Preperation for GT testing for 1st grader

[Anonymous]

Prepping for the test is not like an athlete training. Prepping for the test is like an athlete training to handle a specific metric that has no bearing in the game. For example, a football player figures out how to trim 1/10th of a second off the time for the 40 yard dash by diving the last 1 yard. It does not make him a better player, but makes him look like a better player.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its not an unfair advantage.
You know you can get Princeton Review materials for free at the public library.

Its that some people will put forth additional effort to help ensure that they perform at their best. That is not unfair.

Do people berate athletes for training up for a big competition? No, we celebrate it. We admire the fact that they dedicate their free time to spend the extra time and effort.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

You can get Princeton Review materials at the library NOW--not 35 years ago, when I was facing the SAT. I don't necessarily have a problem with paid SAT prep in this day and age; it seems the standard. But ordering prep test materials for a 7-year-old--?

I know all about wills and ways, having grown up on welfare. I think you are comparing apples and oranges here. We are not talking about "people" (i.e., children) putting forth additional effort to help ensure they perform at their best. We are talking about parents paying big dollars for prep materials--and the test assumes that children are NOT prepped. Therein lies the unfair advantage.

Also, we're not talking about athletics, which are not compulsory for children between the ages of 5 and 18. We're talking about the public school system, which is supposed to offer the same advantages to every child who attends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can get Princeton Review materials at the library NOW--not 35 years ago, when I was facing the SAT.

You're right... back then it was Barrons. I know because I got a copy back then and used it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can get Princeton Review materials at the library NOW--not 35 years ago, when I was facing the SAT.

You're right... back then it was Barrons. I know because I got a copy back then and used it.

Not my local library. No car, so that's where my search was confined.

[Anonymous]

I still have a couple years before my kids start taking the tests, but I seriously doubt scoring in the 99% means the kids are "gifted." I think any decently bright kid can be prepped to score well on these tests. And if my kids don't make it, I will accept it but also realize I only have myself to blame for not prepping them.

But what do I know...

[Anonymous]

Is anyone actually comfortable with the idea that the AAP program might not be what's best for their child?

It seems as though the vast majority of parents feel like getting in is crucial and they will have failed their child if they don't weasel their way in. It's not a private school, and it's not even a charter school. It's a program that is designed to serve the kids who need it.

[Anonymous]

Fcps has created its own mess with this program. I have not heard of any other county/ school district out there that plops such a high percentage of it's kids in substantially separate classrooms. I'd be curious is anyone else know a major district that differentiates In this way on such a large scale. Because This program is out there, no I won't be happy unless my Dd is accepted. I am fine with my ds not being accepted though- that would not be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be curious is anyone else know a major district that differentiates In this way on such a large scale.

Maybe check the NAGC States of the States report? It is a bit dated, however. I would look somewhere around page 37.

http://www.nagc.org/uploadedFiles/Information_and_Resources/State_of_the_States_2008-2009/Summary%20of%20findings%202008-2009%20State%20of%20the%20States%20Report.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the original poster and I must say that I am truly disgusted by these responses. I thought that I may receive some book suggestions or a kind word about my son developing at his own pace, but with the exception of the first post, it was more mean spirited than I thought possible. I feel that these responses speak to our inability to support each other in raising the best children that we can. I was the first child in my entire family to attend college, and had to find mentors outside of my family to achieve my goals. I worked hard and have a M.D. from Hopkins. I work with high school students every summer to help others reach their goals. So to have this type of response, I am shocked. I feel that we need to raise the level of discourse and find a way to support each other in making the world a place where our children can reach their potential. I may not be the best parent or the most gifted person, but I seek to improve this world through my actions and I hope that anyone who reads this post is challenged to take actions to do the same.

Dear OP, I understand your disappointment with the responses. Unfortunately, since this is an anonymous forum, posters feel the freedom to behave in ways they would not face to face..they forget all of their manners. To the PP who said OP was trying to change the world by prepping OP's DC - OP is simply calling for kinder, more helpful discourse is all.

Anyway, as you can see, OP, there are some who hold the point of of view that children should in no way, shape or form prepare for the NNAT or CoGAT, because they consider it "cheating", an unfair advantage, a false result, etc.

There is another camp that believes that you should absolutely prepare your child if you think the AAP program would benefit them and if you think prepping would improve DC's scores. Levels of "prepping" can range from ordering some practice tests (look online), buying preparation materials (again online) or even taking courses (summer enrichment classes.) If you are concerned about anxiety - I would just assure DC to try his best and answer all the questions.

Both camps apparently feel very strongly about their respective positions, so a seemingly innocent inquiry can inflame the thread.

What summer enrichment classes are there that will help a kid do better on the CoGAT?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What summer enrichment classes are there that will help a kid do better on the CoGAT?

There are many of them. Check the academic-focused camps posted in the Camps forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What summer enrichment classes are there that will help a kid do better on the CoGAT?

There are many of them. Check the academic-focused camps posted in the Camps forum.

This is so sad to me. If you are taking one of these camps your child doesn't belong in aap. How selfish of you to waste their fun summer days with study. Why can't you people be happy and proud of the children you have

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Prepping for the test is not like an athlete training. Prepping for the test is like an athlete training to handle a specific metric that has no bearing in the game. For example, a football player figures out how to trim 1/10th of a second off the time for the 40 yard dash by diving the last 1 yard. It does not make him a better player, but makes him look like a better player.

But your example does make it exactly like an athlete training. There are plenty of workout wonders out there.
You are right, running fast does not necessarily make one a better football player -- but ALL of the football players do focus on their 40 time, trying to maximize it. They know that fair or not, they will be judged on it, so they had better do the best that they can.

It does not mean that they are cheating or getting any unfair advantage. They are instead making sure that they are maximizing their ability to show their best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is so sad to me. If you are taking one of these camps your child doesn't belong in aap. How selfish of you to waste their fun summer days with study. Why can't you people be happy and proud of the children you have

Boo hoo for you, then.

My kid did a few weeks of academic camp the past year and really enjoyed it.
Additionally, we took an international trip, he did sports, went to a cub scout camp, and did ice-skating and swimming lessons.
So there was plenty of fun summer days.

Its funny how you claim that this "wastes days with study" !!!
You are deluded if you truly believe this. It is fair to say that you need to balance work and fun/relaxation time. But it is well established that a 3 month summer vacation with no academic/enrichment stimulation has kids losing much of what they've learned and falling behind. Why do you think that there is a big year-round school movement, or that most other countries around the world no longer give such a long summer break?

I will be sending my kids to academic camps again this summer and they are looking forward to it. They are even past the Cogat -- so no more tests to prep for.
The sad wasted time they spend getting ahead academically, is fine by me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What summer enrichment classes are there that will help a kid do better on the CoGAT?

There are many of them. Check the academic-focused camps posted in the Camps forum.

This is so sad to me. If you are taking one of these camps your child doesn't belong in aap. How selfish of you to waste their fun summer days with study. Why can't you people be happy and proud of the children you have

How selfish of you to allow your kid fall behind their peers academically.

[Anonymous]

Prepping for the test is not like an athlete training. Prepping for the test is like an athlete training to handle a specific metric that has no bearing in the game. For example, a football player figures out how to trim 1/10th of a second off the time for the 40 yard dash by diving the last 1 yard. It does not make him a better player, but makes him look like a better player.

With your logic the great athletes of our time never prepped for tasks in their sport. They were simply born great and endowed with talent. EG, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird. Why these men would have been great and accomplished in their sport without all the drill .... shooting shot after shot even after the lights were out and dribbling around obstructions blindfolded. Indeed, Michael Phelps would have won all those Gold medals (because of the swimming genes) ... and not drilling away in the pool for 6 hours a day over the last 15 years.

All these genetically endowed athletes somehow forget to heed ... drill and kill ... will bring bad tidings and is wrong, just like with intellectual activities. One wonders why some of our greatest and most genetically endowed and gifted athletes work harder (drilling) than average slugs. After all it should be unnecessary since these guys were born gifted.