What to do NOW to get into and do well in AAP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He had 160 NNAT, 144Cogat, wasn’t admitted first round due to a rough relationship with the teacher…. Got in on appeal with the WISC score and appeal letter explaining the gifted behaviors and how he fits to a T (many quotes from Davidson Institute) and on how the county can better serve these kids…. Of course above grade work samples…. And these score are not hard to achieve even without prep.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child got 154 WISC without any prep. All family members score above 140 on official IQ tests. Never thought my kid is gifted till the scores came in, and till he started to complain about his second grade work and teacher…. He did great in class works and was able to do 4th/5th grade math. But he ended up spending 5-10 mins doing the entire class’ work, he asked for extra worksheets and was denied by the teacher, had nothing to do for the rest of the time. He took books to class then teacher complained about he was reading books in class, he got so frustrated with the teacher. Of course he started picking up teachers mistakes, that didn’t go well either…

DP. Are you the poster whose DC was admitted first round? Not sure what you're complaining about?

The old 132 cutoff was the beginning of the 99th percentile. By definition, 1% of the kids in the US will score a 132 or higher. That is not an easy score to get. So yes, it is impressive.

That score does not mean a child belongs in an Advanced class. There are bright kids who lack curiosity or are not motivated to learn. There are bright kids who cannot access the material because of learning issues.

Most of the high scoring kids in FCPS are accepted into LIV, I think 2/3 of the in-pool kids are accepted in the first round. Probably more are accepted on appeal.

Appeals are there for a reason. The system isn’t perfect but it works pretty well. The reality is LIV isn’t that advanced and kids do fine in gen ed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He had 160 NNAT, 144Cogat, wasn’t admitted first round due to a rough relationship with the teacher…. Got in on appeal with the WISC score and appeal letter explaining the gifted behaviors and how he fits to a T (many quotes from Davidson Institute) and on how the county can better serve these kids…. Of course above grade work samples…. And these score are not hard to achieve even without prep.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child got 154 WISC without any prep. All family members score above 140 on official IQ tests. Never thought my kid is gifted till the scores came in, and till he started to complain about his second grade work and teacher…. He did great in class works and was able to do 4th/5th grade math. But he ended up spending 5-10 mins doing the entire class’ work, he asked for extra worksheets and was denied by the teacher, had nothing to do for the rest of the time. He took books to class then teacher complained about he was reading books in class, he got so frustrated with the teacher. Of course he started picking up teachers mistakes, that didn’t go well either…

DP. Are you the poster whose DC was admitted first round? Not sure what you're complaining about?

The old 132 cutoff was the beginning of the 99th percentile. By definition, 1% of the kids in the US will score a 132 or higher. That is not an easy score to get. So yes, it is impressive.

That score does not mean a child belongs in an Advanced class. There are bright kids who lack curiosity or are not motivated to learn. There are bright kids who cannot access the material because of learning issues.

Most of the high scoring kids in FCPS are accepted into LIV, I think 2/3 of the in-pool kids are accepted in the first round. Probably more are accepted on appeal.

Appeals are there for a reason. The system isn’t perfect but it works pretty well. The reality is LIV isn’t that advanced and kids do fine in gen ed.

DP. A kid scoring in the 99th percentile who is viewed by the teacher as lacking curiosity or motivation is the type who needs gifted services the most. Bright, curious, motivated kids will thrive anywhere. Gifted kids who are not functioning well in the regular classroom often will turn things around when they're put in a much more challenging and engaging environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Join the PTA!! At our school, all the AAP kids have PTA parents.

Yes this too. I'm the one that made the room mom comment earlier.

You are mixing up association with causation. This is sort of the case in our school but that’s because all the PTA parents and room parents are very actively involved in their kids lives and also have impressive academic backgrounds/interests. I think our PTA President has two terminal degrees (eg JD, MD, and PhD). So it’s probable that this person is passing on his/her genes (duh) and academic interests/exposures to the kid.

Umm. My husband and I are surgeons, we have way better uses for our time that better serve society than planning bake sales (i.e., gossiping with the other SAHMs).

I call BS on this poster fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Join the PTA!! At our school, all the AAP kids have PTA parents.

Yes this too. I'm the one that made the room mom comment earlier.

You are mixing up association with causation. This is sort of the case in our school but that’s because all the PTA parents and room parents are very actively involved in their kids lives and also have impressive academic backgrounds/interests. I think our PTA President has two terminal degrees (eg JD, MD, and PhD). So it’s probable that this person is passing on his/her genes (duh) and academic interests/exposures to the kid.

Umm. My husband and I are surgeons, we have way better uses for our time that better serve society than planning bake sales (i.e., gossiping with the other SAHMs).

That’s fine that you make that choice, but that’s not at all related to my point that the link between PTA parents and AAP has less to do with the PTA part and more to do with genetics/environment. Obviously there are AAP kids with accomplished parents who are not involved with the PTA, because those kids also benefit from their parents genes/knowledge. I think you missed the point.

Also, your snark was unnecessary. I also have an advanced degree and am not super involved in the PTA but I sincerely appreciate the efforts of those who do get involved because my child benefits from their efforts. Also, a lot of them have full time jobs with serious responsibilities and I’m not even sure how they do it.

[Anonymous]

If we're perfectly realistic and honest, PTA moms probably do get some level of preferential treatment for things like AAP/principal placement. I doubt that schools are giving high GBRS or principal placement to kids who they think would struggle in AAP. But, if the PTA mom's kid is borderline for AAP and would academically be fine in the program, it wouldn't be surprising for that kid to get an inflated GBRS or principal placement. Why bite the hand that feeds you?

[Anonymous]

Seriously? Being a PTA member gives your kiddo an upper cut into AAP?

That's pretty pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? Being a PTA member gives your kiddo an upper cut into AAP?

That's pretty pathetic.

I absolutely do not believe this is true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? Being a PTA member gives your kiddo an upper cut into AAP?

That's pretty pathetic.

I absolutely do not believe this is true.

It’s not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He does AOPS on the side. And does Davidson Institute activities. Public school education is not enough for him. With the AAP environment at least he’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind especially telling teachers that they are wrong, his current teacher is much more open to kid’s opinions and what they think instead of pushing ideas into the kids’ heads.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be ready to write a good appeal letter, and read up on all the literature on giftedness. The GBRS is very subjective, especially if you have a truly gifted child (they pick up on teachers’ mistakes all the time and tends to give their opinions in the middle of lectures, yes I got emails from his 2nd grade teacher complaining about that). My child had 160 NNAT, 144 CoGAT, still had to do an appeal, with an 154 WISC and a good appeal letter to explain what truly gifted is they couldn’t deny him. He’s doing great now in the AAP center, and loves him new teacher, no more frustrations with the teacher in class.

Serious question: How can your child be happy in AAP if they are so truly gifted? Isn't AAP full of kids who are merely bright and helpful?

I also wonder why being liked or disliked by one's teacher matters so much. I mean, what does that have to do with the day-to-day experience in AAP vs gen ed?

Interesting and all good to know. What giftedness literature did you read up on? It's kind of insane to me that a truly gifted kid would have such a hard time getting into the program. Did you prep your child for NNAT, CogAT, etc? Curious if part of the correcting the teacher habit comes from being corrected by parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL at the parents complaining and appealing after the fact. Participating in the school before the decision is a lot more pleasant for everyone. Same with the test prep, either your kid is going to be able to handle AAP or they aren't, might as well start saving for therapy costs now if you are pushing that hard when they are six.

Get to know the AART and hope for the best with the tests.

Is AAP even really that challenging though? Sounds like it isn't for the actually gifted kids. What about the rest? Our schools' standards are so low these days that I find it very hard to believe AAP is that big a deal. Getting in is a different matter. Sounds like getting in is the hard part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? Being a PTA member gives your kiddo an upper cut into AAP?

That's pretty pathetic.

Even if it were true, I think that's where I'd draw the line. I'm happy to do some prep and encourage my child to be helpful, gracious, etc., etc., but volunteering and ass kissing just to win favor? No thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL at the parents complaining and appealing after the fact. Participating in the school before the decision is a lot more pleasant for everyone. Same with the test prep, either your kid is going to be able to handle AAP or they aren't, might as well start saving for therapy costs now if you are pushing that hard when they are six.

Get to know the AART and hope for the best with the tests.

Is AAP even really that challenging though? Sounds like it isn't for the actually gifted kids. What about the rest? Our schools' standards are so low these days that I find it very hard to believe AAP is that big a deal. Getting in is a different matter. Sounds like getting in is the hard part.

It varies. But it is sufficiently challenging for my "actually gifted" kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He had 160 NNAT, 144Cogat, wasn’t admitted first round due to a rough relationship with the teacher…. Got in on appeal with the WISC score and appeal letter explaining the gifted behaviors and how he fits to a T (many quotes from Davidson Institute) and on how the county can better serve these kids…. Of course above grade work samples…. And these score are not hard to achieve even without prep.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child got 154 WISC without any prep. All family members score above 140 on official IQ tests. Never thought my kid is gifted till the scores came in, and till he started to complain about his second grade work and teacher…. He did great in class works and was able to do 4th/5th grade math. But he ended up spending 5-10 mins doing the entire class’ work, he asked for extra worksheets and was denied by the teacher, had nothing to do for the rest of the time. He took books to class then teacher complained about he was reading books in class, he got so frustrated with the teacher. Of course he started picking up teachers mistakes, that didn’t go well either…

DP. Are you the poster whose DC was admitted first round? Not sure what you're complaining about?

What kind of work samples? And what do you mean "not hard to achieve without prep"? I rarely hear people stating such scores on this board. Lots of talk of 99th percentile, but that doesn't mean a whole lot given that we are in a very educated part of the country and state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

"Pretty" art and handwriting, and willingness to do busywork, does not sound like evidence of giftedness or need for AAP, but ok. I guess it's more about being "bright, motivated, and pleasant." With pretty drawings to boot.

They are unofficial rules of the game. Do you want to play or sit out?

NP. No, those aren't the rules. Sheesh.

None of these posters are serious. I'm not saying they're trolling (some of them are), I'm just saying they're ridiculous.

You're a parent without kid in AAP, and not in the selection committee. No offense, but why should we listen to you?

Of course I have children in AAP. Why else would I be posting?

Actual advice for OP: take your DC to the library/bookstore regularly. The end.

Thank you, voice of sanity. This is all we did.

These threads are always bananas.

[Anonymous]

He did not prep at home other than the 1 week of prep that the general ed teachers did in class for NNAT and CoGAT, and was able to achieve 160NNAT, 144Cogat, 154 WISC (no prep at all), He’s WISC was in the 99.9%, he got into Davidson Institute before was accepted to AAP. So for people who said these scores are impossible to achieve without prep, it’s not true. He did 4th grade Singapore math at home and AOPS on the side, I used those works samples, and he writes short stories and had crazy invention ideas that he wrote down, we used those.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He had 160 NNAT, 144Cogat, wasn’t admitted first round due to a rough relationship with the teacher…. Got in on appeal with the WISC score and appeal letter explaining the gifted behaviors and how he fits to a T (many quotes from Davidson Institute) and on how the county can better serve these kids…. Of course above grade work samples…. And these score are not hard to achieve even without prep.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child got 154 WISC without any prep. All family members score above 140 on official IQ tests. Never thought my kid is gifted till the scores came in, and till he started to complain about his second grade work and teacher…. He did great in class works and was able to do 4th/5th grade math. But he ended up spending 5-10 mins doing the entire class’ work, he asked for extra worksheets and was denied by the teacher, had nothing to do for the rest of the time. He took books to class then teacher complained about he was reading books in class, he got so frustrated with the teacher. Of course he started picking up teachers mistakes, that didn’t go well either…

DP. Are you the poster whose DC was admitted first round? Not sure what you're complaining about?

What kind of work samples? And what do you mean "not hard to achieve without prep"? I rarely hear people stating such scores on this board. Lots of talk of 99th percentile, but that doesn't mean a whole lot given that we are in a very educated part of the country and state.