What is the Test for Highly Gifted Program Like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never helped my kids with homework, I feel to go to a magnet you need to be a motivated self starter. Besides either you can do the work it you can't. Truly gifted kids thrive on the challenge to try to do well. I know of no tutored kid in Magnet middle or HS, if your kid needs that than they are in the wrong program.

You sound like an arrogant, blind fool. First of all, many (emphasize MANY) students in the MS and HS magnets are tutored, whether with a formal tutor or not. They are not only tutored in academic subjects, but also to prepare for school activities (math counts, science bowl...). The motivated self starter who can do all the work and thrive on the challenge is very rare. I've gone to top schools (not the cream, but the cream of the cream) my whole life and have met very few students that meet your definition of "truly gifted." Congratulations if your DC is one of them, but by your standards, most aren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think a child who is in the top 10% but works his ass off should be able to get into the HGC if he does well on tests and school recommendation. My child is an amazing test taker but does not have the motivation or drive to go the extra mile to get the best grades in school. Do I think my child should get the HGC spot or do I think some kid who is fairly smart and has put in more work get the spot? Frankly, I'm all for sending the other child.

It's the Highly Gifted Center, not the Highly Motivated Center, let alone the Has Parents Who Are Highly Motivated Center.

My above average, highly motivated kids' experience with HGC has been that some of the highly gifted, but highly unmotivated students are extremely disruptive to the learning process and make the learning less enjoyable. You are expected to do many group projects and no one likes a group member who can't carry his/her weight and not understand what is going on. Being highly gifted alone is not enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think a child who is in the top 10% but works his ass off should be able to get into the HGC if he does well on tests and school recommendation. My child is an amazing test taker but does not have the motivation or drive to go the extra mile to get the best grades in school. Do I think my child should get the HGC spot or do I think some kid who is fairly smart and has put in more work get the spot? Frankly, I'm all for sending the other child.

It's the Highly Gifted Center, not the Highly Motivated Center, let alone the Has Parents Who Are Highly Motivated Center.

My above average, highly motivated kids' experience with HGC has been that some of the highly gifted, but highly unmotivated students are extremely disruptive to the learning process and make the learning less enjoyable. You are expected to do many group projects and no one likes a group member who can't carry his/her weight and not understand what is going on. Being highly gifted alone is not enough.

I think HGC teachers will tell you that the Center is really for "gifted" kids, not just kids that are highly motivated and willing to work hard. These kids can be lazy. They are still just kids. Yes, some can be disruptive, but it still doesn't mean they don't belong in the "gifted" program. That's why they look at cognitive ability test scores, not just grades. You can be a hard worker and get great grades, but it won't make your brain "gifted".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think a child who is in the top 10% but works his ass off should be able to get into the HGC if he does well on tests and school recommendation. My child is an amazing test taker but does not have the motivation or drive to go the extra mile to get the best grades in school. Do I think my child should get the HGC spot or do I think some kid who is fairly smart and has put in more work get the spot? Frankly, I'm all for sending the other child.

It's the Highly Gifted Center, not the Highly Motivated Center, let alone the Has Parents Who Are Highly Motivated Center.

My above average, highly motivated kids' experience with HGC has been that some of the highly gifted, but highly unmotivated students are extremely disruptive to the learning process and make the learning less enjoyable. You are expected to do many group projects and no one likes a group member who can't carry his/her weight and not understand what is going on. Being highly gifted alone is not enough.

Yes, that's been my child's experience too, but so what? Those students are not at the HGC for the benefit of my child, just as my child is not at the HGC for the benefit of those students. Each student is there for their own benefit. Unless you can persuade MCPS to only admit well-behaved students to the HGC (which I think would be a mistake), your choices are to either put up with the range of students in the HGC classroom, or to keep your child at their home school.

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of disruptive 4th and 5th graders in any school or classroom. This is not unique to gifted students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think a child who is in the top 10% but works his ass off should be able to get into the HGC if he does well on tests and school recommendation. My child is an amazing test taker but does not have the motivation or drive to go the extra mile to get the best grades in school. Do I think my child should get the HGC spot or do I think some kid who is fairly smart and has put in more work get the spot? Frankly, I'm all for sending the other child.

It's the Highly Gifted Center, not the Highly Motivated Center, let alone the Has Parents Who Are Highly Motivated Center.

My above average, highly motivated kids' experience with HGC has been that some of the highly gifted, but highly unmotivated students are extremely disruptive to the learning process and make the learning less enjoyable. You are expected to do many group projects and no one likes a group member who can't carry his/her weight and not understand what is going on. Being highly gifted alone is not enough.

Yes, that's been my child's experience too, but so what? Those students are not at the HGC for the benefit of my child, just as my child is not at the HGC for the benefit of those students. Each student is there for their own benefit. Unless you can persuade MCPS to only admit well-behaved students to the HGC (which I think would be a mistake), your choices are to either put up with the range of students in the HGC classroom, or to keep your child at their home school.

I have no beef with disruptive children. I think they teach others how to work with all types of personalities and work styles. Just trying to respond to some of these posters who insist that these programs are only for those that are purely highly gifted (whatever that means) and never need any type of help.