AAP school choice - local or center

[Anonymous]

^^^ parents not kids

"This. I think you'll find most parents out there just want their either high achieving or intellectually gifted (or both in some cases) kid adequately challenged."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^ parents not kids

"This. I think you'll find most parents out there just want their either high achieving or intellectually gifted (or both in some cases) kid adequately challenged."

Some of DC's classmates are brighter (or more high achieving) than DC. The rest are (deemed by me) to be less bright than DC.

I want an AAP class comprising DC and the "brighter" students. Including any of the "less bright" students will only drag down the AAP class, and speeding up the AAP class beyond DC's ability is too restrictive. Because I know DC is gifted, so he belongs with the "brighter" students.

Problem: there are too many parents on DCUM that think this way.

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. Also keep into consideration that AAP students will still be using the grade level basals coming out for next school year, not above grade level. AAP materials will most likely be supplemental. All schools centers and LL4 will be required to teach with these. Even if your kid is way above. Also, math standards and pacing is also changing next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. Also keep into consideration that AAP students will still be using the grade level basals coming out for next school year, not above grade level. AAP materials will most likely be supplemental. All schools centers and LL4 will be required to teach with these. Even if your kid is way above. Also, math standards and pacing is also changing next year.

Could you please provide more info. Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. Also keep into consideration that AAP students will still be using the grade level basals coming out for next school year, not above grade level. AAP materials will most likely be supplemental. All schools centers and LL4 will be required to teach with these. Even if your kid is way above. Also, math standards and pacing is also changing next year.

Could you please provide more info. Thanks

K-6 are getting a new LA curriculum next school year. They are basals. Every K-6 students regardless of AAP standing will be required to use it. The concept based instruction units will mostly be for SS/Science and AAP materials will be supplementary but not the main curriculum. The 3rd grade AAP cohort will still use the 3rd grade basal and so forth. Teachers will have to differentiate up based off the content in basals. Teachers will be getting more info at training this summer but I guess my point is, even center schools will be using this curriculum. So I wouldn’t say centers will be doing a more rigorous curriculum than the LL4. The L4 pacing guides will predominantly be SS/Science based since the basals will be the curriculum for all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. Also keep into consideration that AAP students will still be using the grade level basals coming out for next school year, not above grade level. AAP materials will most likely be supplemental. All schools centers and LL4 will be required to teach with these. Even if your kid is way above. Also, math standards and pacing is also changing next year.

Could you please provide more info. Thanks

K-6 are getting a new LA curriculum next school year. They are basals. Every K-6 students regardless of AAP standing will be required to use it. The concept based instruction units will mostly be for SS/Science and AAP materials will be supplementary but not the main curriculum. The 3rd grade AAP cohort will still use the 3rd grade basal and so forth. Teachers will have to differentiate up based off the content in basals. Teachers will be getting more info at training this summer but I guess my point is, even center schools will be using this curriculum. So I wouldn’t say centers will be doing a more rigorous curriculum than the LL4. The L4 pacing guides will predominantly be SS/Science based since the basals will be the curriculum for all.

Is this a substantial change from how things are done now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All these kids will end up in the same honors classes in middle school. As a former "gifted and talented" child I'm not sure we do these kids any favors by segregating them in ES and telling them they're special.

As a former G&T kid, it's about keeping the kids engaged until they get to those honors classes in MS/HS. For me, the GT program was a huge help, because even just having the pullouts gave me something more challenging or interesting than re-reviewing the same concepts over and over and OVER again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. Also keep into consideration that AAP students will still be using the grade level basals coming out for next school year, not above grade level. AAP materials will most likely be supplemental. All schools centers and LL4 will be required to teach with these. Even if your kid is way above. Also, math standards and pacing is also changing next year.

Could you please provide more info. Thanks

K-6 are getting a new LA curriculum next school year. They are basals. Every K-6 students regardless of AAP standing will be required to use it. The concept based instruction units will mostly be for SS/Science and AAP materials will be supplementary but not the main curriculum. The 3rd grade AAP cohort will still use the 3rd grade basal and so forth. Teachers will have to differentiate up based off the content in basals. Teachers will be getting more info at training this summer but I guess my point is, even center schools will be using this curriculum. So I wouldn’t say centers will be doing a more rigorous curriculum than the LL4. The L4 pacing guides will predominantly be SS/Science based since the basals will be the curriculum for all.

Is this a substantial change from how things are done now?

Yes. Currently AAP pacing guides are concept based and include all of LA/SS/Science. All LA instruction(Reading/Writing/Word Study) will be done with basals and AAP materials for LA will be supplemental vs being the main source of curriculum.

Just so you know this is not just an FCPS thing. It is a Virginia law.

But I guess what I am trying to say is, if you think your kid will get a more rigorous curriculum at the center, they won’t necessarily with this new change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. Also keep into consideration that AAP students will still be using the grade level basals coming out for next school year, not above grade level. AAP materials will most likely be supplemental. All schools centers and LL4 will be required to teach with these. Even if your kid is way above. Also, math standards and pacing is also changing next year.

Could you please provide more info. Thanks

K-6 are getting a new LA curriculum next school year. They are basals. Every K-6 students regardless of AAP standing will be required to use it. The concept based instruction units will mostly be for SS/Science and AAP materials will be supplementary but not the main curriculum. The 3rd grade AAP cohort will still use the 3rd grade basal and so forth. Teachers will have to differentiate up based off the content in basals. Teachers will be getting more info at training this summer but I guess my point is, even center schools will be using this curriculum. So I wouldn’t say centers will be doing a more rigorous curriculum than the LL4. The L4 pacing guides will predominantly be SS/Science based since the basals will be the curriculum for all.

Is this a substantial change from how things are done now?

Yes. Currently AAP pacing guides are concept based and include all of LA/SS/Science. All LA instruction(Reading/Writing/Word Study) will be done with basals and AAP materials for LA will be supplemental vs being the main source of curriculum.

Just so you know this is not just an FCPS thing. It is a Virginia law.

But I guess what I am trying to say is, if you think your kid will get a more rigorous curriculum at the center, they won’t necessarily with this new change.

Time will tell I guess; I'm sure there are ways to make elementary education worse. But at least they should still have a peer group of learning oriented advanced students, rather than just a handful in our LLIV (due to #s).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. Also keep into consideration that AAP students will still be using the grade level basals coming out for next school year, not above grade level. AAP materials will most likely be supplemental. All schools centers and LL4 will be required to teach with these. Even if your kid is way above. Also, math standards and pacing is also changing next year.

Could you please provide more info. Thanks

K-6 are getting a new LA curriculum next school year. They are basals. Every K-6 students regardless of AAP standing will be required to use it. The concept based instruction units will mostly be for SS/Science and AAP materials will be supplementary but not the main curriculum. The 3rd grade AAP cohort will still use the 3rd grade basal and so forth. Teachers will have to differentiate up based off the content in basals. Teachers will be getting more info at training this summer but I guess my point is, even center schools will be using this curriculum. So I wouldn’t say centers will be doing a more rigorous curriculum than the LL4. The L4 pacing guides will predominantly be SS/Science based since the basals will be the curriculum for all.

Is this a substantial change from how things are done now?

Yes. Currently AAP pacing guides are concept based and include all of LA/SS/Science. All LA instruction(Reading/Writing/Word Study) will be done with basals and AAP materials for LA will be supplemental vs being the main source of curriculum.

Just so you know this is not just an FCPS thing. It is a Virginia law.

But I guess what I am trying to say is, if you think your kid will get a more rigorous curriculum at the center, they won’t necessarily with this new change.

PP --can you post a source where we can learn more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. Also keep into consideration that AAP students will still be using the grade level basals coming out for next school year, not above grade level. AAP materials will most likely be supplemental. All schools centers and LL4 will be required to teach with these. Even if your kid is way above. Also, math standards and pacing is also changing next year.

Could you please provide more info. Thanks

K-6 are getting a new LA curriculum next school year. They are basals. Every K-6 students regardless of AAP standing will be required to use it. The concept based instruction units will mostly be for SS/Science and AAP materials will be supplementary but not the main curriculum. The 3rd grade AAP cohort will still use the 3rd grade basal and so forth. Teachers will have to differentiate up based off the content in basals. Teachers will be getting more info at training this summer but I guess my point is, even center schools will be using this curriculum. So I wouldn’t say centers will be doing a more rigorous curriculum than the LL4. The L4 pacing guides will predominantly be SS/Science based since the basals will be the curriculum for all.

Is this a substantial change from how things are done now?

Yes. Currently AAP pacing guides are concept based and include all of LA/SS/Science. All LA instruction(Reading/Writing/Word Study) will be done with basals and AAP materials for LA will be supplemental vs being the main source of curriculum.

Just so you know this is not just an FCPS thing. It is a Virginia law.

But I guess what I am trying to say is, if you think your kid will get a more rigorous curriculum at the center, they won’t necessarily with this new change.

We are at an AAP center, in a SES area. The teachers have always said that the only difference between AAP and gen end is Math. My kid is in AAP, I see this first hand. They have one weekly agenda for the grade and we see that the AAP kids are learning the same content that week in SS/Science/LA. In math I see the difference, my AAP kid is learning to multiply fractions (like the agenda states) while the agenda has measurements for regular math. The AAP teachers might go more in depth or add more activities for the other areas, I have no idea, but the content/pace is the same.

Another point, our center has communicated that the LA curriculum is the only one changing. Please provide the source that the other curriculums|pace kids are changing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. Also keep into consideration that AAP students will still be using the grade level basals coming out for next school year, not above grade level. AAP materials will most likely be supplemental. All schools centers and LL4 will be required to teach with these. Even if your kid is way above. Also, math standards and pacing is also changing next year.

Could you please provide more info. Thanks

K-6 are getting a new LA curriculum next school year. They are basals. Every K-6 students regardless of AAP standing will be required to use it. The concept based instruction units will mostly be for SS/Science and AAP materials will be supplementary but not the main curriculum. The 3rd grade AAP cohort will still use the 3rd grade basal and so forth. Teachers will have to differentiate up based off the content in basals. Teachers will be getting more info at training this summer but I guess my point is, even center schools will be using this curriculum. So I wouldn’t say centers will be doing a more rigorous curriculum than the LL4. The L4 pacing guides will predominantly be SS/Science based since the basals will be the curriculum for all.

Is this a substantial change from how things are done now?

Yes. Currently AAP pacing guides are concept based and include all of LA/SS/Science. All LA instruction(Reading/Writing/Word Study) will be done with basals and AAP materials for LA will be supplemental vs being the main source of curriculum.

Just so you know this is not just an FCPS thing. It is a Virginia law.

But I guess what I am trying to say is, if you think your kid will get a more rigorous curriculum at the center, they won’t necessarily with this new change.

We are at an AAP center, in a SES area. The teachers have always said that the only difference between AAP and gen end is Math. My kid is in AAP, I see this first hand. They have one weekly agenda for the grade and we see that the AAP kids are learning the same content that week in SS/Science/LA. In math I see the difference, my AAP kid is learning to multiply fractions (like the agenda states) while the agenda has measurements for regular math. The AAP teachers might go more in depth or add more activities for the other areas, I have no idea, but the content/pace is the same.

Another point, our center has communicated that the LA curriculum is the only one changing. Please provide the source that the other curriculums|pace kids are changing.

DP. We are at an AAP center and there is a big different between the AAP and gen ed classes, not including Math. The ELA, Science and Social Studies classes are very different, tailored to the different students. I can see how a county- or state-wide LA basal system would be good - maybe the center schools can provide both the basal LA instruction in one block and the AAP LA instruction in another block along with the AAP S/SS curriculum. If not, at least students at our school will receive the benefit of the AAP S/SS curriculum, which unfortunately others at other center schools do not appear to receive.

[Anonymous]

Anyone know anything about the pros/cons between Virginia Run (Base) and Bull Run (Center)?

Also, VR's new principal I think came from Fairfax Villa. Anyone know if they have LLIV and if so, what model they used?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. Also keep into consideration that AAP students will still be using the grade level basals coming out for next school year, not above grade level. AAP materials will most likely be supplemental. All schools centers and LL4 will be required to teach with these. Even if your kid is way above. Also, math standards and pacing is also changing next year.

Could you please provide more info. Thanks

K-6 are getting a new LA curriculum next school year. They are basals. Every K-6 students regardless of AAP standing will be required to use it. The concept based instruction units will mostly be for SS/Science and AAP materials will be supplementary but not the main curriculum. The 3rd grade AAP cohort will still use the 3rd grade basal and so forth. Teachers will have to differentiate up based off the content in basals. Teachers will be getting more info at training this summer but I guess my point is, even center schools will be using this curriculum. So I wouldn’t say centers will be doing a more rigorous curriculum than the LL4. The L4 pacing guides will predominantly be SS/Science based since the basals will be the curriculum for all.

Is this a substantial change from how things are done now?

Yes. Currently AAP pacing guides are concept based and include all of LA/SS/Science. All LA instruction(Reading/Writing/Word Study) will be done with basals and AAP materials for LA will be supplemental vs being the main source of curriculum.

Just so you know this is not just an FCPS thing. It is a Virginia law.

But I guess what I am trying to say is, if you think your kid will get a more rigorous curriculum at the center, they won’t necessarily with this new change.

We are at an AAP center, in a SES area. The teachers have always said that the only difference between AAP and gen end is Math. My kid is in AAP, I see this first hand. They have one weekly agenda for the grade and we see that the AAP kids are learning the same content that week in SS/Science/LA. In math I see the difference, my AAP kid is learning to multiply fractions (like the agenda states) while the agenda has measurements for regular math. The AAP teachers might go more in depth or add more activities for the other areas, I have no idea, but the content/pace is the same.

Another point, our center has communicated that the LA curriculum is the only one changing. Please provide the source that the other curriculums|pace kids are changing.

DP. We are at an AAP center and there is a big different between the AAP and gen ed classes, not including Math. The ELA, Science and Social Studies classes are very different, tailored to the different students. I can see how a county- or state-wide LA basal system would be good - maybe the center schools can provide both the basal LA instruction in one block and the AAP LA instruction in another block along with the AAP S/SS curriculum. If not, at least students at our school will receive the benefit of the AAP S/SS curriculum, which unfortunately others at other center schools do not appear to receive.

I am the PP at the AAP center with same curriculum for SS/Science/LA. I forgot to mention that according to admin everyone is getting the advanced curriculum for these areas. I think this is happening at our school because we are at a high SES, with almost no ESL. Many kids in gen ed would probably be in AAP at other schools.

Side note, my other child is in kindergarten. The teacher is new to our school. The teacher told me that the expectation from admin on where the kindergarteners will be at the end of the year is much higher than her previous school (probably because many kids start kindergarten reading).

Second side note, all this pressure is not all positive in my opinion. I wish my kids could experience a more laid back elementary school experience. The center is our base school, otherwise wise I would change schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. Also keep into consideration that AAP students will still be using the grade level basals coming out for next school year, not above grade level. AAP materials will most likely be supplemental. All schools centers and LL4 will be required to teach with these. Even if your kid is way above. Also, math standards and pacing is also changing next year.

Could you please provide more info. Thanks

K-6 are getting a new LA curriculum next school year. They are basals. Every K-6 students regardless of AAP standing will be required to use it. The concept based instruction units will mostly be for SS/Science and AAP materials will be supplementary but not the main curriculum. The 3rd grade AAP cohort will still use the 3rd grade basal and so forth. Teachers will have to differentiate up based off the content in basals. Teachers will be getting more info at training this summer but I guess my point is, even center schools will be using this curriculum. So I wouldn’t say centers will be doing a more rigorous curriculum than the LL4. The L4 pacing guides will predominantly be SS/Science based since the basals will be the curriculum for all.

Is this a substantial change from how things are done now?

Yes. Currently AAP pacing guides are concept based and include all of LA/SS/Science. All LA instruction(Reading/Writing/Word Study) will be done with basals and AAP materials for LA will be supplemental vs being the main source of curriculum.

Just so you know this is not just an FCPS thing. It is a Virginia law.

But I guess what I am trying to say is, if you think your kid will get a more rigorous curriculum at the center, they won’t necessarily with this new change.

PP --can you post a source where we can learn more?

Benchmark Advance is the program K-6 will be using.