taylorcrew1
Member
Reged: 11/23/04
Loc: Allen, TX
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My son was recommended for the GT testing - kindergarten. He goes in Monday to do his portfolio and the second half of testing. I am a little concerned because he will be the only kindergartner in there (brag, brag). I'm just curious as to what kind of things they'll be doing.
Also, any general comments on the GT program would be welcomed.
Thanks
DT
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campbellfam
Member
Reged: 07/12/02
Loc: Allen, TX, USA
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I think it depends on the school as to the exact activities but it's my understanding that the schools try to follow the High School's GT curriculum subject, in this case it's humanities studies.
Last year my daughter was 1 of only 2 first graders in AIM, they were put with the 2nd graders- it worked out fine. It's such a small group that it was easy for the teacher to keep control.
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With 8 billion people in the world, why do I have to do all the work?
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civicminded
Member
Reged: 04/24/02
Loc: Lone Star State
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campbellfam probably gave the answer you seek. But in a nutshell, GT kids will learn how to cope with being a little different, and how to work well with other kids that aren't considered GT. We experienced Allen's beginning with this Program, with our daughter. It's benefits are realized daily. My son, a little older, did not experience this program, and would have also been involved had it existed. The difficulties of not having the right curriculum are as dramatic as the benefits.
Knowing you as I do, and watching your youth involvement, assures me you'll be there for your son and the others. This too makes the difference in OUR future. 
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cc
Member
Reged: 01/09/01
Loc: Allen, tx
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My son is a GT kid and we opted not to have him tested in kindergarten due to his inability to sit still long enough for the testing. If your child tests in kindergarten and does not make it he/she cannot test again until the 3rd grade for 4th grade gt program.
If you do decide to test this year, here are some tips given to me by the vice principal at my son's school...
1. Be sure that your child eats berries for breakfast the morning of testing. Something in berries kick starts the brain.
2. Be sure that your child drinks plenty of water before the test. A hydrated brain thinks better.
3. Have your child do a couple of minutes of jumping jacks or other cardio workout to get the blood flowing right before the testing starts.
We did this with our son and he made it into the GT program for the 2nd grade year. He loves it and comes home telling me about all the cool stuff he learned about in AIM. He is one of three 2nd graders and they are together with the one first grader.
Good luck and let me know if you have any more questions!
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starrlac
Member
Reged: 11/03/00
Loc: Allen, TX
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My son is in the GT program at Marion. From my understanding, AISD uses the same curriculum at all the elementary schools. There is a language arts and social studies curriculum. Right now the 1-3 grades (my son is in 2nd) are studying ancient egypt. This is my son's first year as he was tested at the end of 1st grade because he wasn't in public school for kindergarten. There are 7 2nd graders in his AIM class. The testing for kindergarteners is a little different that grades 1-6, so I can't comment on that. If you'd like more information about the curriculum, let me know. I have a list of what each grade, 1-6, will be doing this year. There is also a program, called Exemplars, for those students needing math and science extensions. In this program, the GT teacher provides addisional instructional materials to the regular classroom teacher for those students.
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denisew
Member
Reged: 02/18/02
Loc: Allen, TX
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One of my boys is in this program. He did very well on his Cogat test and we received an invitation for him to test for the GT program. It is wonderful because it challenges him in ways that the regular curriculum doesn't. I am not saying he isn't challenged with his regular classroom work, but they deal with things like logic, problem solving, etc. He is in third grade and learning multiplication and division in his regular math. The GT teacher is teaching him algebra. This is a kid who will take flash cards in the car to learn math. He loves math. He really enjoyed learning about ancient Egypt and would come home talking about what they learned and would check books out of the library on the subject. I think if your child did well on the Cogat test, you should have him tested for the GT program and take advantage of it. I think this program is so good for these kids. I really believe he would be bored in school if he wasn't in this program.
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sco
Member
Reged: 10/26/02
Loc: allen,TX USA
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I agree with the consensus opinion that the AIM program is excellent. I wish my children could have more of it. My 3rd grader likes school in general and loves the AIM program. My first grader doesn't like school quite as much as her sister. For her, I sometimes think that AIM is the only thing that keeps her interested. Keep in mind that AIM is not really intended to be an accelerated curriculum. It is meant to extend the curriculum and make them learn critical thinking skills. They are not necessarily going to learn 2nd grade math in kindergarten(for example).
I do not believe it is true any longer that if they test in kindergarten and don't make it that they can't test again until 3rd grade. Last year there were only 2 1st graders in AIM at Bolin. This year there are significantly more 2nd graders and I don't believe they are all new students. You can verify this by talking to the AIM teacher at your school or to the GT coordinator at the admin. building.
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Susan
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cc
Member
Reged: 01/09/01
Loc: Allen, tx
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How do you like the AIM teacher at Bolin? We are moving into the Bolin area from our current school before the start of 3rd grade this next year. I am so excited to have my son go to Bolin. I think that he will do better than where he currently goes to school.
If the testing limits have changed, then they just recently changed this last year. At the GT meeting last winter I verified this rule and it was still in place at that time. I kind of thought that it was a silly rule myself. At the time that we knew that Ben was a higher level thinker his testing ability just plain stunk and I was not going to take the chance of having him not make the program for 2-3 more years. Now that he is in it...he absolutely loves it!
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sco
Member
Reged: 10/26/02
Loc: allen,TX USA
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My children and I really like the AIM teacher at Bolin. She is really good at having them doing hands on activities, which particularly my 1st grader really needs. In general, I think Bolin is a really good school. The only problem right now is it is extremely crowded. That will change in 2006 when they open the new school east of Malone. I would talk to them at the school about getting your son registered at Bolin. There is a fair amount of "overflowing" going on because of overcrowding.
I don't know all of the details of the testing rules. Anybody who needs to know should check with the AIM teacher. There was a rule about not going through the testing process more than every 2 or 3 years, but they supposedly will reevaluate every year based on the testing data that they already have.
Susan
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Susan
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mango
New Member
Reged: 09/29/04
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I have heard that very few children get into the AIM program in their early years. Having one kindergartner or 2 first graders from an entire school in the program (from previous posts) just doesn't sound right. Do you think that parents aren't having their kids tested (if not, why?), or are the kids not getting in (if not, why?)? If I remember correctly, between five and eight percent of the general population is gifted... I wonder if parents don't think that it is important until the child is older? Someone mentioned that the older grades had more kids in the program....
On many levels, haing a child spend time with other gifted children is very beneficial, both intellectually, socially, and introspectively (benefitting from knowing that there are others similar to him in the way that he might feel so very different from others). He is free to express his intelligence without ridicule or strange looks, which is the way this kind of child can move forward, in case it is not so easy to do in the regular classroom environment. In my opinion, of course.
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sco
Member
Reged: 10/26/02
Loc: allen,TX USA
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There are several reasons for there being more kids in the older grades in the G/T program. Primarily it is because the entrance criteria have changed significantly over the last few years. The older kids who were already in the program were not kicked out, but the requirements have become more stringent. Another reason is because they reevaluate kids each year. Some that aren't accepted in kindergarten may be added in subsequent years.
I think there are some parents who don't get their kids tested. I think they don't want to pressure their kids in the early years. Some parents also may not really understand the nature of the program, they think it is more of advanced academics. Of course there are also the parents who insist their kids should be in the program and are furious if they aren't accepted.
Susan
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Susan
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vrs
Member
Reged: 04/20/00
Loc: Allen, Texas
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Okay - I rebooted my laptop in Windows instead of Linux and fired up IE just so I could go pull this link off the official site for you 
There is a lot of information there about the program in AISD - criteria, information meetings, application forms, etc.
http://www.allenisd.org/web/Learner_Services/lsgifted.html
G/T is an identified class of students who are required (by law) to be provided special services (just like learning challenged students on the other end of the spectrum.) Part of the requirements are enrichment and time to associate with other gifted students (accomplished through the AIM pullout program) and time in the regular classroom.
However, even in the regular classroom, they are still gifted. And children do not come in just two abilities - gifted or not. There is a vast continuum of interest and aptitude. It is the job of the classroom teacher to meet each student at his or her individual point of need and provide appropriate challenges. The Learner Services group in Central Administration works to provide tools and training for teachers to do just that.
So just because a high-performing student is not identified as "gifted" does not mean that he will not receive differentiated instruction in the classroom.
If you have questions, best to talk with your child''s teacher, your campus principal, and Barb Meyer in Central Office - in that order.
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When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this - you haven't.
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denisew
Member
Reged: 02/18/02
Loc: Allen, TX
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vrs - You are right about the high performing students versus the gifted students. My oldest son came to me a couple years ago and asked me why he wasn't in the GT program. I assured him that he is very smart, but they only test for certain criteria. Everyone is gifted with certain abilities and when his brother got accepted into the program, it was just because of a particular criteria he was tested on. I even spoke to the AIM teacher about this and she said the same thing. So don't let any of your other kids think they aren't smart just because they aren't in the GT program. Hey, look at the genes they came from! And now we can sit back with a grin on our faces and say proudly, "Yup, that's my kid!"
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BrandonP
New Member
Reged: 12/03/04
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Hello,
I've been in the gifted program for 7 years now, since 4th grade and it is wonderful. I started out in Story Elem. with Mrs. Gifford as an AIM teacher, and it was a great experience. It really gave me a chance to do things in a different way than normal and built a better leadership quality in myself, applying my "giftedness" to help others etc...
Now I am in Phoenix, the gifted program at the highschool and it is my favorite class because it allows me to actually think instead of do bookwork much like the rest of my courses.
The differences that I notice(between gt kids and not) are the people in the gifted program walk to the beat of a different drum, whether in leadership, creativity, etc.. The gifted program is here to help people excel and apply themselves to those areas.
So, if your kid has the opportunity to be in the gifted program encourage them to the fullest because it reaps great rewards.
If anyone has any questions about the GT program, feel free to ask.
-Brandon
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taylorcrew1
Member
Reged: 11/23/04
Loc: Allen, TX
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Thank you for all the responses. They really gave me some insight and served to help me feel more comfortable about the whole deal. Although I didn't respond to any of you, I did read them all.
Results of his testing tomorrow. Cross your fingers.
DT
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civicminded
Member
Reged: 04/24/02
Loc: Lone Star State
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We understand the "no responses". It's gotta be pretty hard to use the keyboard....when ya got your fingers crossed.   
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taylorcrew1
Member
Reged: 11/23/04
Loc: Allen, TX
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Everybody's a comedian. There's one in every crowd. ;)
DT
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