Anonymous
09/01/2011 16:20
Subject: Re:AAP Question
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
[list]You are obviously involved in this ridiculous AAP program somehow. Maybe you are the parent who started the whole mess or the school board "brain child" or maybe just a parent who thinks their "little Johnny" is smarter than the rest. Whoever you are, you are failing the "smart" children in the Gen Ed Schools by falling for this scam of a program and fueling it! Yes the twice AAPLD children do need their own program but not the normal "smart kids". There have been very smart children for decades that have gone on to lead this country. They were not in a special school who told them they were the best and should be automatically enrolled in Advanced Placement courses from elementary school so they can be the next Einstein. They worked hard, were most likely placed in the "advanced" classrooms with other children of "like mind". Fairfax is failing the "smart" kids and you know it. Level II and Level III are a waste of time and resources and so is the Level IV school based programs. What is the point?
Accommodate the AAPLD children and stop mucking with the rest of the "smart" kids. FCPS is dumbing down the "smart" kids to accommodate the "special needs" and "out of the box" thinkers. There are more smart children than "twice gifted" and "out of the box" thinkers in this county.
Now THERE'S an idea! Let's eliminate public school funding altogether! Then your little Johnny will be all set and you can send him to the school of your choice!BRAVO!
[list]Why would public school funding be eliminated because the "smart" kids are brought back to their home schools. There would still be funding and the AAPLD children would still have special services. Where is the funding for the "smart" kids in the home schools now? They are not getting it!
@@
Anonymous
08/31/2011 01:50
Subject: AAP Question
...another word for both of you, civility...
Anonymous
08/31/2011 00:08
Subject: Re:AAP Question
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There isn't. There are identified AAP Centers for grades 3 - 8 throughout the County, and there are dozens of Local Level IV options at elementary schools throughout the County. These are optional.
[list]There is nothing optional about the AAP Center and Level IV options for grades 3-8. It is who you know and/or how big of a battle you are willing to fight, if your child is not AAPLD or at the top of the IQ scale. The "smart" kids who get in are only admitted because of mommy and daddy not their achievement. Heck most of them would be just fine and excel in the regular school curriculum.
Do you know what the word optional means? Let's look it up together:
http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=optional+definition
op·tion·al/?äpSH?nl/
Adjective: Available to be chosen but not obligatory.
This means that your little Johnny is NOT being plucked out of a school and placed in another school or Local Level IV program UNLESS THE PARENT CHOOSES THAT OPTION. That's why it is optional.
Anonymous
08/31/2011 00:04
Subject: Re:AAP Question
Anonymous wrote:
[list]You are obviously involved in this ridiculous AAP program somehow. Maybe you are the parent who started the whole mess or the school board "brain child" or maybe just a parent who thinks their "little Johnny" is smarter than the rest. Whoever you are, you are failing the "smart" children in the Gen Ed Schools by falling for this scam of a program and fueling it! Yes the twice AAPLD children do need their own program but not the normal "smart kids". There have been very smart children for decades that have gone on to lead this country. They were not in a special school who told them they were the best and should be automatically enrolled in Advanced Placement courses from elementary school so they can be the next Einstein. They worked hard, were most likely placed in the "advanced" classrooms with other children of "like mind". Fairfax is failing the "smart" kids and you know it. Level II and Level III are a waste of time and resources and so is the Level IV school based programs. What is the point?
Accommodate the AAPLD children and stop mucking with the rest of the "smart" kids. FCPS is dumbing down the "smart" kids to accommodate the "special needs" and "out of the box" thinkers. There are more smart children than "twice gifted" and "out of the box" thinkers in this county.
Now THERE'S an idea! Let's eliminate public school funding altogether! Then your little Johnny will be all set and you can send him to the school of your choice!
BRAVO!
@@
Anonymous
08/30/2011 21:55
Subject: Re:AAP Question
Anonymous wrote:There isn't. There are identified AAP Centers for grades 3 - 8 throughout the County, and there are dozens of Local Level IV options at elementary schools throughout the County. These are optional.
[list]There is nothing optional about the AAP Center and Level IV options for grades 3-8. It is who you know and/or how big of a battle you are willing to fight, if your child is not AAPLD or at the top of the IQ scale. The "smart" kids who get in are only admitted because of mommy and daddy not their achievement. Heck most of them would be just fine and excel in the regular school curriculum.
Anonymous
08/30/2011 21:37
Subject: Re:AAP Question
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is what needs be done about the AAP program in Fairfax County. The AAP program should be renamed the "Advanced Program for Smart Children with Learning Disabilities (AAPLD)" and the "smart" children who learn the "normal way" should be brought back in to the General Education Schools and placed in Advanced Classes based on their grades/performance. In this way, the "smart"children who don't "think outside of the box" in the General Education Schools will be afforded the same opportunities as the currnt AAP center children. In this way all children who really need an educational challenge to advance will get it based on their needs. The General Education Schools in Fairfax County are failing many "smart" children!
Then you lose the advantage of having a large enough size of a peer group of like-minded kids, at least at the overwhelming majority of elementary schools in Fairfax County. Too big a loss for these kids who require instructional services to meet their needs per state regulation, as well as for the County.
By like-minded, do you mean the AAPLD as pp suggests?
[list][list]There are plenty of "like minded", "smart", children in Fairfax County General Education schools.
Good - then your child should do great.
Anonymous wrote:
There doesn't need to be a separate school for the "smart" kids.
There isn't. There are identified AAP Centers for grades 3 - 8 throughout the County, and there are dozens of Local Level IV options at elementary schools throughout the County. These are optional.
Anonymous wrote:
It is the kids who do not flourish with the general education curriculum who are supposedly selected for the AAP Center.
Not true.
http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/aap/faqs.html
What is the full-time AAP placement (level IV) program?
The level IV program provides full-time academic placement for highly gifted students. Teachers follow a curriculum framework to differentiate the depth, breadth, and pace of instruction based on the FCPS Program of Studies. Students work with academic peers in all core subject areas.
Anonymous wrote:
So make it what it is and put only those children who need a differnent curriculum in the centers and keep the, truly, just plain "smart kids" together.
Already addressed above.
Anonymous wrote:
My son is a straight "A" student and is very disheartened by the children in his classroom who are disruptive and are not there to learn.
Congratulations on your son's academic performance. Students that are identified as qualifying for full-time advanced academic services are not necessarily "straight A students." See some of the resources listed on the FCPS website:
http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/aap/resources.html
Anonymous wrote:
He needs a classroom with "like minded" learners. He is not getting it!
I suggest you contact your son's teacher and perhaps the Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART) at your son's school. It would be a great time to raise the issue at the start of the school year.
Anonymous wrote:
The county is failing the "smat" children who are not in the AAP centers. The level II and III services are a waste of time and resources. Fairfax needs to put it back in the classroom - smart kids in the advanced classrooms and others placed in classrooms to meet them at their achievement levels.
I disagree with your opinion, but I am entitled to an opinion as well. Such an approach would work well in -- say, Great Falls -- but not so much in other parts of the County, such as eastern parts of the County.
Anonymous wrote:
The children who truly need a different learning curriculum should be the only ones placed in the center schools and not any child who's parents pitch the biggest fit.
I agree with this statement. Thankfully we have a state mandate for gifted education!
Anonymous wrote:
This is failing the General Ed. children in Fairfax County!
I think there are many failures for General Ed in the County, starting with but not limited to an assumption that "everyone" needs to take Algebra in Grade 8.
Anonymous wrote:
If the centers were really being used for what they are "pitched" as by the county, then parents wouldn't be "biting at their bits" to get their children into centers.
Not sure if I agree -- this area (metro DC-wide) tends to be its own form of Lake Wobegon.
Anonymous wrote:
This is happening because parents know thier "smart" kid will not get the same opportunities in the General Ed. Schools. And each of you know this is true.
Already addressed above.
Anonymous wrote:
Help correct this issue instead of fueling it.
Don't forget to vote in the School Board election in November!
[list]You are obviously involved in this ridiculous AAP program somehow. Maybe you are the parent who started the whole mess or the school board "brain child" or maybe just a parent who thinks their "little Johnny" is smarter than the rest. Whoever you are, you are failing the "smart" children in the Gen Ed Schools by falling for this scam of a program and fueling it! Yes the twice AAPLD children do need their own program but not the normal "smart kids". There have been very smart children for decades that have gone on to lead this country. They were not in a special school who told them they were the best and should be automatically enrolled in Advanced Placement courses from elementary school so they can be the next Einstein. They worked hard, were most likely placed in the "advanced" classrooms with other children of "like mind". Fairfax is failing the "smart" kids and you know it. Level II and Level III are a waste of time and resources and so is the Level IV school based programs. What is the point?
Accommodate the AAPLD children and stop mucking with the rest of the "smart" kids. FCPS is dumbing down the "smart" kids to accommodate the "special needs" and "out of the box" thinkers. There are more smart children than "twice gifted" and "out of the box" thinkers in this county.
Anonymous
08/30/2011 17:18
Subject: Re:AAP Question
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is what needs be done about the AAP program in Fairfax County. The AAP program should be renamed the "Advanced Program for Smart Children with Learning Disabilities (AAPLD)" and the "smart" children who learn the "normal way" should be brought back in to the General Education Schools and placed in Advanced Classes based on their grades/performance. In this way, the "smart"children who don't "think outside of the box" in the General Education Schools will be afforded the same opportunities as the currnt AAP center children. In this way all children who really need an educational challenge to advance will get it based on their needs. The General Education Schools in Fairfax County are failing many "smart" children!
Then you lose the advantage of having a large enough size of a peer group of like-minded kids, at least at the overwhelming majority of elementary schools in Fairfax County. Too big a loss for these kids who require instructional services to meet their needs per state regulation, as well as for the County.
By like-minded, do you mean the AAPLD as pp suggests?
[list][list]There are plenty of "like minded", "smart", children in Fairfax County General Education schools.
Good - then your child should do great.
Anonymous wrote:
There doesn't need to be a separate school for the "smart" kids.
There isn't. There are identified AAP Centers for grades 3 - 8 throughout the County, and there are dozens of Local Level IV options at elementary schools throughout the County. These are optional.
Anonymous wrote:
It is the kids who do not flourish with the general education curriculum who are supposedly selected for the AAP Center.
Not true.
http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/aap/faqs.html
What is the full-time AAP placement (level IV) program?
The level IV program provides full-time academic placement for highly gifted students. Teachers follow a curriculum framework to differentiate the depth, breadth, and pace of instruction based on the FCPS Program of Studies. Students work with academic peers in all core subject areas.
Anonymous wrote:
So make it what it is and put only those children who need a differnent curriculum in the centers and keep the, truly, just plain "smart kids" together.
Already addressed above.
Anonymous wrote:
My son is a straight "A" student and is very disheartened by the children in his classroom who are disruptive and are not there to learn.
Congratulations on your son's academic performance. Students that are identified as qualifying for full-time advanced academic services are not necessarily "straight A students." See some of the resources listed on the FCPS website:
http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/aap/resources.html
Anonymous wrote:
He needs a classroom with "like minded" learners. He is not getting it!
I suggest you contact your son's teacher and perhaps the Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART) at your son's school. It would be a great time to raise the issue at the start of the school year.
Anonymous wrote:
The county is failing the "smat" children who are not in the AAP centers. The level II and III services are a waste of time and resources. Fairfax needs to put it back in the classroom - smart kids in the advanced classrooms and others placed in classrooms to meet them at their achievement levels.
I disagree with your opinion, but I am entitled to an opinion as well. Such an approach would work well in -- say, Great Falls -- but not so much in other parts of the County, such as eastern parts of the County.
Anonymous wrote:
The children who truly need a different learning curriculum should be the only ones placed in the center schools and not any child who's parents pitch the biggest fit.
I agree with this statement. Thankfully we have a state mandate for gifted education!
Anonymous wrote:
This is failing the General Ed. children in Fairfax County!
I think there are many failures for General Ed in the County, starting with but not limited to an assumption that "everyone" needs to take Algebra in Grade 8.
Anonymous wrote:
If the centers were really being used for what they are "pitched" as by the county, then parents wouldn't be "biting at their bits" to get their children into centers.
Not sure if I agree -- this area (metro DC-wide) tends to be its own form of Lake Wobegon.
Anonymous wrote:
This is happening because parents know thier "smart" kid will not get the same opportunities in the General Ed. Schools. And each of you know this is true.
Already addressed above.
Anonymous wrote:
Help correct this issue instead of fueling it.
Don't forget to vote in the School Board election in November!
Anonymous
08/30/2011 17:06
Subject: AAP Question
Here's the thing- being really bright in and of itself is sort of a learning disability, at least in regards to comfort level in a regular classroom.
Yes, there are really bright kids with learning disabilities in AAP ( they're called 2E, or twice exceptional, and are more likely to be boys than girls), but even the really bright kids without LDs need to learn in a different way than they can in a regular classroom.
So, you are right, there are a lot of AAP students with LDs, but there are plenty without LDs who need the differentiated curriculum just as much. Fairfax County's system is by no means perfect but I do believe they are trying their best to meet the needs of a variety of students here. If your child is unhappy in the regular classroom, it might be worthwhile to look into your options for possible AAP placement. It might be a better situation for him in the long run.
Yes, there are really bright kids with learning disabilities in AAP ( they're called 2E, or twice exceptional, and are more likely to be boys than girls), but even the really bright kids without LDs need to learn in a different way than they can in a regular classroom.
So, you are right, there are a lot of AAP students with LDs, but there are plenty without LDs who need the differentiated curriculum just as much. Fairfax County's system is by no means perfect but I do believe they are trying their best to meet the needs of a variety of students here. If your child is unhappy in the regular classroom, it might be worthwhile to look into your options for possible AAP placement. It might be a better situation for him in the long run.
Anonymous
08/30/2011 17:05
Subject: Re:AAP Question
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is what needs be done about the AAP program in Fairfax County. The AAP program should be renamed the "Advanced Program for Smart Children with Learning Disabilities (AAPLD)" and the "smart" children who learn the "normal way" should be brought back in to the General Education Schools and placed in Advanced Classes based on their grades/performance. In this way, the "smart"children who don't "think outside of the box" in the General Education Schools will be afforded the same opportunities as the currnt AAP center children. In this way all children who really need an educational challenge to advance will get it based on their needs. The General Education Schools in Fairfax County are failing many "smart" children!
Then you lose the advantage of having a large enough size of a peer group of like-minded kids, at least at the overwhelming majority of elementary schools in Fairfax County. Too big a loss for these kids who require instructional services to meet their needs per state regulation, as well as for the County.
By like-minded, do you mean the AAPLD as pp suggests?
No
Anonymous
08/30/2011 14:29
Subject: Re:AAP Question
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is what needs be done about the AAP program in Fairfax County. The AAP program should be renamed the "Advanced Program for Smart Children with Learning Disabilities (AAPLD)" and the "smart" children who learn the "normal way" should be brought back in to the General Education Schools and placed in Advanced Classes based on their grades/performance. In this way, the "smart"children who don't "think outside of the box" in the General Education Schools will be afforded the same opportunities as the currnt AAP center children. In this way all children who really need an educational challenge to advance will get it based on their needs. The General Education Schools in Fairfax County are failing many "smart" children!
Then you lose the advantage of having a large enough size of a peer group of like-minded kids, at least at the overwhelming majority of elementary schools in Fairfax County. Too big a loss for these kids who require instructional services to meet their needs per state regulation, as well as for the County.
By like-minded, do you mean the AAPLD as pp suggests?
[list][list]There are plenty of "like minded", "smart", children in Fairfax County General Education schools. There doesn't need to be a separate school for the "smart" kids. It is the kids who do not flourish with the general education curriculum who are supposedly selected for the AAP Center. So make it what it is and put only those children who need a differnent curriculum in the centers and keep the, truly, just plain "smart kids" together. My son is a straight "A" student and is very disheartened by the children in his classroom who are disruptive and are not there to learn. He needs a classroom with "like minded" learners. He is not getting it! The county is failing the "smat" children who are not in the AAP centers. The level II and III services are a waste of time and resources. Fairfax needs to put it back in the classroom - smart kids in the advanced classrooms and others placed in classrooms to meet them at their achievement levels. The children who truly need a different learning curriculum should be the only ones placed in the center schools and not any child who's parents pitch the biggest fit. This is failing the General Ed. children in Fairfax County! If the centers were really being used for what they are "pitched" as by the county, then parents wouldn't be "biting at their bits" to get their children into centers. This is happening because parents know thier "smart" kid will not get the same opportunities in the General Ed. Schools. And each of you know this is true. Help correct this issue instead of fueling it.
Anonymous
08/30/2011 14:02
Subject: Re:AAP Question
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is what needs be done about the AAP program in Fairfax County. The AAP program should be renamed the "Advanced Program for Smart Children with Learning Disabilities (AAPLD)" and the "smart" children who learn the "normal way" should be brought back in to the General Education Schools and placed in Advanced Classes based on their grades/performance. In this way, the "smart"children who don't "think outside of the box" in the General Education Schools will be afforded the same opportunities as the currnt AAP center children. In this way all children who really need an educational challenge to advance will get it based on their needs. The General Education Schools in Fairfax County are failing many "smart" children!
Then you lose the advantage of having a large enough size of a peer group of like-minded kids, at least at the overwhelming majority of elementary schools in Fairfax County. Too big a loss for these kids who require instructional services to meet their needs per state regulation, as well as for the County.
By like-minded, do you mean the AAPLD as pp suggests?
Anonymous
08/30/2011 13:56
Subject: Re:AAP Question
Anonymous wrote:This is what needs be done about the AAP program in Fairfax County. The AAP program should be renamed the "Advanced Program for Smart Children with Learning Disabilities (AAPLD)" and the "smart" children who learn the "normal way" should be brought back in to the General Education Schools and placed in Advanced Classes based on their grades/performance. In this way, the "smart"children who don't "think outside of the box" in the General Education Schools will be afforded the same opportunities as the currnt AAP center children. In this way all children who really need an educational challenge to advance will get it based on their needs. The General Education Schools in Fairfax County are failing many "smart" children!
Then you lose the advantage of having a large enough size of a peer group of like-minded kids, at least at the overwhelming majority of elementary schools in Fairfax County. Too big a loss for these kids who require instructional services to meet their needs per state regulation, as well as for the County.
Anonymous
08/30/2011 13:52
Subject: Re:AAP Question
This is what needs be done about the AAP program in Fairfax County. The AAP program should be renamed the "Advanced Program for Smart Children with Learning Disabilities (AAPLD)" and the "smart" children who learn the "normal way" should be brought back in to the General Education Schools and placed in Advanced Classes based on their grades/performance. In this way, the "smart"children who don't "think outside of the box" in the General Education Schools will be afforded the same opportunities as the currnt AAP center children. In this way all children who really need an educational challenge to advance will get it based on their needs. The General Education Schools in Fairfax County are failing many "smart" children!
Anonymous
08/16/2011 11:46
Subject: Re:AAP Question
Do not use Mindwell for Wisc testing. i had a very bad experience for my son.
Anonymous
12/15/2010 18:09
Subject: AAP Question
I am sorry - I just don't remember the name of the WPPSI tester. She was younger and a director or something like that at EAA. I didn't like her b/c she was really impatient and seemed openly annoyed with our younger son (he was 4 at the time and did not want to sit still). Testing is stressful enough for a young kid - they don't need any added stress from a tester. In contrast, when our older son was getting tired and annoyed because of the length of the test, Lee Ingram was very gracious and gave him the scheduled break. He came back to the test re-charged and did very well. I know lots of kids score high, but I think a good part of our older kid scoring 141 was due to Lee's incredible patience and calm, sweet interaction with our DS. Boys can be antsy and resistent to sitting still for a test. Having an experienced and patient tester really makes a difference!