The entire AAP program should be eliminated

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what would you propose for meeting the needs of advanced students in the absence of AAP? Or do we only meet the needs of students average or below or with some other special circumstance EXCEPT for advanced ability? We should just let those kids suffer from boredom and sap their interest in education, amirite?

Stop with this argument that kids are bored. It is possible to differentiate in a classroom where there different learning levels. You’ve convinced yourself that the only way is to separate out kids for the entire day. So anything less than that will result in children crying every hour from boredom.

No it isn't. The rest of your post is also nonsense, too, btw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what would you propose for meeting the needs of advanced students in the absence of AAP? Or do we only meet the needs of students average or below or with some other special circumstance EXCEPT for advanced ability? We should just let those kids suffer from boredom and sap their interest in education, amirite?

Stop with this argument that kids are bored. It is possible to differentiate in a classroom where there different learning levels. You’ve convinced yourself that the only way is to separate out kids for the entire day. So anything less than that will result in children crying every hour from boredom.

By the way, in our ES the AAP kids only have core subjects together and classes are mixed for specials.

I'm sorry, were you thinking that ES kids needed to be separated for strings/band, PE and art? I don't even understand your statement. My kids are in AAP Level IV and I only see the difference in math. I suppose the kids who are strong in math can be pulled out and placed in advanced math and that could solve the problem. The other subjects don't really require pull outs and strong kids can easily be encouraged to go deeper and rubrics can note differentiated learning. I agree that theoretically there is an underlying issue on the haves and the have-nots that are created by segregating kids into AAP and non-AAP classes. There is no one on this board who can say that doesn't happen in ES. Taking specials together doesn't make it go away because kids are smarter than that and know the difference of being tagged AAP vs non-AAP whether or not you're in PE with the the non-AAP kids. A full overhaul of how this program is administered may be required but I also don't think it should be disbanded. There can exist a happy medium to give kids an opportunity to shine without seemingly creating an elitist (from an ES perspective, most kids AAP absolutely feel they are "special" and some often believe they are "smarter" than the other kids, which we all know is completely false) platform.

[Anonymous]

Oh my God. AAP is not segregated in all pyramids. My kids’ AAP classes in the Oakton pyramid had a plurality of Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern, Latino, and black kids. My daughter was one of two white kids in her 5th grade AAP class, and the other was Russian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh my God. AAP is not segregated in all pyramids. My kids’ AAP classes in the Oakton pyramid had a plurality of Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern, Latino, and black kids. My daughter was one of two white kids in her 5th grade AAP class, and the other was Russian.

Segregated from their cohort. They are in separate classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Yes, they are separated from other kids in their grade because they needed more advanced content. That is not “segregated.” One of my kids spent K-2 in the corner with a math worksheet while the teacher helped other kids. She hates school and was bored. Others have said the same thing. Differentiated classrooms are all well and good if classes are small and teachers genuinely have adequate resources - but that is not the case in FCPS. I pay taxes just like you, and my kid deserves a free and appropriate public education, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you all heard the story of the fox and sour grapes?
The fox tries a lot to get the yummy grapes, but when he can’t he says they are sour. If you are not happy with public schools and AAP program, who is stopping you to send your genius child to a private school?
AAP is same for some parents, who try hard for their not so hard working and motivated kids and can’t get in.
I agree some parents do lots of teacher/ principal pleasing (which is not fair to kids whose parents can’t and don’t have the means) but believe me if the child is not motivated and can’t get good score the child will not get in. At least that’s how it works in center schools where there is so much competition.

This is not relevant to the question of if there should be a publicly funded private school for anyone to get into in the first place. It’s not sour grapes on my part. I live in Maryland. I just find the program morally bankrupt.

Let me guess, your kid is in Blair Magnet and you live in Takoma Park - hate to tell you but that may be even worse. At least in Virginia AAP is county wide.

[Anonymous]

1. The 99.9% kids who would truly need a more specialized and segregated education are not served by AAP. They are just as bored in AAP as they would be in general Ed.

2. The top 20% AAP generally serves well would do just as well in general Ed if AAP did not exist, in which case enrichment and groupings within general Ed could possibly serve even more students.

[Anonymous]

I find AAP beneficial for my two 2E kids who are in it. Those who want to get rid of it need to consider the students with learning disabilities who benefit from it as well. I find that absent from this conversation so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what would you propose for meeting the needs of advanced students in the absence of AAP? Or do we only meet the needs of students average or below or with some other special circumstance EXCEPT for advanced ability? We should just let those kids suffer from boredom and sap their interest in education, amirite?

Stop with this argument that kids are bored. It is possible to differentiate in a classroom where there different learning levels. You’ve convinced yourself that the only way is to separate out kids for the entire day. So anything less than that will result in children crying every hour from boredom.

Is easier to preach differentiation than it is to put it into practice. I have teaching experience - but it sounds like you don’t, if you think it’s so easy. Only very good teachers can do it well IME.

[Anonymous]

People that claim you can do differentiation in a heterogeneous class have no clue. My son needs differentiation, there’s absolutely nothing he learns in his third grade math. The “ differentiation” looks like this: the class does 16:4, while the teaches gives my son the exercise 2516:4, which he does in his head in 5 seconds.

True differentiation wound require different content, lesson plan, homework, concepts. Most school districts and teachers are not capable to provide true in depth alternatives so it easier and cheaper to group students together by some ability metric and move them together through the regular curriculum faster.

Not ideal, but better than wasting the student potential with worksheets that provide no learning or to simply ignore bright students during class.

[Anonymous]

Moving from the state with failing education system to AAP Center School, the difference my kids experiencing is night and day. I just don’t understand all of the trash talk about this excellent program. My kids also feels sometimes that they are smarter than some of his friends, tell me if this is invalid feeling and they are not supposed to feel that way. He is not in the travel team like his buddy though, but he is totally fine with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moving from the state with failing education system to AAP Center School, the difference my kids experiencing is night and day. I just don’t understand all of the trash talk about this excellent program. My kids also feels sometimes that they are smarter than some of his friends, tell me if this is invalid feeling and they are not supposed to feel that way. He is not in the travel team like his buddy though, but he is totally fine with it.

But that’s exactly the point. AAP centers create a “feast” for a healthy slice of the population with a relative famine for everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Next up: every kid will make the school basketball team. The sole focus will be on helping non athletic kids make more baskets. The kids who are good players can't have their own team to improve their game but will be expected to warm the bench so the poorer players can have more practice. When college recruiters come around, no kids will be recruited, but at least everyone will be closer to average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People that claim you can do differentiation in a heterogeneous class have no clue. My son needs differentiation, there’s absolutely nothing he learns in his third grade math. The “ differentiation” looks like this: the class does 16:4, while the teaches gives my son the exercise 2516:4, which he does in his head in 5 seconds.

True differentiation wound require different content, lesson plan, homework, concepts. Most school districts and teachers are not capable to provide true in depth alternatives so it easier and cheaper to group students together by some ability metric and move them together through the regular curriculum faster.

Not ideal, but better than wasting the student potential with worksheets that provide no learning or to simply ignore bright students during class.

Except everywhere in the country does it this way and the kids deal. You feel entitled to something that is actually incredibly indulgent of advanced kids and is at the cost of everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you all heard the story of the fox and sour grapes?
The fox tries a lot to get the yummy grapes, but when he can’t he says they are sour. If you are not happy with public schools and AAP program, who is stopping you to send your genius child to a private school?
AAP is same for some parents, who try hard for their not so hard working and motivated kids and can’t get in.
I agree some parents do lots of teacher/ principal pleasing (which is not fair to kids whose parents can’t and don’t have the means) but believe me if the child is not motivated and can’t get good score the child will not get in. At least that’s how it works in center schools where there is so much competition.

This is not relevant to the question of if there should be a publicly funded private school for anyone to get into in the first place. It’s not sour grapes on my part. I live in Maryland. I just find the program morally bankrupt.

Let me guess, your kid is in Blair Magnet and you live in Takoma Park - hate to tell you but that may be even worse. At least in Virginia AAP is county wide.

Nope. But I see that would be convenient for you if true. I pay for my kid’s differentiation outside of school.