Anonymous
Post 03/24/2014 11:50     Subject: If you were designing the AAP program, what would you keep? Add?
Anonymous wrote:I think AAP is a way to get around the elimination of tracking, which was done a couple of decades ago because of the political repercussions. Bottom line, I strongly believe that tracking is a necessity. Just like not everyone is equal in sports, everyone is not equal in academics. Going with that analogy, it would be ludicrous to put the super athletic on the same team as the athletically challenged, yet somehow it's ok for our kids in school. Sure, the athletic ones could coach the non-athletic ones because there are so many kids on the team and the coach is overwhelmed by the sheer number of kids on the team and consumed with the requirement to get the non-athletic up to par, but that wouldn't help the athletic ones, or even the middle of the pack ones. Just imagine what those star athletes could accomplish and develop into if they were on a team of their own?! It would benefit the league, the country and the world. I know tracking has legitimate issues, but it doesn't make any sense to get rid of it completely. We need to reinstitute tracking, with checks and balances to help minimize the negative consequesnces. We need special ed, remedial, general, honors and gifted levels in our schools! Most should fall in the middle 3 levels and there should be centers for the special ed and gifted levels because, theoretically, those should only comprise the bottom and top 5-10% of the student population. Let's stop playing these games and call AAP what it is - tracking; and then institute a proper tracking program!!!


Agree!!!
Anonymous
Post 03/24/2014 11:48     Subject: Re:If you were designing the AAP program, what would you keep? Add?
Apply the AAP concept accross your entire school not just to a select few. Taking subjects to a higher level by providing a deeper and more hands on approach could benefit every child.
Anonymous
Post 03/24/2014 11:46     Subject: If you were designing the AAP program, what would you keep? Add?
I think AAP is a way to get around the elimination of tracking, which was done a couple of decades ago because of the political repercussions. Bottom line, I strongly believe that tracking is a necessity. Just like not everyone is equal in sports, everyone is not equal in academics. Going with that analogy, it would be ludicrous to put the super athletic on the same team as the athletically challenged, yet somehow it's ok for our kids in school. Sure, the athletic ones could coach the non-athletic ones because there are so many kids on the team and the coach is overwhelmed by the sheer number of kids on the team and consumed with the requirement to get the non-athletic up to par, but that wouldn't help the athletic ones, or even the middle of the pack ones. Just imagine what those star athletes could accomplish and develop into if they were on a team of their own?! It would benefit the league, the country and the world. I know tracking has legitimate issues, but it doesn't make any sense to get rid of it completely. We need to reinstitute tracking, with checks and balances to help minimize the negative consequesnces. We need special ed, remedial, general, honors and gifted levels in our schools! Most should fall in the middle 3 levels and there should be centers for the special ed and gifted levels because, theoretically, those should only comprise the bottom and top 5-10% of the student population. Let's stop playing these games and call AAP what it is - tracking; and then institute a proper tracking program!!!
Anonymous
Post 03/24/2014 10:20     Subject: Re:If you were designing the AAP program, what would you keep? Add?
Since all the AAP parents think that their kids should be separated from the average, why don't the AAP classes separate by IQ? Put the very top together, etc.
Anonymous
Post 03/24/2014 10:01     Subject: Re:If you were designing the AAP program, what would you keep? Add?
Anonymous wrote:What is the purpose of GT?


Great question! However, I'd really like to know what the purpose of AAP is (since this is no longer a gifted program) and why it isn't open to any child who can do the work, regardless of a test score.
Anonymous
Post 03/24/2014 09:15     Subject: Re:If you were designing the AAP program, what would you keep? Add?
What is the purpose of GT?
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2014 21:34     Subject: Re:If you were designing the AAP program, what would you keep? Add?
Anonymous wrote:
That would be discriminatory


Why?


Because many students with IDEA enforcement would not be able to have individual IQ testing.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2014 20:50     Subject: Re:If you were designing the AAP program, what would you keep? Add?
That would be discriminatory


Why?
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2014 19:51     Subject: If you were designing the AAP program, what would you keep? Add?
That would be discriminatory.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2014 17:49     Subject: Re:If you were designing the AAP program, what would you keep? Add?
So intentionally exclude students with special needs -- got it. I'm sure that would work well.
[Report Post]



No. The purpose is to help all the kids. Those with special needs are getting help-as they should be. However, the idea of the GT class is to challenge the kids to advance quickly with little outside help.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2014 17:45     Subject: Re:If you were designing the AAP program, what would you keep? Add?
Anonymous wrote:
But what about students that did not score high on group tests? There are many students that have learning disabilities, anxiety, etc., that do not do well on group tests such as the CogAT but score superior on individual tests such as the WISC.




This is about going back to the way it used to be done. We don't want those in GT. GT should be for those who stand out--not those whose moms want them there.


So intentionally exclude students with special needs -- got it. I'm sure that would work well.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2014 16:42     Subject: Re:If you were designing the AAP program, what would you keep? Add?
But what about students that did not score high on group tests? There are many students that have learning disabilities, anxiety, etc., that do not do well on group tests such as the CogAT but score superior on individual tests such as the WISC.




This is about going back to the way it used to be done. We don't want those in GT. GT should be for those who stand out--not those whose moms want them there.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2014 15:40     Subject: Re:If you were designing the AAP program, what would you keep? Add?
Anonymous wrote:You would only administer it to those who scored exceedingly high on the standardized tests. That way you can weed out the cheaters.


But what about students that did not score high on group tests? There are many students that have learning disabilities, anxiety, etc., that do not do well on group tests such as the CogAT but score superior on individual tests such as the WISC.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2014 12:38     Subject: Re:If you were designing the AAP program, what would you keep? Add?
You would only administer it to those who scored exceedingly high on the standardized tests. That way you can weed out the cheaters.
Anonymous
Post 03/23/2014 08:48     Subject: If you were designing the AAP program, what would you keep? Add?
FCPS has not administered individual WISC testing in the past, as far as I know.