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I sent the AIG teacher some questions. I have listed them plus the response from the teacher. Does it seem that my child will really get much from these classes? See below for my questions and her answers:

1) When children are in AIG classes with you, are they actually doing core Math and core Language arts?

AIG teacher: I only see the students for 60/week in ELA and Math. I do not work on their core subject, but I do go deeper into the content to extend and enrich what they are currently learning.

2)If so, is this the work that they are graded on?
AIG teacher: Students receive a semester report from AIG.

3) If not, what do they do in your classes?
AIG: Again, this year we have worked on extension projects.

2) Do you work with the teacher to determine what work the child does in his/her class?
AIG: I work with the teachers to differentiate for the students, but not specifically what work a child does in the classroom.

It sounds like a complete waste of time.

Is it a pull out class? Extensions on the work can be valuable as long as the work itself is appropriate. If the actual work is not at an appropriate level, then a small amount of extension work won't help much.

It sounds as though your child will be expected to do the extensions as well as all of the regular class work. If it's a pull out, they aren't supposed to have to make up the work they miss (this is best practices and in some state standards, but teachers don't always know that). The work in the pull out program should be a substitute, not just an extension.

The extensions may be great, but it doesn't sound like a strong program unless the differentiation mentioned in question 4 is really strong. It doesn't give you any idea of what the differentiation is, though.

It's a pull out class. My older daughter has AIG for math. I never know what they are really doing as I don't see the work nor do they get graded on the work (as I just discovered). This is quite distressing to me. I have a HG kid moving into AIG next year, and I am realizing that it won't do much at all for her.

I think the answers are too limited to know what your child will get out of the pull-out. Some specific examples would be so much more helpful.

I don't necessarily think kids should be graded for a pull-out. Feedback on what they are doing well and what they could do to improve is another thing.

It might be that this class is the lesser of two evils, depending on the regular classroom. Or maybe it really would be appropriate.