Why is the GT program in APS so anemic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This is why parents choose which school district they want their kids to go to. APS is known for certain things and FCPS is known for certain things.



Wait, what is APS known for??

For being closer to DC.

I think the gap has narrowed but APS traditionally had smaller classes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elementary school parenting is a blip on the radar of your life. You all will learn soon enough that what you are doing here is sweating the small stuff. None of it means anything.

High school parents here, I strongly disagree. These are fundamental skills, and you were building a love of learning or associating school with boredom.

Funny. Truly gifted kids will love learning what they’re passionate about. Most learn in spite of teachers. Parents just want to brag about their kids being gifted.

That's nonsense.

Gifted kids will read and learn vocabulary and facts but you need a teacher to, for example, teach you how to write different kinds of papers--how to identify a good research question, construct a thesis statement, evaluate evidence, etc. I got 1500 on the SATs but got to college without knowing how to write a paper because I had lousy teachers in high school and they didn't offer any AP classes except for calculus, bio, and chem. Or on the science side -- I killed it on exams throughout high school but had no idea how to design my own project because we always just followed the instructions we were given. There is so much wasted talent because schools are happy when there are kids that aren't much work for them, that just do well and don't need help and get good scores.

Sorry, I was agreeing with the person who said it's nonsense that gifted students will love learning what they're passionate about. Gifted kids need to be educated as well as other kids.

Completely agree. In elementary, teachers either professed to love my kid because “he’s just so easy” or were annoyed when he would ask too many follow up questions or try to expand on the subject. Elementary science was mostly non-existent, but what was taught drove my kid nuts because he couldn’t understand why teachers would insist that there are only 3 states of matter. It sounds ridiculous to adults, but trying to teach a little kid to smile and nod and give the teacher the answer they want to hear is soul crushing.

Ha, your example makes me laugh because my kid also complains about the school only teaching 3 states of matter. But I don't think any teacher has ever told my kid to stop asking questions. Mine is in APS and has started to get pulled out for additional science (5th grade) but he also creates his own projects in science ( does them at home and brings them in) but also counting down the days till high school science.

[Anonymous]

A real asset as the District becomes a better place to be as the years roll by. Visited the reinvented West wing of the Air and Space museum yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elementary school parenting is a blip on the radar of your life. You all will learn soon enough that what you are doing here is sweating the small stuff. None of it means anything.

High school parents here, I strongly disagree. These are fundamental skills, and you were building a love of learning or associating school with boredom.

Funny. Truly gifted kids will love learning what they’re passionate about. Most learn in spite of teachers. Parents just want to brag about their kids being gifted.

That's nonsense.

Gifted kids will read and learn vocabulary and facts but you need a teacher to, for example, teach you how to write different kinds of papers--how to identify a good research question, construct a thesis statement, evaluate evidence, etc. I got 1500 on the SATs but got to college without knowing how to write a paper because I had lousy teachers in high school and they didn't offer any AP classes except for calculus, bio, and chem. Or on the science side -- I killed it on exams throughout high school but had no idea how to design my own project because we always just followed the instructions we were given. There is so much wasted talent because schools are happy when there are kids that aren't much work for them, that just do well and don't need help and get good scores.

Sorry, I was agreeing with the person who said it's nonsense that gifted students will love learning what they're passionate about. Gifted kids need to be educated as well as other kids.

Completely agree. In elementary, teachers either professed to love my kid because “he’s just so easy” or were annoyed when he would ask too many follow up questions or try to expand on the subject. Elementary science was mostly non-existent, but what was taught drove my kid nuts because he couldn’t understand why teachers would insist that there are only 3 states of matter. It sounds ridiculous to adults, but trying to teach a little kid to smile and nod and give the teacher the answer they want to hear is soul crushing.

Ha, your example makes me laugh because my kid also complains about the school only teaching 3 states of matter. But I don't think any teacher has ever told my kid to stop asking questions. Mine is in APS and has started to get pulled out for additional science (5th grade) but he also creates his own projects in science ( does them at home and brings them in) but also counting down the days till high school science.

Is the Internet short on science learning? Are there no local STEM summer camps you can afford? My 4th grader did a Boolean Girl programming camps subsidized by Arlington last summer that was great. My eldest seems to be learning quite a bit in her life science class in 7th grade at an Arlington MS.

Sheesh, naysayers, our public schools can't be everything to all comers. Just supplement already. HS science comes up fast.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous

Is the Internet short on science learning? Are there no local STEM summer camps you can afford? My 4th grader did a Boolean Girl programming camps subsidized by Arlington last summer that was great. My eldest seems to be learning quite a bit in her life science class in 7th grade at an Arlington MS.

Sheesh, naysayers, our public schools can't be everything to all comers. Just supplement already. HS science comes up fast.

1. No, not everyone can afford to supplement or provide enrichment. It's why for APS this is an equity issue.

2. APS states as a goal a year's worth of learning for every child. They are failing a number of kids in that area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elementary school parenting is a blip on the radar of your life. You all will learn soon enough that what you are doing here is sweating the small stuff. None of it means anything.

High school parents here, I strongly disagree. These are fundamental skills, and you were building a love of learning or associating school with boredom.

Funny. Truly gifted kids will love learning what they’re passionate about. Most learn in spite of teachers. Parents just want to brag about their kids being gifted.

That's nonsense.

Gifted kids will read and learn vocabulary and facts but you need a teacher to, for example, teach you how to write different kinds of papers--how to identify a good research question, construct a thesis statement, evaluate evidence, etc. I got 1500 on the SATs but got to college without knowing how to write a paper because I had lousy teachers in high school and they didn't offer any AP classes except for calculus, bio, and chem. Or on the science side -- I killed it on exams throughout high school but had no idea how to design my own project because we always just followed the instructions we were given. There is so much wasted talent because schools are happy when there are kids that aren't much work for them, that just do well and don't need help and get good scores.

Sorry, I was agreeing with the person who said it's nonsense that gifted students will love learning what they're passionate about. Gifted kids need to be educated as well as other kids.

Completely agree. In elementary, teachers either professed to love my kid because “he’s just so easy” or were annoyed when he would ask too many follow up questions or try to expand on the subject. Elementary science was mostly non-existent, but what was taught drove my kid nuts because he couldn’t understand why teachers would insist that there are only 3 states of matter. It sounds ridiculous to adults, but trying to teach a little kid to smile and nod and give the teacher the answer they want to hear is soul crushing.

Ha, your example makes me laugh because my kid also complains about the school only teaching 3 states of matter. But I don't think any teacher has ever told my kid to stop asking questions. Mine is in APS and has started to get pulled out for additional science (5th grade) but he also creates his own projects in science ( does them at home and brings them in) but also counting down the days till high school science.

Is the Internet short on science learning? Are there no local STEM summer camps you can afford? My 4th grader did a Boolean Girl programming camps subsidized by Arlington last summer that was great. My eldest seems to be learning quite a bit in her life science class in 7th grade at an Arlington MS.

Sheesh, naysayers, our public schools can't be everything to all comers. Just supplement already. HS science comes up fast.

Oh goody my DD can twiddle thumbs in class for 30 hrs a week but will make it up with 3 hours on the weekend or one week in the summer.

I just hate the waste of time that it is. Put her in a comfortable study hall with books and puzzles and legos, our outside playing, if your aren’t going to teach her. I would home school except we both work and it would be isolating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elementary school parenting is a blip on the radar of your life. You all will learn soon enough that what you are doing here is sweating the small stuff. None of it means anything.

High school parents here, I strongly disagree. These are fundamental skills, and you were building a love of learning or associating school with boredom.

Funny. Truly gifted kids will love learning what they’re passionate about. Most learn in spite of teachers. Parents just want to brag about their kids being gifted.

That's nonsense.

Gifted kids will read and learn vocabulary and facts but you need a teacher to, for example, teach you how to write different kinds of papers--how to identify a good research question, construct a thesis statement, evaluate evidence, etc. I got 1500 on the SATs but got to college without knowing how to write a paper because I had lousy teachers in high school and they didn't offer any AP classes except for calculus, bio, and chem. Or on the science side -- I killed it on exams throughout high school but had no idea how to design my own project because we always just followed the instructions we were given. There is so much wasted talent because schools are happy when there are kids that aren't much work for them, that just do well and don't need help and get good scores.

Sorry, I was agreeing with the person who said it's nonsense that gifted students will love learning what they're passionate about. Gifted kids need to be educated as well as other kids.

Completely agree. In elementary, teachers either professed to love my kid because “he’s just so easy” or were annoyed when he would ask too many follow up questions or try to expand on the subject. Elementary science was mostly non-existent, but what was taught drove my kid nuts because he couldn’t understand why teachers would insist that there are only 3 states of matter. It sounds ridiculous to adults, but trying to teach a little kid to smile and nod and give the teacher the answer they want to hear is soul crushing.

Ha, your example makes me laugh because my kid also complains about the school only teaching 3 states of matter. But I don't think any teacher has ever told my kid to stop asking questions. Mine is in APS and has started to get pulled out for additional science (5th grade) but he also creates his own projects in science ( does them at home and brings them in) but also counting down the days till high school science.

Is the Internet short on science learning? Are there no local STEM summer camps you can afford? My 4th grader did a Boolean Girl programming camps subsidized by Arlington last summer that was great. My eldest seems to be learning quite a bit in her life science class in 7th grade at an Arlington MS.

Sheesh, naysayers, our public schools can't be everything to all comers. Just supplement already. HS science comes up fast.

Oh goody my DD can twiddle thumbs in class for 30 hrs a week but will make it up with 3 hours on the weekend or one week in the summer.

I just hate the waste of time that it is. Put her in a comfortable study hall with books and puzzles and legos, our outside playing, if your aren’t going to teach her. I would home school except we both work and it would be isolating.

If your kid is that bored, why not move to Fairfax? Our kids are in bilingual program in APS, I think that helped keep them from getting bored.

[Anonymous]

I chose immersion because it also felt like the only option to prevent boredom. It’s not perfect, but at least a gift child gets to experience some academic struggle before high school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elementary school parenting is a blip on the radar of your life. You all will learn soon enough that what you are doing here is sweating the small stuff. None of it means anything.

High school parents here, I strongly disagree. These are fundamental skills, and you were building a love of learning or associating school with boredom.

Funny. Truly gifted kids will love learning what they’re passionate about. Most learn in spite of teachers. Parents just want to brag about their kids being gifted.

That's nonsense.

Gifted kids will read and learn vocabulary and facts but you need a teacher to, for example, teach you how to write different kinds of papers--how to identify a good research question, construct a thesis statement, evaluate evidence, etc. I got 1500 on the SATs but got to college without knowing how to write a paper because I had lousy teachers in high school and they didn't offer any AP classes except for calculus, bio, and chem. Or on the science side -- I killed it on exams throughout high school but had no idea how to design my own project because we always just followed the instructions we were given. There is so much wasted talent because schools are happy when there are kids that aren't much work for them, that just do well and don't need help and get good scores.

Sorry, I was agreeing with the person who said it's nonsense that gifted students will love learning what they're passionate about. Gifted kids need to be educated as well as other kids.

Completely agree. In elementary, teachers either professed to love my kid because “he’s just so easy” or were annoyed when he would ask too many follow up questions or try to expand on the subject. Elementary science was mostly non-existent, but what was taught drove my kid nuts because he couldn’t understand why teachers would insist that there are only 3 states of matter. It sounds ridiculous to adults, but trying to teach a little kid to smile and nod and give the teacher the answer they want to hear is soul crushing.

Ha, your example makes me laugh because my kid also complains about the school only teaching 3 states of matter. But I don't think any teacher has ever told my kid to stop asking questions. Mine is in APS and has started to get pulled out for additional science (5th grade) but he also creates his own projects in science ( does them at home and brings them in) but also counting down the days till high school science.

Is the Internet short on science learning? Are there no local STEM summer camps you can afford? My 4th grader did a Boolean Girl programming camps subsidized by Arlington last summer that was great. My eldest seems to be learning quite a bit in her life science class in 7th grade at an Arlington MS.

Sheesh, naysayers, our public schools can't be everything to all comers. Just supplement already. HS science comes up fast.

Why would this be the answer? It just makes the kids more bored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I chose immersion because it also felt like the only option to prevent boredom. It’s not perfect, but at least a gift child gets to experience some academic struggle before high school

That was my plan too. Now my 1st grader, who was never exposed to Spanish before K and who doesn't have a Spanish speaker at home, is reading Magic Tree house books in Spanish. She's rapidly becoming fully fluent. I'm not sure the challenge is going to be enough to keep her busy through elementary school.

(Yes, both her parents and teachers are astounded.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So where in VA is a district with a "good" GT program? If APS is anemic, what's the non-anemic one?

This is why parents choose which school district they want their kids to go to. APS is known for certain things and FCPS is known for certain things.

Wait, what is APS known for??

- Smaller schools, smaller class sizes. Yes they have grown in recent years but I believe they are still smaller than Fairfax.
- Schools with a distinct character or focus - for better or worse APS gives its principals a lot of discretion to shape their schools how they wish
- Option programs that you can lottery into from anywhere in the county - immersion, traditional, expeditionary, Montessori, project based/tech, self-governing/student choice, IB...I may have missed one or two

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I chose immersion because it also felt like the only option to prevent boredom. It’s not perfect, but at least a gift child gets to experience some academic struggle before high school

That was my plan too. Now my 1st grader, who was never exposed to Spanish before K and who doesn't have a Spanish speaker at home, is reading Magic Tree house books in Spanish. She's rapidly becoming fully fluent. I'm not sure the challenge is going to be enough to keep her busy through elementary school.

(Yes, both her parents and teachers are astounded.)

Why are you so astounded? As a parent with middle schoolers in APS immersion, the hardest thing is to get them speaking fluently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elementary school parenting is a blip on the radar of your life. You all will learn soon enough that what you are doing here is sweating the small stuff. None of it means anything.

High school parents here, I strongly disagree. These are fundamental skills, and you were building a love of learning or associating school with boredom.

Funny. Truly gifted kids will love learning what they’re passionate about. Most learn in spite of teachers. Parents just want to brag about their kids being gifted.

That's nonsense.

Gifted kids will read and learn vocabulary and facts but you need a teacher to, for example, teach you how to write different kinds of papers--how to identify a good research question, construct a thesis statement, evaluate evidence, etc. I got 1500 on the SATs but got to college without knowing how to write a paper because I had lousy teachers in high school and they didn't offer any AP classes except for calculus, bio, and chem. Or on the science side -- I killed it on exams throughout high school but had no idea how to design my own project because we always just followed the instructions we were given. There is so much wasted talent because schools are happy when there are kids that aren't much work for them, that just do well and don't need help and get good scores.

Sorry, I was agreeing with the person who said it's nonsense that gifted students will love learning what they're passionate about. Gifted kids need to be educated as well as other kids.

Completely agree. In elementary, teachers either professed to love my kid because “he’s just so easy” or were annoyed when he would ask too many follow up questions or try to expand on the subject. Elementary science was mostly non-existent, but what was taught drove my kid nuts because he couldn’t understand why teachers would insist that there are only 3 states of matter. It sounds ridiculous to adults, but trying to teach a little kid to smile and nod and give the teacher the answer they want to hear is soul crushing.

Ha, your example makes me laugh because my kid also complains about the school only teaching 3 states of matter. But I don't think any teacher has ever told my kid to stop asking questions. Mine is in APS and has started to get pulled out for additional science (5th grade) but he also creates his own projects in science ( does them at home and brings them in) but also counting down the days till high school science.

Is the Internet short on science learning? Are there no local STEM summer camps you can afford? My 4th grader did a Boolean Girl programming camps subsidized by Arlington last summer that was great. My eldest seems to be learning quite a bit in her life science class in 7th grade at an Arlington MS.

Sheesh, naysayers, our public schools can't be everything to all comers. Just supplement already. HS science comes up fast.

Oh goody my DD can twiddle thumbs in class for 30 hrs a week but will make it up with 3 hours on the weekend or one week in the summer.

I just hate the waste of time that it is. Put her in a comfortable study hall with books and puzzles and legos, our outside playing, if your aren’t going to teach her. I would home school except we both work and it would be isolating.

If your kid is that bored, why not move to Fairfax? Our kids are in bilingual program in APS, I think that helped keep them from getting bored.

When we moved here they had a pull out gifted program. We bought a house older kids are in school — going to FCPS is much harder than it was 6 years ago (and housing is now more expensive in FFX while Arlington has dropped because who cares about commute)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elementary school parenting is a blip on the radar of your life. You all will learn soon enough that what you are doing here is sweating the small stuff. None of it means anything.

High school parents here, I strongly disagree. These are fundamental skills, and you were building a love of learning or associating school with boredom.

Funny. Truly gifted kids will love learning what they’re passionate about. Most learn in spite of teachers. Parents just want to brag about their kids being gifted.

That's nonsense.

Gifted kids will read and learn vocabulary and facts but you need a teacher to, for example, teach you how to write different kinds of papers--how to identify a good research question, construct a thesis statement, evaluate evidence, etc. I got 1500 on the SATs but got to college without knowing how to write a paper because I had lousy teachers in high school and they didn't offer any AP classes except for calculus, bio, and chem. Or on the science side -- I killed it on exams throughout high school but had no idea how to design my own project because we always just followed the instructions we were given. There is so much wasted talent because schools are happy when there are kids that aren't much work for them, that just do well and don't need help and get good scores.

Sorry, I was agreeing with the person who said it's nonsense that gifted students will love learning what they're passionate about. Gifted kids need to be educated as well as other kids.

Completely agree. In elementary, teachers either professed to love my kid because “he’s just so easy” or were annoyed when he would ask too many follow up questions or try to expand on the subject. Elementary science was mostly non-existent, but what was taught drove my kid nuts because he couldn’t understand why teachers would insist that there are only 3 states of matter. It sounds ridiculous to adults, but trying to teach a little kid to smile and nod and give the teacher the answer they want to hear is soul crushing.

Ha, your example makes me laugh because my kid also complains about the school only teaching 3 states of matter. But I don't think any teacher has ever told my kid to stop asking questions. Mine is in APS and has started to get pulled out for additional science (5th grade) but he also creates his own projects in science ( does them at home and brings them in) but also counting down the days till high school science.

Is the Internet short on science learning? Are there no local STEM summer camps you can afford? My 4th grader did a Boolean Girl programming camps subsidized by Arlington last summer that was great. My eldest seems to be learning quite a bit in her life science class in 7th grade at an Arlington MS.

Sheesh, naysayers, our public schools can't be everything to all comers. Just supplement already. HS science comes up fast.

Oh goody my DD can twiddle thumbs in class for 30 hrs a week but will make it up with 3 hours on the weekend or one week in the summer.

I just hate the waste of time that it is. Put her in a comfortable study hall with books and puzzles and legos, our outside playing, if your aren’t going to teach her. I would home school except we both work and it would be isolating.

If your kid is that bored, why not move to Fairfax? Our kids are in bilingual program in APS, I think that helped keep them from getting bored.

When we moved here they had a pull out gifted program. We bought a house older kids are in school — going to FCPS is much harder than it was 6 years ago (and housing is now more expensive in FFX while Arlington has dropped because who cares about commute)

What makes going to Fairfax harder than it used to be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elementary school parenting is a blip on the radar of your life. You all will learn soon enough that what you are doing here is sweating the small stuff. None of it means anything.

High school parents here, I strongly disagree. These are fundamental skills, and you were building a love of learning or associating school with boredom.

Funny. Truly gifted kids will love learning what they’re passionate about. Most learn in spite of teachers. Parents just want to brag about their kids being gifted.

That's nonsense.

Gifted kids will read and learn vocabulary and facts but you need a teacher to, for example, teach you how to write different kinds of papers--how to identify a good research question, construct a thesis statement, evaluate evidence, etc. I got 1500 on the SATs but got to college without knowing how to write a paper because I had lousy teachers in high school and they didn't offer any AP classes except for calculus, bio, and chem. Or on the science side -- I killed it on exams throughout high school but had no idea how to design my own project because we always just followed the instructions we were given. There is so much wasted talent because schools are happy when there are kids that aren't much work for them, that just do well and don't need help and get good scores.

Sorry, I was agreeing with the person who said it's nonsense that gifted students will love learning what they're passionate about. Gifted kids need to be educated as well as other kids.

Completely agree. In elementary, teachers either professed to love my kid because “he’s just so easy” or were annoyed when he would ask too many follow up questions or try to expand on the subject. Elementary science was mostly non-existent, but what was taught drove my kid nuts because he couldn’t understand why teachers would insist that there are only 3 states of matter. It sounds ridiculous to adults, but trying to teach a little kid to smile and nod and give the teacher the answer they want to hear is soul crushing.

Ha, your example makes me laugh because my kid also complains about the school only teaching 3 states of matter. But I don't think any teacher has ever told my kid to stop asking questions. Mine is in APS and has started to get pulled out for additional science (5th grade) but he also creates his own projects in science ( does them at home and brings them in) but also counting down the days till high school science.

Is the Internet short on science learning? Are there no local STEM summer camps you can afford? My 4th grader did a Boolean Girl programming camps subsidized by Arlington last summer that was great. My eldest seems to be learning quite a bit in her life science class in 7th grade at an Arlington MS.

Sheesh, naysayers, our public schools can't be everything to all comers. Just supplement already. HS science comes up fast.

Oh goody my DD can twiddle thumbs in class for 30 hrs a week but will make it up with 3 hours on the weekend or one week in the summer.

I just hate the waste of time that it is. Put her in a comfortable study hall with books and puzzles and legos, our outside playing, if your aren’t going to teach her. I would home school except we both work and it would be isolating.

If your kid is that bored, why not move to Fairfax? Our kids are in bilingual program in APS, I think that helped keep them from getting bored.

When we moved here they had a pull out gifted program. We bought a house older kids are in school — going to FCPS is much harder than it was 6 years ago (and housing is now more expensive in FFX while Arlington has dropped because who cares about commute)

What makes going to Fairfax harder than it used to be?

Our older kids are already in middle school and it’s more expensive now to move to FFX while Arlington has fallen — so we need to come up with more money!!