MAP-R Score 240 - What's next?

[Anonymous]

My fourth grader got 240 for MAP-R. When he bumped into a Reading Specialist at his school, he mentioned the score to her (because he just finished it). She said, "What's next?" and said he should try to read challenging books because the book he is reading (Wings of Fire) would be too easy for him and he needs to be challenged. I think she was not too serious, but it made me wonder what other advanced learners are doing to get better with reading comprehension. I know many kids do mathnasium, RSM, and AoPS for math. But for reading, does anybody do anything other than just reading more fiction books that are lexile 800L-950L (even though the score corresponds to lexile 1375L-1525L)? Maybe a book club?

[Anonymous]

Let you fourth grader read the books he enjoys. Not everything has to be a challenge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let you fourth grader read the books he enjoys. Not everything has to be a challenge.

This is OP. That’s true. But He asks for a challenge saying he feels the reading class at school is easy and doesn’t feel he is learning much.

[Anonymous]

Congratulations to your son on that score -- he's clearly doing well with reading!

I have two kids who also scored in the 240s in 4th grade. Now in 7th and 9th grades, they still love Wings of Fire (as do I - it's a seriously fun series, even for adults). We did not push them to choose challenging books, but just let them explore books on topics they enjoy. They read a lot, and their constant reading has expanded their vocabularies, comprehension abilities, and overall critical thinking, even if they're reading books that aren't on the same level as their MAP-R lexiles.

A book club could be fun, though, or even just choosing a family book for you all to read and discuss together (see above re: Wings of Fire -- we've had a lot of discussions about all 17 books, as well as the differences between the novels and the graphic novels). Discussing characters, motivations, settings, world-building, etc. can be engaging and help your kid's skills grow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let you fourth grader read the books he enjoys. Not everything has to be a challenge.

This is OP. That’s true. But He asks for a challenge saying he feels the reading class at school is easy and doesn’t feel he is learning much.

Take him to the library.

[Anonymous]

Let him loose in the library!

[Anonymous]

I’m curious where in MoCo you are, OP.

240 is an excellent high score, but candidly, at my 4th grader’s school (also MC), it is “normal.” Multiple kids in my kid’s non-CES class are in the 240-245 range in both math and reading.

Keep him reading, but have him write for you as well. Benchmark is weak there.

[Anonymous]

My kids, now in middle and high school, had similar scores at that age. I prefer my kids read classic literature, which teaches them delayed gratification (no first person non-stop action there!), and understanding of complex sentence structure and vocabulary. Your kid can start with The Lord of the Rings (Hobbit first if he hasn't read it already), or Watership Down, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Prince and the Pauper, or something like the Redwall series, with lots of accents from the British Isles transcribed on paper (the audiobooks read by the late author are fun). I assume he's read the Harry Potter series, Chronicles of Narnia, etc. He can also start reading some Terry Pratchett, the later novels are better.

If your kid is into Greco-Roman myths, you'll have to tell them later on that all modern retellings are mostly wrong on multiple points, and that kids' versions walk a fine line to hide the incredibly misogynist and violent nature of that mythos, and that basically Zeus sexually assaults his way around the world. For some reason, parents tend to pay a lot more attention to inappropriate content in contemporary works than in classical works, and the earlier the work, the more passes it gets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious where in MoCo you are, OP.

240 is an excellent high score, but candidly, at my 4th grader’s school (also MC), it is “normal.” Multiple kids in my kid’s non-CES class are in the 240-245 range in both math and reading.

Keep him reading, but have him write for you as well. Benchmark is weak there.

This is OP. Same, my kid has several classmates who scored higher or much higher, so the score of 240 is pretty "normal" here. He thinks he is doing "okay" with reading because his best friends always score higher.

I noticed many kids use private tutors, but usually for math. As far as I can tell, the kids with very high scores just enjoy reading for hours a day. My kid reads 40 min a day.

He is in the ELA class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids, now in middle and high school, had similar scores at that age. I prefer my kids read classic literature, which teaches them delayed gratification (no first person non-stop action there!), and understanding of complex sentence structure and vocabulary. Your kid can start with The Lord of the Rings (Hobbit first if he hasn't read it already), or Watership Down, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Prince and the Pauper, or something like the Redwall series, with lots of accents from the British Isles transcribed on paper (the audiobooks read by the late author are fun). I assume he's read the Harry Potter series, Chronicles of Narnia, etc. He can also start reading some Terry Pratchett, the later novels are better.

If your kid is into Greco-Roman myths, you'll have to tell them later on that all modern retellings are mostly wrong on multiple points, and that kids' versions walk a fine line to hide the incredibly misogynist and violent nature of that mythos, and that basically Zeus sexually assaults his way around the world. For some reason, parents tend to pay a lot more attention to inappropriate content in contemporary works than in classical works, and the earlier the work, the more passes it gets.

This is OP. This is very helpful. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

NP. Sorry but in our child's CES 240 in 4th is by no means normal. Most kids were in their 230s (with a lot in the 220s and rarely in 250s) last time they took the test. Teacher has students scores on a hand written table and if you finish later you can see other kids' scores. This is one of the two wealthy CESes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids, now in middle and high school, had similar scores at that age. I prefer my kids read classic literature, which teaches them delayed gratification (no first person non-stop action there!), and understanding of complex sentence structure and vocabulary. Your kid can start with The Lord of the Rings (Hobbit first if he hasn't read it already), or Watership Down, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Prince and the Pauper, or something like the Redwall series, with lots of accents from the British Isles transcribed on paper (the audiobooks read by the late author are fun). I assume he's read the Harry Potter series, Chronicles of Narnia, etc. He can also start reading some Terry Pratchett, the later novels are better.

If your kid is into Greco-Roman myths, you'll have to tell them later on that all modern retellings are mostly wrong on multiple points, and that kids' versions walk a fine line to hide the incredibly misogynist and violent nature of that mythos, and that basically Zeus sexually assaults his way around the world. For some reason, parents tend to pay a lot more attention to inappropriate content in contemporary works than in classical works, and the earlier the work, the more passes it gets.

Do you think watership down is appropriate for a 7-8yo? I think the themes in there are a bit too "mature" for that age?

Also where the red Fern grows is at that reading level, but the topics is just too mature for that age, I think?

[Anonymous]

Check the newberry lists, the NYPl best children’s lists, and look at curated book stores like word of wonder in NY for suggestions and then just put those books on hold at Public library or order them. Also search this website for suggestions—there have been some great threads on books recommended for middle grade boys.
If he’s only reading 40 minutes a day, he isn’t a natural book work so focus on finding stuff he’ll love reading rather than shoving Jules Verne at him.
But I am a big fan of British kids lit and classic kids lit.

[Anonymous]

I'm guessing the reference to "what's next" was a question about how your DC could bring their score up, rather than a comment on the kinds of books they're reading. 240 in 4th grade isn't all that special.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids, now in middle and high school, had similar scores at that age. I prefer my kids read classic literature, which teaches them delayed gratification (no first person non-stop action there!), and understanding of complex sentence structure and vocabulary. Your kid can start with The Lord of the Rings (Hobbit first if he hasn't read it already), or Watership Down, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Prince and the Pauper, or something like the Redwall series, with lots of accents from the British Isles transcribed on paper (the audiobooks read by the late author are fun). I assume he's read the Harry Potter series, Chronicles of Narnia, etc. He can also start reading some Terry Pratchett, the later novels are better.

If your kid is into Greco-Roman myths, you'll have to tell them later on that all modern retellings are mostly wrong on multiple points, and that kids' versions walk a fine line to hide the incredibly misogynist and violent nature of that mythos, and that basically Zeus sexually assaults his way around the world. For some reason, parents tend to pay a lot more attention to inappropriate content in contemporary works than in classical works, and the earlier the work, the more passes it gets.

Do you think watership down is appropriate for a 7-8yo? I think the themes in there are a bit too "mature" for that age?

Also where the red Fern grows is at that reading level, but the topics is just too mature for that age, I think?

PP you replied to. It depends on the kid. Mine were reading these and others in elementary school. I have a WWII-obsessed son, and he read The Longest Day and similar things at that age. DD is the animal lover and loved Watership Down, Animal Farm, etc, and did understand, with my help, the real-world references. Of course you need to accompany them in their reading. Tom Sawyer, for ex: you need to put discrimination (both class and race) into historical context. British novels like A Tale of Two Cities: you need to explain the history, which French and English kings, what Revolution Dickens is talking about, etc... For Dickens, you can start with A Christmas Carol, because it requires fewer explanations. Oliver Twist usually appeals to kids too.

But since we're all bookworms in the house, and these are all novels I read at their age, I found it very rewarding to discuss them with my children. I did the same thing for classics in my native language, although it's bit harder to get them to read in that language.