APS - How are Grd 7 & 8 intensified courses?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is grade 8.

The math intensified, which you have to place into and can't opt into, is genuinely much more intense. Faster, more content covered, and it's challenging.

The other intensified classes the jury seems a bit out for my kid. I think it's pretty teacher dependent. The main benefit seems to be weeding out kids who just don't have any interest in being there.

And yes, they have homework in middle school. I see that persistent misconception about APS over and over on this board. That none of them get any homework.

I agree with this. My daughter is smart and efficient, and this year as an eighth grader is taking all intensified classes. She still does all her homework at school and it’s still standards based grading (so a very lenient retake policy). I wouldn’t say it’s any different from non intensified other than possibly the kids overall in those classes are more motivated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd say the jury is still somewhat out. We are at Swanson, and the entire grade is already split into 3 teams for core subjects. Now as part of grouping the kids for each subject they also are using the intensified classes as one of the ways they cluster kids. For specials and math they are obviously all mixed together.

Know that these are open enrollment and APS really really really wants to make sure they aren't simply white flight in the poorer schools so there is a huge push to get kids across an SES spectrum into these classes. They are working on making them more available to kids with IEPs. Parents have also self-selected for their kids.

I'd say we do see a bit more challenge in the expectations and the rubrics. How it's rolled out has been very teacher dependent, though.

According to our MS website, they should already be clustering kids tagged as gifted. That shouldn't be new.

My understanding is that APS has been working to make sure the gifted tag is appropriately considered for students across all demographics and for 2e students.

My kid is 2e w/an IEP and they are very open to her taking intensified if/when she’s up for the workload. The topic has come up multiple times with her teachers/case carrier. She isn’t quite there yet at the moment but as she builds skills the extra challenge will be there for her. One said she may be able to switch mid year. They are supporting her where she’s at right now and will support her as she continues to grow. I’ve been really impressed with her whole support team - much better experience than the private we left.

Which school are you happy with for your 2E child w/ IEP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While we are talking about this can we talk about how apparently the addition of intensified classes is creating a problem with Thomas Jefferson high school eligibility for Immersion and Montessori students?

Eligibility requirements for TJHSST has requirements that students be in honors classes in 8th grade for science/english/social studies and math. Immersion and Montessori students are not eligible for intensified science. I am actually not sure if Montessori students can access intensified reading or math because of how their program works.

Right now Gunston is saying immersion and Montessori students will not be eligible to apply to TJ despite those programs not being made available to them. This is despite the fact that TJ's own website seems to suggest that students must be in the highest level of class available to them.

 I know folks hate choice programs here, but it is a big risk for students to withdraw from either program with no guaranteed admission into TJ and no way to re-gain entry back into the choice program.

The school is supposedly working on it but no word as of yet. They were given a grace period for applicants this year.

I will also note that in HS immersion science is ONLY available as intensified (immersion students do not have an option to take non intensified science if they want science in Spanish). As of now, this same logic isn't being applied to 8th grade science.

Anyway, it is all kind of a mess right now for immersion and montessori students interested in TJ high school.

Who at Gunston is saying that? That sounds mistaken.

The follow up I've seen shared by parents is that Immersion students are eligible for TJ if they take the highest level courses available within the program. You aren't required to quit Immersion to be eligible.

Similarly, Montessori allows for self directed study so those students are also eligible, even if classes aren't denoted as intensified.

Yes I specifically asked the principal and said they haven't determined that yet and they need written guidance from TJ. But I think that answer makes the most sense because it be wild otherwise.

The follow up I saw was that someone from APS gifted services DID contact TJ and confirmed that immersion & Montessori kids are eligible.

Yes, the Principal advised me that gifted services is not in charge of Immersion or Montessori and it is not settled. But fingers crossed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd say the jury is still somewhat out. We are at Swanson, and the entire grade is already split into 3 teams for core subjects. Now as part of grouping the kids for each subject they also are using the intensified classes as one of the ways they cluster kids. For specials and math they are obviously all mixed together.

Know that these are open enrollment and APS really really really wants to make sure they aren't simply white flight in the poorer schools so there is a huge push to get kids across an SES spectrum into these classes. They are working on making them more available to kids with IEPs. Parents have also self-selected for their kids.

I'd say we do see a bit more challenge in the expectations and the rubrics. How it's rolled out has been very teacher dependent, though.

According to our MS website, they should already be clustering kids tagged as gifted. That shouldn't be new.

My understanding is that APS has been working to make sure the gifted tag is appropriately considered for students across all demographics and for 2e students.

My kid is 2e w/an IEP and they are very open to her taking intensified if/when she’s up for the workload. The topic has come up multiple times with her teachers/case carrier. She isn’t quite there yet at the moment but as she builds skills the extra challenge will be there for her. One said she may be able to switch mid year. They are supporting her where she’s at right now and will support her as she continues to grow. I’ve been really impressed with her whole support team - much better experience than the private we left.

Which school are you happy with for your 2E child w/ IEP?

Hamm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd say the jury is still somewhat out. We are at Swanson, and the entire grade is already split into 3 teams for core subjects. Now as part of grouping the kids for each subject they also are using the intensified classes as one of the ways they cluster kids. For specials and math they are obviously all mixed together.

Know that these are open enrollment and APS really really really wants to make sure they aren't simply white flight in the poorer schools so there is a huge push to get kids across an SES spectrum into these classes. They are working on making them more available to kids with IEPs. Parents have also self-selected for their kids.

I'd say we do see a bit more challenge in the expectations and the rubrics. How it's rolled out has been very teacher dependent, though.

According to our MS website, they should already be clustering kids tagged as gifted. That shouldn't be new.

My understanding is that APS has been working to make sure the gifted tag is appropriately considered for students across all demographics and for 2e students.

GT kids are supposed to be clustered but until last year the clusters could be as small as 5 kids. Keep in mind intensified is NOT the same as GT. Very clearly APS went along with this once an equity argument was made and there's a big push to get a wide range of kids into these classes with lots of support to be successful.

Will this support be for everyone in the class who may need it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is grade 8.

The math intensified, which you have to place into and can't opt into, is genuinely much more intense. Faster, more content covered, and it's challenging.

The other intensified classes the jury seems a bit out for my kid. I think it's pretty teacher dependent. The main benefit seems to be weeding out kids who just don't have any interest in being there.

And yes, they have homework in middle school. I see that persistent misconception about APS over and over on this board. That none of them get any homework.

I agree with this. My daughter is smart and efficient, and this year as an eighth grader is taking all intensified classes. She still does all her homework at school and it’s still standards based grading (so a very lenient retake policy). I wouldn’t say it’s any different from non intensified other than possibly the kids overall in those classes are more motivated.

+1


Only real hw we’ve seen has been in the form of studying for math tests and quizzes, and revising of an essay in English. Kid has great grades and no missing assignments so I assume must be good at time management in class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd say the jury is still somewhat out. We are at Swanson, and the entire grade is already split into 3 teams for core subjects. Now as part of grouping the kids for each subject they also are using the intensified classes as one of the ways they cluster kids. For specials and math they are obviously all mixed together.

Know that these are open enrollment and APS really really really wants to make sure they aren't simply white flight in the poorer schools so there is a huge push to get kids across an SES spectrum into these classes. They are working on making them more available to kids with IEPs. Parents have also self-selected for their kids.

I'd say we do see a bit more challenge in the expectations and the rubrics. How it's rolled out has been very teacher dependent, though.

According to our MS website, they should already be clustering kids tagged as gifted. That shouldn't be new.

My understanding is that APS has been working to make sure the gifted tag is appropriately considered for students across all demographics and for 2e students.

GT kids are supposed to be clustered but until last year the clusters could be as small as 5 kids. Keep in mind intensified is NOT the same as GT. Very clearly APS went along with this once an equity argument was made and there's a big push to get a wide range of kids into these classes with lots of support to be successful.

The GT cluster size increased to a minimum of 10 kids a few years ago. Given the big percentages of GT kids at many Arlington schools, I suspect intensified classes could easily be more than 50% GT kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd say the jury is still somewhat out. We are at Swanson, and the entire grade is already split into 3 teams for core subjects. Now as part of grouping the kids for each subject they also are using the intensified classes as one of the ways they cluster kids. For specials and math they are obviously all mixed together.

Know that these are open enrollment and APS really really really wants to make sure they aren't simply white flight in the poorer schools so there is a huge push to get kids across an SES spectrum into these classes. They are working on making them more available to kids with IEPs. Parents have also self-selected for their kids.

I'd say we do see a bit more challenge in the expectations and the rubrics. How it's rolled out has been very teacher dependent, though.

According to our MS website, they should already be clustering kids tagged as gifted. That shouldn't be new.

My understanding is that APS has been working to make sure the gifted tag is appropriately considered for students across all demographics and for 2e students.

GT kids are supposed to be clustered but until last year the clusters could be as small as 5 kids. Keep in mind intensified is NOT the same as GT. Very clearly APS went along with this once an equity argument was made and there's a big push to get a wide range of kids into these classes with lots of support to be successful.

The GT cluster size increased to a minimum of 10 kids a few years ago. Given the big percentages of GT kids at many Arlington schools, I suspect intensified classes could easily be more than 50% GT kids.

In Middle Schools we have seen this clustering. Elementary schools seem to be ignoring it, mostly, perhaps due to kids being identified throughout, not sure. Anyone else with that impression?

[Anonymous]

Back to the topic - do intensified courses lead to more use of iPad and Youtube videos for students, or more textbook reading/library research?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd say the jury is still somewhat out. We are at Swanson, and the entire grade is already split into 3 teams for core subjects. Now as part of grouping the kids for each subject they also are using the intensified classes as one of the ways they cluster kids. For specials and math they are obviously all mixed together.

Know that these are open enrollment and APS really really really wants to make sure they aren't simply white flight in the poorer schools so there is a huge push to get kids across an SES spectrum into these classes. They are working on making them more available to kids with IEPs. Parents have also self-selected for their kids.

I'd say we do see a bit more challenge in the expectations and the rubrics. How it's rolled out has been very teacher dependent, though.

According to our MS website, they should already be clustering kids tagged as gifted. That shouldn't be new.

My understanding is that APS has been working to make sure the gifted tag is appropriately considered for students across all demographics and for 2e students.

GT kids are supposed to be clustered but until last year the clusters could be as small as 5 kids. Keep in mind intensified is NOT the same as GT. Very clearly APS went along with this once an equity argument was made and there's a big push to get a wide range of kids into these classes with lots of support to be successful.

The GT cluster size increased to a minimum of 10 kids a few years ago. Given the big percentages of GT kids at many Arlington schools, I suspect intensified classes could easily be more than 50% GT kids.

In Middle Schools we have seen this clustering. Elementary schools seem to be ignoring it, mostly, perhaps due to kids being identified throughout, not sure. Anyone else with that impression?

They still do clusters any ours. In fact, almost every classroom has a gifted cluster in some grades.