Why is the GT program in APS so anemic?

[Anonymous]

They are going to create intensified classes for ELA, science and social studies for next year, but they're saying anyone can be in them, and that they will cover the same things as the regular class. In other words, they're not going to offer anything new, they're just going to call it something new. SMH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are going to create intensified classes for ELA, science and social studies for next year, but they're saying anyone can be in them, and that they will cover the same things as the regular class. In other words, they're not going to offer anything new, they're just going to call it something new. SMH.

Topics covered will be the same but expectation is to go deeper in topic and hopefully more challenging assignment. Maybe a research paper or two. There is not enough writing in MS so I’m hoping my kids can get that in intensified.

[Anonymous]

My kid is in an Arlington elementary and his classroom has both a special Ed and a gifted cohort. He is not 2 grades ahead in math, more like one. He is getting differentiation and some kids in his class are likely 2e given that he has a full time teacher, a full time special Ed teacher and 1-2 aides in his classroom.

I have two gifted kids and I think the APS model of push-in / whole class activities is a good fit for my kids. I get it that a lot of parents want “pull out” services because that’s what we had as kids. My husband and I were both in pull out G&T programs and my mom has her masters in Gifted Ed and taught Jr high for 30+ years. It’s my understanding that pull out or total segregation like Fairfax AAP is not the most effective teaching model.

My kids get differentiation in class, opportunities to do “passion projects”, and we supplement with activities or camps in their areas of interest - Odyssey of the Mind, Robotics, Chemistry. A coworker’s kid is significantly ahead and he takes special weekend classes at GMU and does Code Ninjas - great options for kids who crave that mental challenge, but mine seem to need the social and physical aspect of rec sports more than accelerated academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are going to create intensified classes for ELA, science and social studies for next year, but they're saying anyone can be in them, and that they will cover the same things as the regular class. In other words, they're not going to offer anything new, they're just going to call it something new. SMH.

Are they going to be doing this in middle schools next year? Will it happen in all middle schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are going to create intensified classes for ELA, science and social studies for next year, but they're saying anyone can be in them, and that they will cover the same things as the regular class. In other words, they're not going to offer anything new, they're just going to call it something new. SMH.

Are they going to be doing this in middle schools next year? Will it happen in all middle schools?

In theory, the middle schools were supposed to be increasing the sizes of gifted clusters in English/social studies/science classes this year, in anticipation of the middle school rollout of the intensified/honors classes next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are going to create intensified classes for ELA, science and social studies for next year, but they're saying anyone can be in them, and that they will cover the same things as the regular class. In other words, they're not going to offer anything new, they're just going to call it something new. SMH.

Are they going to be doing this in middle schools next year? Will it happen in all middle schools?

In theory, the middle schools were supposed to be increasing the sizes of gifted clusters in English/social studies/science classes this year, in anticipation of the middle school rollout of the intensified/honors classes next year.

I have not noticed that at Gunston

[Anonymous]

To appreciate what a mediocre-minus system this is requires experiencing something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are going to create intensified classes for ELA, science and social studies for next year, but they're saying anyone can be in them, and that they will cover the same things as the regular class. In other words, they're not going to offer anything new, they're just going to call it something new. SMH.

Topics covered will be the same but expectation is to go deeper in topic and hopefully more challenging assignment. Maybe a research paper or two. There is not enough writing in MS so I’m hoping my kids can get that in intensified.

"Deeper" what does that mean? Are there more chapters in the book they haven't read? Carving into stone rather than pen on paper?

[Anonymous]

Elementary school parenting is a blip on the radar of your life. You all will learn soon enough that what you are doing here is sweating the small stuff. None of it means anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elementary school parenting is a blip on the radar of your life. You all will learn soon enough that what you are doing here is sweating the small stuff. None of it means anything.

High school parents here, I strongly disagree. These are fundamental skills, and you were building a love of learning or associating school with boredom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are going to create intensified classes for ELA, science and social studies for next year, but they're saying anyone can be in them, and that they will cover the same things as the regular class. In other words, they're not going to offer anything new, they're just going to call it something new. SMH.

Are they going to be doing this in middle schools next year? Will it happen in all middle schools?

Also, will this be all grade levels? My kid will be in 6th next year and would LOVE intensified science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in an Arlington elementary and his classroom has both a special Ed and a gifted cohort. He is not 2 grades ahead in math, more like one. He is getting differentiation and some kids in his class are likely 2e given that he has a full time teacher, a full time special Ed teacher and 1-2 aides in his classroom.

I have two gifted kids and I think the APS model of push-in / whole class activities is a good fit for my kids. I get it that a lot of parents want “pull out” services because that’s what we had as kids. My husband and I were both in pull out G&T programs and my mom has her masters in Gifted Ed and taught Jr high for 30+ years. It’s my understanding that pull out or total segregation like Fairfax AAP is not the most effective teaching model.

My kids get differentiation in class, opportunities to do “passion projects”, and we supplement with activities or camps in their areas of interest - Odyssey of the Mind, Robotics, Chemistry. A coworker’s kid is significantly ahead and he takes special weekend classes at GMU and does Code Ninjas - great options for kids who crave that mental challenge, but mine seem to need the social and physical aspect of rec sports more than accelerated academics.

It is the most effective teaching model but it is old-fashioned and no longer in style. APS is very progressive, they try on all the new fads and clear out the closet frequently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Send your kid to Mathnasium or better yet, let them focus on those areas where they aren’t “two years ahead”.

I agree. During elementary school during the pandemic, we sent our math-proficient kid to Mathnasium. We knew there was no way online math at school was going to challenge them. Now in APS, kid is a 7th grader doing Algebra 1 Intensified for high school credit (lots of kids are in the program). I would never leave it to APS in elementary to challenge my kid in math, they need additional instruction that is aimed at their skills and not aimed for the average student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in an Arlington elementary and his classroom has both a special Ed and a gifted cohort. He is not 2 grades ahead in math, more like one. He is getting differentiation and some kids in his class are likely 2e given that he has a full time teacher, a full time special Ed teacher and 1-2 aides in his classroom.

I have two gifted kids and I think the APS model of push-in / whole class activities is a good fit for my kids. I get it that a lot of parents want “pull out” services because that’s what we had as kids. My husband and I were both in pull out G&T programs and my mom has her masters in Gifted Ed and taught Jr high for 30+ years. It’s my understanding that pull out or total segregation like Fairfax AAP is not the most effective teaching model.

My kids get differentiation in class, opportunities to do “passion projects”, and we supplement with activities or camps in their areas of interest - Odyssey of the Mind, Robotics, Chemistry. A coworker’s kid is significantly ahead and he takes special weekend classes at GMU and does Code Ninjas - great options for kids who crave that mental challenge, but mine seem to need the social and physical aspect of rec sports more than accelerated academics.

It is the most effective teaching model but it is old-fashioned and no longer in style. APS is very progressive, they try on all the new fads and clear out the closet frequently.

It’s all about equity. Having a bunch kids get special treatment (who often had a non representative demographic) looked bad. Now everyone benefits from GT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send your kid to Mathnasium or better yet, let them focus on those areas where they aren’t “two years ahead”.

I agree. During elementary school during the pandemic, we sent our math-proficient kid to Mathnasium. We knew there was no way online math at school was going to challenge them. Now in APS, kid is a 7th grader doing Algebra 1 Intensified for high school credit (lots of kids are in the program). I would never leave it to APS in elementary to challenge my kid in math, they need additional instruction that is aimed at their skills and not aimed for the average student.

I hate how much time and energy my kid wastes at school bored and unmet academically