Best test prep book for the NNAT?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is the Asians and Indians who cheat on these tests, far more than other groups.

"Emphasizing and weighing GBRS works against minorities including Asians (partially due to language, not being as assertive/active participants etc.) and the whites are the ones mostly engaged in prepping 2nd graders. In addition, white parents are more likely to visit the school/classroom to volunteer and explain their kids to teacher and other school officials and submit examples. Another scam to limit the number of minorities and increase the number of white kids just like at the top colleges. Perhaps the dilution of the AAP and the out of control expansion of the program is mostly due to these above average but not gifted kids taking up spots in AAP."

+100 Citation?

I have never seen concrete data on who preps the most. Anecdotally, the prep books are sold in Korean and Indian groceries; the prep classes that I have seen advertised show pictures of non-white kids. I had never heard of the test prep businesses...and I am a white person in a upper middle class professional neighborhood. It is not the whites that prep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Then FCPS should really improve the level 1,2 & 3 standards. Right now it is a joke; namesake program. This will be a solution to the problem~

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is the Asians and Indians who cheat on these tests, far more than other groups.

"Emphasizing and weighing GBRS works against minorities including Asians (partially due to language, not being as assertive/active participants etc.) and the whites are the ones mostly engaged in prepping 2nd graders. In addition, white parents are more likely to visit the school/classroom to volunteer and explain their kids to teacher and other school officials and submit examples. Another scam to limit the number of minorities and increase the number of white kids just like at the top colleges. Perhaps the dilution of the AAP and the out of control expansion of the program is mostly due to these above average but not gifted kids taking up spots in AAP."

+100 Citation?

I have never seen concrete data on who preps the most. Anecdotally, the prep books are sold in Korean and Indian groceries; the prep classes that I have seen advertised show pictures of non-white kids. I had never heard of the test prep businesses...and I am a white person in a upper middle class professional neighborhood. It is not the whites that prep.

White kids "do not prep. they study and go over questions" while Asian kids "do not go over questions they just prep." Most of the appeals are filed by whites as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are from NYC where you need to take the test for GT before you start kindergarten. They also have a December cut off for Kindergarten so many kids start kindergarten at age 4. You better bet everyone is prepping for these tests.

My kids are currently only in preschool but we live in FFX County. I will probably buy a few books to expose my kids to the type of questions. If you think I will spend endless hours on this, you are mistaken. I may do a few runs with my then 2nd grader so he understands how to answer a question when the time comes.

Well aware of how it is in NYC, which is why many of us live here, not there. FFX County is not NYC, but as more people are convinced by hysteria on boards like these that their kids have to do well on these tests or resign themselves to a substandard education, it will become that bad.

Fortunately, long before that happens, most of the sought after schools in FCPS are going to have Local Level IV and phase out centers, so this desperate need parents feel to push their kid to get to a better school will end. Of course, LLIV, like the AAP centers is really just tracking by another name. Still amazed a smart attorney hasn't figured out a way to challenge the inequity of the whole AAP program as currently administered.

Well, fortunately the real life people here in fcps do not actually reflect the nonsense which is DCUM's caricature of AAP.

Maybe in really small pockets of this area with specific groups of parents but it really is not the norm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did not want my kid to be in AAP so my kid did not attend AAP. I wanted my kid to enjoy his elementary/middle school years doing things he liked and having the time exploring those things. It's great to engage in sports, reading books of all kinds, variety of club activities without too much competition and busy work. I knew my kid was bright and didn't need AAP validation. He explored subjects he was interested in such as astronomy, human anatomy, oceans/marine life, hieroglyphics, ancient civilizations, creative writing etc. He had ample time to explore and learn about subjects he was interested in and not covered by public schools.

Even though he did not go through AAP, he is doing great at TJ and one of the top students there. There are kids from some of the best AAP centers in the county not doing so great at TJ as well. I think elementary school age kids should have time to explore and absorb on their own without the artificial labeling. AAP is not necessary to perform well in high school (even at one that is extremely rigorous).

You could have described my son as well. We also felt no need for AAP (at the time, it was GT), and we declined the program. DS graduated in top 10% of high school class and is now excelling in college. AAP/GT had nothing to do with DS's success, but having the freedom to explore and study whatever interested him outside of the classroom did. He has always loved learning for learning's sake, not because he had some meaningless label attached to him.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are from NYC where you need to take the test for GT before you start kindergarten. They also have a December cut off for Kindergarten so many kids start kindergarten at age 4. You better bet everyone is prepping for these tests.

My kids are currently only in preschool but we live in FFX County. I will probably buy a few books to expose my kids to the type of questions. If you think I will spend endless hours on this, you are mistaken. I may do a few runs with my then 2nd grader so he understands how to answer a question when the time comes.

Well aware of how it is in NYC, which is why many of us live here, not there. FFX County is not NYC, but as more people are convinced by hysteria on boards like these that their kids have to do well on these tests or resign themselves to a substandard education, it will become that bad.

Fortunately, long before that happens, most of the sought after schools in FCPS are going to have Local Level IV and phase out centers, so this desperate need parents feel to push their kid to get to a better school will end. Of course, LLIV, like the AAP centers is really just tracking by another name. Still amazed a smart attorney hasn't figured out a way to challenge the inequity of the whole AAP program as currently administered.

Well, fortunately the real life people here in fcps do not actually reflect the nonsense which is DCUM's caricature of AAP.

Maybe in really small pockets of this area with specific groups of parents but it really is not the norm.

Sadly in most parts of McLean, Vienna, Great Falls and Falls Church they do.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately Local Level IV services include kids that weren't accepted by the central selection committee. Two problems exist there: the ability for parents to pressure the local school to accept their child and the "watering down" of AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately Local Level IV services include kids that weren't accepted by the central selection committee. Two problems exist there: the ability for parents to pressure the local school to accept their child and the "watering down" of AAP.

As opposed to parents badgering teachers and AARTs and the central selection committee to accept their kid. Hard to see how AAP could get anymore watered down than it already is.

If AAP isn't limited to truly "gifted" kids, why not allow as many children as possible to be exposed to the curriculum. Afraid your DC won't seem special enough anymore?

[Anonymous]

Not at all. My DC was accepted and probably shouldn't have been. I would like to see the whole system change. Most kids can handle the AAP program and the kids in gen ed should have the opportunity to have the same education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is the Asians and Indians who cheat on these tests, far more than other groups.

"Emphasizing and weighing GBRS works against minorities including Asians (partially due to language, not being as assertive/active participants etc.) and the whites are the ones mostly engaged in prepping 2nd graders. In addition, white parents are more likely to visit the school/classroom to volunteer and explain their kids to teacher and other school officials and submit examples. Another scam to limit the number of minorities and increase the number of white kids just like at the top colleges. Perhaps the dilution of the AAP and the out of control expansion of the program is mostly due to these above average but not gifted kids taking up spots in AAP."

+100 Citation?

I have never seen concrete data on who preps the most. Anecdotally, the prep books are sold in Korean and Indian groceries; the prep classes that I have seen advertised show pictures of non-white kids. I had never heard of the test prep businesses...and I am a white person in a upper middle class professional neighborhood. It is not the whites that prep.

We get most of our "prep" books at Costco and B&N. I'm white, and by the definition of "prep" used in DCUM I guess we prep. Though, seriously, I still think it's just studying. There's a nuance that thrives on this board and nowhere else that makes some kind of distinction. We buy every workbook we can find and the kids wear them out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is the Asians and Indians who cheat on these tests, far more than other groups.

"Emphasizing and weighing GBRS works against minorities including Asians (partially due to language, not being as assertive/active participants etc.) and the whites are the ones mostly engaged in prepping 2nd graders. In addition, white parents are more likely to visit the school/classroom to volunteer and explain their kids to teacher and other school officials and submit examples. Another scam to limit the number of minorities and increase the number of white kids just like at the top colleges. Perhaps the dilution of the AAP and the out of control expansion of the program is mostly due to these above average but not gifted kids taking up spots in AAP."

+100 Citation?

I have never seen concrete data on who preps the most. Anecdotally, the prep books are sold in Korean and Indian groceries; the prep classes that I have seen advertised show pictures of non-white kids. I had never heard of the test prep businesses...and I am a white person in a upper middle class professional neighborhood. It is not the whites that prep.

We get most of our "prep" books at Costco and B&N. I'm white, and by the definition of "prep" used in DCUM I guess we prep. Though, seriously, I still think it's just studying. There's a nuance that thrives on this board and nowhere else that makes some kind of distinction. We buy every workbook we can find and the kids wear them out.

Not every workbook out there is a test prep book. There are companies that put together materials that are designed to get kids ready for certain tests. Frequently, the names of the tests will be right there on the cover. The material in the books will be as close as possible to the problems and questions on the actual test so kids can practice in advance of the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are from NYC where you need to take the test for GT before you start kindergarten. They also have a December cut off for Kindergarten so many kids start kindergarten at age 4. You better bet everyone is prepping for these tests.

My kids are currently only in preschool but we live in FFX County. I will probably buy a few books to expose my kids to the type of questions. If you think I will spend endless hours on this, you are mistaken. I may do a few runs with my then 2nd grader so he understands how to answer a question when the time comes.

Well aware of how it is in NYC, which is why many of us live here, not there. FFX County is not NYC, but as more people are convinced by hysteria on boards like these that their kids have to do well on these tests or resign themselves to a substandard education, it will become that bad.

Fortunately, long before that happens, most of the sought after schools in FCPS are going to have Local Level IV and phase out centers, so this desperate need parents feel to push their kid to get to a better school will end. Of course, LLIV, like the AAP centers is really just tracking by another name. Still amazed a smart attorney hasn't figured out a way to challenge the inequity of the whole AAP program as currently administered.

+1000

[Anonymous]

I think the bottom line is that if the children don't need to be prepped, the test should never be available anywhere so that it is a fairground for all children. If some children get prepared which no one has control over, then the children who don't prep are at a disadvantage. So no need to talk about if preparing is ethical or not, they need to find a way to protect these tests or change it every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the bottom line is that if the children don't need to be prepped, the test should never be available anywhere so that it is a fairground for all children. If some children get prepared which no one has control over, then the children who don't prep are at a disadvantage. So no need to talk about if preparing is ethical or not, they need to find a way to protect these tests or change it every year.

Where you are wrong is the test is designed to measure critical thinking. Addressing a problem the child has never seen. So, once studying/prepping is introduced, the measurement is based on ability to memorize and adapt rather than to deduce from prior experience.

The county is trying to identify who the better thinkers are, not the better doers.

[Anonymous]

OMG people. Prepping a 5 year old for the NNAT? In the hopes that the child will get a high enough score in 1st grade to keep him in the running for AAP selection, although NNAT is just one of several scores they consider?

Stop doing this to your children. It is insane. I can't think of a better way to turn your child off of school forever. Suck all the love out of learning. As if No Child Left Behind and all these standardized tests aren't bad enough, now parents are forcing their kids to do these at home?

You don't even know yet if your child is a good fit for AAP. You don't know what AAP will look like in a few years. Instead of trying to shove your child onto a set path, why not wait and see what your child wants to do and excels at on his own, and foster and encourage that? Maybe music! Maybe art! Maybe sports! Maybe theater!