Anonymous wrote:Not all HGC teachers are amazing. At my school teachers move from non-magnet to magnet and back. Some are terrific and others EH. Glad you are happy this year.

That is my experience too. Our home school has some amazing teachers and some not-so-amazing teachers. Our HGC has some amazing teachers and some not-so-amazing teachers.

Not all HGC teachers are amazing. At my school teachers move from non-magnet to magnet and back. Some are terrific and others EH. Glad you are happy this year.

Don't you think a large part of it is just having an amazing teacher? My son's teacher at HGC is amazing. But honestly, if he'd had her in another setting -- the experience would be amazing too. She's just an incredible teacher who gets my kid.

My 2nd grader reports that her class has spent the last couple of weeks assessing students' reading levels. So they haven't had reading groups, etc. In my 4th graders HGC all of the students are at Z so they no longer have to spend time assessing. This makes a difference in what they can cover. Also, at the HGC, the teachers can move very quickly through the curriculum and have time to devote to additional instruction. Even at a strong ES there will be kids who can't go super fast through the curriculum. Plus, even if the students had the same assignments in both, at an HGC the students learn a lot from their peers (when I observed I was amazed by the engagement of the students and the number of questions they asked).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Hgc 4th is now no longer doing 2.0. The centers have to moved to old curriculum.

This is incorrect. The HGC went back to the old curriculum (for this year) for reading and language arts. Science, social studies, and math are Curriculum 2.0.

(For what it's worth, I think that Curriculum 2.0 is better than the previous general curriculum. I can't judge whether it's better than the previous HGC curriculum.)

Thanks for clarification! You can tell I would not have gotten into the HGC if I were in 4th grade

I think PP is correct. The students drive the differences. Even if Bethesda ES (referenced above) provides lots of writing and long term assignments, I don't think you get the same classroom experience as being in a group with kids represeting the top 5% of their grade. Based on my well liked ES, the HGC still had much more writing.

the students

Anonymous wrote:

Hgc 4th is now no longer doing 2.0. The centers have to moved to old curriculum.

This is incorrect. The HGC went back to the old curriculum (for this year) for reading and language arts. Science, social studies, and math are Curriculum 2.0.

(For what it's worth, I think that Curriculum 2.0 is better than the previous general curriculum. I can't judge whether it's better than the previous HGC curriculum.)

Anonymous wrote:Thanks very much. I've just read many-a-poster on here saying that HGCs are "no different to out home school" or "took my kid out because the work was similar at our home school" and I guess I am looking for concrete examples because everyone's idea of what is a lot of a little varies. I personally find it hard to believe that it would be similar in terms of pace and content. Thanks for the detail you have provided.

It depends on how rigorous your home school is. Case in point, Potomac Es has
Big compacted math class during the regular day. The kids do tons of writing.
Those parents feel Hgc is not that different.
That was not our home school so every day, my child is learning a lot at his Hgc.

Hgc 4th is now no longer doing 2.0. The centers have to moved to old curriculum.
It is not a ton of work yet so kid is still happy.

Thanks very much. I've just read many-a-poster on here saying that HGCs are "no different to out home school" or "took my kid out because the work was similar at our home school" and I guess I am looking for concrete examples because everyone's idea of what is a lot of a little varies. I personally find it hard to believe that it would be similar in terms of pace and content. Thanks for the detail you have provided.

Can compare older child who didn't go to HGC to younger child in grade 4 at HGC. Older one did have huge Native American project, but that was the only huge/long-term project for the year.

Younger one has big project every quarter, more spelling and vocabulary-type work, same math (compacted/takes 5-10 mins.). He has had to do more writing around the eco-system project in comparison to older bro. And he's had more reading comprehension work focused around the novels they've read in class.

He's definitely feeling stressed about getting his work done and also being able to do sports and have general kid play time.

I think the centers have much more in terms of long term projects. They have the standard regular homework- math, vocab etc but also other things going on. My child is in 6th now but i recall 2 books written and illustrated in 4th grade. A native American project which involved building parts of a village. 5th grade had fewer projects but 1 large independent research projects- note cards, outlines, formal presentations. 5th grade also had a good number of public speaking exercises. That said it is the same MCPS curriculum and you see the same projects..start 4th grade with an ecosystem in a soda bottle (to watch fish die quickly) etc.

OP, did your child apply to the HGC?

If so, if I were you, I would wait to find out if my child got in, before asking these questions.

None!

I am looking for some real concrete examples here in terms of assignments and homework. For example, if you currently have a 4th grader in a HGC what are the big projects? Are they juggling multiple projects? If you child is not at a center what are the big quarter projects or assignments. And again, are they juggling multiple long term assignments? Thank you.