ACT Testing for Middle School??

[Colleen27]

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.

I don't think that's necessarily true. There are only so many dollars to go around, and the inherent mission of a college is college-level education, not community outreach or middle/high school level enrichment.

I think there's a very real backlash against the entire idea of gifted education in our country, thanks to broad overuse of the term. But it is a vicious cycle - gifted programs are important, but only to a small number of children. Because they only serve a small number of children and aren't mandated (as special ed is), they're first on the budgetary chopping block. So to justify the program, schools are under pressure to expand the definition of gifted to increase the number of students served, which then leads to a watering down of the term and the program, or to eliminate gifted education entirely. And then you end up with our current situation - gifted education is offered mainly in wealthy districts where pushy/competitive/overinvolved parents push for their high-achievers to be included regardless of actual giftedness, while programs in lower-income areas are eliminated.

 

[maroo]

I took the SAT in 7th grade and was invited to an awards ceremony and to a few awesome camps. They were inexpensive and held at a local college.

The experience taking the tests in middle school really helped me feel like a pro when I was in High School. My HS score landed me a scholarship at a good school.

I am glad my parents allowed me to take the test!

My little brother knocked the socks off the SAT in Middle School and was invited to a ceremony in Washington, DC for the really smart kids.

 

[penn19]

I don't think that's necessarily true. There are only so many dollars to go around, and the inherent mission of a college is college-level education, not community outreach or middle/high school level enrichment.

I think there's a very real backlash against the entire idea of gifted education in our country, thanks to broad overuse of the term. But it is a vicious cycle - gifted programs are important, but only to a small number of children. Because they only serve a small number of children and aren't mandated (as special ed is), they're first on the budgetary chopping block. So to justify the program, schools are under pressure to expand the definition of gifted to increase the number of students served, which then leads to a watering down of the term and the program, or to eliminate gifted education entirely. And then you end up with our current situation - gifted education is offered mainly in wealthy districts where pushy/competitive/overinvolved parents push for their high-achievers to be included regardless of actual giftedness, while programs in lower-income areas are eliminated.

So, so true.

 

[crisi]

My son got invited to a bunch of those programs: Duke, Stanford, MIT. To us they were nothing more than ways for the school to make money like they would off of any other summer camp. I'd love to see data on how many kids who attend those camps actually end up getting accepted at the schools.

He's now in the middle of his junior year at Georgia Tech. He only took the ACT once because it's not something used very much in our part of the country but he took the SATs several times, starting in his sophmore year of high school.

My husband calls this being "gulligble" - gullible and eligible.

These programs need to fill. While not all kids qualify, and they can be worthwhile to send your kids to - they do rely on the "your child is special" marketing to fill their programs. And not all kids who attend these programs do get admitted to the schools, but they do get the exposure to a college campus and can perhaps make better informed decisions.

 

[semo233]

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.

Yes, you are correct and I appologized in an earlier post. My original post was referring to high school scores and admitted not knowing about middle school SAT tests. I have never had a middle student take them through the school. I guess it's never too late to learn! I have been in elementary and a 5/6 school for several years now and need to catch up on these things!

 

[lastminutemom]

For the right kids, these programs are fabulous. It doesn't have nearly as much to do with trying to get a step up in terms of admissions, but rather an opportunity to explore a passion or learn something new.

I thought they were pricey (and we send our children to sleepaway camp, so I thought I knew pricey) and my kids wouldn't be interested in spending any of their summer in that situation -- so we never enrolled them. That said, I know several kids who have attended these programs and they loved them. Some even received scholarships.

 

[Aristomommy]

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.

Our school system requires an IQ test and achievement test for GT. While you can study for achievement tests, IQ is hard to study for, especially a non-group type of test. DD took Explore without any prepping because we wanted to see exactly what she knew on her own. It was a great way for her teacher to recommend subject acceleration. We must be incredibly lucky that GT in our schools is low key, no status symbol involved and these kids can learn at their own rate.

 

[penn19]

In this school district you can test multiple times and you can make it the first time, or maybe not until the 4th time. So that seems odd that you weren't gifted the first 3 times you tested, but on the 4th you were? In this area, they let certain amount of kids in within any given year. I would think either you are gifted or you are not.

 

[momxx5]

How about having a child, now a sophmore, who is truly in the top 1%? Who can you talk to about him......not many. I would not want to come across as braggy, etc. However there are times when you just want to talk about how he is doing in class, how's the homework, etc. Thankfully I have a few friends who totally understand.

I have 5 kids. The oldest is the one truly above gifted. My other 4 have all been identified as gift by the school system, thus put into the acclerated classrooms. But I know the difference from DS#1 and the others. He is pretty remarkable. He is a good natured, musical, mathimatical, happy-go-lucky kid. He plays in a band with gigs, plays soccer & basketball, was drum major of marching band.....all regular kid things. One thing we never had to worry about was getting in trouble if bored....just wasn't in his nature. He was probably contemplating gravity in his head. LOL!

Sorry, but that's just the way it is.

 

[Aristomommy]

In this school district you can test multiple times and you can make it the first time, or maybe not until the 4th time. So that seems odd that you weren't gifted the first 3 times you tested, but on the 4th you were? In this area, they let certain amount of kids in within any given year. I would think either you are gifted or you are not.

Not all children are good test takers, so achievement test scores can vary. When a school administers a group test, it should not be considered an IQ test, it is a screen. To test IQ, it should be a one-on-one test with a professional. In my state, the schools get funding based on number of gifted identified students, so it benefits them to identify every year. DD has taken our schools achievement test every other year, and her scores have varied based on her general effort, illness, motivation etc. by about 10 points. Her IQ tests (2) were within a point of each other. One test isn't always a full picture of a child's abilities, but in DDs case the psychologist was confident that her effort was reflective of her true abilities as she observed them

Our school recognizes children with high IQ, but do not necessarily advance them if their motivation isn't there. Likewise, academically motivated and talented students can work ahead in middle and high school regardless of IQ scores. DD went from a daydreaming quiet student to a motivated learner by the right placement thanks to this kind of testing.

 

[Aristomommy]

How about having a child, now a sophmore, who is truly in the top 1%? Who can you talk to about him......not many. I would not want to come across as braggy, etc. However there are times when you just want to talk about how he is doing in class, how's the homework, etc. Thankfully I have a few friends who totally understand.

I have 5 kids. The oldest is the one truly above gifted. My other 4 have all been identified as gift by the school system, thus put into the acclerated classrooms. But I know the difference from DS#1 and the others. He is pretty remarkable. He is a good natured, musical, mathimatical, happy-go-lucky kid. He plays in a band with gigs, plays soccer & basketball, was drum major of marching band.....all regular kid things. One thing we never had to worry about was getting in trouble if bored....just wasn't in his nature. He was probably contemplating gravity in his head. LOL!

Sorry, but that's just the way it is.

Did you consider (or know about) the Davidson Young Scholars program for your child? Their website also has a wonderful message board open to all that is supportive and helpful.

http://giftedissues.davidsongifted.org//BB/

Your son sounds like a great kid!

 

[GoofyGolferGirl]

My DD scored Distinguished on all areas of her test given in 6th grade but was not invited to take to ACT for Duke testing. A local doctor had said her child had not been asked to take it, she called the counselor and there had been a mistake made and her son was suppose to be on the list. I called about DD and was told that Duke sent the names of the students. I think something fishy is going on. Ha Anyway I don't care if DD is invited to Duke I would not let her (13) be on a college campus by herself anyway. I do want her to take the ACT and I will pay for it no problem, I want her to have the experience and to see where the improvement is needed. With that said does anyone know how the students are picked to take the test? Also she loves to write and I would like to find her a writing workshop that is geared toward teenagers (13) don't care what state it is in if it is a good workshop.