tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1346348567155318699.post6565596654673432048..comments2023-06-08T06:50:57.018-04:00Comments on Surviving the System: An honest questionA BCPSS Parenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06457102026135990514noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1346348567155318699.post-41286124513533240652010-09-01T13:15:51.122-04:002010-09-01T13:15:51.122-04:00Thanks all for your comments and information. I ho...Thanks all for your comments and information. I hope I didn't come across sounding like I think this is a bad idea. I honestly don't feel like I know enough to make that kind of judgment. I know high school is a transitional period, and since kids are supposed to be making more decisions it's necessary that parents step back some. On the other hand there are always calls for involved parents and it might have been nice if something had gone out in the summer packets explaining these things. <br /><br />It's pretty early in the school year to make much of a guess about it, but my impression is there's an involved energetic teacher and my kid, though still nervous, seems to be into it. Seems like a great opportunity to me.<br /><br />One more question - why would you choose not to take an AP test at the end of the course? Does a poor score go against you? If not it would seem like the perfect way to objectively see how you did with no downside. I've got to assume that cost shouldn't be an issue - if you can't afford to pay for it I assume there's financial aide.A BCPSS Parenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06457102026135990514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1346348567155318699.post-14571887397712114342010-09-01T12:39:53.631-04:002010-09-01T12:39:53.631-04:00I've heard of an "AP" history class ...I've heard of an "AP" history class for 9th graders at Poly. The students are not required to take the AP test, but the ones who did last year had pretty good results. The kids said it was a very rigorous course, but one that they enjoyed a lot. It also seemed to build some critical reading, writing, and study skills that they are in need of for future classes. Typically, these AP-type classes for 9th graders are optional, so now is the time to transfer out if it doesn't seem like a good fit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1346348567155318699.post-22797860672520547622010-09-01T06:24:38.296-04:002010-09-01T06:24:38.296-04:00I don't know. We just opened it up to sophomor...I don't know. We just opened it up to sophomores, mostly in an effort to increase scores. I'd be interested in reading research about the topic.epiphanyinbmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04112084772701911008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1346348567155318699.post-25546293841258837322010-08-29T16:08:22.853-04:002010-08-29T16:08:22.853-04:00Thanks for the comment and the link. After a quick...Thanks for the comment and the link. After a quick purusal it seems like these are pretty pro-AP classes. So I guess you're more a critic of using AP as a sign of school quality (I put myself in that camp - seems like only one part of a much more complex picture to me) than anti-AP classes. I don't have enough experience to be pro or anti classes at this point. I just worry that classes that are all about teaching to a test have a risk of not letting teachers or students explore tangential interests. <br /><br />The class is world history since you ask.A BCPSS Parenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06457102026135990514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1346348567155318699.post-6533454161859065362010-08-29T14:23:40.070-04:002010-08-29T14:23:40.070-04:00It depends upon the subject. There's a collec...It depends upon the subject. There's a collection of articles on AP <a href="http://www.joannejacobs.com/tag/advanced-placement/" rel="nofollow">Joanne Jacobs on Advanced Placement</a>.<br /><br />Are all 9th graders cognitively capable of college-level work?<br /><br />Disclosure: I am a critic of advanced placement as a sign of a school's quality.Liz Ditzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03455722013211350247noreply@blogger.com