Gifted and talented program in MCPS

[Anonymous]

We are considering whether to apply for our kid to go one of the grade 3-4 gifted and talented programs. I realize he might not get in anyway, but here are my questions:

1. Does it have a very competitive feel to it? Or is there a sense of a genuine love of learning amongst the students?
2. Does it emphasize accelerated learning or creativity or is there a good balance?
3. Does it use the same soul-sucking (okay, I realize I'm editorializing) evaluation techniques that the regular curriculum does? (BCRs, multiple choice quizzes, etc)
4. Is the science / social studies program any more integrated with math / language arts than in the regular curriculum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are considering whether to apply for our kid to go one of the grade 3-4 gifted and talented programs. I realize he might not get in anyway, but here are my questions:

1. Does it have a very competitive feel to it? Or is there a sense of a genuine love of learning amongst the students?
2. Does it emphasize accelerated learning or creativity or is there a good balance?
3. Does it use the same soul-sucking (okay, I realize I'm editorializing) evaluation techniques that the regular curriculum does? (BCRs, multiple choice quizzes, etc)
4. Is the science / social studies program any more integrated with math / language arts than in the regular curriculum?

Thanks for asking those questions so well! I was struggling with the same ones while trying to fill in that application. I think these kids should be asked to do a project for their entrance and not a test. Hope a HGC teacher can give us some answers.

[Anonymous]

My understanding is the the program is best for kids who don't have peers at their home schools. For example, if a kid is the only really advanced student in a class full of basic level (or lower) performers, it might be a good fit. But, if your school has a good number of smart, motivated students, the need for the HGC is limited. This is the feedback that I have heard in any case.

[Anonymous]

We are considering whether to apply for our kid to go one of the grade 3-4 gifted and talented programs. I realize he might not get in anyway, but here are my questions:

By the way, the HGC's are 4th and 5th grades.

[Anonymous]

1. It's competitive only in a good natured way (i.e. who can solve the Rubik's cube first). Otherwise very supportive and nurturing.
2. Lots of creativity in the projects the kids do.
3. No BCRs, etc. but the kids do have to take the soul sucking MSAs.
4. I didn't think they were more integrated.

My kid went to Pine Crest. Other programs may vary.

[Anonymous]

Hasn't the deadline passed for the application?

[Anonymous]

Deadline is Nov. 7.

[Anonymous]

I think they are much more integrated. 1st large research topic related to Native Americans and the reading books were also Native American themed.

[Anonymous]

Well, that's true. Aside from that, I don't recall there being much integration.

In contrast, the middle school humanities program is much more integrated, I think.