Anonymous
Post 05/01/2015 14:29     Subject: Gibbers, Gibbers, Gibbers!!!!
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DC has 131 on nnat and 139 on Cogat. However GBRS is 8. Any chance to get into level 4 on the first go? I really dont want to pay for WISC, keeping fingers crossed.


Why are you keeping your fingers crossed? Sounds like you have a smart kid who teachers didn't rate correctly. My guess is he/she'll get in and you won't have to appeal.


Thank you for your words and yes DC made it
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2015 22:58     Subject: Gibbers, Gibbers, Gibbers!!!!
Surely. Spring Hill; Stenwood; Shrevewood; Westgate; Haycock
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2015 07:15     Subject: Re:Gibbers, Gibbers, Gibbers!!!!
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:These comments are too anecdotal to be useful. I have absolutely seen that the kids are strong across the board. I know many who are strongest in language arts.


Perhaps your comment that "these kids are strong across the board" is anecdotal as well. The kids in the AAP (the "gifted" ones as well as the above-average high-achieving students) RARELY possess superior strengths (and interest) in all subjects. Because of the AAP's emphasis on mathematics, (and, no, I am definitely NOT "anti-math") advanced instruction in language arts is almost non-existent (and, boy, does it show!) Just compare the level of math your child is working on with his/her language arts work.

My observations are based on school visits and meetings (albeit brief ones) with AAP teachers who, when asked about the program (e.g lesson plans and the distribution of students with strengths in either math or language arts or both) cagily confirmed that many of the kids are indeed math inclined (or "math smart", as a few of the teachers put it) and that the AAP curriculum is more or less a "math-centric" one.


Could you say in which schools you've seen this? I think it might vary in different areas and schools.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2015 17:26     Subject: Gibbers, Gibbers, Gibbers!!!!
This.
+100
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2015 13:32     Subject: Re:Gibbers, Gibbers, Gibbers!!!!
Anonymous wrote:These comments are too anecdotal to be useful. I have absolutely seen that the kids are strong across the board. I know many who are strongest in language arts.


Perhaps your comment that "these kids are strong across the board" is anecdotal as well. The kids in the AAP (the "gifted" ones as well as the above-average high-achieving students) RARELY possess superior strengths (and interest) in all subjects. Because of the AAP's emphasis on mathematics, (and, no, I am definitely NOT "anti-math") advanced instruction in language arts is almost non-existent (and, boy, does it show!) Just compare the level of math your child is working on with his/her language arts work.

My observations are based on school visits and meetings (albeit brief ones) with AAP teachers who, when asked about the program (e.g lesson plans and the distribution of students with strengths in either math or language arts or both) cagily confirmed that many of the kids are indeed math inclined (or "math smart", as a few of the teachers put it) and that the AAP curriculum is more or less a "math-centric" one.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2015 11:20     Subject: Gibbers, Gibbers, Gibbers!!!!
Anonymous wrote:Perhaps that was the original intent of the program, to provide an accelerated and challenging curriculum for academically advanced students. However, currently, there seems to be an emphasis on providing an accelerated math curriculum at the expense of language arts. Many teachers and students alike will tell you (excitedly!) that they are working two grade levels ahead in math yet are hardly doing anything advanced in language arts.

I'm sure this isn't the case at EVERY school but it seems that kids with strong math skills and average to, in some cases, mediocre reading and writing skills are in the level IV program. Those with demonstrably advanced vocabularies as well as reading and writing skills receive part-time AAP...


+1
This is exactly what I've seen.
Anonymous
Post 04/29/2015 06:10     Subject: Re:Gibbers, Gibbers, Gibbers!!!!
These comments are too anecdotal to be useful. I have absolutely seen that the kids are strong across the board. I know many who are strongest in language arts.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2015 10:27     Subject: Gibbers, Gibbers, Gibbers!!!!
Perhaps that was the original intent of the program, to provide an accelerated and challenging curriculum for academically advanced students. However, currently, there seems to be an emphasis on providing an accelerated math curriculum at the expense of language arts. Many teachers and students alike will tell you (excitedly!) that they are working two grade levels ahead in math yet are hardly doing anything advanced in language arts.

I'm sure this isn't the case at EVERY school but it seems that kids with strong math skills and average to, in some cases, mediocre reading and writing skills are in the level IV program. Those with demonstrably advanced vocabularies as well as reading and writing skills receive part-time AAP...
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2015 09:56     Subject: Re:Gibbers, Gibbers, Gibbers!!!!
Anonymous wrote:I've found many who are strong across the board. That is what the program is designed for, after all. Subject-specific strengths are served by Level III.


While that is what the program is designed for (students who are strong in all areas), that just isn't the reality as far as the kids I've seen in AAP. Some are very strong in a particular subject, but not others. Which is why so many of us wonder: why are these kids in AAP/centers/LLIV?
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2015 07:44     Subject: Re:Gibbers, Gibbers, Gibbers!!!!
I've found many who are strong across the board. That is what the program is designed for, after all. Subject-specific strengths are served by Level III.
Anonymous
Post 04/27/2015 22:04     Subject: Gibbers, Gibbers, Gibbers!!!!
I suppose ideally that's true -- but I've found that areas of strength are rarely equally distributed between LA and Math --/ it's usually "either" "or"
Anonymous
Post 04/27/2015 21:07     Subject: Gibbers, Gibbers, Gibbers!!!!
Anonymous wrote:Are admitted kids typically stronger in math than in language arts? It seems that many use the AAP as a gateway to TJ...


A lot of the kids are strong in both. While TJ is a math and science school, the kids there are held to high standards in English and social studies, also.
Anonymous
Post 04/27/2015 17:23     Subject: Gibbers, Gibbers, Gibbers!!!!
Anonymous wrote:DC has 131 on nnat and 139 on Cogat. However GBRS is 8. Any chance to get into level 4 on the first go? I really dont want to pay for WISC, keeping fingers crossed.


Why are you keeping your fingers crossed? Sounds like you have a smart kid who teachers didn't rate correctly. My guess is he/she'll get in and you won't have to appeal.
Anonymous
Post 04/27/2015 15:16     Subject: Gibbers, Gibbers, Gibbers!!!!
Are admitted kids typically stronger in math than in language arts? It seems that many use the AAP as a gateway to TJ...
Anonymous
Post 04/27/2015 14:22     Subject: Gibbers, Gibbers, Gibbers!!!!
Anonymous wrote:Have there been instances when students have been admitted despite below cut off scores?


In my child's second grade class, there were two boys who were not in the pool who were accepted in the first group. A girl who was in the pool was not initially accepted. She was accepted on appeal, which the teacher encouraged her parents to do.