Anonymous
Post 06/04/2011 10:24     Subject: Re:GT/AAP Appeals
These area all about overcrowded classroom issues common both in regular classes and AAP classes in FCPS.

Relevance to this forum is that I wonder how well or bad teachers do in GBRS evaluation dealing with around 30 kids in the class.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2011 09:01     Subject: GT/AAP Appeals
Anonymous wrote:13:32
Please, what can 2nd grader teach other kids? Believe me, if she continue this behavior, her classmates will think she is a show off. My DC is in 5th grade, AAP and they have a girl that is always trying to get teacher's attention by doing similar things as your daughter-Sometimes, kids are very cruel as I see them rolling their eyes behind her back all the time. And do you know why they are rolling their eyes? Because what your daughter does is not all that special for these quirky smart kids-that's how they think and they don't think anything of it. You think your daughter is the only one that is so special that they need to drop everything to accommodate her. Sounds like your daughter belongs in private education for profoundly gifted because public education cannot accommodate her.


I am none of these posters and I mainly read this blog to get a good laugh when I have had a rough day. I am commenting because this statement is completely untrue. I am a teacher in FCPS and one of the "newest" theories coming down from the big wigs is to split your classroom up into 3 groups. Those students who have mastered material, those who have some knowledge, and those who truly do not get it. WE, teachers that is, are supposed to give a pre-test on new units and separate the students up using scores, yes scores once again. All the A's together, B's and C's together, and the D's and F's together. Then we are supposed to allow the students with A's to tutor and teach the other groups the material or lesson because research shows that students learn better from their peers than from a teacher standing up trying to teach 30 kids. We are also supposed to allow them to offer help when students have questions because kids have a way of explaining things differently than a teacher so more can understand. So in fact 13:12 has a point about her daughter bringing enthusiasm to the kids. This is called differentiating a classroom to meet all needs. The A students can "show off" as you put it and be leaders, and the rest of the class will learn more according to research. Entire lesson plans put forth by the county are being written to support this fact. So yes a 2nd grader, who is above in some areas, could in fact teach other 2nd graders.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2011 08:41     Subject: GT/AAP Appeals
13:12 here. I do understand about the teasing and it has already started which is definitely the need for her to be in AAP where most of the kids are like this and she won't feel so much like an outcast. And I do NOT expect her to have all the attention nor do I want her to be teased but all of this will be much worse in a general education setting. Correct?? The whole point is that she is on a completely different level than other students in regular setting. The teasing and being made of fun will be much worse in general education. Her brother, who should have gone to center, has done great in general education and I am a huge advocate for it. We did not send him for our own reasons and he has had a rough time on occasion. By no means do I think that my daughter should be sharing everything she does in the classroom but in a gen ed setting I see her enthusiasm being completely squashed. Maybe in an AAP setting she would see that enthusiasm around her and not feel she is so different. Seems like most of the people who attacked me have kids in AAP so maybe you could imagine what life would be like for your child in a regular setting which is why I have done private testing and submitted an appeal. Thank you 1:34 for sharing your scores. Hope your child is doing well in AAP!
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2011 01:34     Subject: GT/AAP Appeals
Anonymous wrote:Further comment -poster is right about the GT kids not being able to share all their stuff. In my DS's 5th grade class, we have professional concert level musicians, a kid who has designed his own computer and website, a kid who is already doing high school accelerated math in 5th grade, a kid fluent in 5 languages, etc. There is no way that they could "share" all their amazing knowledge with the class ... and as far as I can tell they don't even try. I am constantly amazed that my DS can keep up - he's just a normal kid who happens to be fearless when it comes to math and taking tests of any kind (including high school level math tests). So -- fact is there is no time to see your daughter's play, and you know what, half the class has their own plays, etc., that they are not even trying to "share."


You are so right about the amazing talents however, I just don't see much bragging going on my DC's class either. In fact, DC's best friend performed at the Kennedy center recently and only a few kids knew about it. Also, good luck to all the parents waiting for the decision. Same situation couple of years ago. Accepted with Stanford Binet Full IQ 137-I think much higher sub scores but can't remember, WJ III, reading 147 and math 132.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2011 01:12     Subject: GT/AAP Appeals
Further comment -poster is right about the GT kids not being able to share all their stuff. In my DS's 5th grade class, we have professional concert level musicians, a kid who has designed his own computer and website, a kid who is already doing high school accelerated math in 5th grade, a kid fluent in 5 languages, etc. There is no way that they could "share" all their amazing knowledge with the class ... and as far as I can tell they don't even try. I am constantly amazed that my DS can keep up - he's just a normal kid who happens to be fearless when it comes to math and taking tests of any kind (including high school level math tests). So -- fact is there is no time to see your daughter's play, and you know what, half the class has their own plays, etc., that they are not even trying to "share."
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2011 01:03     Subject: GT/AAP Appeals
My DS is in Fairfax County AAP. I have volunteered to help with things - Socratic Seminars being one example (you read a good short story with a message behind it and come up with questions to discuss with the class). I can tell you from personal experience that there are DDs in the small group of EIGHT who try to hog the entire discussion - unlike the 2d grade teacher, I try to be polite, but get others involved. The DSs are more quiet in these situations, mostly, but if directly engaged they come up with really thoughtful things (to which an aggressive DD may respond by saying "That's what I meant ... " etc.) It is very obnoxious. And this is in a small group - 1/4 of the whole class. Do not kid yourself that even though your kid is smart but there are plenty of other smart kids, (dare say some more quiet, yet even smarter) and other kids who need attention perhaps because they aren't getting things so easily. If you need constant stroking, move your kid to private school with smaller classes or home school. Your child, precocious as she may be, does not deserve all the attention all the time.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2011 00:55     Subject: GT/AAP Appeals
13:32
Please, what can 2nd grader teach other kids? Believe me, if she continue this behavior, her classmates will think she is a show off. My DC is in 5th grade, AAP and they have a girl that is always trying to get teacher's attention by doing similar things as your daughter-Sometimes, kids are very cruel as I see them rolling their eyes behind her back all the time. And do you know why they are rolling their eyes? Because what your daughter does is not all that special for these quirky smart kids-that's how they think and they don't think anything of it. You think your daughter is the only one that is so special that they need to drop everything to accommodate her. Sounds like your daughter belongs in private education for profoundly gifted because public education cannot accommodate her.
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2011 23:13     Subject: GT/AAP Appeals
Anonymous wrote:
Are you asking 13:12? 13:12 here and her first year teaching 2nd grade teacher does not recognize it hence the low GBRS. My daughter did extra research on the crickets when they had them in Jan. She, on her own, did extra research about the different species, printed pictures,, information, and read about them online. She brought it to class to share with everyone with so much excitement and her teacher said they didn't have time for that and told her to go sit down. I have watched all of her spunk and excitement drop out of her this year cause she is constantly told to sit down and she can't share her enthusiasm about learning with the class. Now I know everything cannot be shared but when it is relative to topics at hand there could beexceptions. She wrote a play about a topic they were studying and wanted to do it for the class with some classmates playing the part. Her teacher once again told her to go sit down and there was no time for plays but yet my daughter says all she does is worksheets and packets. Which I know is true because that is all that comes home in her take home folder.


this is not pre school and there are 25 other kids in the class. have your child keep her enthusiasm to herself, so other kids can have a little attention.

sorry to be a troll, really. but somtimes children (little girls in particular) try so hard and steal all of the teachers attention.

this is public school, and all of the children, especially the less bright ones, need the teacher!



13:12 here.....maybe my daughters cricket stuff might have helped the less bright children and her enthusiasm could have fueled the less bright and helped them learn. Thats what we call DIFFERENTIATION in the education world and the less bright are supposed to feed and learn from the bright students. What you are saying is that every public school classroom should only teach to the less bright children and the teacher should only pay attention to the less bright students and the bright children should just sit there. When my daughter was in kindergarten she was the only one of very few who could read entering K. She would read to other students in groups and at snack. The non-reading students were so interested in learning how to read so they could read to groups during snack also just like she did. The teacher told me that my child had led other students to take more of an interest in reading who had had no interest before... What you are saying would have kept my daughter at her own little table and not brought enthusiasm to other children. Your entire statement is exactly how under acheivers are born in the classroom.
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2011 22:56     Subject: GT/AAP Appeals

Are you asking 13:12? 13:12 here and her first year teaching 2nd grade teacher does not recognize it hence the low GBRS. My daughter did extra research on the crickets when they had them in Jan. She, on her own, did extra research about the different species, printed pictures,, information, and read about them online. She brought it to class to share with everyone with so much excitement and her teacher said they didn't have time for that and told her to go sit down. I have watched all of her spunk and excitement drop out of her this year cause she is constantly told to sit down and she can't share her enthusiasm about learning with the class. Now I know everything cannot be shared but when it is relative to topics at hand there could beexceptions. She wrote a play about a topic they were studying and wanted to do it for the class with some classmates playing the part. Her teacher once again told her to go sit down and there was no time for plays but yet my daughter says all she does is worksheets and packets. Which I know is true because that is all that comes home in her take home folder.


this is not pre school and there are 25 other kids in the class. have your child keep her enthusiasm to herself, so other kids can have a little attention.

sorry to be a troll, really. but somtimes children (little girls in particular) try so hard and steal all of the teachers attention.

this is public school, and all of the children, especially the less bright ones, need the teacher!

Anonymous
Post 06/03/2011 16:52     Subject: Re:GT/AAP Appeals
16:14 They'll probaly have similar problem in GT classes. It's overcrowded class issue both in regular classes and GT classes everywhere in FCPS.

However in GT classes, they at least won't have incosistent GBRS rating issue anymore.


Anonymous
Post 06/03/2011 16:14     Subject: GT/AAP Appeals
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Who isn't recognizing it?


Are you asking 13:12? 13:12 here and her first year teaching 2nd grade teacher does not recognize it hence the low GBRS. My daughter did extra research on the crickets when they had them in Jan. She, on her own, did extra research about the different species, printed pictures,, information, and read about them online. She brought it to class to share with everyone with so much excitement and her teacher said they didn't have time for that and told her to go sit down. I have watched all of her spunk and excitement drop out of her this year cause she is constantly told to sit down and she can't share her enthusiasm about learning with the class. Now I know everything cannot be shared but when it is relative to topics at hand there could beexceptions. She wrote a play about a topic they were studying and wanted to do it for the class with some classmates playing the part. Her teacher once again told her to go sit down and there was no time for plays but yet my daughter says all she does is worksheets and packets. Which I know is true because that is all that comes home in her take home folder.


this would annoy the crap out of me. I'd sit down nd have a heart to heart with the teacher first, then the principal.
I just dunno though if GT would rectify anything, however, because there can be 30 rambunctious, quirky kids in those classes all excited about their projects and not enough time for all of them to share their "extra reseach" and plays they've written etc.
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2011 15:53     Subject: Re:GT/AAP Appeals
Anonymous wrote:PP Few people really say it's unfair. No system is perfect and just little complaint about that.
You are being judgemental and ignorant. The committe makes the decision through the whole process. I'm sure they get it right 99.99% of the time in the end.



Without knowing how the process works or if errors are made, how can you be 99.99% sure they get it right? The secrecy of the process is what feeds threads like this. If the process is fair, then it should be made more transparent. I do not believe it is and guess there is probably a bias toward helping those schools that are under represented, toward promoting certain demographics that may otherwise not qualify, etc. By keeping it a closed process, the committee shields itself from any criticism and can manipulate the system to advance their agenda.
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2011 15:23     Subject: Re:GT/AAP Appeals
14:56 If you are not so happy with the Committe's decisions and the AAP program, and if you think your daughter is too good even for AAP, seek other alternatives.
Anonymous
Post 06/03/2011 15:05     Subject: Re:GT/AAP Appeals
PP Few people really say it's unfair. No system is perfect and just little complaint about that.
You are being judgemental and ignorant. The committe makes the decision through the whole process. I'm sure they get it right 99.99% of the time in the end.

Anonymous
Post 06/03/2011 15:02     Subject: GT/AAP Appeals
14:56 with so much talent at home, notsure why you are wasting your time on this board? are you depressed?