What exactly is a prepped kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I helped administer the CogAT at my FCPS school last week. Here are examples of prepping:

"Ms. ______, my mommy and I practice paper folding and cutting holes and unfolding after dinner every night. It's fun!"

"Ms. _______, I have something to tell you. My daddy printed out this test on his printer at work. It's just the same - ducks on the top of the page!"

Yes, you can spend hours paper folding at he to help with that section of the CogAT, and, sure, you could buy it online and have your kid take it. But then it's completely invalid. What the hell is the point of that?

Just curious, the second example sounds like the child was prepped with a copy of the actual test because I doubt a test prep company would randomly have ducks on the top of the page and the actual test also have that. Why doesn't FCPS secure the test better. I thought this was why the test was changed to a FCPS specific test instead of the regular CogAT.

Why should FCPS have to secure the test better? Should we really have to operate from a place where the expectation is that adults will look for a way to help second graders (!) cheat on a test and then find ways to keep said adults from acquiring copies of the same or essentially similar tests ahead of time? How crazy is it that we should place the burden on FCPS to keep adults from helping children to cheat?

If FCPS is relying on a test to determine who will get a service, then one would hope they would be careful about securing the test. What the pp described sounded like the child had the actual test, not a third party prep material. Also, if they aren't securing the actual test, why waste taxpayer money on getting a special form of the test?

So, are you saying that it is the fault of FCPS if adults find a way to cheat by showing kids material that is so similar to the test that the child says that his dad had already shown him a copy of the same test? Are you saying that FCPS should just expect that adults will cheat? Whatever happened to parents teaching their children about integrity and honesty?

Ok, so apparently you're going to tell all those bad parents to just stop prepping their kids, already. There! Done! That was easy.
I think the real world operates a little differently than your idealistic expectations. FCPS should absolutely be securing their test materials. As the PP said, why should taxpayers have to foot the bill for the "special" version of the CogAT if it's just going to be leaked and/or copied?

You know, it's one thing for teachers of older kids to need to be careful about tests, since kids are still learning about how to be honorable people, but it is quite another to say that the school district needs to watch out because if they are not super careful, the parents of the kids will cheat. In the real world, most people do not cheat. And in the real world, most adults are not trying to find ways to cheat on a test for children. It is in no way the majority of adults in the real world who try to acquire leaked and/or copied tests meant for second graders. But because some do, the taxpayers will have to foot an ever-increasing bill in an effort to outwit those adults who are trying to get copies of the test ahead of time?

I don't see how FCPS can be responsible for a parent printing something off that looks just like the test the child just took.

[Anonymous]

You know, it's one thing for teachers of older kids to need to be careful about tests, since kids are still learning about how to be honorable people, but it is quite another to say that the school district needs to watch out because if they are not super careful, the parents of the kids will cheat. In the real world, most people do not cheat. And in the real world, most adults are not trying to find ways to cheat on a test for children. It is in no way the majority of adults in the real world who try to acquire leaked and/or copied tests meant for second graders. But because some do, the taxpayers will have to foot an ever-increasing bill in an effort to outwit those adults who are trying to get copies of the test ahead of time?

BS. Some kids study much harder than others and work out and prepare for tests and exams the same way some work out and train for a lacrosse game or swim meet. There's absolutely no reason on earth to steal the tests for many of these kids. They run circles around many kids blindfolded!

Screaming bloody murder and cheating only makes paranoid posters here look butt-naked foolish. For many of these kids academics is the primary extracurricular activity. Just dial 800-800-800. These kids don't need a copy of the County test. To the contrary, it's those calling them cheaters while quivering in their boots about their children's impending performance that are printing hijacked copies of the test after midnight.

[Anonymous]

The NNAT and CogAT are instruments meant to be part of an identification process to provide the classroom situation best suited for a child's needs. They are not part of the competitive sport of test-taking. Getting a child placed into a program that the child doesn't need does nothing to enhance that child's education.
It is silly to think of these tests as competitions, because they are not. No one is quivering and no one is screaming. People do think it is too bad that some parents don't realize that there is no need to spend a lot of money prepping for these tests.

(And really, academics as a primary extracurricular activity? That is just not what colleges are looking for. Colleges want kids who can be high achievers while engaging in non-academic extracurriculars and contributing to their community. They want kids like my young relative who has 750+ on each section of the SAT, well over 4.0 at a selective public magnet while playing a varsity sport every season and engaging in community service year round. They want kids who can get the grades and the scores without spending every waking second on academics and who will be a contributor, not just a taker, on campus at their school. No one is scared of the kid for whom academics is the primary extracurricular activity because they know that colleges are looking for much more than academics in their applicants.)

[Anonymous]

The NNAT and CogAT are instruments meant to be part of an identification process to provide the classroom situation best suited for a child's needs. They are not part of the competitive sport of test-taking. Getting a child placed into a program that the child doesn't need does nothing to enhance that child's education.
It is silly to think of these tests as competitions, because they are not. No one is quivering and no one is screaming. People do think it is too bad that some parents don't realize that there is no need to spend a lot of money prepping for these tests.

(And really, academics as a primary extracurricular activity? That is just not what colleges are looking for. Colleges want kids who can be high achievers while engaging in non-academic extracurriculars and contributing to their community. They want kids like my young relative who has 750+ on each section of the SAT, well over 4.0 at a selective public magnet while playing a varsity sport every season and engaging in community service year round. They want kids who can get the grades and the scores without spending every waking second on academics and who will be a contributor, not just a taker, on campus at their school. No one is scared of the kid for whom academics is the primary extracurricular activity because they know that colleges are looking for much more than academics in their applicants.)

Malarky. So you and the County know what a child needs in school...music...sports...arts?

How the hell do you determine this in a 4-year-old? By GoCAT test, 100 yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, SAT, music recital?

Such hypocritical babble about accurate predictors based on a silly test given to a 4 year-old?


Some kids like academics for curricular and extracurricular activities others prefer "academic - lyte" with enough vacation time to travel in Europe on ski trips and go to lacrosse camps. We understand precisely what the leadership would want (to give their children a better chance)? What they want and merit are at two different poles!!

I make know judgement about what endpoint is better; but, let's call a spade a spade and stop with this stupidity that preferred activities of some is somehow less honorable and cheating.

[Anonymous]

(And really, academics as a primary extracurricular activity? That is just not what colleges are looking for. Colleges want kids who can be high achievers while engaging in non-academic extracurriculars and contributing to their community. They want kids like my young relative who has 750+ on each section of the SAT, well over 4.0 at a selective public magnet while playing a varsity sport every season and engaging in community service year round. They want kids who can get the grades and the scores without spending every waking second on academics and who will be a contributor, not just a taker, on campus at their school. No one is scared of the kid for whom academics is the primary extracurricular activity because they know that colleges are looking for much more than academics in their applicants.)

So this is ypur motivation? You seem to care only about what colleges are looking for? Well, I don't give a damn about what colleges are looking for 12 years from now. I care more about what kids like to do. And if they prefer math competitions for extracurricular screw your colleges. We all have choice. I do not complain when your children go and volunteer in hospitals at an early age, hand out food in soup kitchens outside their lush neighborhoods or go with the family on a safari and sneak in a little "tutoring" of the cabin help to meet the requirements you think Colleges are looking for.

I certainly don't give a damn about this 12 years in advance of when my kids school choose to go to college...if Colleges remain relevant...and my kids choose to go.

This is not about what Colleges want? It's about what parents and their children want? What I want for my children may not be what you want for your children or what you think Colleges want, today, for children.

[Anonymous]

(And really, academics as a primary extracurricular activity? That is just not what colleges are looking for. Colleges want kids who can be high achievers while engaging in non-academic extracurriculars and contributing to their community. They want kids like my young relative who has 750+ on each section of the SAT, well over 4.0 at a selective public magnet while playing a varsity sport every season and engaging in community service year round. They want kids who can get the grades and the scores without spending every waking second on academics and who will be a contributor, not just a taker, on campus at their school. No one is scared of the kid for whom academics is the primary extracurricular activity because they know that colleges are looking for much more than academics in their applicants.)

Sounds like you are saying colleges want your genotype and phenotype. Why not simply send in your buccal smear, thumb print, your dental mold, and a screen of your retina with the College application!
What happened to you? Sounds like you went to community college.

[Anonymous]

A prepped kid is NOT your precious kid.

Your kid is bright and naturally gifted. Everyone else's kid is a stupid moron. Those who do better than your kid have dismal lives and they are social misfits who study a lot. They may achieve but are miserable in their lives.

Your kid on the other hand is not "prepped" but "prepared". Your kid will be healthy, happy and successful in life, unlike other kids. That is a guarantee.

[Anonymous]

There are people here that believe in innate intelligence (group 1), and people that believe that everyone starts from the same point, and hard work is what matters (group 2). And there are people in the middle -- there are smarted people, sure, but hard work is required to reach potential (group 3).

NOTE: I KNOW CogAT is not an IQ test, but that is how it is used, and scaled.

Group 1 will not do any prep work. They might to explore work, but it will be unrelated to any metrics

Group 2 is looking at the metrics. Anything that can be done to improve metrics should be done. These are the ones that will prepare the children for the IQ tests -- they do no believe in IQ as an innate measure, so actions to score higher will result in a smarter kid.

Group 3 probably will not prep the kids for the IQ tests, but they will enrich the kids in things, and try to enforce discipline in studies, but for the increase in knowledge and not for the specific metrics.

As an aside, the group 2 people usually do not get that in 'Murica, there are plenty of opportunities. Your lifetime success is not defined by performance on any single test at anytime. We can afford to give people second chances.

[Anonymous]

My three kids have all been placed into AAP without a shred of anything that would resemble prepping.

For all the preppers: have you ever wondered why some of us are able to trust that our kids can get into AAP without any prepping? Do you wish you could have that same confidence? In my case, it honestly didn't matter to me, and yet my kids each surprised me when they got in. Not surprised because I didn't think they were bright, but surprised because I see all the people around me in my community who work so damn hard to ensure their kids measure up and I just let it be. And surprised because none of them are overachievers or perfectionists or anything that resembles a "gifted" child. Just naturally bright, inquisitive kids who play outside, ride their bikes, play video games, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My three kids have all been placed into AAP without a shred of anything that would resemble prepping.

For all the preppers: have you ever wondered why some of us are able to trust that our kids can get into AAP without any prepping? Do you wish you could have that same confidence? In my case, it honestly didn't matter to me, and yet my kids each surprised me when they got in. Not surprised because I didn't think they were bright, but surprised because I see all the people around me in my community who work so damn hard to ensure their kids measure up and I just let it be. And surprised because none of them are overachievers or perfectionists or anything that resembles a "gifted" child. Just naturally bright, inquisitive kids who play outside, ride their bikes, play video games, etc.

That's because most likely they are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My three kids have all been placed into AAP without a shred of anything that would resemble prepping.

For all the preppers: have you ever wondered why some of us are able to trust that our kids can get into AAP without any prepping? Do you wish you could have that same confidence? In my case, it honestly didn't matter to me, and yet my kids each surprised me when they got in. Not surprised because I didn't think they were bright, but surprised because I see all the people around me in my community who work so damn hard to ensure their kids measure up and I just let it be. And surprised because none of them are overachievers or perfectionists or anything that resembles a "gifted" child. Just naturally bright, inquisitive kids who play outside, ride their bikes, play video games, etc.

That's because most likely they are not.

I don't know if they are or aren't "gifted" (and couldn't care less) but FCPS says they qualify for the program without any extra effort. That is my point. It's INSIDE of them, not coming from the outside. That is who the program was intended to serve.

[Anonymous]

Paranoid parents boasting their innately intelligent children get into AAP with sleep and bacon and eggs and worry about others (gifted and not) who prepare. My God.

[Anonymous]

A prepped kid is NOT your precious kid.

Your kid is bright and naturally gifted. Everyone else's kid is a stupid moron. Those who do better than your kid have dismal lives and they are social misfits who study a lot. They may achieve but are miserable in their lives.

Your kid on the other hand is not "prepped" but "prepared". Your kid will be healthy, happy and successful in life, unlike other kids. That is a guarantee.

Another tool defining a precious kid by whether they are prepared on not. I bet your kid is not prepared because the kid must be precious.

[Anonymous]

My three kids have all been placed into AAP without a shred of anything that would resemble prepping.

For all the preppers: have you ever wondered why some of us are able to trust that our kids can get into AAP without any prepping? Do you wish you could have that same confidence? In my case, it honestly didn't matter to me, and yet my kids each surprised me when they got in. Not surprised because I didn't think they were bright, but surprised because I see all the people around me in my community who work so damn hard to ensure their kids measure up and I just let it be. And surprised because none of them are overachievers or perfectionists or anything that resembles a "gifted" child. Just naturally bright, inquisitive kids who play outside, ride their bikes, play video games, etc.

Let's freeze your precious eggs for posterity and lucrative in vitro fertilization.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if they are or aren't "gifted" (and couldn't care less) but FCPS says they qualify for the program without any extra effort. That is my point. It's INSIDE of them, not coming from the outside. That is who the program was intended to serve.

Trust me, like the rest on drum, your kids are not gifted. Don't worry, very few are (like mine).