Highly Gifted Centers- have you made a decision yet?

[Anonymous]

But considering some of this years 5th grade Center kids are taking Math 8..that is a big drop in choices. I wonder what Takoma Park will do based on this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But considering some of this years 5th grade Center kids are taking Math 8..that is a big drop in choices. I wonder what Takoma Park will do based on this.

Don't worry, they are safe. The current 3rd and lower grade kids will receive/are receiving the effect of Curriculum 2.0 (math especially) to the full extent.

[Anonymous]

You are looking at it from the perspective of comparing current 3rd graders to older children. If you look at it from the perspective of the current 3rd graders then it's an improvement. But this has nothing to do with the HGC since math has never been part of that curriculum. I also think that there will e a greater need for enrichment, even if no additional acceleration is available, among those students. And those children may, as a result, be able to get that enrichment.

[Anonymous]

I've heard that 2.0 will be affect HGC in it's advanced curriculum as well. They are 2.0ing all of it next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've heard that 2.0 will be affect HGC in it's advanced curriculum as well. They are 2.0ing all of it next year.

The HGC have always had to cover the regular curiculum in addition to the HGC curriculum. But they can go very fast through tHe regular curiculum.

[Anonymous]

I was told that they might have to get rid of their drama component to squeeze in all the requirements of 2.0.

Could someone comment on the testing. Do they get tested all the time like the kids in the regular public do? We're coming from a small private and are clueless about what goes on.

[Anonymous]

Our HGC does not have a drama component... I am clueless about private. They have math quizzes and tests. Spelling/vocab most weeks. Multiple grades in all subjects. In the spring they take MSA's..I think they are 4 two hour testing periods.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP! That was helpful!

[Anonymous]

They don't spend time prepping for standardized tests.

[Anonymous]

I have a second grader so will be investigating the HGC next year. It seems like most who responded to this thread said their child is excited to go. I am curious about that component - I think that my child could certainly benefit from and flourish in the HGC environment, but he dearly loves his current school and friends and plays lots of sports that take place right after school on school fields. I can't imagine him being excited to leave any of that - in fact I see him being sad about it. Dis anyone have that reaction from their child and still send the child to the HGC? The HGC is not our home school.

[Anonymous]

My child was lucky enough to have several friends also attend so that was not much of an issue..and she has manintained several freindships with neighborhood kids despite going away. We had no intention of continuing with the magents for MS due to distance so we encouraged keeping old friends. After school activities are harder. We have done some at new school which involves a longish pickup (has done many fewer due to our reluctance for pickup) and some at old school which means she get there late. I will say by 4th/5th grade kids are less likly to be participating in school based activities at least at our school. Sports have moved to teams..and anything that involves kindergarteners is babyish.

[Anonymous]

By 4th grade, most sports are team based rather than school base in my experience. In addition, the kind of kid who will thrive in the center is a kid who will look at it with excitement. If your kid is more focused on staying with neighborhood friends at the home school, he probably isn't such a great fit and there's nothing wrong with that. I think that is part of the winnowing process. You want independent kids who respond well to a challenge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By 4th grade, most sports are team based rather than school base in my experience. In addition, the kind of kid who will thrive in the center is a kid who will look at it with excitement. If your kid is more focused on staying with neighborhood friends at the home school, he probably isn't such a great fit and there's nothing wrong with that. I think that is part of the winnowing process. You want independent kids who respond well to a challenge.

There are so many scenarios that could result in staying at your current school. Not all "independent kids who respond well to a challenge" will necessarily want to leave their current school. Our "independent" child didn't want to attend the HGC. Fortunately for us she takes on independent research opportunities without prompting and seeks out challenging work both at home and at her current school. We decided to keep her at her current school (a language immersion program) because of the challenge that learning in a foreign language brings (and which she enjoys).

[Anonymous]

I have a question!

After mail back the accept form, Did any parent received any more information? Or we just wait for the "Parent Information & Procedures" before new school year start?

Because my kid's teacher want a email from me to conform that my kid will go to GT center or not? I think she should get the information from MCPS or not.

[Anonymous]

I don't think we got anything. You could call the office and just verify. I think we were told they only follow up with people they do not hear from.