Anonymous
Post 01/09/2017 10:58     Subject: Re:Does it get better in fourth grade?
It seems like the centers must vary widely. 3rd grade at DD's center hasn't been hard at all so far, she has no more than 30 mins of homework a night, and 15 mins of that is reading. Usually she just has one short math worksheet that takes about 5 mins to complete, and occasionally a study guide for an upcoming test. From looking at the completed work that comes home, it seems like she does several other worksheets in school each day, but not a crazy amount. She has word study, but they do all the work in class, and so far all of her writing assignments have been completed in class as well. I've been really pleased with the curriculum and work so far. I'm glad she isn't getting an hour plus of homework a night!

Is your DC doing ok with the concepts and just bogged down by the amount of work, or is it taking extra time to complete the assignments? Have you tried talking to the teacher?
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2017 21:56     Subject: Re:Does it get better in fourth grade?
Anonymous wrote:Just curious. What schools have a lot of homework? Ours has none. I don't understand why a school system has such a difference from school to school.[/quote
Springfield estates has a lot.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2017 20:37     Subject: Re:Does it get better in fourth grade?
Just curious. What schools have a lot of homework? Ours has none. I don't understand why a school system has such a difference from school to school.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2017 19:28     Subject: Does it get better in fourth grade?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Intense? really?

My daughter is in AAP center. She spends 10 minutes a day on homework now in 4th grade. In 3rd it was probably closer to 15 (I don't include reading here as she reads all the time anyway)... There were 2 or 3 take home projects in 3rd grade, and zero so far in fourth. My daughter gets mostly 4s on her report card, a few 3s, so she is doing fine.

Yes, intense!! Daily math, vocab words. One or two quizzes a week. Four projects so far. A few cursive sheets every couple of weeks. One to two hours of homework, daily.


This is pp who switched kid back to base school after 3rd. The above is exactly what it was like at our AAP center school. Not to mention the classwork! I couldn't believe the number of worksheets coming home at the end of the week. A big folder of them. My DS would literally get to school and have to start doing morning worksheets (4 of them) immediately regardless of when the day actually started. The class couldn't move on to the next topic until everyone had finished and since my DS was being bused in he was always one of the last to arrive in class and one the last to finish the worksheets. What a terrible way to start the day as an 8 year old. I should have pulled him out sooner, but DS isn't a complainer. He did however, start getting stomachaches every day before going to school. I'm still pissed thinking back on it. This is a class that is meant for kids that do not need to do endless repetition to learn new information. Why on earth that was the teacher's choice of how to teach gifted kids was beyond me. Thankfully the local level IV is so much less stressed. And if is isn't able to learn math 2 years ahead (like he is able) then so what as long as he isn't crying about going to school anymore.


Yet I bet you were wringing your hands with worry a few years ago, wanting to ensure he made it into aap.


I agree with PP above- that center had a lot of work. Our center doesn't have that much HW at grade 3 meanwhile our base school (local level IV) has tons. Some friends commented on how long it took their child to do homework.. a lot of hand holding. If the percentage of hand holding is greater than the child doing the work independently, reconsider the situation after a while.

+1000 if your child is suited elsewhere, move them! However, our experience has been more like the PP before.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2017 22:13     Subject: Does it get better in fourth grade?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Intense? really?

My daughter is in AAP center. She spends 10 minutes a day on homework now in 4th grade. In 3rd it was probably closer to 15 (I don't include reading here as she reads all the time anyway)... There were 2 or 3 take home projects in 3rd grade, and zero so far in fourth. My daughter gets mostly 4s on her report card, a few 3s, so she is doing fine.

Yes, intense!! Daily math, vocab words. One or two quizzes a week. Four projects so far. A few cursive sheets every couple of weeks. One to two hours of homework, daily.


This is pp who switched kid back to base school after 3rd. The above is exactly what it was like at our AAP center school. Not to mention the classwork! I couldn't believe the number of worksheets coming home at the end of the week. A big folder of them. My DS would literally get to school and have to start doing morning worksheets (4 of them) immediately regardless of when the day actually started. The class couldn't move on to the next topic until everyone had finished and since my DS was being bused in he was always one of the last to arrive in class and one the last to finish the worksheets. What a terrible way to start the day as an 8 year old. I should have pulled him out sooner, but DS isn't a complainer. He did however, start getting stomachaches every day before going to school. I'm still pissed thinking back on it. This is a class that is meant for kids that do not need to do endless repetition to learn new information. Why on earth that was the teacher's choice of how to teach gifted kids was beyond me. Thankfully the local level IV is so much less stressed. And if is isn't able to learn math 2 years ahead (like he is able) then so what as long as he isn't crying about going to school anymore.


Yet I bet you were wringing your hands with worry a few years ago, wanting to ensure he made it into aap.


I agree with PP above- that center had a lot of work. Our center doesn't have that much HW at grade 3 meanwhile our base school (local level IV) has tons. Some friends commented on how long it took their child to do homework.. a lot of hand holding. If the percentage of hand holding is greater than the child doing the work independently, reconsider the situation after a while.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2017 21:46     Subject: Does it get better in fourth grade?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Intense? really?

My daughter is in AAP center. She spends 10 minutes a day on homework now in 4th grade. In 3rd it was probably closer to 15 (I don't include reading here as she reads all the time anyway)... There were 2 or 3 take home projects in 3rd grade, and zero so far in fourth. My daughter gets mostly 4s on her report card, a few 3s, so she is doing fine.

Yes, intense!! Daily math, vocab words. One or two quizzes a week. Four projects so far. A few cursive sheets every couple of weeks. One to two hours of homework, daily.


This is pp who switched kid back to base school after 3rd. The above is exactly what it was like at our AAP center school. Not to mention the classwork! I couldn't believe the number of worksheets coming home at the end of the week. A big folder of them. My DS would literally get to school and have to start doing morning worksheets (4 of them) immediately regardless of when the day actually started. The class couldn't move on to the next topic until everyone had finished and since my DS was being bused in he was always one of the last to arrive in class and one the last to finish the worksheets. What a terrible way to start the day as an 8 year old. I should have pulled him out sooner, but DS isn't a complainer. He did however, start getting stomachaches every day before going to school. I'm still pissed thinking back on it. This is a class that is meant for kids that do not need to do endless repetition to learn new information. Why on earth that was the teacher's choice of how to teach gifted kids was beyond me. Thankfully the local level IV is so much less stressed. And if is isn't able to learn math 2 years ahead (like he is able) then so what as long as he isn't crying about going to school anymore.


Yet I bet you were wringing your hands with worry a few years ago, wanting to ensure he made it into aap.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2017 21:35     Subject: Does it get better in fourth grade?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Intense? really?

My daughter is in AAP center. She spends 10 minutes a day on homework now in 4th grade. In 3rd it was probably closer to 15 (I don't include reading here as she reads all the time anyway)... There were 2 or 3 take home projects in 3rd grade, and zero so far in fourth. My daughter gets mostly 4s on her report card, a few 3s, so she is doing fine.

Yes, intense!! Daily math, vocab words. One or two quizzes a week. Four projects so far. A few cursive sheets every couple of weeks. One to two hours of homework, daily.


This is pp who switched kid back to base school after 3rd. The above is exactly what it was like at our AAP center school. Not to mention the classwork! I couldn't believe the number of worksheets coming home at the end of the week. A big folder of them. My DS would literally get to school and have to start doing morning worksheets (4 of them) immediately regardless of when the day actually started. The class couldn't move on to the next topic until everyone had finished and since my DS was being bused in he was always one of the last to arrive in class and one the last to finish the worksheets. What a terrible way to start the day as an 8 year old. I should have pulled him out sooner, but DS isn't a complainer. He did however, start getting stomachaches every day before going to school. I'm still pissed thinking back on it. This is a class that is meant for kids that do not need to do endless repetition to learn new information. Why on earth that was the teacher's choice of how to teach gifted kids was beyond me. Thankfully the local level IV is so much less stressed. And if is isn't able to learn math 2 years ahead (like he is able) then so what as long as he isn't crying about going to school anymore.


Just awful! I want my child out. I don't think I want to wait and see if it gets better. Sadly my local school doesn't offer level IV.


Pick one- is your child's self-esteem and appreciation of school that shattered at your current school? If so, why would you not move to a known entity if you have a choice?
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2017 19:20     Subject: Does it get better in fourth grade?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Intense? really?

My daughter is in AAP center. She spends 10 minutes a day on homework now in 4th grade. In 3rd it was probably closer to 15 (I don't include reading here as she reads all the time anyway)... There were 2 or 3 take home projects in 3rd grade, and zero so far in fourth. My daughter gets mostly 4s on her report card, a few 3s, so she is doing fine.

Yes, intense!! Daily math, vocab words. One or two quizzes a week. Four projects so far. A few cursive sheets every couple of weeks. One to two hours of homework, daily.


This is pp who switched kid back to base school after 3rd. The above is exactly what it was like at our AAP center school. Not to mention the classwork! I couldn't believe the number of worksheets coming home at the end of the week. A big folder of them. My DS would literally get to school and have to start doing morning worksheets (4 of them) immediately regardless of when the day actually started. The class couldn't move on to the next topic until everyone had finished and since my DS was being bused in he was always one of the last to arrive in class and one the last to finish the worksheets. What a terrible way to start the day as an 8 year old. I should have pulled him out sooner, but DS isn't a complainer. He did however, start getting stomachaches every day before going to school. I'm still pissed thinking back on it. This is a class that is meant for kids that do not need to do endless repetition to learn new information. Why on earth that was the teacher's choice of how to teach gifted kids was beyond me. Thankfully the local level IV is so much less stressed. And if is isn't able to learn math 2 years ahead (like he is able) then so what as long as he isn't crying about going to school anymore.


Just awful! I want my child out. I don't think I want to wait and see if it gets better. Sadly my local school doesn't offer level IV.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2017 12:58     Subject: Does it get better in fourth grade?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Intense? really?

My daughter is in AAP center. She spends 10 minutes a day on homework now in 4th grade. In 3rd it was probably closer to 15 (I don't include reading here as she reads all the time anyway)... There were 2 or 3 take home projects in 3rd grade, and zero so far in fourth. My daughter gets mostly 4s on her report card, a few 3s, so she is doing fine.

Yes, intense!! Daily math, vocab words. One or two quizzes a week. Four projects so far. A few cursive sheets every couple of weeks. One to two hours of homework, daily.


This is pp who switched kid back to base school after 3rd. The above is exactly what it was like at our AAP center school. Not to mention the classwork! I couldn't believe the number of worksheets coming home at the end of the week. A big folder of them. My DS would literally get to school and have to start doing morning worksheets (4 of them) immediately regardless of when the day actually started. The class couldn't move on to the next topic until everyone had finished and since my DS was being bused in he was always one of the last to arrive in class and one the last to finish the worksheets. What a terrible way to start the day as an 8 year old. I should have pulled him out sooner, but DS isn't a complainer. He did however, start getting stomachaches every day before going to school. I'm still pissed thinking back on it. This is a class that is meant for kids that do not need to do endless repetition to learn new information. Why on earth that was the teacher's choice of how to teach gifted kids was beyond me. Thankfully the local level IV is so much less stressed. And if is isn't able to learn math 2 years ahead (like he is able) then so what as long as he isn't crying about going to school anymore.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2017 12:16     Subject: Does it get better in fourth grade?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Intense? really?

My daughter is in AAP center. She spends 10 minutes a day on homework now in 4th grade. In 3rd it was probably closer to 15 (I don't include reading here as she reads all the time anyway)... There were 2 or 3 take home projects in 3rd grade, and zero so far in fourth. My daughter gets mostly 4s on her report card, a few 3s, so she is doing fine.

Yes, intense!! Daily math, vocab words. One or two quizzes a week. Four projects so far. A few cursive sheets every couple of weeks. One to two hours of homework, daily.


Why are you making her waste her time when homework at this age is PROVEN to be pointless? Seems cruel, and I honestly don't mean that in a snarky way. It just seems like way too much for a child. Then we wonder why our kids burn out or suffer from crippling anxiety before college age.


Are you asking why a parent is making a child complete homework because it is cruel? I think kids need to do their homework, regardless how parents may feel about an assignment, the utility of homework in general, etc.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2017 07:12     Subject: Does it get better in fourth grade?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Intense? really?

My daughter is in AAP center. She spends 10 minutes a day on homework now in 4th grade. In 3rd it was probably closer to 15 (I don't include reading here as she reads all the time anyway)... There were 2 or 3 take home projects in 3rd grade, and zero so far in fourth. My daughter gets mostly 4s on her report card, a few 3s, so she is doing fine.

Yes, intense!! Daily math, vocab words. One or two quizzes a week. Four projects so far. A few cursive sheets every couple of weeks. One to two hours of homework, daily.


Why are you making her waste her time when homework at this age is PROVEN to be pointless? Seems cruel, and I honestly don't mean that in a snarky way. It just seems like way too much for a child. Then we wonder why our kids burn out or suffer from crippling anxiety before college age.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2017 07:11     Subject: Does it get better in fourth grade?
Anonymous wrote:The workload is intense. Too much homework, quizzes. Is all about the grades. I've heard this intensity decreases in fourth grade.


This....hasn't been my experience with my gifted child. At all. Fourth grade gets more intense, but still isn't bad at all.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2017 07:06     Subject: Does it get better in fourth grade?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Intense? really?

My daughter is in AAP center. She spends 10 minutes a day on homework now in 4th grade. In 3rd it was probably closer to 15 (I don't include reading here as she reads all the time anyway)... There were 2 or 3 take home projects in 3rd grade, and zero so far in fourth. My daughter gets mostly 4s on her report card, a few 3s, so she is doing fine.

Yes, intense!! Daily math, vocab words. One or two quizzes a week. Four projects so far. A few cursive sheets every couple of weeks. One to two hours of homework, daily.


Our experience has been like the first quote here. Our base school has the workload in local level IV you are describing. Like another pp posted, the local level IV has a history of giving a lot of homework (almost like proving their program is hard).

Are other parents concerned as well? Is your child not able to keep up? It sounds as though you want to go back to the base. For what I have heard, going back to your base is an option at any time - you are assigned to that school. Meanwhile, it is virtually impossible to go to a center mid year from a base school.
Anonymous
Post 01/04/2017 22:15     Subject: Does it get better in fourth grade?
Anonymous wrote:Intense? really?

My daughter is in AAP center. She spends 10 minutes a day on homework now in 4th grade. In 3rd it was probably closer to 15 (I don't include reading here as she reads all the time anyway)... There were 2 or 3 take home projects in 3rd grade, and zero so far in fourth. My daughter gets mostly 4s on her report card, a few 3s, so she is doing fine.

Yes, intense!! Daily math, vocab words. One or two quizzes a week. Four projects so far. A few cursive sheets every couple of weeks. One to two hours of homework, daily.
Anonymous
Post 01/04/2017 21:34     Subject: Does it get better in fourth grade?
We are in a LLIV 3rd grade. Only half the year down but so far it seems like no work - kid seemed to have more homework in Kindergarten than now.