impress me or my 2nd grader. Teachers read from Power Point with very little enthusiasm. They kept emphasizing that we should spend our summer "making their lives easier" by ensuring kids knew multiplication tables and how to type properly. Student panel was absurd with many comments along the lines of: "The best thing about the AAP program here is that you don't have to be with those kids who don't understand anything anymore." Tour was ridiculous - hallways only, no classrooms, no specials rooms, etc.

Our base school doesn't offer Local Level IV, so now we don't know what we're going to do. Feel like we are stuck between a rock and a hard place...

I attended the orientation as well and have a completely different view. I have a feeling you went with an already bad attitude about the program. I found the suggestion to review multiplication and typing helpful and was thankful the information was provided. They made it clear that these things were not a requirement but would be helpful for the child to have a smoother transition. The principal is phenomenal - very responsive to parent questions and concerns and holds teachers to a high standard.

[Anonymous]

So what's wrong with the kids there then?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone attended any orientations at Lemon Road? I'm curious what people's thoughts are?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what's wrong with the kids there then?

The OP completely blew ONE child's comment out of proportion and did not write the direct quote. It was clear that the child wanted to get across his feeling of acceptance within an peer group that was also very much interested in higher level learning. I will agree that the delivery could have used some work but let's not be too hard on a 9 year old for choosing his words more carefully. It was a casual off the cuff panel discussion, not a pre-planned speech. There are tons of threads on AAP where adults should choose their words more carefully as well. I would imagine that it nice for a child to be in a learning environment that is challenging, more in-dept and can go at a faster pace if they felt bored in general education classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what's wrong with the kids there then?

The OP completely blew ONE child's comment out of proportion and did not write the direct quote. It was clear that the child wanted to get across his feeling of acceptance within an peer group that was also very much interested in higher level learning. I will agree that the delivery could have used some work but let's not be too hard on a 9 year old for choosing his words more carefully. It was a casual off the cuff panel discussion, not a pre-planned speech. There are tons of threads on AAP where adults should choose their words more carefully as well. I would imagine that it nice for a child to be in a learning environment that is challenging, more in-dept and can go at a faster pace if they felt bored in general education classes.

Yes, isn't it great that this child (and apparently adults, like you) feel it is fine to slam GE kids because he was "bored". Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our orientation at Keene Mill last night was AWFUL. We were on the fence to begin with, but now I want to run the other direction. Long, boring presentation that didn't impress me or my 2nd grader. Teachers read from Power Point with very little enthusiasm. They kept emphasizing that we should spend our summer "making their lives easier" by ensuring kids knew multiplication tables and how to type properly. Student panel was absurd with many comments along the lines of: "The best thing about the AAP program here is that you don't have to be with those kids who don't understand anything anymore." Tour was ridiculous - hallways only, no classrooms, no specials rooms, etc.

Our base school doesn't offer Local Level IV, so now we don't know what we're going to do. Feel like we are stuck between a rock and a hard place...

Most 2nd grade teachers (GE and AAP) recommend kids start practicing multiplication facts the summer leading into 3rd grade. It is not that they don't want to teach them, but having your math facts down helps in almost every area of the curriculum. I have seen kids do algebra equations only to get the answer wrong because they did not know their mult/division facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what's wrong with the kids there then?

The OP completely blew ONE child's comment out of proportion and did not write the direct quote. It was clear that the child wanted to get across his feeling of acceptance within an peer group that was also very much interested in higher level learning. I will agree that the delivery could have used some work but let's not be too hard on a 9 year old for choosing his words more carefully. It was a casual off the cuff panel discussion, not a pre-planned speech. There are tons of threads on AAP where adults should choose their words more carefully as well. I would imagine that it nice for a child to be in a learning environment that is challenging, more in-dept and can go at a faster pace if they felt bored in general education classes.

Yes, isn't it great that this child (and apparently adults, like you) feel it is fine to slam GE kids because he was "bored". Give me a break.

We had the same type of commentary on our student/parent panel, too. As the parent of two Gen Ed kids, it irked me, a lot. I have to say, I was very impressed with the school and the teachers. I was far less impressed with most of the parents, including the TWO different parents who asked during breakout sessions whether their children could skip a grade once the AAP teachers recognized how far ahead they were. (I know one of the kids, and frankly, I'm surprised he made the cut in the first place.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what's wrong with the kids there then?

The OP completely blew ONE child's comment out of proportion and did not write the direct quote. It was clear that the child wanted to get across his feeling of acceptance within an peer group that was also very much interested in higher level learning. I will agree that the delivery could have used some work but let's not be too hard on a 9 year old for choosing his words more carefully. It was a casual off the cuff panel discussion, not a pre-planned speech. There are tons of threads on AAP where adults should choose their words more carefully as well. I would imagine that it nice for a child to be in a learning environment that is challenging, more in-dept and can go at a faster pace if they felt bored in general education classes.

Yes, isn't it great that this child (and apparently adults, like you) feel it is fine to slam GE kids because he was "bored". Give me a break.

Excuse me, at what point in my comment did I say that I felt it was fine for the child (or anyone for that matter) to speak poorly of a child in GE? I feel quite the opposite, actually. I would have had a long talk after if that was my child. Your quick inclination to attack is absurd!

[Anonymous]

7:03 is a perfect example of the extreme responses of AAP haters on this board. They have one feeling that they project onto every comment and thread. Then they repeat. And repeat. It is such a violent and emotional response. I feel bad for their kids because they will certainly project their feeling of inferiority onto their kids. Way more than other kids, schools or the AAP program does ( if those things do at all).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7:03 is a perfect example of the extreme responses of AAP haters on this board. They have one feeling that they project onto every comment and thread. Then they repeat. And repeat. It is such a violent and emotional response.

+1

This sort of extreme response would not be tolerated on the Special Needs board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what's wrong with the kids there then?

The OP completely blew ONE child's comment out of proportion and did not write the direct quote. It was clear that the child wanted to get across his feeling of acceptance within an peer group that was also very much interested in higher level learning. I will agree that the delivery could have used some work but let's not be too hard on a 9 year old for choosing his words more carefully. It was a casual off the cuff panel discussion, not a pre-planned speech. There are tons of threads on AAP where adults should choose their words more carefully as well. I would imagine that it nice for a child to be in a learning environment that is challenging, more in-dept and can go at a faster pace if they felt bored in general education classes.

Yes, isn't it great that this child (and apparently adults, like you) feel it is fine to slam GE kids because he was "bored". Give me a break.

Excuse me, at what point in my comment did I say that I felt it was fine for the child (or anyone for that matter) to speak poorly of a child in GE? I feel quite the opposite, actually. I would have had a long talk after if that was my child. Your quick inclination to attack is absurd!

NP here. I wouldn't even have a talk with the child about the comment afterward, making him feel that he had said something wrong in front of the group. That might discourage future public speaking. Instead, I would say, "Great job!" Then another time, when the opportunity presented itself in an unrelated way, I might bring up how we can say what we like about a new situation without saying what we didn't like about the old situation, for example if a parent had a new job or if a kid went to a different school. Or whatever you would want to convey, but just not as chastising the child immediately after the fact when he had stepped up and taken a risk.