I am looking for information about this program. How do you go about getting a child in this program. What the program is about? Does the child have to travel to Smithfield for this program, etc.
If you are trying to get your kid in AIG, you should speak to the school. Start with your child's teacher, and if that doesn't work, progress to the office staff who can probably tell you who the coordinator is. The AIG center in Smithfield is only for kids up to 5th grade, they go one day a week, and they are bussed there from the school. After that, they are given AIG work in normal classroom settings. Typically, testing and placement is only done a few times a year I believe.
Usually the teacher requests the student be tested. The parent can request it as well, but if the child is excelling the teacher can normally recognize it. The "center' in Smithfield is wonderful. They have terrific energetic teachers and the kids choose electives that bring the subjects alive. They also offer violin etc... (or did when my daughter was there) With my son, we chose NOT to do the center due to his personality and did what they call 'cluster'. He stayed at his school, but the teachers gave him additional/more challenging work. It was not nearly as fun! (nor do I feel he got as much out of it) Once they are identified, they will also be in higher level classes in Middle School. Although there are some 'non-AIG kids in those classes, they are the higher achievers. (ie, good grades etc) Depending on the age of the child, I wouldn't push it too soon. My daughter started in first grade, and I think she would have been fine to wait a year or two. (it went to her head!!) Good luck!!
AIG=Academically and Intellectually Gifted children (in our school system) Yes, normally a teacher has the child tested but a parent can request it as well. In elementary school they can go to the center in Smithfield but we opted out of that as it is extra homework and they leave school grounds. Once a child is in this program they have different subject and/or assignments in middle school and high school. A child can, also, be identified as a Duke TIP student (Talented and Intellectual Person), which allows them to go to summer camps, weekend scholar camps, etc. that are very good. I read an article in Newsweek recently that really made me laugh. It was all about AIG and how we just don't have that many "intellectual" children running around. I cracked up because it is such a big deal in our neighborhood. Although our system labeled my child as AIG and TIP I have and will continue to let her know that she is no smarter than anyone else. As a matter of fact elementary and middle school were a breeze to her but when she started high school the grades dropped. Guess what? She actually had to study. Poor ole' thing. Friends of hers are labeled the same and most parents I have spoken with say those same kids stay up until the wee hours of the morning studying because they believe they have to have the highest grades. What happened to being a kid and teenager? I would not worry about it other than those identified do get advantages other kids do not. Taking the SAT early (good practice I guess), in classes with kids who really do want to learn, the attention of teachers knowing they want to learn and we are inundated with items from colleges (since 7th grade). I despise people who think they are brighter than others and I have raised my child to understand that. If I hear one more time from one of my friends that the courses their child are taking in high school are not stimulating enough I think I am going to puke. The kids are stressed beyond belief. Hope this helps a little. Grace
My daughter very, very rarely has extra homework for AIG. I really like it b/c the classes there pick up the Humanities element that seems to have been totally dropped in schools today. They get to learn beyond what is taught for the EOGs.
If she is going to the Smithfield Center then things have changed over the years. Good for your daughter. Grace
Grace, for once you and I agree on something. 8) The label is annoying, DS got tapped to be tested (by his teachers, NOT me!) a couple years ago, and although he is in the "cluster" program, he doesn't go to the center in Smt. I think he missed it by about a point. Unfortunately, he KNEW what he was being tested for and he was quite disappointed he didn't get to do it. I would like for it to be a little less "cliquish" and a whole lot more anonymous when they get tested. I have actually had other parents ASK me if he was in AIG, what a nosy question! :shock: Acutally, I am glad he's not doing it, because it is just more pressure and more homework. I'm hoping for a well-rounded kid with some common sense and social skills as well as book smarts.
We probably agree on more things that you think. Anyhow, I agree with you that the child should not know why they are tested, on this particular one. With peer pressure they can lose self-esteem for a short time. Sounds like you have a good handle on this one. Grace
I opted out for mine, in elementary school, its just too much. If it comes to be as they get older, I will evaluate it then with their maturity level and what they have going on. There are lots of people who are AIG that didn't use the program and are doing just fine, with no pressure.
Agreed! That was my biggest concern, that he was somehow going to "miss out" on something or some opportunity. Upon further investigation, it's nothing we can't cover at home independantly, through scouting or though educational trips, etc.
I don't want to step on any toes and perhaps it has changed in the past few years, but it has mostly been something fun. Distinguishing b/t cluster groups and the center doesn't seem fair to me, though-it seems like the clusters have all the work and not the fun. They shouldn't do it that way.
I just hate the way the school system already labels them on so many other levels....can't stand it. This is the same school that told me in Kindergarten that one of the twins had a learning disability...then two years later, AIG. What's wrong with this system, I mean picture? Don't even get me started. Just teach them for pete's sake. :mrgreen:
It is fun, but I think the center is VERY educational. They learned through hands on and had a blast. It was good for her self esteem and she made some great friends that she still has now in college. The center is for the more advanced students (or at least the ones that 'test' more advanced.) They have homework, but they have a week to do it. We didn't feel any pressure at all, and she enjoyed it immensely.
I'd also like to add to what the others are saying that you need to look at the age of the student as well for testing. Yes, the parent can request that the student be tested. But many parents and teachers have put young ones (kindergartners and even first graders) through the AIG test only to be disappointed when they don't pass. This is especially hard on the child when they've been told so much "how smart they are" by parents, preschool teachers, or whoever over the years if you don't handle it right. (best advice in that area, let them think it's a game and not a test...especially the K kids at that age they stress on getting everything right, but relax when they think of it as a learning game) Then in second/third grade when they understand the "testing process" better they score with flying colors if they truely are AIG and passed to the center. Many first graders are in cluster groups that way instead of the center because of this. They don't test well yet. Sure they try to make the test "age appropriate", but emotionally, mentally, and maturity wise it's hard at that age to do well enough to make center especially when they've never had a test that lasted longer than a weekly spelling test. My experience in the school system was many moons ago though so things may have changed. They may have even changed the age of who can be tested so please check with your child's teacher. I was however on the AIG team. I saw the scores of the kids with test administrator and a couple other teachers. We signed off children based on their scores AND school work AND teacher recommendations for center or clusters. And some enjoy the AIG and some don't. Some find it stressful. Those are the ones who got in by that one point or so. You have to ask yourself is this something that "I want" or that "my child wants" cause if it's something you want, and your child doesn't like it then the whole school experience/all subjects/grades suffer. Seen that happen before. If it's something that your child wants because he/she is bored with the everyday stuff and likes a new challenge, then it will be beneficial.
The ones who go to the center have to show academically advanced abilities in both reading and math above a certain level. Otherwise, they are identified and in clustered groups. If your child is getting MORE, rather than MORE ADVANCED/CHALLENGING work, set up a conference with the teacher. The students who are AIG should not be given more work, just a higher level of work. They should have the same amount of homework (time-wise) as everyone else in the class. If your early elementary child is doing very well in class, that does not mean they are academically gifted. They could be just at the top of their game, so to speak. However, if your child has (to put it in the words of my child's kindergarten teacher) "finished the entire kindergarten curriculum and is already through the first nine weeks of first grade" at your fall conference, you might consider pushing for testing. If they are identified, the teacher has to find challenging work so your child does not get bored. (Bored kindergartener=inventive kindergarten=notes home for entirely different reason...LOL) My child has said, for three years now, the only day she learns "new stuff" is when she goes to the center. She has wonderful teachers, but she picks things up very quickly when presented with new information. Because her teachers must challenge her, she learned fractions in first grade, and is working on adding and subtracting them now. She is bored when the class starts information that is new to them but not to her. I refuse to let her move up a grade for many reasons, including that she doesn't need to start EOG testing any earlier than necessary.
