Math 6 vs Math 6+

[Anonymous]

My child has never been a strong math student, but made it through elementary school and was considered on grade level. He also has an IEP for ADHD, anxiety, and SLD (dyslexia).

For some reason, he was placed in Math 6+ and not the grade level math 6! He is currently failing and all of his math confidence that the elementary school worked so hard to build has evaporated. He is shutting down quickly.

I spoke to his case manager weeks ago when I started to see the problem and requested that he be moved to Math 6 and was told that it is not offered at the school. I was quite angry at why the grade level course is not offered. I then asked that he receive more support during his resource period which they promised they would. DS said he is not getting more help and his grade just keeps getting lower.

Is there someone higher up in the county who I can speak with to determine why Math 6 is not being offered at every middle school? Also, is this something that I can request a COSA for to go to a school with the class needed for my child to access the curriculum?

Is there any document that shows which schools are only offering the advanced math classes?

Signed a frustrated parent

[Anonymous]

Have you reached out to the grade level counselor and asked to have your child moved to Math6? Perhaps the schools Math Lead. I find it hard to believe the school does not offer it. And if not they should absolutely be providing support to the kids who need it. Then reach out to the principal and let them know you are not getting the support needed.

If none of those work then you can reach out to Central Office Elementary Math Supervisor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you reached out to the grade level counselor and asked to have your child moved to Math6? Perhaps the schools Math Lead. I find it hard to believe the school does not offer it. And if not they should absolutely be providing support to the kids who need it. Then reach out to the principal and let them know you are not getting the support needed.

If none of those work then you can reach out to Central Office Elementary Math Supervisor.

Ha! CO?

Secondary Math, not Elementary Math.

[Anonymous]

What school doesn’t offer math 6? That is crazy. I would definitely elevate this. Meet with math content specialist and grade-level AP and escalate to principal if needed.

[Anonymous]

Email your child’s counselor with a cc to their math teacher. If no response in 36 hours, call. If no response to your call, escalate to Assistant principal or principal.

[Anonymous]

Dear OP -- I could have written your message word for word. My son was also placed in 6+ with the same math profile as yours, and is also struggling. His math teacher has suggested he be moved to the on-level math course which I am fine with, except now he is getting the message that he is stupid and bad at math. I feel like he never should have been in this position to start with.

I hope you are able to get your son moved, it seems really surprising (like, actually unbelievable) that there is NO on-level math course offered at the middle school. I share your outrage.

[Anonymous]

If your child is failing math 6+ just 6 weeks into the year, they weren't on grade level to start.

If they were on grade level at the end of 5th, they had a big summer slide regression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child is failing math 6+ just 6 weeks into the year, they weren't on grade level to start.

If they were on grade level at the end of 5th, they had a big summer slide regression.

Ask yourself. Is this response kind? If it's not kind, is it at least helpful? If it is neither kind nor helpful, why post?

[Anonymous]

Do you have accommodations and services for extended time, scribing, 1:1 testing, retakes, etc?

What was the grading structure in 5th grade vs 6th?

This might be an "adjustment to middle school" problem much more than a "math" problem.

Math is the only class objective enough to see problems immediately in grading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child is failing math 6+ just 6 weeks into the year, they weren't on grade level to start.

If they were on grade level at the end of 5th, they had a big summer slide regression.

Ask yourself. Is this response kind? If it's not kind, is it at least helpful? If it is neither kind nor helpful, why post?

It's helpful to have clarity into what's happening and why, so you can make appropriate adjustments, yes. Ignoring problems until they explode is unhelpful.

[Anonymous]

Not OP, but what is being ignored? The OP is literally here asking advice on how to get her child placed into a class that appropriately meets his needs. She is not trying to fight FOR an accelerated placement nor is she ignoring a problem. She spoke to his case manager weeks ago about the problem, as she said -- but I hope it felt good for you to make another feel like a little bit of a failure.

[Anonymous]

OP, I would elevate this to both the school principal and the elementary math specialist in central office, including both on your email. The central office staffer is Sheila Berlinger: [e-mail]

I'm sorry you have to deal with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I would elevate this to both the school principal and the elementary math specialist in central office, including both on your email. The central office staffer is Sheila Berlinger: [e-mail]

I'm sorry you have to deal with this.

Oops sorry it should be the middle school math specialist. That should be Jennifer Loznak: [e-mail]

So email principal and Ms. Loznak and ask for your child to be moved to math 6.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child is failing math 6+ just 6 weeks into the year, they weren't on grade level to start.

If they were on grade level at the end of 5th, they had a big summer slide regression.

Ask yourself. Is this response kind? If it's not kind, is it at least helpful? If it is neither kind nor helpful, why post?

It's helpful to have clarity into what's happening and why, so you can make appropriate adjustments, yes. Ignoring problems until they explode is unhelpful.

No, it's actually super unhelpful, since OP's question was how to get her child moved to a slower-paced math class. OP did not ask for advice or hypotheses about why their child might be having difficulty in 6+ math. Ironically, it sounds like you were likely below grade level in reading comprehension, or maybe you had a big summer slide?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child is failing math 6+ just 6 weeks into the year, they weren't on grade level to start.

If they were on grade level at the end of 5th, they had a big summer slide regression.

What do you mean Op's kid was not on grade level? If Op's kid finished 5th grade Math and was placed in 6+ instead of 6, then they placed him in an accelerated curriculum. How can that mean that he is not on grade level which is Math 6