Reply to What is so special about AAP?

Forum Index » Advanced Academic Programs (AAP)

Reply to "What is so special about AAP?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I am a PP who wrote about a bunch of differences I see b/t my two kids schools (one AAP, one not).  It's not that the non-AAP school "sucks" -- it's a pretty normal school and people (parents, teachers, kids) seem pretty happy with it.  But, now that I see what is happening at the AAP school (re: expectations for the kids), I see that there IS a difference and the AAP school is a higher level.

I'm starting to see at the dinner table that my 3rd grader is using words that my 5th grader doesn't understand.  It's not b/c my 5th grader is lower level in reading/verbal.  5th grader actually scored in the 99th percentile and 3rd grader was more like 95th or 92% (based on local norms).  But, 3rd grader's teacher uses different words in explaining things and they have vocab words that are far above what my 5th grader is doing.

The 5th grader is getting a decent education, but we feel bad that she's still not getting as much as the 3rd grader.  If only the non-AAP school would up the ante a bit and challenge the kids a little more.  That would go a long way.[/quote]

I think you make a great point here.  The level of expectations that the teachers have isn't the same between the 2 schools.  IMO children rise to whatever challenge the teacher gives them.  If a teacher expects more, the child delivers more.[/quote]

Which is exactly why the AAP curriculum should simply be the regular curriculum.  [/quote]

I'm the first PP on this (with the 5th and 3rd graders) -- I'm not sure that ALL kids should have the AAP curriculum -- honestly, it may be a bit much for a sizable portion of the kids.  But, I would absolutely like to see it offered to a subset of kids in every grade in every elem. school.  Whether that is 30% or 50% or 70% of kids in a given school, I don't know.  But, I do think it should be provided and there are many kids who would benefit from it.

As an example, 5th graders' spelling/vocab words involve studying the concept of "-dge" and "-ge" so an example of this week's words are "hedge" and "village"  (mind you, DC was 99th % on cogat -- back in 2nd grade).   3rd grader's vocab/spelling words this week are focused on "trans" -- "translucent," "transfusion," "transaction," etc.  It doesn't seem reasonable to me that the 3rd grader's words are SO much more advanced than the 5th grader.  I thought AAP was one year ahead, not three or four years ahead... or maybe the 5th grade teachers (non-AAP) aren't expecting enough of 5th graders?

Same with the presentations -- aap kids are expected to prepare presentations according to a rubric and then get up and present.  Experience with presentations breeds confidence.  Non-aap kids are capable of giving presentations more often -- and it would help them become better speakers (which isn't a skill linked to advanced thinking abilities).  [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics