Level IV clustering

[Anonymous]

Our school clusters Level IV students. I’m looking for feedback on this method-the good and the bad. If DC gets into AAP, we need to weigh whether to move to Center or stick with this system.

[Anonymous]

It's a new system, there's not a lot of experience yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a new system, there's not a lot of experience yet.

This.

Our school uses the clustering model but we are a small school and have a language immersion program so it is pretty much the only way to make LLIV work. DS is not in the grade that kicked it off so we don’t have first hand experience with it. My friends who do seem to be underwhelmed. But their kids are in 3rd grade. Our school also separates the kids into Advanced Math and Regular Math classes in 5th grade, when the jump in grade level happens. This effectively creates a LLIV type class. There is a large crossover between the LIII and Advanced Math kids, at least that is what my child tells me, so that the kids who were Committee Selected for LIV are all in the Advanced Math group and most of the LIII kids are in the Advanced Math group.

I would ask what your school does for Advanced Math. If it is to separate the kids in fifth grade then they are effectively creating a LLIV class anyway. Most of the families at our school choose the base because of the language program. I know a few kids left the language program for the center, one was already bilingual and the other I don’t know about but most stay because they value the langue immersion.

[Anonymous]

We've in LLIV; I wouldn't have picked it if the school didn't intend to use a "whole class" model for doing it. The kids are mixed in home room which includes lunch/SS and Science (supposedly "level 4" is being done for all kids in the grade for ss & science)/specials but level 4 has a whole class working at that level for LA and Math.

If they are simply pledging to great small groups within a mixed classroom for LA and Math, i'd head to the center since it's hard to see how that will be much of an improvement over how advanced kids are handled in K-2.

[Anonymous]

Fwiw, our center school is changing their program so that all kids get "LL IV" S/SS. I have an older DC who was in AAP at the same school and younger DC is not getting the same S/SS. They've modified it so that it will work for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fwiw, our center school is changing their program so that all kids get "LL IV" S/SS. I have an older DC who was in AAP at the same school and younger DC is not getting the same S/SS. They've modified it so that it will work for everyone.

I would be leery of how this will be applied. My child is at a Center and the other classes are theoretically receiving LL IV curriculum too. That's in name only IMO. For example, my child did 12 weeks of Caesar's English in 4th; gen ed classrooms did 2 weeks that merely introduced the concept. On paper, they all had the same experience. My guess is that the gen ed classrooms don't have the time to add these types of learning to their lesson plans because of the potential increased time for basic instruction. There's no way a gen ed class could keep up with the pace of math.

OP, my recommendation would be the Center school. I can't see how clustering will be able to offer anywhere near the effort of a full-time, immersive program with the diverse abilities in a mixed classroom.

[Anonymous]

Our school is doing it and so far it's been fantastic! They switch classes for advanced math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a new system, there's not a lot of experience yet.

This.

Our school uses the clustering model but we are a small school and have a language immersion program so it is pretty much the only way to make LLIV work. DS is not in the grade that kicked it off so we don’t have first hand experience with it. My friends who do seem to be underwhelmed. But their kids are in 3rd grade. Our school also separates the kids into Advanced Math and Regular Math classes in 5th grade, when the jump in grade level happens. This effectively creates a LLIV type class. There is a large crossover between the LIII and Advanced Math kids, at least that is what my child tells me, so that the kids who were Committee Selected for LIV are all in the Advanced Math group and most of the LIII kids are in the Advanced Math group.

I would ask what your school does for Advanced Math. If it is to separate the kids in fifth grade then they are effectively creating a LLIV class anyway. Most of the families at our school choose the base because of the language program. I know a few kids left the language program for the center, one was already bilingual and the other I don’t know about but most stay because they value the langue immersion.

What school?

[Anonymous]

Our base school did it. Next door neighbor stayed (for ease of 1 drop off with younger children), we sent our kid to the center. Neighbor is sending her kid to the center next year because there has been little to no differentiation. n = 1, but...

The gen ed teachers are already trying to meet the needs of 5 levels of kids. Adding a 6th level is not going to make anyone get more attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our base school did it. Next door neighbor stayed (for ease of 1 drop off with younger children), we sent our kid to the center. Neighbor is sending her kid to the center next year because there has been little to no differentiation. n = 1, but...

The gen ed teachers are already trying to meet the needs of 5 levels of kids. Adding a 6th level is not going to make anyone get more attention.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've in LLIV; I wouldn't have picked it if the school didn't intend to use a "whole class" model for doing it. The kids are mixed in home room which includes lunch/SS and Science (supposedly "level 4" is being done for all kids in the grade for ss & science)/specials but level 4 has a whole class working at that level for LA and Math.

If they are simply pledging to great small groups within a mixed classroom for LA and Math, i'd head to the center since it's hard to see how that will be much of an improvement over how advanced kids are handled in K-2.

This was our school's (LLIV) description of how the cluster model works there. Seeing as my kid is on their own for math and LA challenge in 2nd (with a buddy for LA), I don't know how they do it better starting in 3rd. And our 2nd grade class size is just enough to have an extra class with smaller classes, if we lose a few kids to the center, I can see dropping below the threshold for the extra class and pushing close to 30 kids in a class.

[Anonymous]

Ask your principal if they will separate classes for Advanced Math. If the answer is "no" and your kid is above average in math, head to the center.

[Anonymous]

Cannot wait until they dismantle the centers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cannot wait until they dismantle the centers.

LOL, not in your lifetime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cannot wait until they dismantle the centers.

LOL, not in your lifetime.

If all the schools have Local Level IV, which they’re on track to do within a couple of years, then they absolutely could dismantle them.