Math—when to worry?

[Anonymous]

6th grade DD at a school that’s an upper elementary, middle school starting next year. She’s never been particularly good at math, and while WE have always been concerned, teachers never seem to be. It’s almost as though she somehow falls through the cracks because she’s not advanced, but also not failing. But to us, she seems slightly below average, which I guess to teachers is fine, as long as you aren’t failing?

At her last conference we voiced concern because it’s clear when she does homework she struggles. The teacher wasn’t the least bit concerned and even seemed surprised we were even inquiring about getting her extra help. It has been the same thing every year, since about 4th grade when we started noticing.

So what’s the deal? Should we stop worrying until we hear from the teacher that we SHOULD be worrying?

[Anonymous]

What percentile is she in for math on standardized tests? What metric are you using for deciding she is below average in math?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t “worry,” I would just make her practice math more to be on grade level. I have a kid like this and I use the IXL website to do extra problems to reinforce what’s she’s learning at school since she rarely gets homework. I also have her work in the summer on her math facts and times tables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What percentile is she in for math on standardized tests? What metric are you using for deciding she is below average in math?

Standardized testing. She always toes the line of being on grade level. Teachers always just suspect she’s rushing and/or not taking testing seriously and that she’s not alone in that.

The problem is our school system doesn’t do “grades” until middle school. All we get throughout the year are updates as to if she is “on target”, “not on target”, or “target met”. She’s always “on target”.

[Anonymous]

Have you been lulled into complacency by teachers all this while? It's fine for them that kids are below average. They don't care, it's not their kid. If you want your child to be above average, the teacher is not the expert you need to consult.

Your daughter needs re-teaching, either with you, and the helps of Khan Academy or other products, or with a good tutor. She needs it because math classes build on each other through the years, and at some point she won't be able to to keep her head above water.

Also, and not to scare you, but college admissions are getting crazier and crazier. Some kids with really strong GPAs, lots of advanced classes (APs, not just Honors) and strong SAT/ACT scores are rejected from their flagship state universities. So unless you have the money to pay for a no-name private college, it's in your best financial interest to help your child now. I mean it: I've got a senior in high school and I'm seeing where kids land with what sort of academic profiles. It's getting to be where it's not even a discussion of academics and love of learning or something like that. It's a question of where your child can go to college and much will you pay, if she continues to struggle in math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you been lulled into complacency by teachers all this while? It's fine for them that kids are below average. They don't care, it's not their kid. If you want your child to be above average, the teacher is not the expert you need to consult.

Your daughter needs re-teaching, either with you, and the helps of Khan Academy or other products, or with a good tutor. She needs it because math classes build on each other through the years, and at some point she won't be able to to keep her head above water.

Also, and not to scare you, but college admissions are getting crazier and crazier. Some kids with really strong GPAs, lots of advanced classes (APs, not just Honors) and strong SAT/ACT scores are rejected from their flagship state universities. So unless you have the money to pay for a no-name private college, it's in your best financial interest to help your child now. I mean it: I've got a senior in high school and I'm seeing where kids land with what sort of academic profiles. It's getting to be where it's not even a discussion of academics and love of learning or something like that. It's a question of where your child can go to college and much will you pay, if she continues to struggle in math.

Tiger Mom has entered the chat!

[Anonymous]

I would send her to Mathnasium over the summer. My daughter (who sounds similar) found it really helpful and didn't complain (too much).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What percentile is she in for math on standardized tests? What metric are you using for deciding she is below average in math?

Standardized testing. She always toes the line of being on grade level. Teachers always just suspect she’s rushing and/or not taking testing seriously and that she’s not alone in that.

The problem is our school system doesn’t do “grades” until middle school. All we get throughout the year are updates as to if she is “on target”, “not on target”, or “target met”. She’s always “on target”.

Grade level is where a student is expected to be. If you want her more advanced than that, then you can do something outside of school, but no school is going to start interventions based on kid being on grade level

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What percentile is she in for math on standardized tests? What metric are you using for deciding she is below average in math?

Standardized testing. She always toes the line of being on grade level. Teachers always just suspect she’s rushing and/or not taking testing seriously and that she’s not alone in that.

The problem is our school system doesn’t do “grades” until middle school. All we get throughout the year are updates as to if she is “on target”, “not on target”, or “target met”. She’s always “on target”.

Grade level is where a student is expected to be. If you want her more advanced than that, then you can do something outside of school, but no school is going to start interventions based on kid being on grade level

This is the feeling I get from the school. She’s within the parameters so it’s fine. We’ve always gotten her tutors and done any after school programs that are offered. She does come home occasionally and say she’s finally grasped X concept, but it doesn’t come easy for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would send her to Mathnasium over the summer. My daughter (who sounds similar) found it really helpful and didn't complain (too much).

I will definitely check it out!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you been lulled into complacency by teachers all this while? It's fine for them that kids are below average. They don't care, it's not their kid. If you want your child to be above average, the teacher is not the expert you need to consult.

Your daughter needs re-teaching, either with you, and the helps of Khan Academy or other products, or with a good tutor. She needs it because math classes build on each other through the years, and at some point she won't be able to to keep her head above water.

Also, and not to scare you, but college admissions are getting crazier and crazier. Some kids with really strong GPAs, lots of advanced classes (APs, not just Honors) and strong SAT/ACT scores are rejected from their flagship state universities. So unless you have the money to pay for a no-name private college, it's in your best financial interest to help your child now. I mean it: I've got a senior in high school and I'm seeing where kids land with what sort of academic profiles. It's getting to be where it's not even a discussion of academics and love of learning or something like that. It's a question of where your child can go to college and much will you pay, if she continues to struggle in math.

Tiger Mom has entered the chat!

You're free to call me that, I don't care. But I don't want parents to think everything is chill and then be disappointed that their kid didn't get into their alma mater. Or worse, to spend years telling their kids they can get in without knowing the landscape and set them up for crushing rejection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you been lulled into complacency by teachers all this while? It's fine for them that kids are below average. They don't care, it's not their kid. If you want your child to be above average, the teacher is not the expert you need to consult.

Your daughter needs re-teaching, either with you, and the helps of Khan Academy or other products, or with a good tutor. She needs it because math classes build on each other through the years, and at some point she won't be able to to keep her head above water.

Also, and not to scare you, but college admissions are getting crazier and crazier. Some kids with really strong GPAs, lots of advanced classes (APs, not just Honors) and strong SAT/ACT scores are rejected from their flagship state universities. So unless you have the money to pay for a no-name private college, it's in your best financial interest to help your child now. I mean it: I've got a senior in high school and I'm seeing where kids land with what sort of academic profiles. It's getting to be where it's not even a discussion of academics and love of learning or something like that. It's a question of where your child can go to college and much will you pay, if she continues to struggle in math.

That’s a lot to think about. We do tutoring, but I like the idea of a supplemental summer program. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I would also get her a singapore mathbook and have her go on khan academy.

Math is something that requires practice, and it's a building block. So if your DD is weak in math now, it will hurt in the upper math levels.

[Anonymous]

Are you worried because she is average? Or because the test scores don't reflect her struggles? If it's the latter, I would take the summer to give her math homework/enrichment that's still "grade level" so the struggles lessen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you been lulled into complacency by teachers all this while? It's fine for them that kids are below average. They don't care, it's not their kid. If you want your child to be above average, the teacher is not the expert you need to consult.

Your daughter needs re-teaching, either with you, and the helps of Khan Academy or other products, or with a good tutor. She needs it because math classes build on each other through the years, and at some point she won't be able to to keep her head above water.

Also, and not to scare you, but college admissions are getting crazier and crazier. Some kids with really strong GPAs, lots of advanced classes (APs, not just Honors) and strong SAT/ACT scores are rejected from their flagship state universities. So unless you have the money to pay for a no-name private college, it's in your best financial interest to help your child now. I mean it: I've got a senior in high school and I'm seeing where kids land with what sort of academic profiles. It's getting to be where it's not even a discussion of academics and love of learning or something like that. It's a question of where your child can go to college and much will you pay, if she continues to struggle in math.

Tiger Mom has entered the chat!

DP here. She is definitely correct that public school teachers are not remotely concerned with kids who are struggling/behind but only a little. Too many kids are truly behind and/or need sped evaluations.