How to improve AAP and General Ed Together

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Scrap the AAP model. It's time to reinvent.

Level IV curriculum in every school and classroom.

Very top 3-4% of students that simply cannot function in a normal classroom with differentiation are bussed to a special center for truly gifted, extreme IQ students.

These kids need special education the same way kids need special education on the other side of the spectrum. Mainstreamed to the greatest extent possible with differentiation in their home school and if that cannot work then they can be provided highly specialized teaching at a center that suits their needs.

This AAP madness is a burden on the school system and is simply lowering the standards for the majority of students in FCPS.

Bad idea.

My kid is in that upper 99% and the more inclusive program is more beneficial to these kids at the extreme.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrap the AAP model. It's time to reinvent.

Level IV curriculum in every school and classroom.

Very top 3-4% of students that simply cannot function in a normal classroom with differentiation are bussed to a special center for truly gifted, extreme IQ students.

These kids need special education the same way kids need special education on the other side of the spectrum. Mainstreamed to the greatest extent possible with differentiation in their home school and if that cannot work then they can be provided highly specialized teaching at a center that suits their needs.

This AAP madness is a burden on the school system and is simply lowering the standards for the majority of students in FCPS.

Bad idea.

My kid is in that upper 99% and the more inclusive program is more beneficial to these kids at the extreme.

Agreed. There is a whole other thread for folks to call AAP "madness" and "evil". As others have observed many times, the negative center experience is far from universal. If there are problem schools/neighborhoods, those should be addressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrap the AAP model. It's time to reinvent.

Level IV curriculum in every school and classroom.

Very top 3-4% of students that simply cannot function in a normal classroom with differentiation are bussed to a special center for truly gifted, extreme IQ students.

These kids need special education the same way kids need special education on the other side of the spectrum. Mainstreamed to the greatest extent possible with differentiation in their home school and if that cannot work then they can be provided highly specialized teaching at a center that suits their needs.

This AAP madness is a burden on the school system and is simply lowering the standards for the majority of students in FCPS.

Bad idea.

My kid is in that upper 99% and the more inclusive program is more beneficial to these kids at the extreme.

How is separating your child into a center with a segregated classroom inclusive? They get to still see the Gen Ed kids from a distance, that's inclusive?

A center for truly gifted children would be the same thing but with a better more appropriate specialized instruction for your high IQ child and you wouldn't have to worry about those lowly 128 IQ kids getting into the classroom due to their multiple times appealing parents.

It would be an actual GIFTED program, not simply Advanced Academics for anyone that can appeal enough times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Scrap the AAP model. It's time to reinvent.

off-topic post

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrap the AAP model. It's time to reinvent.

Level IV curriculum in every school and classroom.

Very top 3-4% of students that simply cannot function in a normal classroom with differentiation are bussed to a special center for truly gifted, extreme IQ students.

These kids need special educa.a lot of time day dreaming.

on the same way kids need special education on the other side of the spectrum. Mainstreamed to the greatest extent possible with differentiation in their home school and if that cannot work then they can be provided highly specialized teaching at a center that suits their needs.

This AAP madness is a burden on the school system and is simply lowering the standards for the majority of students in FCPS.

Bad idea.

My kid is in that upper 99% and the more inclusive program is more beneficial to these kids at the extreme.

How is separating your child into a center with a segregated classroom inclusive? They get to still see the Gen Ed kids from a distance, that's inclusive?

A center for truly gifted children would be the same thing but with a better more appropriate specialized instruction for your high IQ child and you wouldn't have to worry about those lowly 128 IQ kids getting into the classroom due to their multiple times appealing parents.

It would be an actual GIFTED program, not simply Advanced Academics for anyone that can appeal enough times.

A lot of what you call "the lowly 128" kids are very bright and exceptionally hard workers. They bring a lot to the classroom and often have better social skills, both which balance out the kids who might be exceptionally gifted but who have deficits in EQ and social awareness, and provide a push to kids like mine who whiz through everything but spend

[Anonymous]

^^ but spend a lot of time daydreaming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrap the AAP model. It's time to reinvent.

Level IV curriculum in every school and classroom.

Very top 3-4% of students that simply cannot function in a normal classroom with differentiation are bussed to a special center for truly gifted, extreme IQ students.

These kids need special educa.a lot of time day dreaming.

on the same way kids need special education on the other side of the spectrum. Mainstreamed to the greatest extent possible with differentiation in their home school and if that cannot work then they can be provided highly specialized teaching at a center that suits their needs.

This AAP madness is a burden on the school system and is simply lowering the standards for the majority of students in FCPS.

Bad idea.

My kid is in that upper 99% and the more inclusive program is more beneficial to these kids at the extreme.

How is separating your child into a center with a segregated classroom inclusive? They get to still see the Gen Ed kids from a distance, that's inclusive?

A center for truly gifted children would be the same thing but with a better more appropriate specialized instruction for your high IQ child and you wouldn't have to worry about those lowly 128 IQ kids getting into the classroom due to their multiple times appealing parents.

It would be an actual GIFTED program, not simply Advanced Academics for anyone that can appeal enough times.

A lot of what you call "the lowly 128" kids are very bright and exceptionally hard workers. They bring a lot to the classroom and often have better social skills, both which balance out the kids who might be exceptionally gifted but who have deficits in EQ and social awareness, and provide a push to kids like mine who whiz through everything but spend

So which is it then? You want your kid to remain inclusive, then differentiation in the classroom is the solution. All Gen Ed classes should be using Level IV curriculum (which is not for purely gifted kids and can be used very well in Gen ED), special ed teachers or AARTs can make sure the kids that need more will get more within the classroom or pullouts. Your kids would still get a specialized instruction and still be within an inclusive environment that will expose your kids to kids with better social skills.

Most AAP parents are completely against that idea though, they want special centers with special segregated classrooms. The argument being that their kids just can't learn with other kids that are not as high IQ as them.

So which argument is it? What is the real driving need for AAP centers and classrooms? Is it for social skills?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrap the AAP model. It's time to reinvent.

Level IV curriculum in every school and classroom.

Very top 3-4% of students that simply cannot function in a normal classroom with differentiation are bussed to a special center for truly gifted, extreme IQ students.

These kids need special education the same way kids need special education on the other side of the spectrum. Mainstreamed to the greatest extent possible with differentiation in their home school and if that cannot work then they can be provided highly specialized teaching at a center that suits their needs.

This AAP madness is a burden on the school system and is simply lowering the standards for the majority of students in FCPS.

Bad idea.

My kid is in that upper 99% and the more inclusive program is more beneficial to these kids at the extreme.

Agreed. There is a whole other thread for folks to call AAP "madness" and "evil". As others have observed many times, the negative center experience is far from universal. If there are problem schools/neighborhoods, those should be addressed.

Exactly - sadly, I don't think we'll ever be able to shake the rabid AAP haters. They pop up everywhere. Even with threads like "where do you send your child for enrichment?" get nasty responses like "if your child is so gifted, why do they need it?"

Seems DCUM is a safe, anonymous place for these folks to vent their insecurities.

Its not madness, nonsense or evil - its not destroying the fabric our communities. It's not that dramatic. The friends (mine and my kids) that we had before AAP, we still have. If your 'community relationships' are that fragile, maybe you need to make some new, real friends?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrap the AAP model. It's time to reinvent.

Level IV curriculum in every school and classroom.

Very top 3-4% of students that simply cannot function in a normal classroom with differentiation are bussed to a special center for truly gifted, extreme IQ students.

These kids need special educa.a lot of time day dreaming.

on the same way kids need special education on the other side of the spectrum. Mainstreamed to the greatest extent possible with differentiation in their home school and if that cannot work then they can be provided highly specialized teaching at a center that suits their needs.

This AAP madness is a burden on the school system and is simply lowering the standards for the majority of students in FCPS.

Bad idea.

My kid is in that upper 99% and the more inclusive program is more beneficial to these kids at the extreme.

How is separating your child into a center with a segregated classroom inclusive? They get to still see the Gen Ed kids from a distance, that's inclusive?

A center for truly gifted children would be the same thing but with a better more appropriate specialized instruction for your high IQ child and you wouldn't have to worry about those lowly 128 IQ kids getting into the classroom due to their multiple times appealing parents.

It would be an actual GIFTED program, not simply Advanced Academics for anyone that can appeal enough times.

A lot of what you call "the lowly 128" kids are very bright and exceptionally hard workers. They bring a lot to the classroom and often have better social skills, both which balance out the kids who might be exceptionally gifted but who have deficits in EQ and social awareness, and provide a push to kids like mine who whiz through everything but spend

So which is it then? You want your kid to remain inclusive, then differentiation in the classroom is the solution. All Gen Ed classes should be using Level IV curriculum (which is not for purely gifted kids and can be used very well in Gen ED), special ed teachers or AARTs can make sure the kids that need more will get more within the classroom or pullouts. Your kids would still get a specialized instruction and still be within an inclusive environment that will expose your kids to kids with better social skills.

Most AAP parents are completely against that idea though, they want special centers with special segregated classrooms. The argument being that their kids just can't learn with other kids that are not as high IQ as them.

So which argument is it? What is the real driving need for AAP centers and classrooms? Is it for social skills?

As I said, I prefer the current center model. It works exceptionally well and catches a lot of kids. I like that it is inclusive. I think it serves highly and profoundly gifted kids like mine fairly well. It serves bright kids at base schools very well (I have one of these too). It serves struggling kids well (I also have one of these). It could be adjusted in the TJ mania areas, but over all it is a very strong model for gifted education.

Eliminating a successful and well thought out program because some parents on an anonymous internet board get bruised egos over AAP is really impractical and makes little sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrap the AAP model. It's time to reinvent.

Level IV curriculum in every school and classroom.

Very top 3-4% of students that simply cannot function in a normal classroom with differentiation are bussed to a special center for truly gifted, extreme IQ students.

These kids need special education the same way kids need special education on the other side of the spectrum. Mainstreamed to the greatest extent possible with differentiation in their home school and if that cannot work then they can be provided highly specialized teaching at a center that suits their needs.

This AAP madness is a burden on the school system and is simply lowering the standards for the majority of students in FCPS.

Bad idea.

My kid is in that upper 99% and the more inclusive program is more beneficial to these kids at the extreme.

Agreed. There is a whole other thread for folks to call AAP "madness" and "evil". As others have observed many times, the negative center experience is far from universal. If there are problem schools/neighborhoods, those should be addressed.

Exactly - sadly, I don't think we'll ever be able to shake the rabid AAP haters. They pop up everywhere. Even with threads like "where do you send your child for enrichment?" get nasty responses like "if your child is so gifted, why do they need it?"

Seems DCUM is a safe, anonymous place for these folks to vent their insecurities.

Its not madness, nonsense or evil - its not destroying the fabric our communities. It's not that dramatic. The friends (mine and my kids) that we had before AAP, we still have. If your 'community relationships' are that fragile, maybe you need to make some new, real friends?

I don't see any problem with the community, we still have the same friends. I actually feel more sadness for the kids in AAP where we are since in our community they get out later so by the time they're getting of the bus, the other kids have been out playing for an hour and are heading back in or to sports practices. Less spontaneous playtime with their neighborhood friends.

What I have a problem with is an inefficient program that lowers the standards for children in Gen Ed classes and brings down FCPS overall as a system. It's a program that has completely veered away from it's original intent and needs to be brought back into alignment for the bettering of the entire school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrap the AAP model. It's time to reinvent.

Level IV curriculum in every school and classroom.

Very top 3-4% of students that simply cannot function in a normal classroom with differentiation are bussed to a special center for truly gifted, extreme IQ students.

These kids need special education the same way kids need special education on the other side of the spectrum. Mainstreamed to the greatest extent possible with differentiation in their home school and if that cannot work then they can be provided highly specialized teaching at a center that suits their needs.

This AAP madness is a burden on the school system and is simply lowering the standards for the majority of students in FCPS.

Bad idea.

My kid is in that upper 99% and the more inclusive program is more beneficial to these kids at the extreme.

Agreed. There is a whole other thread for folks to call AAP "madness" and "evil". As others have observed many times, the negative center experience is far from universal. If there are problem schools/neighborhoods, those should be addressed.

Exactly - sadly, I don't think we'll ever be able to shake the rabid AAP haters. They pop up everywhere. Even with threads like "where do you send your child for enrichment?" get nasty responses like "if your child is so gifted, why do they need it?"

Seems DCUM is a safe, anonymous place for these folks to vent their insecurities.

Its not madness, nonsense or evil - its not destroying the fabric our communities. It's not that dramatic. The friends (mine and my kids) that we had before AAP, we still have. If your 'community relationships' are that fragile, maybe you need to make some new, real friends?

I don't see any problem with the community, we still have the same friends. I actually feel more sadness for the kids in AAP where we are since in our community they get out later so by the time they're getting of the bus, the other kids have been out playing for an hour and are heading back in or to sports practices. Less spontaneous playtime with their neighborhood friends.

What I have a problem with is an inefficient program that lowers the standards for children in Gen Ed classes and brings down FCPS overall as a system. It's a program that has completely veered away from it's original intent and needs to be brought back into alignment for the bettering of the entire school system.

Do you also feel sad for the kids stuck at SACC until their parents get out of work? Or kids who don't live in houses with yards to play in? Many different circumstances for families - I don't think that is a reason to eliminate AAP.

How does AAP lower the GE standards? There is still differentiation in GE, isn't there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Scrap the AAP model. It's time to reinvent.

Level IV curriculum in every school and classroom.

Very top 3-4% of students that simply cannot function in a normal classroom with differentiation are bussed to a special center for truly gifted, extreme IQ students.

These kids need special education the same way kids need special education on the other side of the spectrum. Mainstreamed to the greatest extent possible with differentiation in their home school and if that cannot work then they can be provided highly specialized teaching at a center that suits their needs.

This AAP madness is a burden on the school system and is simply lowering the standards for the majority of students in FCPS.

FYI, there are special needs students everywhere on the spectrum, including in AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like the way our local ES did it. Everyone is mixed for homeroom, lunch and specials. Student change classes for the 4 core classes. Some were in AAP for all four. Some were a mix of gen ed and AAP. Some were in all gen ed. My DC was in AAP for two, gen ed for one and special ed for one. The math classes were smaller because there was an extra math teacher who taught one math class to each grade and the special ed teacher had her own class, in addition to the homeroom teachers. The language arts classes were slightly smaller as the special ed teacher also had a class. This helped differentiate based on the individual student.

Which school is this?

Chesterbrook

[Anonymous]

Wolftrap and Flint Hill are similar for math and language arts except they mix completely with general ed for science and social studies, specials, lunch, and recess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scrap the AAP model. It's time to reinvent.

Level IV curriculum in every school and classroom.

Very top 3-4% of students that simply cannot function in a normal classroom with differentiation are bussed to a special center for truly gifted, extreme IQ students.

These kids need special education the same way kids need special education on the other side of the spectrum. Mainstreamed to the greatest extent possible with differentiation in their home school and if that cannot work then they can be provided highly specialized teaching at a center that suits their needs.

This AAP madness is a burden on the school system and is simply lowering the standards for the majority of students in FCPS.

Bad idea.

My kid is in that upper 99% and the more inclusive program is more beneficial to these kids at the extreme.

Agreed. There is a whole other thread for folks to call AAP "madness" and "evil". As others have observed many times, the negative center experience is far from universal. If there are problem schools/neighborhoods, those should be addressed.

Exactly - sadly, I don't think we'll ever be able to shake the rabid AAP haters. They pop up everywhere. Even with threads like "where do you send your child for enrichment?" get nasty responses like "if your child is so gifted, why do they need it?"

Seems DCUM is a safe, anonymous place for these folks to vent their insecurities.

Its not madness, nonsense or evil - its not destroying the fabric our communities. It's not that dramatic. The friends (mine and my kids) that we had before AAP, we still have. If your 'community relationships' are that fragile, maybe you need to make some new, real friends?

I don't see any problem with the community, we still have the same friends. I actually feel more sadness for the kids in AAP where we are since in our community they get out later so by the time they're getting of the bus, the other kids have been out playing for an hour and are heading back in or to sports practices. Less spontaneous playtime with their neighborhood friends.

What I have a problem with is an inefficient program that lowers the standards for children in Gen Ed classes and brings down FCPS overall as a system. It's a program that has completely veered away from it's original intent and needs to be brought back into alignment for the bettering of the entire school system.

Do you also feel sad for the kids stuck at SACC until their parents get out of work? Or kids who don't live in houses with yards to play in? Many different circumstances for families - I don't think that is a reason to eliminate AAP.

How does AAP lower the GE standards? There is still differentiation in GE, isn't there?

I was commenting to the community problem poster.

It lowers the GenEd standards because the bar for AAP has been set, so they won't implement those things in GenEd classrooms. Not the curriculum, not the extra teacher training, not the higher expectations of students, because then AAP wouldn't be so different.

There is damn good reason parents love the AAP program, it's because the education and expectations are better and higher. That comes from the teachers and the curriculum. That's something that should be in every classroom in FCPS, not just for some students, for all.

So yes, it very much lowers the bar for GenEd and in turn the majority of students in FCPS.