AAP school experience

[Anonymous]

I have friends in other school districts that don’t have an AAP or solid gifted program. Their kids are not challenged and in the same classes as every other kid besides math and that doesn’t seem to be good either.

I don’t think it is right to put the super bright advanced kids with kids who struggle. It is doing a disadvantage for both kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is the annual “AAP sucks” thread. Seriously, every year.

My ideal would be that each subject had an Advanced class and kids were placed in the class that fit them best. There are too many kids who are strong in LA that are placed in LIV that are not strong in math and struggle with the math. They are placed in LIV because there is no Advanced LA and they need more in the LA category. The kids who are strong in math but not LA are able to go into Advanced Math, which upsets parents who see LIV as some sort of intelligence check.

Have Advanced Math, LA, Science, and Social Studies. Place the kids in the classes that make sense for their ability level and curiosity. Get rid of the Centers.

Classes should be leveled so that there is no more than 3 levels of kids in a class so that Teachers can manage differentiation in the class. The regular class has too many kids at different skill levels. Rotate the Teachers each year so that Teachers don’t burn out teaching a particular skill level. I would guess most schools would have 25% of the kids in a class for kids below grade level or struggling at grade level, 50% at grade level or a bit ahead, and 25% ahead in most subjects.

100% this. Why can't we group kids for language arts, math, science, and social studies separately? One of my children did not get into AAP because while is very strong in math, she only tests in the 60th-70th percentile for language arts. Considering all kids in ES are doing Benchmark for language, it's silly that she isn't in the advanced math class. I didn't bother reapplying for AAP this year because we're at an elementary school with a pretty homogeneous population and it's not worth the trouble. It all evens out by the time they get to high school anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have friends in other school districts that don’t have an AAP or solid gifted program. Their kids are not challenged and in the same classes as every other kid besides math and that doesn’t seem to be good either.

I don’t think it is right to put the super bright advanced kids with kids who struggle. It is doing a disadvantage for both kids.

I think the problem is that AAP is not actually all the "super bright advanced kids". I would be totally fine with the truly gifted children having their own program, but 30% of the population in FCPS is not advanced (at our ES, there are three classes, one is AAP. We know these kids, they're not all gifted. Maybe three of them are.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have friends in other school districts that don’t have an AAP or solid gifted program. Their kids are not challenged and in the same classes as every other kid besides math and that doesn’t seem to be good either.

I don’t think it is right to put the super bright advanced kids with kids who struggle. It is doing a disadvantage for both kids.

I think the problem is that AAP is not actually all the "super bright advanced kids". I would be totally fine with the truly gifted children having their own program, but 30% of the population in FCPS is not advanced (at our ES, there are three classes, one is AAP. We know these kids, they're not all gifted. Maybe three of them are.).

And, the teachers will back you up on that. In fact, few are gifted.

Our school--upper middle affluent--went from 7 or 8 gifted kids to well more than 30 AAP,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, it's parents of the gen ed kids who cause the most strife. They pass their jealousy off to their kids, which is nonsense if AAP is the lousy program they claim it is. If that were true, why would it matter what class your kid was in?

Oh, please. When your kid comes home from school in tears because all of their friends told them they just "weren't smart enough" to join them in AAP, get back to us. I never said anything at all to my DC about AAP, other than to reassure them after being hurt by these obnoxious kids.

Calling them “obnoxious“ really bolsters your argument that you’re not jealous.

DP but gee, I wonder where these children are getting their "we're better than you" attitude from. In talking to neighbors, all the bright kids end up in the same AP classes in high school anyway, so why should anyone care?

Here's the thing: Parents without kids in AAP spout all the time that "kids are all together in MS honors" or "end up in the same AP classes high school anyway."

If that is the truth, turn the question back on yourselves: Why should anyone care?

I'm so sick of parents trying to cut down a program just because their kid wasn't selected. Grow up.

I just posted above that my kid is a high stat kid. I don’t know all the kids from all the other schools. I do know most of the kids that my kids went to elementary school with. Many kids who didn’t get into AAP switched to private school, the ones who probably would have done well in honors or AP classes. There are new kids who moved in middle and high school who were never in AAP that do great too. There is not some huge population of non AAP kids who do significantly better than the AAP kids and end up at Harvard or Yale.

That's great, it sounds like those kids were just where they needed to be to do well. No need for you to worry then about other kids and their elementary school placement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, it's parents of the gen ed kids who cause the most strife. They pass their jealousy off to their kids, which is nonsense if AAP is the lousy program they claim it is. If that were true, why would it matter what class your kid was in?

Oh, please. When your kid comes home from school in tears because all of their friends told them they just "weren't smart enough" to join them in AAP, get back to us. I never said anything at all to my DC about AAP, other than to reassure them after being hurt by these obnoxious kids.

Calling them “obnoxious“ really bolsters your argument that you’re not jealous.

DP but gee, I wonder where these children are getting their "we're better than you" attitude from. In talking to neighbors, all the bright kids end up in the same AP classes in high school anyway, so why should anyone care?

Here's the thing: Parents without kids in AAP spout all the time that "kids are all together in MS honors" or "end up in the same AP classes high school anyway."

If that is the truth, turn the question back on yourselves: Why should anyone care?

I'm so sick of parents trying to cut down a program just because their kid wasn't selected. Grow up.

I just posted above that my kid is a high stat kid. I don’t know all the kids from all the other schools. I do know most of the kids that my kids went to elementary school with. Many kids who didn’t get into AAP switched to private school, the ones who probably would have done well in honors or AP classes. There are new kids who moved in middle and high school who were never in AAP that do great too. There is not some huge population of non AAP kids who do significantly better than the AAP kids and end up at Harvard or Yale.

That's great, it sounds like those kids were just where they needed to be to do well. No need for you to worry then about other kids and their elementary school placement.

Not a huge population of AAP kids who end up at Harvard or Yale either.

[Anonymous]

For middle to low SES schools, AAP is the only way to get an average education. Fail kids, suspend/expel kids, have discipline and standards and AAP wouldn’t be needed. Many middle to low SES ES/MS dont even read books… ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have friends in other school districts that don’t have an AAP or solid gifted program. Their kids are not challenged and in the same classes as every other kid besides math and that doesn’t seem to be good either.

I don’t think it is right to put the super bright advanced kids with kids who struggle. It is doing a disadvantage for both kids.

+1 we need to get the struggling kids out like they used to - separate classrooms because they can’t keep up. They drag everyone down. And many of them have behavioral issues. It’s not fair to the gen Ed teachers or other students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have friends in other school districts that don’t have an AAP or solid gifted program. Their kids are not challenged and in the same classes as every other kid besides math and that doesn’t seem to be good either.

I don’t think it is right to put the super bright advanced kids with kids who struggle. It is doing a disadvantage for both kids.

+1 we need to get the struggling kids out like they used to - separate classrooms because they can’t keep up. They drag everyone down. And many of them have behavioral issues. It’s not fair to the gen Ed teachers or other students.

Actually, they did not use to do that--except for the profoundly disabled.
But, kids who throw fits in classes should be elsewhere--even if they are 2E. If a class is constantly disrupted by a child who is "frustrated and doesn't understand why," there needs to be another place for that child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have friends in other school districts that don’t have an AAP or solid gifted program. Their kids are not challenged and in the same classes as every other kid besides math and that doesn’t seem to be good either.

I don’t think it is right to put the super bright advanced kids with kids who struggle. It is doing a disadvantage for both kids.

I think the problem is that AAP is not actually all the "super bright advanced kids". I would be totally fine with the truly gifted children having their own program, but 30% of the population in FCPS is not advanced (at our ES, there are three classes, one is AAP. We know these kids, they're not all gifted. Maybe three of them are.).

I was stating both ends should not be in the same class.

I do think the AAP kids are either naturally smart and/or have better discipline.

I do not like the kids being labeled either. Just put the smarter kids in the same class. That’s how it was done when I was a kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have friends in other school districts that don’t have an AAP or solid gifted program. Their kids are not challenged and in the same classes as every other kid besides math and that doesn’t seem to be good either.

I don’t think it is right to put the super bright advanced kids with kids who struggle. It is doing a disadvantage for both kids.

I think the problem is that AAP is not actually all the "super bright advanced kids". I would be totally fine with the truly gifted children having their own program, but 30% of the population in FCPS is not advanced (at our ES, there are three classes, one is AAP. We know these kids, they're not all gifted. Maybe three of them are.).

I was stating both ends should not be in the same class.

I do think the AAP kids are either naturally smart and/or have better discipline.

I do not like the kids being labeled either. Just put the smarter kids in the same class. That’s how it was done when I was a kid.

I taught for years with all kinds of kids. It can be done. Labeling too early is damaging. No rigid tracking should be done until at least fourth grade. Too many kids blossom at different times.

And, how do you put the "smarter kids" in the same class without labeling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, it's parents of the gen ed kids who cause the most strife. They pass their jealousy off to their kids, which is nonsense if AAP is the lousy program they claim it is. If that were true, why would it matter what class your kid was in?

Oh, please. When your kid comes home from school in tears because all of their friends told them they just "weren't smart enough" to join them in AAP, get back to us. I never said anything at all to my DC about AAP, other than to reassure them after being hurt by these obnoxious kids.

Calling them “obnoxious“ really bolsters your argument that you’re not jealous.

DP but gee, I wonder where these children are getting their "we're better than you" attitude from. In talking to neighbors, all the bright kids end up in the same AP classes in high school anyway, so why should anyone care?

Here's the thing: Parents without kids in AAP spout all the time that "kids are all together in MS honors" or "end up in the same AP classes high school anyway."

If that is the truth, turn the question back on yourselves: Why should anyone care?

I'm so sick of parents trying to cut down a program just because their kid wasn't selected. Grow up.

I just posted above that my kid is a high stat kid. I don’t know all the kids from all the other schools. I do know most of the kids that my kids went to elementary school with. Many kids who didn’t get into AAP switched to private school, the ones who probably would have done well in honors or AP classes. There are new kids who moved in middle and high school who were never in AAP that do great too. There is not some huge population of non AAP kids who do significantly better than the AAP kids and end up at Harvard or Yale.

You're right, you don't know all the kids from all the other schools so your weird anecdote is totally false. AAP is not the huge indicator of success that you think it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, it's parents of the gen ed kids who cause the most strife. They pass their jealousy off to their kids, which is nonsense if AAP is the lousy program they claim it is. If that were true, why would it matter what class your kid was in?

Oh, please. When your kid comes home from school in tears because all of their friends told them they just "weren't smart enough" to join them in AAP, get back to us. I never said anything at all to my DC about AAP, other than to reassure them after being hurt by these obnoxious kids.

Calling them “obnoxious“ really bolsters your argument that you’re not jealous.

DP but gee, I wonder where these children are getting their "we're better than you" attitude from. In talking to neighbors, all the bright kids end up in the same AP classes in high school anyway, so why should anyone care?

Here's the thing: Parents without kids in AAP spout all the time that "kids are all together in MS honors" or "end up in the same AP classes high school anyway."

If that is the truth, turn the question back on yourselves: Why should anyone care?

I'm so sick of parents trying to cut down a program just because their kid wasn't selected. Grow up.

I just posted above that my kid is a high stat kid. I don’t know all the kids from all the other schools. I do know most of the kids that my kids went to elementary school with. Many kids who didn’t get into AAP switched to private school, the ones who probably would have done well in honors or AP classes. There are new kids who moved in middle and high school who were never in AAP that do great too. There is not some huge population of non AAP kids who do significantly better than the AAP kids and end up at Harvard or Yale.

That's great, it sounds like those kids were just where they needed to be to do well. No need for you to worry then about other kids and their elementary school placement.

Not a huge population of AAP kids who end up at Harvard or Yale either.

There is the one woman I know who works for the federal government who is 40 years old and still goes on and on about how she went to TJ for high school. I feel so sad for her that she peaked so early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have friends in other school districts that don’t have an AAP or solid gifted program. Their kids are not challenged and in the same classes as every other kid besides math and that doesn’t seem to be good either.

I don’t think it is right to put the super bright advanced kids with kids who struggle. It is doing a disadvantage for both kids.

I think the problem is that AAP is not actually all the "super bright advanced kids". I would be totally fine with the truly gifted children having their own program, but 30% of the population in FCPS is not advanced (at our ES, there are three classes, one is AAP. We know these kids, they're not all gifted. Maybe three of them are.).

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, it's parents of the gen ed kids who cause the most strife. They pass their jealousy off to their kids, which is nonsense if AAP is the lousy program they claim it is. If that were true, why would it matter what class your kid was in?

Oh, please. When your kid comes home from school in tears because all of their friends told them they just "weren't smart enough" to join them in AAP, get back to us. I never said anything at all to my DC about AAP, other than to reassure them after being hurt by these obnoxious kids.

Calling them “obnoxious“ really bolsters your argument that you’re not jealous.

DP but gee, I wonder where these children are getting their "we're better than you" attitude from. In talking to neighbors, all the bright kids end up in the same AP classes in high school anyway, so why should anyone care?

Here's the thing: Parents without kids in AAP spout all the time that "kids are all together in MS honors" or "end up in the same AP classes high school anyway."

If that is the truth, turn the question back on yourselves: Why should anyone care?

I'm so sick of parents trying to cut down a program just because their kid wasn't selected. Grow up.

I just posted above that my kid is a high stat kid. I don’t know all the kids from all the other schools. I do know most of the kids that my kids went to elementary school with. Many kids who didn’t get into AAP switched to private school, the ones who probably would have done well in honors or AP classes. There are new kids who moved in middle and high school who were never in AAP that do great too. There is not some huge population of non AAP kids who do significantly better than the AAP kids and end up at Harvard or Yale.

That's great, it sounds like those kids were just where they needed to be to do well. No need for you to worry then about other kids and their elementary school placement.

Not a huge population of AAP kids who end up at Harvard or Yale either.

There is the one woman I know who works for the federal government who is 40 years old and still goes on and on about how she went to TJ for high school. I feel so sad for her that she peaked so early.

There are a lot of those insufferable TJ alums around here. It’s tiresome and it’s absolutely a result of the kind of thing we’re talking about here