Failed SOL's two years running

[Anonymous]

How would you approach new teacher this year and how would you frame concern around disconnect of two years of failing reading on SOL's and yet consistently high grades on report cards.

Is this just bad test taking at its extreme or is it easy grading that isn't reflecting a larger issue that needs to be addressed outside of SOL's? What kind of assessment (if any) should I be asking for?

Teacher and parent perspectives welcome!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How would you approach new teacher this year and how would you frame concern around disconnect of two years of failing reading on SOL's and yet consistently high grades on report cards.

Is this just bad test taking at its extreme or is it easy grading that isn't reflecting a larger issue that needs to be addressed outside of SOL's? What kind of assessment (if any) should I be asking for?

Teacher and parent perspectives welcome!

Parent and former teacher. You need to get your kid a tutor. Sure talk to the school, but SOLs aren’t very hard. You should have gotten a tutor after the first failure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would you approach new teacher this year and how would you frame concern around disconnect of two years of failing reading on SOL's and yet consistently high grades on report cards.

Is this just bad test taking at its extreme or is it easy grading that isn't reflecting a larger issue that needs to be addressed outside of SOL's? What kind of assessment (if any) should I be asking for?

Teacher and parent perspectives welcome!

Parent and former teacher. You need to get your kid a tutor. Sure talk to the school, but SOLs aren’t very hard. You should have gotten a tutor after the first failure.

Translation: Yes, schools are inflating grades to hide the results of poor curriculum choices, poor teaching and to avoid being held accountable. No, your child is not in the minority as most kids would test poorly without outside tutoring and parental help. Yes, the emperor has no clothes; public schools in this area are only rated well because parents heavily supplement. No, you should not expect any meaningful help from the school staff. They are overwhelmed, ill-equipped, and textbook-less.

My advice to you is to homeschool before your child falls too far behind. Choose a classical curriculum that includes vocabulary lists, spelling, grammar, composition, and classical literature. Don't keep doing the same thing and going the same places hoping things will get better. Don't be afraid of change. Wishing you and your family all the best.

[Anonymous]

My kid is in private but did the Iowa state testing in April? I think it’s similar. She didn’t do well either but gets mostly As…….. I’m not talking to the school yet but I’m keeping an eye on it.

[Anonymous]

OP: ask for an educational evaluation. Your DC might have a learning disorder. Even if they don't, asking for this, and head over to the special needs forum if you'd like more info on that, says that you are not satisfied with your child not even reaching the floor set by the state.

[Anonymous]

How did your child perform on the PALS, DIBELS or whatever similar test your district uses?

[Anonymous]

I’d definitely ask the teacher to keep an eye on your child and note any concerns. At my school, they rarely tell us previous year SOL scores. Also, have teachers brought up attention concerns? I’ve had students who are good readers but don’t have the stamina to work independently for very short periods of time. The SOLs take sustained attention through several passages. Some students can do well on shorter assessments such as the DIBELS or individual passages but not on longer tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d definitely ask the teacher to keep an eye on your child and note any concerns. At my school, they rarely tell us previous year SOL scores. Also, have teachers brought up attention concerns? I’ve had students who are good readers but don’t have the stamina to work independently for very short periods of time. The SOLs take sustained attention through several passages. Some students can do well on shorter assessments such as the DIBELS or individual passages but not on longer tests.

This is helpful. Reading came easy to him, as did spelling but he hasn't progressed to harder/longer books as much as I would have expected. The stamina/attention through multiple passages could be similar challenge.

Teachers both years have said they are surprised as they felt he was on grade level based on their experience working with him/grading his work

[Anonymous]

What grade is this? Upper elem? Middle school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would you approach new teacher this year and how would you frame concern around disconnect of two years of failing reading on SOL's and yet consistently high grades on report cards.

Is this just bad test taking at its extreme or is it easy grading that isn't reflecting a larger issue that needs to be addressed outside of SOL's? What kind of assessment (if any) should I be asking for?

Teacher and parent perspectives welcome!

Parent and former teacher. You need to get your kid a tutor. Sure talk to the school, but SOLs aren’t very hard. You should have gotten a tutor after the first failure.

Translation: Yes, schools are inflating grades to hide the results of poor curriculum choices, poor teaching and to avoid being held accountable. No, your child is not in the minority as most kids would test poorly without outside tutoring and parental help. Yes, the emperor has no clothes; public schools in this area are only rated well because parents heavily supplement. No, you should not expect any meaningful help from the school staff. They are overwhelmed, ill-equipped, and textbook-less.

My advice to you is to homeschool before your child falls too far behind. Choose a classical curriculum that includes vocabulary lists, spelling, grammar, composition, and classical literature. Don't keep doing the same thing and going the same places hoping things will get better. Don't be afraid of change. Wishing you and your family all the best.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d definitely ask the teacher to keep an eye on your child and note any concerns. At my school, they rarely tell us previous year SOL scores. Also, have teachers brought up attention concerns? I’ve had students who are good readers but don’t have the stamina to work independently for very short periods of time. The SOLs take sustained attention through several passages. Some students can do well on shorter assessments such as the DIBELS or individual passages but not on longer tests.

This is helpful. Reading came easy to him, as did spelling but he hasn't progressed to harder/longer books as much as I would have expected. The stamina/attention through multiple passages could be similar challenge.

Teachers both years have said they are surprised as they felt he was on grade level based on their experience working with him/grading his work

Get his eyes checked I'd there's a stamina issue. Could be eye strain or eye muscle issues and better to rule it out.

Otherwise, it sounds like maybe a comprehension issue. He can decode but struggles to follow more complicated texts. What grade is he and what does he choose to read?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d definitely ask the teacher to keep an eye on your child and note any concerns. At my school, they rarely tell us previous year SOL scores. Also, have teachers brought up attention concerns? I’ve had students who are good readers but don’t have the stamina to work independently for very short periods of time. The SOLs take sustained attention through several passages. Some students can do well on shorter assessments such as the DIBELS or individual passages but not on longer tests.

The school has failed your child for two years running. Don't be passive and allow it to happen again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d definitely ask the teacher to keep an eye on your child and note any concerns. At my school, they rarely tell us previous year SOL scores. Also, have teachers brought up attention concerns? I’ve had students who are good readers but don’t have the stamina to work independently for very short periods of time. The SOLs take sustained attention through several passages. Some students can do well on shorter assessments such as the DIBELS or individual passages but not on longer tests.

The school has failed your child for two years running. Don't be passive and allow it to happen again.

Or terrible parenting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would you approach new teacher this year and how would you frame concern around disconnect of two years of failing reading on SOL's and yet consistently high grades on report cards.

Is this just bad test taking at its extreme or is it easy grading that isn't reflecting a larger issue that needs to be addressed outside of SOL's? What kind of assessment (if any) should I be asking for?

Teacher and parent perspectives welcome!

Parent and former teacher. You need to get your kid a tutor. Sure talk to the school, but SOLs aren’t very hard. You should have gotten a tutor after the first failure.

The reading SOLs have been made much harder in recent years. Yes, OP should consider a tutor but she shouldn't have the wrong idea about the SOLs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d definitely ask the teacher to keep an eye on your child and note any concerns. At my school, they rarely tell us previous year SOL scores. Also, have teachers brought up attention concerns? I’ve had students who are good readers but don’t have the stamina to work independently for very short periods of time. The SOLs take sustained attention through several passages. Some students can do well on shorter assessments such as the DIBELS or individual passages but not on longer tests.

The school has failed your child for two years running. Don't be passive and allow it to happen again.

Or terrible parenting

It's the teachers' and the schools' job to educate students. This is the failure of the schools. But parents shouldn't trust the system for the third year running and expect something to change.