Prepping for entry into AAP

[Anonymous]

Why are a few parents on this forum against the practice of prepping for entry into the AAP program? If the child and their parent are willing to put the required effort to achieve a 99+ percentile in NNAT/CoGAT and maintain a 4.0 GPA, what are they doing wrong?

[Anonymous]

Something, something, truly gifted . . . destroys neighborhoods . . . good breakfast . . . yellow peril . . . get off my lawn . . . zzzz.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Why are a few parents on this forum against the practice of prepping for entry into the AAP program? If the child and their parent are willing to put the required effort to achieve a 99+ percentile in NNAT/CoGAT and maintain a 4.0 GPA, what are they doing wrong?

Nothing to do on a Friday night but stir the pot, eh?

Man, go watch some basic cable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Why are a few parents on this forum against the practice of prepping for entry into the AAP program? If the child and their parent are willing to put the required effort to achieve a 99+ percentile in NNAT/CoGAT and maintain a 4.0 GPA, what are they doing wrong?

It isn't a one off if you have to prep for AAP. If your child needs to prep for entry they (and you) will have to sustain that added effort to keep up and stay ahead for 7 years and then they get to HS and beyond, where that kind of effort is more important. It doesn't stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Why are a few parents on this forum against the practice of prepping for entry into the AAP program? If the child and their parent are willing to put the required effort to achieve a 99+ percentile in NNAT/CoGAT and maintain a 4.0 GPA, what are they doing wrong?

It isn't a one off if you have to prep for AAP. If your child needs to prep for entry they (and you) will have to sustain that added effort to keep up and stay ahead for 7 years and then they get to HS and beyond, where that kind of effort is more important. It doesn't stop.

+1. I know kids who prepped and prepped to get in, only to struggle in AAP, then followed by tutors and academy centers to keep up. I'm not saying that's your kid. Just saying know your own kid - IMHO there's a difference between getting a little help to get over that entryway threshold vs. putting your kid in where he will struggle and be miserable for a long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Why are a few parents on this forum against the practice of prepping for entry into the AAP program? If the child and their parent are willing to put the required effort to achieve a 99+ percentile in NNAT/CoGAT and maintain a 4.0 GPA, what are they doing wrong?

It isn't a one off if you have to prep for AAP. If your child needs to prep for entry they (and you) will have to sustain that added effort to keep up and stay ahead for 7 years and then they get to HS and beyond, where that kind of effort is more important. It doesn't stop.

+1. I know kids who prepped and prepped to get in, only to struggle in AAP, then followed by tutors and academy centers to keep up. I'm not saying that's your kid. Just saying know your own kid - IMHO there's a difference between getting a little help to get over that entryway threshold vs. putting your kid in where he will struggle and be miserable for a long time.

How on earth do you know a population big enough to make this comment? I mean, do you know 20 families who personally told you they prepped and prepped to get in and then later told you their kids were stuggling? I can see MAYBE one family telling you they prepped (though I know of none who'd say that aloud)...not how many "kidS" do you know with this precise scenario??

[Anonymous]

I will admit.. I 'prepped' my kid in that we did one of those workbooks you can get on Amazon. He got in with scores just below the pool and he is doing great in AAP. I do not need to give him any more supports than I do my other child in GE. Just my two cents.

[Anonymous]

Since when do you have to have a 4.0 GPA to get into AAP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will admit.. I 'prepped' my kid in that we did one of those workbooks you can get on Amazon. He got in with scores just below the pool and he is doing great in AAP. I do not need to give him any more supports than I do my other child in GE. Just my two cents.

This is me too. That is all the official prepping we do though. One reason why I do it is because if my kids don't understand what they are supposed to do in a section they can ask me. That way they know what to do on test day. And all I can pretty much do is go through the book once with my kids and after that they have had enough.

[Anonymous]

Because AAP is not a gold star you get for having a good kid, or even an enrichment program. It is a special needs program for kids whose innate, unprepped needs cannot be met in the regular classroom.

Or at least that's what it's supposed to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because AAP is not a gold star you get for having a good kid, or even an enrichment program. It is a special needs program for kids whose innate, unprepped needs cannot be met in the regular classroom.



Or at least that's what it's supposed to be.

+1. And it's not just a "few posters." It is many, many people and the prepping is why the program is bloated, under attack and likely to end in parts of the county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because AAP is not a gold star you get for having a good kid, or even an enrichment program. It is a special needs program for kids whose innate, unprepped needs cannot be met in the regular classroom.

Or at least that's what it's supposed to be.

Um...no it's not. Citation please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since when do you have to have a 4.0 GPA to get into AAP?

You don't need it to get in, but 4.0 is an indication that the standard syllabus is probably too easy for them and they might need something more challenging which is offered through AAP.

To the OP: There is nothing wrong with prepping. If your child is an over achiever, indicated by 4.0 GPA, it is your/child's decision to seek advanced programs. If the public school system has made testing a prerequisite to get into these advanced programs, you should not hesitate to help your child prepare for the test. Don't go by what sounds good socially. For test preparation, some parents think a workbook or two is all that is needed, few other might think a few weeks would be good, and a few more might decide to allow a few months of formal coaching. You be the judge - if your child needs extended test preparation, then make that investment to your satisfaction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because AAP is not a gold star you get for having a good kid, or even an enrichment program. It is a special needs program for kids whose innate, unprepped needs cannot be met in the regular classroom.

Or at least that's what it's supposed to be.

Um...no it's not. Citation please.

Citation: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/gifted_ed/gifted_regulations.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since when do you have to have a 4.0 GPA to get into AAP?

You don't need it to get in, but 4.0 is an indication that the standard syllabus is probably too easy for them and they might need something more challenging which is offered through AAP.

To the OP: There is nothing wrong with prepping. If your child is an over achiever, indicated by 4.0 GPA, it is your/child's decision to seek advanced programs. If the public school system has made testing a prerequisite to get into these advanced programs, you should not hesitate to help your child prepare for the test. Don't go by what sounds good socially. For test preparation, some parents think a workbook or two is all that is needed, few other might think a few weeks would be good, and a few more might decide to allow a few months of formal coaching. You be the judge - if your child needs extended test preparation, then make that investment to your satisfaction.

Anyone who has a 4.0 is not in FCPS, unless they mean all 4's -- different than a 4.0. It means they mastered the curriculum. I could additionally point out that is a kid doing fine without AAP.