Talk to me about turning down a spot in a regional CES

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Her class just completed an autobiography project that’s ten chapters long, which means many of the kids have written assignments that are 30 pages in length, printed 10pt font

10 "chapters" yes. Each chapter is 1-2 paragraphs and an illustration. No child wrote a 7500 word autobiography. Stop your nonsense.

In DC's CES there was one project where several kids did write over 10k words. 2k wasn't uncommon either.

7500 is what? 15-20 pages, single spaced?

I had to do that in middle school, so even that sounds like a lot, but not totally outrageous if it were a semester-long thing.

Im the PP that wrote this originally. Multiple kids wrote 30 plus pages. It absolutely is not a couple of paragraphs per chapter. The instructions were very detailed and there’s no way to do everything without writing thousands of words.

Don’t know word counts but this assignment included title pages, drawings, photos, awards, ticket stubs, a table of contents, family tree, personal timeline, interviews with friends and family, in addition to the text covering ages 0-6, 7-10, feelings, achievements, description of self, family history, an autobiographical self portrait with a theme, birth story, likes and dislikes, future plans, hopes and dreams etc. Some kids had 40-50 pages.

This actually sounds really interesting. It'd be a great momento of their childhood. I think my child would really enjoy doing this if spread out over time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Her class just completed an autobiography project that’s ten chapters long, which means many of the kids have written assignments that are 30 pages in length, printed 10pt font

10 "chapters" yes. Each chapter is 1-2 paragraphs and an illustration. No child wrote a 7500 word autobiography. Stop your nonsense.

In DC's CES there was one project where several kids did write over 10k words. 2k wasn't uncommon either.

7500 is what? 15-20 pages, single spaced?

I had to do that in middle school, so even that sounds like a lot, but not totally outrageous if it were a semester-long thing.

Im the PP that wrote this originally. Multiple kids wrote 30 plus pages. It absolutely is not a couple of paragraphs per chapter. The instructions were very detailed and there’s no way to do everything without writing thousands of words.

Don’t know word counts but this assignment included title pages, drawings, photos, awards, ticket stubs, a table of contents, family tree, personal timeline, interviews with friends and family, in addition to the text covering ages 0-6, 7-10, feelings, achievements, description of self, family history, an autobiographical self portrait with a theme, birth story, likes and dislikes, future plans, hopes and dreams etc. Some kids had 40-50 pages.

This actually sounds really interesting. It'd be a great momento of their childhood. I think my child would really enjoy doing this if spread out over time.

The concept was great! The classroom time devoted to it was not. It meant a lot of work at home for weeks and weeks, on top of a heavy workload of other assignments including others of considerable complexity and length.

[Anonymous]

I had one child go through Pine Crest CES and one through CCES CES and there was a significant difference in the amount of homework. Pine Crest had the expectation of a lot of homework, particularly for 4th graders which I did not like at all. It felt like my child was being punished for needing accelerated learning. I would not have minded if it was just the projects, but a lot of busy work too. My second child just finished at CCES and it was significantly less homework. The quality of the programming was equivalent, but all projects were done at school. In addition, math and science were integrated into the special curriculum there, so it felt more holistic. Overall, for both kids the program was a good experience and despite all of the logistical challenges of getting them there, worth it. One down side, though, is that they make great friends and then all leave after 2 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had one child go through Pine Crest CES and one through CCES CES and there was a significant difference in the amount of homework. Pine Crest had the expectation of a lot of homework, particularly for 4th graders which I did not like at all. It felt like my child was being punished for needing accelerated learning. I would not have minded if it was just the projects, but a lot of busy work too. My second child just finished at CCES and it was significantly less homework. The quality of the programming was equivalent, but all projects were done at school. In addition, math and science were integrated into the special curriculum there, so it felt more holistic. Overall, for both kids the program was a good experience and despite all of the logistical challenges of getting them there, worth it. One down side, though, is that they make great friends and then all leave after 2 years.

My child feels like the workload is a punishment too. It’s work, work, work. When the rest of the grades are participating in fun activities the CES kids are still working every time. It’s disheartening to see smart 9/10/11 year old disengage from school because of the excessive volume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Perhaps it depends on the school? My 4th grade kid has submitted multiple 3,000+ word assignments so far. Her class just completed an autobiography project that’s ten chapters long, which means many of the kids have written assignments that are 30 pages in length, printed 10pt font. While working on this assignment there were several other lengthy assignments due based on reading a full length chapter book aimed at young adults every week, plus other shorter ones on a daily basis.

Please name the school. This is not at all like my child's CES experience, or any I've heard. I think you are exaggerating. Perhaps you have a child on the wait list and are trying to scare parents away on the hope your child can go.

There is no 4th grader who can write a substantive, well-written 30 page assignment. Even smart kids have to learn to write, and there would be no purpose in such a long assignment. Quality over quantity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Perhaps it depends on the school? My 4th grade kid has submitted multiple 3,000+ word assignments so far. Her class just completed an autobiography project that’s ten chapters long, which means many of the kids have written assignments that are 30 pages in length, printed 10pt font. While working on this assignment there were several other lengthy assignments due based on reading a full length chapter book aimed at young adults every week, plus other shorter ones on a daily basis.

Please name the school. This is not at all like my child's CES experience, or any I've heard. I think you are exaggerating. Perhaps you have a child on the wait list and are trying to scare parents away on the hope your child can go.

There is no 4th grader who can write a substantive, well-written 30 page assignment. Even smart kids have to learn to write, and there would be no purpose in such a long assignment. Quality over quantity.

Personally I think it's okay if it's a series of assignments, which it sounds like it is, instead of one long assignment.

I've read in other threads that Pine Crest gives a lot of homework. I think that's not the case at other CES programs. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Perhaps it depends on the school? My 4th grade kid has submitted multiple 3,000+ word assignments so far. Her class just completed an autobiography project that’s ten chapters long, which means many of the kids have written assignments that are 30 pages in length, printed 10pt font. While working on this assignment there were several other lengthy assignments due based on reading a full length chapter book aimed at young adults every week, plus other shorter ones on a daily basis.

Please name the school. This is not at all like my child's CES experience, or any I've heard. I think you are exaggerating. Perhaps you have a child on the wait list and are trying to scare parents away on the hope your child can go.

There is no 4th grader who can write a substantive, well-written 30 page assignment. Even smart kids have to learn to write, and there would be no purpose in such a long assignment. Quality over quantity.

Personally I think it's okay if it's a series of assignments, which it sounds like it is, instead of one long assignment.

I've read in other threads that Pine Crest gives a lot of homework. I think that's not the case at other CES programs. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I think you have it backwards.
I think there are a number that give significant amounts of homework and only a few that do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Perhaps it depends on the school? My 4th grade kid has submitted multiple 3,000+ word assignments so far. Her class just completed an autobiography project that’s ten chapters long, which means many of the kids have written assignments that are 30 pages in length, printed 10pt font. While working on this assignment there were several other lengthy assignments due based on reading a full length chapter book aimed at young adults every week, plus other shorter ones on a daily basis.

Please name the school. This is not at all like my child's CES experience, or any I've heard. I think you are exaggerating. Perhaps you have a child on the wait list and are trying to scare parents away on the hope your child can go.

There is no 4th grader who can write a substantive, well-written 30 page assignment. Even smart kids have to learn to write, and there would be no purpose in such a long assignment. Quality over quantity.

Personally I think it's okay if it's a series of assignments, which it sounds like it is, instead of one long assignment.

I've read in other threads that Pine Crest gives a lot of homework. I think that's not the case at other CES programs. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I think you have it backwards.
I think there are a number that give significant amounts of homework and only a few that do not.

Agree. We’re not at Pine Crest. Crazy amounts of homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Perhaps it depends on the school? My 4th grade kid has submitted multiple 3,000+ word assignments so far. Her class just completed an autobiography project that’s ten chapters long, which means many of the kids have written assignments that are 30 pages in length, printed 10pt font. While working on this assignment there were several other lengthy assignments due based on reading a full length chapter book aimed at young adults every week, plus other shorter ones on a daily basis.

Please name the school. This is not at all like my child's CES experience, or any I've heard. I think you are exaggerating. Perhaps you have a child on the wait list and are trying to scare parents away on the hope your child can go.

There is no 4th grader who can write a substantive, well-written 30 page assignment. Even smart kids have to learn to write, and there would be no purpose in such a long assignment. Quality over quantity.

Personally I think it's okay if it's a series of assignments, which it sounds like it is, instead of one long assignment.

I've read in other threads that Pine Crest gives a lot of homework. I think that's not the case at other CES programs. Correct me if I'm wrong.

It’s mostly not a series of assignments. There were one or two assignments that got wrapped into the end project that were additional to the main assignment but other than that it was one assignment with one due date and a 5-6 page description of the various elements that had to be included (including defining each chapters content). It was a significant organizational task for a 10 year old over a relatively short timeframe. If it were a series of assignments it would be MUCH easier..

[Anonymous]

Totally different perspective but just FYI we are at an elementary school as our home school that also houses CES. My child constantly tells me that at recess the kids are all "I'm in the gifted program-I'm smarter than you". Which is especially hilarious since it was basically 100% lottery last year so yeah. My kid was in the lottery too. But now I'm
So glad we didn't get it. Clearly the environment is toxic and unkind. My younger child has an even better chance of getting In next year and we will turn it down for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you turned down a spot in a regional CES, why? And are you happy with that decision?

If you were on the fence and sent your kid to a CES and ended up happy or regretting it-- why?

Thanks.

I've heard some people turn it down because their kids don't like writing and there's a lot of writing in CES.

Kids don’t like hard work and that’s not a good reason to enable them to avoid it. Writing is a necessary skill and in most of MCPS they do a crappy job of teaching it. That alone is a great reason to go to the CES.

~Former Center for the Highly Gifted parent

Not always. I have a gifted kid, who while they would totally benefit from the academics of CES, the potential social emotional hit is a real concern.

The potential for social improvement is real. My kid made some wonderful friends in the HGC and they are still friends today in their college years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally different perspective but just FYI we are at an elementary school as our home school that also houses CES. My child constantly tells me that at recess the kids are all "I'm in the gifted program-I'm smarter than you". Which is especially hilarious since it was basically 100% lottery last year so yeah. My kid was in the lottery too. But now I'm
So glad we didn't get it. Clearly the environment is toxic and unkind. My younger child has an even better chance of getting In next year and we will turn it down for sure.

Clearly.

And your reaction is rational for sure.

[Anonymous]

I think the workload really varies from CES to CES. It's best to talk to the families that are at or have gone to your local CES, but in the meantime, here are some threads about it:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/828964.page
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/994842.page#20655020
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/982050.page#20264323
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/889032.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you turned down a spot in a regional CES, why? And are you happy with that decision?

If you were on the fence and sent your kid to a CES and ended up happy or regretting it-- why?

Thanks.

This might be helpful to you, OP.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/877899.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you turned down a spot in a regional CES, why? And are you happy with that decision?

If you were on the fence and sent your kid to a CES and ended up happy or regretting it-- why?

Thanks.

This might be helpful to you, OP.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/877899.page

Thank you!

-OP