Prepping for entry into AAP

[Anonymous]

In the US, test prep refers study that is focused on learning how to answer standardized test questions. It does not refer to general reading for pleasure.

If you google "test prep," you will see the type of activity that most associate with those words. Posters asking where they can go for test prep or where they can buy test prep books are not referring to reading for pleasure. They tend to be very specific about what they are looking for when they ask for test prep information.

[Anonymous]

Google the words "test prep" to understand what people are talking about when they use the phrase. It is a pretty specific way of studying that is different from general hard work and study. You'll note from your Google search that it is focused on specific standardized tests.

You could use the phrase "test prep" in a broader fashion if you choose, but the average person will think of the type of items that show up when you google the term. When people ask for recommendations for test prep on here, they are usually asking for the type that focuses on learning about the types of questions and the formats of specific tests. They want to know how to get a high score on a test.

This is a better description than what I posted above. When people ask for test prep information, they generally are not interested in the idea of simply allowing their child to read for pleasure. They want to know how to train their child to answer standardized test questions and many will pay out a lot of money in hopes that test prep will help their children to get high scores on certain tests.

[Anonymous]

A naturally gifted and elite athlete that works hard at their craft recognizes that test prep is not limited to paying for a 2-week athletic training camp with the VISA card. This gifted athlete isn't as disingenous as many here who want to disguise the efforts and sweat equity of their children headed to TJ by claiming this success was due to a hearty breakfast, no test prep whatsoever, and the appointed collision of sperm and egg in your high fidelity fallopian tubes.

[Anonymous]

This is a better description than what I posted above. When people ask for test prep information, they generally are not interested in the idea of simply allowing their child to read for pleasure. They want to know how to train their child to answer standardized test questions and many will pay out a lot of money in hopes that test prep will help their children to get high scores on certain tests.

Are you disputing the fact that those who voraciously read excellent literature for pleasure are not training to answer standardized test questions?

I would argue this is in fact the best and most efficacious and effective method to do so .... and even for oral and written questions for that matter?

Thus, for those who engage in this behavior and then turn around to attribute their success to breakfast...these are idiots who take the rest of us for fools.

[Anonymous]

When someone on here asks for test prep information, they are not interested in being told to allow their child to read for pleasure. They want to know where to go to get test prep or where they can buy test prep books to train their children to answer standardized test questions correctly. In fact, they get a little testy sometimes with posters who suggest allowing their children to pick out whatever book they would like to read from the library. They want their test prep and they want it now.

Most people do not put reading for pleasure in the category of test prep. People looking for test prep for their kids know what test prep is and reading books from the library is not the answer they are looking for.

[Anonymous]

But, test prep does not increase one's IQ or aptitude I am told so why are you so petrified of this? This method is ineffective! Stick to the most effective method and read for pleasure voraciously. What's the big deal here. Test prep, by your google definition, is an inferior method! Don't be scared of it!

[Anonymous]

So much noise over an ineffective method. If your child is gifted and brilliant why worry over other children using ineffective methods to boost IQ and aptitude and ability. What's the fuss over others wasting their dollars as you claim. Get over it, read for pleasure, and eat your breakfast daily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So much noise over an ineffective method. If your child is gifted and brilliant why worry over other children using ineffective methods to boost IQ and aptitude and ability. What's the fuss over others wasting their dollars as you claim. Get over it, read for pleasure, and eat your breakfast daily.

The program used to be low on the radar with a small cadre of children involved. It received a modest amount of resources that served that population relatively well. Now it has become a giant circus that runs the gamut from exceptional students to above-average-but-coached to get in. People are resentful and even as an AAP parent, I get it. The program is bloated and it is not serving those it *should* be targeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The program used to be low on the radar with a small cadre of children involved. It received a modest amount of resources that served that population relatively well. Now it has become a giant circus that runs the gamut from exceptional students to above-average-but-coached to get in. People are resentful and even as an AAP parent, I get it. The program is bloated and it is not serving those it *should* be targeting.

It is sad but we need to accept certain facts of an evolving advanced program in a public school system. You can cry till the eyes and throat are dry, but budget drives everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So much noise over an ineffective method. If your child is gifted and brilliant why worry over other children using ineffective methods to boost IQ and aptitude and ability. What's the fuss over others wasting their dollars as you claim. Get over it, read for pleasure, and eat your breakfast daily.

There are two categories of parents of gifted kids. First kind includes those parents that help their gifted kids fit in socially, prepare them for entry into advanced programs, prepare them to compete for academic excellence, and get the most out of what the school system offers. And the second kind are those parents who think their kid is a rare gifted kid, and are extremely insecure when they find out there are many other gifted kids who are better than theirs. This insecurity drives the second kind to grouch about the first kind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much noise over an ineffective method. If your child is gifted and brilliant why worry over other children using ineffective methods to boost IQ and aptitude and ability. What's the fuss over others wasting their dollars as you claim. Get over it, read for pleasure, and eat your breakfast daily.

The program used to be low on the radar with a small cadre of children involved. It received a modest amount of resources that served that population relatively well. Now it has become a giant circus that runs the gamut from exceptional students to above-average-but-coached to get in. People are resentful and even as an AAP parent, I get it. The program is bloated and it is not serving those it *should* be targeting.

The program is not bloated, the curriculum is not advanced enough. I have no problem with the number of exceptional kids.

[Anonymous]

Right, there's only two kinds of parents of AAP kids, just as there are only two kinds of kids: those who do test prep and those who will end up in jail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But this is supposed to be testing for a gifted program - which doesn't exist as a gifted program any longer. If this was truly a gifted program, which I wish it was, then the testing should be IQ testing and not an achievement test that you prep for. Since this AAP is not a gifted program, in the true sense, then this is what you get! Bickering over test prepping.

I didn't prep my DC and their score maxed out both tests. My DC needs a real gifted program and this is what I'm left with - a program that meets her needs a little better than her base school but not exactly what she should really be getting. The curriculum is still moving too slow for her. So, you can argue all day long about whether or not it's fair to test prep, but they need to issue actual IQ tests, have a strict cut off and call it a day.

Another lie. Then your DC test prepped herself.

Ha. I didn't even pay attention to when the test was. How does a child test prep themselves??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much noise over an ineffective method. If your child is gifted and brilliant why worry over other children using ineffective methods to boost IQ and aptitude and ability. What's the fuss over others wasting their dollars as you claim. Get over it, read for pleasure, and eat your breakfast daily.

The program used to be low on the radar with a small cadre of children involved. It received a modest amount of resources that served that population relatively well. Now it has become a giant circus that runs the gamut from exceptional students to above-average-but-coached to get in. People are resentful and even as an AAP parent, I get it. The program is bloated and it is not serving those it *should* be targeting.

The program is not bloated, the curriculum is not advanced enough. I have no problem with the number of exceptional kids.

Well it goes hand in hand. When the standards are dropped the population increases and the curriculum is slowed to accommodate those who are bright but not exceptional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But this is supposed to be testing for a gifted program - which doesn't exist as a gifted program any longer. If this was truly a gifted program, which I wish it was, then the testing should be IQ testing and not an achievement test that you prep for. Since this AAP is not a gifted program, in the true sense, then this is what you get! Bickering over test prepping.

I didn't prep my DC and their score maxed out both tests. My DC needs a real gifted program and this is what I'm left with - a program that meets her needs a little better than her base school but not exactly what she should really be getting. The curriculum is still moving too slow for her. So, you can argue all day long about whether or not it's fair to test prep, but they need to issue actual IQ tests, have a strict cut off and call it a day.

Another lie. Then your DC test prepped herself.

Ha. I didn't even pay attention to when the test was. How does a child test prep themselves??

pp here - one teacher called DD an intrinsic learner. We don't have to provide any type of help or motivation for her to learn new concepts. DC taught herself to read, we provided books like every parent, but within about 2 weeks when she was 3 we noticed she started fluently reading bob books, so we gave her level 1 books and she goes through books like water. Read the magic treehouse series on her own accord the summer after K. Math is the same way.

The aap program is not challenging for her from what I can see. HW gets done in after school care and I look at it but there is rarely ever a problem wrong. I've tried to offer help to study for tests but she just says - we went over it in class so I'm good - and rarely gets a wrong answer on a test. She does a lot of "learning" on her own outside of school.

Why is it so hard to believe that she did so well on the tests but didn't test prep?