ACT Testing for Middle School??

[allicat1214]

My son who is now a freshman in college took it in 7th grade as part of the Duke Talent Identification program like others have said. At the time, we felt it was an honor for him to be chosen to be tested.

All he got out of it was to be put on a mailing list for Duke for programs that were out of state on the east coast that he would never participate in.

When my daughter was in 7th grade, she was chosen to be tested. We decided not to participate. At the time, my son was a junior and not traditionally a good standardized test taker. While he had already taken ACT twice, his score was not where he wanted it to be for scholarships (27 and 28).

My daughter on the other hand has always tested well. We made the decision for her not to take it in 7th grade because we didn't feel the benefit to her outweighed the potential competition/frustration it would cause my son when it really counted for him.

He did achieve a 31 on the ACT at the end of his junior year and he was satisfied with that score and didn't take it again.

My daughter is currently a freshman and she took the test this year. She got a 26 without any prep.

We feel this was the best decision for our family. Every child/family/situation is different.

 

[Green Tea]

I am dismayed that a PP who identifies her/himself as a teacher of gifted education would seemingly mock the opportunity for enrichment beyond the classroom. Sure, the programs in the summer do cost money. But so do summer camps for playing in lakes or hiking in woods. Classes for ballet or remedial math cost money as well. For a teacher to discourage participation in things which foster increased knowledge and play to the curiosity of a bright child is disheartening.

 

[Bastiansmom]

Why? Your score can never go down for reporting purposes, only up. That's one of the advantages of taking it multiple times.

Like I said, I took it 5 times. When my score went DOWN I stopped. I guess I figured I had acheived my highest score and was tired of taking (and paying for) the thing!

 

[tzolkin]

I took it in middle school to qualify for the TIP program through Duke University - http://www.tip.duke.edu/index.html

I did this as well.

Lots of my kids take the SAT for the TIP program. I truly just don't get it. I really just DON'T get the rush to stick them into a 5 hour test. I see highly gifted kids who are very stressed out on a daily basis. These kids are taking Saturday language school, Kumon, music lessons, etc. (Not to mention the kids who are heavily involved in sports.)

I am also the parent of a highly gifted kiddo. My student will absolutely not take the test. Why?

I am one who truly believes that it is a status symbol for the parents, as opposed to a meaningful learning opportunity for the child. Even if my kiddo scored high enough to be invited to Duke, there is no way that I would ship her off to study there. PUHLEEZ! She is 12 years old. Her summer can be spent swimming, biking, reading, and hanging out with family and friends.

She can study at Duke when she is a freshman in college, if she so chooses.

I'll just never get it, I guess.

I understand your comments about pressure and stress, but cannot agree with the bolded part of your statement.

Perhaps in some communities there is some competition among parents, but that was not my experience. I don't even know anyone else who knew about the Duke TIP program, so it wasn't much of a status symbol for my parents.

For me, it was a wonderful opportunity that I never would have had without this program. My family was extremely poor, so it cost us almost nothing. During my childhood my family never had the means to take a vacation (educational or otherwise), so the camp was my only travel experience. It was also a great place for me to learn to meet new people and gain a little independence (which was helpful because we moved that summer just days before I started high school). The camp was also only 3 weeks, so there was still plenty of time to relax and enjoy my family that summer.

My oldest just turned 11 and if she had the opportunity to do a TIP summer program I would send her for the enriching personal and educational experience I had, not so I could brag to other parents about it.

 

[katied]

In my area, I took the SATs starting in 5th grade through 8th grade. I was able to participate in certain summer camps, etc. Some of these had little/no cost, and others had scholarships based on need. I know I took a 3 week camp that was fully funded by the scholarship. The SATs were also required for admission to my high school.

This was a long time ago, but it seems that that many parts are consistent. I didn't hurt me at all with college applications, and I certainly felt comfotable by the time I sat for the "real" tests my jr. year in high school.

 

[Colleen27]

Lots of my kids take the SAT for the TIP program. I truly just don't get it. I really just DON'T get the rush to stick them into a 5 hour test. I see highly gifted kids who are very stressed out on a daily basis. These kids are taking Saturday language school, Kumon, music lessons, etc. (Not to mention the kids who are heavily involved in sports.)

I am also the parent of a highly gifted kiddo. My student will absolutely not take the test. Why?

I am one who truly believes that it is a status symbol for the parents, as opposed to a meaningful learning opportunity for the child. Even if my kiddo scored high enough to be invited to Duke, there is no way that I would ship her off to study there. PUHLEEZ! She is 12 years old. Her summer can be spent swimming, biking, reading, and hanging out with family and friends.

She can study at Duke when she is a freshman in college, if she so chooses.

I'll just never get it, I guess.

I think a lot depends on the kid. A lot of kids who are identified as gifted these days are just bright-normal with parents who really push academics (ie Kumon, private tutors, etc), and I agree that summer should be a break from all of that when it is parent-led. But some kids really enjoy being with more like-minded kids, especially if they feel they don't really fit in well with their peers.

Speaking from my own childhood, the best times I had over the summer weren't hanging out, biking, and swimming with kids I had nothing in common with beyond living in a common neighborhood. They were the day programs at the science center and zoo, the music and arts camps, summer dual enrollment at the community college, etc. I would have LOVED to attend the program at Northwestern if it had been financially possible.

I have to admit some of the responses on this thread have been a little disheartening re: our educational system. First a counselor who doesn't know the why behind early testing and now a gifted teacher who writes off enrishment as a status symbol for parents.

 

[ceecee]

Speaking with another gifted teacher, she said the real benefit to this situation would be to get used to the testing, it's not to get into any summer camps although she did say once you get on a mailing list....
She also thought that middle school was pushing it. My DD does want to take summer school to get some of her HS classes out of the way so that she is able to take some accelerated classes later on.

 

[princessmom29]

Based upon my own experience and those of my students I think taking it in middle school is a good idea. It wasn't an option when I was in school, but I did test for the Duke talent program. I got into several local programs using those scores, and the experince was invaluble to me. I truly enjoyed the summer sicence camps I did. I would much rather have been there than riding bikes,ect. It was not about "status symbols for parents". I had to push hard to get to go to them and use my own money to pay. As far as my students, they get many of the same opportunities by testing early, plus those who have seen the format before typically test better thna those who haven't. Iknow that my own score jumped 2 points between the first tiem I tested and the end of my junior year and the second time in august before my senior year.

 

[Purseval]

I did this as well.

I understand your comments about pressure and stress, but cannot agree with the bolded part of your statement.

I can, that's all it really is.

My oldest just turned 11 and if she had the opportunity to do a TIP summer program I would send her for the enriching personal and educational experience I had, not so I could brag to other parents about it.

If Duke and those other schools really thought that identifying future Einsteins was such an important learning experience it would be free or low cost.

 

[penn19]

In my area of Texas, for sure it is a status symbol if your child is in gifted. I understand that there are really "gifted" kids, but I think they are really few and far between. Are there pretty smart kids? Sure, but that does not make them gifted. I just find it fascinating that it seems like there are more "gifted" kids nowadays then in previous generations. Are we really birthing them smarter? I don't think so.
When I was in school, the kids in GT seemed like regular kids, they didn't give the impression that they were superior to the other kids and the other kids knew they were in GT. They were just regular kids who happened to be a little smarter. Now? The kids mock the kids who aren't in GT. And if I lined up 10 parents and asked about their kids, guarantee 8 of them would tell me their kid is in GT. I am shocked when I meet a parent whose kid ISN'T in GT.

 

[Pigeon]

In my area of Texas, for sure it is a status symbol if your child is in gifted. I understand that there are really "gifted" kids, but I think they are really few and far between. Are there pretty smart kids? Sure, but that does not make them gifted. I just find it fascinating that it seems like there are more "gifted" kids nowadays then in previous generations. Are we really birthing them smarter? I don't think so.
When I was in school, the kids in GT seemed like regular kids, they didn't give the impression that they were superior to the other kids and the other kids knew they were in GT. They were just regular kids who happened to be a little smarter. Now? The kids mock the kids who aren't in GT. And if I lined up 10 parents and asked about their kids, guarantee 8 of them would tell me their kid is in GT. I am schocked when I meet a parent whose kid ISN'T in GT.

It's just how you define it. In my district, "gifted" means an IQ of 130 or higher. In other districts, I'm sure it's different.

 

[mnrose]

My son fits into the category of the highly gifted. I think if you have a child in this category, you'd understand the benefit of taking tests like Explore in elementary and ACT/SAT in middle school. These are kids who top out the routine standardized tests given to kids their own age. You know your kid is bright, obviously, but are they in need of highly specialized educational services? Standardized tests designed for all third graders or all 4th graders are not going to get at that. "Out of level" testing can do precisely that. My son did the Explore test as a second grader, and scored better than the vast majority of 8th graders taking the same test. More than anything else, this told us as parents that having him stay in a regular classroom just wasn't going to cut it. It was very valuable information to have.

Without educational services designed to motivate and challenge them, the highly gifted are at risk of becoming bored, and becoming "problem" children. They get turned off to education because it is tiresome, repetitive, and boring. No one questions the need for special education for children who test well below the norm (and gobs of money get spent on these children to make sure we maximize their potential), but the highly gifted are as far above the norm as these children are below the norm. They need special educational services just as much as the other end of the spectrum.

Fortunately, for us, there is a unique program available in a public school near us just for highly gifted children. There are children who come from many states away to enroll in the program, and this year, even a child from Hong Kong who moved to enroll there. If anyone is interested, and you live in MN or reasonably close, you can pm me.

 

[mnrose]

In my area of Texas, for sure it is a status symbol if your child is in gifted. I understand that there are really "gifted" kids, but I think they are really few and far between. Are there pretty smart kids? Sure, but that does not make them gifted. I just find it fascinating that it seems like there are more "gifted" kids nowadays then in previous generations. Are we really birthing them smarter? I don't think so.
When I was in school, the kids in GT seemed like regular kids, they didn't give the impression that they were superior to the other kids and the other kids knew they were in GT. They were just regular kids who happened to be a little smarter. Now? The kids mock the kids who aren't in GT. And if I lined up 10 parents and asked about their kids, guarantee 8 of them would tell me their kid is in GT. I am schocked when I meet a parent whose kid ISN'T in GT.

I agree that there is a serious risk of overuse of this term. When I say "gifted", I am not talking about bright children who do well in a classroom. I'm talking about the top 1% of all students. The very elite.

 

[penn19]

I agree that there is a serious risk of overuse of this term. When I say "gifted", I am not talking about bright children who do well in a classroom. I'm talking about the top 1% of all students. The very elite.

Wow. Elite. No status symbol there......

 

[Leajess99]

My son fits into the category of the highly gifted. I think if you have a child in this category, you'd understand the benefit of taking tests like Explore in elementary and ACT/SAT in middle school. These are kids who top out the routine standardized tests given to kids their own age. You know your kid is bright, obviously, but are they in need of highly specialized educational services? Standardized tests designed for all third graders or all 4th graders are not going to get at that. "Out of level" testing can do precisely that. My son did the Explore test as a second grader, and scored better than the vast majority of 8th graders taking the same test. More than anything else, this told us as parents that having him stay in a regular classroom just wasn't going to cut it. It was very valuable information to have.

Without educational services designed to motivate and challenge them, the highly gifted are at risk of becoming bored, and becoming "problem" children. They get turned off to education because it is tiresome, repetitive, and boring. No one questions the need for special education for children who test well below the norm (and gobs of money get spent on these children to make sure we maximize their potential), but the highly gifted are as far above the norm as these children are below the norm. They need special educational services just as much as the other end of the spectrum.
Fortunately, for us, there is a unique program available in a public school near us just for highly gifted children. There are children who come from many states away to enroll in the program, and this year, even a child from Hong Kong who moved to enroll there. If anyone is interested, and you live in MN or reasonably close, you can pm me.

Very well said in bolded part as I have seen it in my brother and my son. My son now is back to doing better in school and not being as bored since he is in high school but it stinks that his middle school years were so awful. I wish our district had a better and more challenging program but we take what we get and work with that.

 

[Leajess99]

In my area of Texas, for sure it is a status symbol if your child is in gifted. I understand that there are really "gifted" kids, but I think they are really few and far between. Are there pretty smart kids? Sure, but that does not make them gifted. I just find it fascinating that it seems like there are more "gifted" kids nowadays then in previous generations. Are we really birthing them smarter? I don't think so.
When I was in school, the kids in GT seemed like regular kids, they didn't give the impression that they were superior to the other kids and the other kids knew they were in GT. They were just regular kids who happened to be a little smarter. Now? The kids mock the kids who aren't in GT. And if I lined up 10 parents and asked about their kids, guarantee 8 of them would tell me their kid is in GT. I am shocked when I meet a parent whose kid ISN'T in GT.

Maybe this is just something in some areas but I have yet to see this in my child's district. With 3 kids, I have 1 in GT and she doesn't think she is better than anyone else. She is one who volunteers to help her peers who are struggling and that is not because she is "better" than them. She understands and learns differently and loves to read. She is a great kid who cares a lot about others.

 

[penn19]

Without educational services designed to motivate and challenge them, the highly gifted are at risk of becoming bored, and becoming "problem" children. They get turned off to education because it is tiresome, repetitive, and boring. No one questions the need for special education for children who test well below the norm (and gobs of money get spent on these children to make sure we maximize their potential), but the highly gifted are as far above the norm as these children are below the norm. They need special educational services just as much as the other end of the spectrum.



I get what you are saying, but I think you can apply it across the board. You can have an "average-smart" kid who is not getting any additional work or attention because now the teacher is focused on the "problem child" gifted or not. Or the below average child who needs extra help and so the teacher is focused on that child and ignoring the others. And God forbid we actually separate these kids, smart with smart, average with average etc....because we dont' want their self esteem to suffer. Kids can't win either way.

 

[penn19]

Maybe this is just something in some areas but I have yet to see this in my child's district. With 3 kids, I have 1 in GT and she doesn't think she is better than anyone else. She is one who volunteers to help her peers who are struggling and that is not because she is "better" than them. She understands and learns differently and loves to read. She is a great kid who cares a lot about others.

Unfortunately (or fortunately in your case!) I think the kids get it from the parents truthfully. When you meet a person for the first time and that is one of the first topics of conversation, you know that it is VERY important to the parent and they do view it as a status symbol. For sure that carries over to the child.
I think it comes down to parenting has become a competitive sport for some. Parents do it with sports, schooling etc....If some parents would step back and really hear what they are saying, sometimes to virtual strangers, it might make them think twice. You don't know what other parents are going through. As applied to school, it could be that a parent has a child with learning disabilities, or just struggling in general and it comes across as bragging and hard to deal with. It's like if you became unemployed, but had to listen to your friend tell you that she just got a raise, bought a new car, a new house, going to Disney etc.....You have to know your audience.

 

[allison443]

I am dismayed that a PP who identifies her/himself as a teacher of gifted education would seemingly mock the opportunity for enrichment beyond the classroom. Sure, the programs in the summer do cost money. But so do summer camps for playing in lakes or hiking in woods. Classes for ballet or remedial math cost money as well. For a teacher to discourage participation in things which foster increased knowledge and play to the curiosity of a bright child is disheartening.

I agree with you!

 

[Spoodleink]

I am a guidance counselor. Unless there is a different test for middle school (I am only familiar with the ones high schoolers take), THIS IS ACCURATE. Check with your counselor. This is true for the SAT's also.
Check the website:

http://www.actstudent.org/scores/send/index.html

Requests are processed AFTER your tests have been scored and all scores for your test option—ACT (No Writing) or ACT Plus Writing—are ready.

note the word "all"

I don't know about the ACT but SAT scores are only kept your scores on file for 3 or 4 years after that you have to pay to retrive them from "storage" so if a kid took the test in 7th or 8th grade the older test scores would not be sent to the schools they apply to in HS.