Why do you want AAP for your child?

[Anonymous]

My child is in the pool for AAP based on his CoGat score. However, if he does get admitted into AAP I am not sure if I want him to be in the program. He is finally enjoying school in 2nd grade (he had behavior issues in K and 1 due to immaturity and I suspect possibly boredom) and I don't want to overwhelm him with work in 3rd grade. Why did you choose to have your kid in AAP or choose not to? The school he is in is a AAP base school so he wouldn't switch schools either way. The school is also a 10 on great schools, so the base population is already pretty high achieving.

[Anonymous]

My son told me that he is the smartest kid in his class. I told him he may be one of the smartest kids in his class, but he needs to work hard.

I want him to be in a class where he is not the smartest kid in his class, and where he has hard work to work on.

[Anonymous]

yes, my son also felt he was the smartest kid in the class. it has taken middle school aap for him to realize he is not and he needs to work hard. ES AAP was not that challenging. MS AAP is very hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is in the pool for AAP based on his CoGat score. However, if he does get admitted into AAP I am not sure if I want him to be in the program. He is finally enjoying school in 2nd grade (he had behavior issues in K and 1 due to immaturity and I suspect possibly boredom) and I don't want to overwhelm him with work in 3rd grade. Why did you choose to have your kid in AAP or choose not to? The school he is in is a AAP base school so he wouldn't switch schools either way. The school is also a 10 on great schools, so the base population is already pretty high achieving.

If you don't have to switch schools, that would make the decision easier (for me at least). If he gets in, give it a quarter, 1/2 a year or a year and then assess whether it is a good fit. If not, move him out. If your base school is your AAP school, making changes mid year usually are not an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son told me that he is the smartest kid in his class. I told him he may be one of the smartest kids in his class, but he needs to work hard.

I want him to be in a class where he is not the smartest kid in his class, and where he has hard work to work on.

My son told me the same thing, I also think that way is the best for my kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is in the pool for AAP based on his CoGat score. However, if he does get admitted into AAP I am not sure if I want him to be in the program. He is finally enjoying school in 2nd grade (he had behavior issues in K and 1 due to immaturity and I suspect possibly boredom) and I don't want to overwhelm him with work in 3rd grade. Why did you choose to have your kid in AAP or choose not to? The school he is in is a AAP base school so he wouldn't switch schools either way. The school is also a 10 on great schools, so the base population is already pretty high achieving.

AAP classes are usually smaller in size and have better resources (teacher /student ratio). Beside you always have to option to pull him back, while if he doesn't make it to AAP, he has no option but to stay.

[Anonymous]

OP, we felt the same, but changed our minds 100% after going to the orientation in May. We almost didn't go b/c we were leaning against AAP so much. But, I figured we should go and hear what they had to say. Good thing both DH and I went -- we both left the orientation thinking "I want some of that for my kid."

And now that kid is in 5th grade AAP and doing very well. So glad we took the time to check it out for ourselves. You may have a different conclusion -- but just go to the orientation and make your decision then.

[Anonymous]

What about your other children? Do you have other children? I would not separate them, would not make the distinction. I does quite a bit of long-long harm for one child to be seen as the "smart one" if they really aren't that different. I see it as necessary only when the advanced child is truly an extreme outliner.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the responses. I'll definitely go to the orientation if he gets in. I don't know if my other children would get into the AAP program as they are still in preschool. However, my second grader was more advanced (especially reading) in preschool than my current 4 year old, they have different strengths. I was always at the top of my class without any effort and it was nice, but i never learned how to study or have to work hard at something. That didn't come until college. It's a hard decision...

[Anonymous]

Neither of my kids have ever said they were the smartest in a class nor would I ever want them to say that. They had very high GBRS (15 and a 16), high cogats (140) and very high wiscs (145+). I'd wonder why your kids are saying that. Sounds awful coming from anyone, let alone a kid!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Neither of my kids have ever said they were the smartest in a class nor would I ever want them to say that. They had very high GBRS (15 and a 16), high cogats (140) and very high wiscs (145+). I'd wonder why your kids are saying that. Sounds awful coming from anyone, let alone a kid!!

Yes, it does. I don't want to hear him say that. Which is why I want AAP for my child.

[Anonymous]

I wanted my kid to get out of our immersion base school as I wasn't thrilled with the gen ed option. For us it creates another schooling option and so far this year has been a better fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is in the pool for AAP based on his CoGat score. However, if he does get admitted into AAP I am not sure if I want him to be in the program. He is finally enjoying school in 2nd grade (he had behavior issues in K and 1 due to immaturity and I suspect possibly boredom) and I don't want to overwhelm him with work in 3rd grade. Why did you choose to have your kid in AAP or choose not to? The school he is in is a AAP base school so he wouldn't switch schools either way. The school is also a 10 on great schools, so the base population is already pretty high achieving.

AAP classes are usually smaller in size and have better resources (teacher /student ratio). Beside you always have to option to pull him back, while if he doesn't make it to AAP, he has no option but to stay.

NO they are not. It all depends on the year and how many kids are in AAP in that grade and school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither of my kids have ever said they were the smartest in a class nor would I ever want them to say that. They had very high GBRS (15 and a 16), high cogats (140) and very high wiscs (145+). I'd wonder why your kids are saying that. Sounds awful coming from anyone, let alone a kid!!

Yes, it does. I don't want to hear him say that. Which is why I want AAP for my child.

Um, don't you get it that your child very well may NOT be the smartest kid in the class? What do you say to that? I'd be mortified if my child said or thought that. There could easily be a 2E kid in the class whose output may look piss poor hanging on a bulletin board next to other kids' work but if you handed him really advanced math (example), he'd blow your kid out of the water. My kids are "highly gifted" per the WISC results and I would never, EVER presume they are the smartest anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Our older son started AAP when we moved here and for him, the biggest benefit is socially. By 2nd grade, kids began to exclude him (he is 2E). My younger son is now in the pool, and I am thankful as he is bored in 2nd grade despite getting advanced math and language arts pull out. In addition, both of my boys prefer to explore subjects in depth which Level IV does frequently.