Why did you put your child in AAP?

[Anonymous]

I'm curious to know what the difference is between AAP and regular classes? Is each elementary school different in how they handle who is selected and are they required to have a certain number of AAP students per grade? I'm trying to understand why I would want to put my child in AAP so that I can make a decision on whether or not it would be good for him enter the prorgram? Your feedback is appreciated.

[Anonymous]

well, first of all, you don't "put your child in AAP." They have to be selected. The way it is supposed to work is the child has to be found eligible by receiving a high enough score on an abilities test given by FCPS and on an assessment of their "gifted" behaviours. Many parents of students who get a "no" answer refuse to accept it and then go out and pay $375 or more for a different test and push, push, push .... so come to think of it I guess you could "put your child in AAP" if you really wanted it badly enough.

[Anonymous]

why did we put our child in AAP? Because its there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:well, first of all, you don't "put your child in AAP." They have to be selected. The way it is supposed to work is the child has to be found eligible by receiving a high enough score on an abilities test given by FCPS and on an assessment of their "gifted" behaviours. Many parents of students who get a "no" answer refuse to accept it and then go out and pay $375 or more for a different test and push, push, push .... so come to think of it I guess you could "put your child in AAP" if you really wanted it badly enough.

Firrst of all your child is found eligible. Second of all the parent or guardian Oks, provides permission. (puts) child in the class. So the original poster is not incorrect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:well, first of all, you don't "put your child in AAP." They have to be selected. The way it is supposed to work is the child has to be found eligible by receiving a high enough score on an abilities test given by FCPS and on an assessment of their "gifted" behaviours. Many parents of students who get a "no" answer refuse to accept it and then go out and pay $375 or more for a different test and push, push, push .... so come to think of it I guess you could "put your child in AAP" if you really wanted it badly enough.

Firrst of all your child is found eligible. Second of all the parent or guardian Oks, provides permission. (puts) child in the class. So the original poster is not incorrect.

but there is a condition precedent to deciding to put your child in, i.e., he or she has to be found eligible. If not, the parent doesn't get to give permission (in theory).

[Anonymous]

My DC needs it but is rejected!

[Anonymous]

Simple: a more challenging educational environment than her other option I use the same calculus for sports teams. My children do better with challenge and stimulation than minimal or none and I therefore seek out those environments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious to know what the difference is between AAP and regular classes?

I suggest viewing the presentation posted on the AAP website that outlines how the AAP curriculum is different.

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/pdfs/aapac/AAPACpresentationJan2013.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC needs it but is rejected!

Then DC doesn't actually need it, eh?

[Anonymous]

My daughter is thriving with the much faster pace. She has an exceptional memory so her teachers kept telling us that she only needed to see/hear facts once and she knew them but they would go over facts (like where is the equator) over and over and over again.

Also, she was getting too cocky because class work and homework never challenged her. Having all schoolwork be easy for her was not a good lesson for her in what life is like. Now she has more work and harder work. It teachers her perseverance and that she is not always right.

I do believe though that the curriculum/expectations at our school for k-2 were easier than at many schools for some reason. It sounds like some other schools go more in depth in the ealy years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is thriving with the much faster pace. She has an exceptional memory so her teachers kept telling us that she only needed to see/hear facts once and she knew them but they would go over facts (like where is the equator) over and over and over again.

Also, she was getting too cocky because class work and homework never challenged her. Having all schoolwork be easy for her was not a good lesson for her in what life is like. Now she has more work and harder work. It teachers her perseverance and that she is not always right.

I do believe though that the curriculum/expectations at our school for k-2 were easier than at many schools for some reason. It sounds like some other schools go more in depth in the ealy years.

MY DD the same. She was spending too much time sitting around waiting, with her work complete. Then she would look for other things to do. AAP worked well for her.

[Anonymous]

As others note -- for the challenge. I would add: We recently heard a very good presentation (at a middle school, for rising 7th graders' parents) about how teachers taught differently for different groups. For instance, in a general ed history class, the student might have to write a biographical research paper of a certain length. In honors class, a student would do the same but would be expected to write a longer, more detailed paper with more sources. And in AAP, the student would do all the above, but also be expected to write to a theme of "How would this historical figure handle one of today's problems" -- such as, how would Teddy Roosevelt respond to the Arab Spring, for instance (that example is mine). You can see the difference -- the curriculum is the same; the level of depth and expectation is not. I found that and other examples very helpful in understanding what the differences are between general ed, honors and AAP.

[Anonymous]

because I want my child to be thriving like everyone else's AAP child reportedly is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Simple: a more challenging educational environment than her other option I use the same calculus for sports teams. My children do better with challenge and stimulation than minimal or none and I therefore seek out those environments.

Not mine. The less challenge, the better, I say.

Everyone wants their kids to be challenged and they should be. Some children are more advanced and ready for bigger challenges sooner. It depends on the child, but with so many parents pushing regardless, the end result has been watered down academic programs and travel teams for everyone.

[Anonymous]

^^ Your snark is pointless. Nothing wrong with stating a child is thriving. The word often comes up because it is an accurate description what happens when kids move to AAP.