Studying is for cheaters!

Anonymous wrote:My child is currently in a catholic school and I think a very good candidate for the MCPS gifted and talented program based on test scores and a variety of other factors. Currently in 1st grade. A couple of questions:

- The test is in January of his 3rd grade year. Are there test prep materials or programs we should use, and if so, when? Should we start now?

- will it hurt his chances coming from a catholic school?

- anything else we should do to help best prepare?

Thanks!

It depends on your Catholic school. The one in our neighborhood is significantly behind the public school and doesn't focus on timed tests (for example). So coming from a school without that background could impact your child's ability on the test, but not your child's chance of getting into the school. You could move them into public school in 3rd grade to get them acclimated to the testing and work.

There are sample problems. One test was the Raven test, but now I think that might have been the middle school test. I forget now!

No need to even think about it in first grade. Many kids get in with no prep. If you decide to prep third grade would be the time as the test is in January. Many kids test from private schools. I know nothing about the acceptance rate. Since they are looking for gifted kids the actual curriculum your child has at school does not matter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't prepping always make you wonder...... is your child actually gifted?

It makes me wonder why more people don't prep! The workbooks are cheap and easy. Why would you not do it??

Because I don't get my sense of sense worth from my children? I love my "gifted" one who did no test prep and also my two merely "smart" children pretty equally. Her merits are her own, and if she didn't truly belong in that group there is NO way I would want her in it. Who want's to feel dumb and get down on themselves because they spend their time around truly and innately brighter kids?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't prepping always make you wonder...... is your child actually gifted?

It makes me wonder why more people don't prep! The workbooks are cheap and easy. Why would you not do it??

I think taking a practice test to familiarize with the types of question is fine, like taking a sample SAT test. But the other stuff... Dr Li's class? A little overboard.

I will say that if a kid can get in without even taking a practice test, then that kid really is smart, and it will become obvious in the class.

I have one of each.

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't prepping always make you wonder...... is your child actually gifted?

It makes me wonder why more people don't prep! The workbooks are cheap and easy. Why would you not do it??

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it is a test of whether or not your child is gifted and talented, you shouldn't need to prepare them. If you prepare them to "ace" the test by studying this type of test, how will that remotely reflect their ability to succeed in the program. That is just ridiculous.
signed,
A parent of a child in the HGC now

Precisely. The test prep crowd is trying to cheat the system and end up cheating their kids.

How is it cheating the system? Do you really think a 30 minute test taken by 8 year olds determines 'giftedness' and should determine a kid's path through childhood? Get over it. The whole 'system' is a joke.

They changed the admissions criteria because of people like you. Now the exam is shorter and matters less because so many people were cheating. Cheating has consequences.

Works for me! I think it's great if the rest matters less. It's been proven that certain demographics do better on this test. It's a silly way to test for 'fiftedness'.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it is a test of whether or not your child is gifted and talented, you shouldn't need to prepare them. If you prepare them to "ace" the test by studying this type of test, how will that remotely reflect their ability to succeed in the program. That is just ridiculous.
signed,
A parent of a child in the HGC now

Precisely. The test prep crowd is trying to cheat the system and end up cheating their kids.

How is it cheating the system? Do you really think a 30 minute test taken by 8 year olds determines 'giftedness' and should determine a kid's path through childhood? Get over it. The whole 'system' is a joke.

Of course I don't believe that a brief test determines "giftedness"--it's merely one indication among many.

But parents who prep their 8 year olds are trying to distort the results of a measurement designed to test innate ability.

It's an effort to produce a false result and it's likely to put kids in the gifted program who won't benefit--in fact, who will be harmed.

Moreover, IMO it reflects awful parenting. What right-minded person would force an 8 year old into test prep so that they can "cheat" their way into a gifted program?

Teaches the kids about 10 terrible lessons.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it is a test of whether or not your child is gifted and talented, you shouldn't need to prepare them. If you prepare them to "ace" the test by studying this type of test, how will that remotely reflect their ability to succeed in the program. That is just ridiculous.
signed,
A parent of a child in the HGC now

Precisely. The test prep crowd is trying to cheat the system and end up cheating their kids.

How is it cheating the system? Do you really think a 30 minute test taken by 8 year olds determines 'giftedness' and should determine a kid's path through childhood? Get over it. The whole 'system' is a joke.

They changed the admissions criteria because of people like you. Now the exam is shorter and matters less because so many people were cheating. Cheating has consequences.

Wouldn't prepping always make you wonder...... is your child actually gifted?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it is a test of whether or not your child is gifted and talented, you shouldn't need to prepare them. If you prepare them to "ace" the test by studying this type of test, how will that remotely reflect their ability to succeed in the program. That is just ridiculous.
signed,
A parent of a child in the HGC now

Precisely. The test prep crowd is trying to cheat the system and end up cheating their kids.

How is it cheating the system? Do you really think a 30 minute test taken by 8 year olds determines 'giftedness' and should determine a kid's path through childhood? Get over it. The whole 'system' is a joke.

Anonymous wrote:If it is a test of whether or not your child is gifted and talented, you shouldn't need to prepare them. If you prepare them to "ace" the test by studying this type of test, how will that remotely reflect their ability to succeed in the program. That is just ridiculous.
signed,
A parent of a child in the HGC now

Precisely. The test prep crowd is trying to cheat the system and end up cheating their kids.

You can get workbooks online. Google COGAT workbook, or do some Logic workbooks. Also do a workbook on analogies - that always seems to be tested. Even if it's not on the HGC test (usually is), it's always good to get familiar with the idea of analogies. They show up on all sorts of tests.

No idea how being in a Catholic school affects things.

If it is a test of whether or not your child is gifted and talented, you shouldn't need to prepare them. If you prepare them to "ace" the test by studying this type of test, how will that remotely reflect their ability to succeed in the program. That is just ridiculous.
signed,
A parent of a child in the HGC now

My child is currently in a catholic school and I think a very good candidate for the MCPS gifted and talented program based on test scores and a variety of other factors. Currently in 1st grade. A couple of questions:

- The test is in January of his 3rd grade year. Are there test prep materials or programs we should use, and if so, when? Should we start now?

- will it hurt his chances coming from a catholic school?

- anything else we should do to help best prepare?

Thanks!