Reply to "Needing" AAP

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[quote=pettifogger][quote=Anonymous][quote=pettifogger][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I really wish parents would stop propagating the whole "needs AAP" myth.  Who "needs" a slightly advanced, slightly faster-paced program for slightly above-average kids? If your child is reasonably bright, the GBRS is going to make or break the application--and there is nothing a parent can do about that at this point. If anything, teachers clearly place a premium on strong executive functions over natural curiosity and brightness. Basically, they evaluate whether your child will succeed in AAP.

Sure, I'd rather have my smartish middle schooler in AAP than in Gen Ed because he's going to do whatever is asked of him (and, frankly, not much else), so I'd prefer to have the demands be on a higher level. And even though I disagree with the hours of homework per night that some elementary school teachers assign, I'd rather have my elementary-aged kid pick up certain skills than skip them altogether.

It just sounds so self-important and inflated to use this language about the AAP program. I have had several kids go through it and it's not a different unique way of presenting the material that engages and inspires brilliant minds that would otherwise atrophy. It's just a program that moves faster and has higher expectations.

If your child is above average and organized, the program will be a good fit. It your child is brilliant and creative, an out-of-the-box thinker, and (especially) not strong in the executive function areas, I strongly recommend private.[/quote]

I fully agree with this description of the AAP program, and the discrepancy between how it is described (an innovative way to present the material to engage bright inquisitive minds who may tune out in a traditional classroom) and what it is (a slightly accelerated version of the same material presented in the same drill-like way.) I have one kid that is both bright and creative, and has high executive functioning, and he sleepwalked through the program. He also did AOPS for math and could really appreciate the different ways in which they teach math - explaining “why” as opposed to drilling the “what”. Unfortunately, the AAP screening process, as presented to parents, emphasizes the critical and creative thinking component (even if it is so sadly missing from the program), but as PP correctly pointed out, teachers don’t appreciate critical and creative thinking unless it also comes with high executive function. I now have a kid who is a very creative thinker with some ADHD-related executive function issues, who would jump only as high as the bar is set, and struggling with finding the right environment for him. I will refer him for AAP, but I am not 100% sure that is the best environment for him, and would rather be able to find a private that fits him well, though he loves his school and would find it devastating (at least initially) to leave.[/quote]

My kids mirror yours (older one with higher executive functioning, younger who will jump only as high as the bar is set and who is incredibly creative), and our experience has not been the same. My oldest has occasionally not had enough drill in AAP to get a concept. They absolutely are attacking the math in a way that expects a higher IQ. Sometimes I have to slow things down and provide extra arithmetic drills at home to get concepts nailed in so my kid can get a concept. Kid still pulls all 4s in AAP and isn't slowing the class down or anything, but there's definitely a more creative aspect to the advanced math.[/quote]

I have to highly disagree with the bolded above, based on my experience so far this year. As a math teacher, I have not seen a shred of creativity anywhere in the AAP math being taught to my 4th grade child. Everything that has been done so far this year involves doing lots and lots of multiplication, division, and decimal number drills, as well as conversions between fractions and decimals. Literally every question is repetitive and dry; not even 1 puzzle and/or logical thinking type question have I seen being assigned. My child can do this stuff pretty accurately, but he's not lightning fast, so he'll get extremely bored if he has to spend more than 30 minutes on homework questions that are all the same thing. Luckily I work with him on AoPS/Beast Academy type stuff at home, which is literally the exact opposite approach of these school drills.

I frankly don't understand the purpose of the math being "one year ahead" in the AAP program if it is so devoid of critical thinking and problem solving. Someone else said it perfectly upthread, there is no "why does this work", "why is this true", "where does this come from", no making connections, but just doing algorithms over and over. Sure, it moves fast, but it's really not what will help many of these kids when they get to do math later in high school. They will believe math is just about following a recipe of directions and memorizing algorithms, and it really saddens me to see bright hardworking kids in high school who have gotten to that point and not having had any practice on how to think mathematically on their own.
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PP here who said I've seen creativity. My kids' homework questions are almost all the kinds of "why" and "where" questions you mentioned. Maybe we're just at a "good" center?[/quote]

That is awesome to hear, glad that my experience is not necessarily everywhere. We're just at a local LIV, I'm happy at this point that his teacher is still doing a good job teaching them skills and giving them things to work on. It feels amazing compared to last year's virtual chaos, but I'm definitely disappointed that in all likelihood, even a good teacher cannot focus on math understanding or problem solving because of all these 'standards' they have to quickly cover in order to move to the next topic/standard. In this sense AAP math can definitely be worse if it's rushed and feels stressful for kids as a result. On the other hand I don't think may of the non AAP classes are necessarily better either, as it can be the same thing, (very procedural), but slower pace.[/quote]

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