MSer with Decreasing MAP R Score?

[Anonymous]

My 7th grader has had a progressive decrease in his MAP R score. Not huge, but a few points down last spring and then again now in the fall.

How do I get more information about this to figure out what is going on? Do I start with the English teacher? Or a counselor?

First kid in a MCPS MS, so any advice is appreciated.

[Anonymous]

What percentile are we talking? If at the upper end, it is hard to improve and sometimes goes down. I would not worry. Also, if it is a one-time decrease I wouldn’t worry. If it’s still like that on winter MAP-R and it is not a top oercentile, I wouldn’t worry speak with the English teacher

[Anonymous]

Thank you! I forget the exact percentage but it was in the low 90% and went down to high 80s. Assuming that is decent but still weird to see a drop. And I want him to see himself ‘improve’ if that makes sense?

[Anonymous]

Kids can have on and off days, and they are still well above grade level — I would see how it goes in the winter. This is also something you could bring up at parent-teacher conferences.

[Anonymous]

There is a significant correlation between decrease in map r score and increase in phone usage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a significant correlation between decrease in map r score and increase in phone usage.

There is also a noticeable difference in how middle schoolers approach this test. They have been taking MAP for years and they realize that nothing "happens" with their scores. It is not graded. Most of them are already on a specific course track, so it doesn't impact their class choices. Not all middle school students try as hard as they did in elementary school. We've been over testing our students for years and they hit a point, often in middle school, when they realize they are not hugely impacted by MAP anymore.

[Anonymous]

Which is why there should only be a Fall or Winter and a Spring. The Spring shouldn’t be given any year students take the corresponding MCAP. MCAP should be 3,5,8,
Alg
Bio
Chem
Gov
English 10

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids can have on and off days, and they are still well above grade level — I would see how it goes in the winter. This is also something you could bring up at parent-teacher conferences.

Our MS only does parent-teacher conferences once a year and they are pretty short. Might make sense to actually schedule a meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a significant correlation between decrease in map r score and increase in phone usage.

Ugh. That’s kind of sad, right?

MS is when most kids get a phone. I wonder what the specific issue is. Maybe the kids read less because they are on their phones more now in MS.

[Anonymous]

My kids scores fluctuated between 99 to 78. Sometimes it’s a different test, other times it was an off day for them. In the big scheme of things, I wouldn’t worry too much. Encourage reading, take him to the library, I’ve even read out loud to my kids at that age, and if the book is good, they get hooked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! I forget the exact percentage but it was in the low 90% and went down to high 80s. Assuming that is decent but still weird to see a drop. And I want him to see himself ‘improve’ if that makes sense?

Is the percentile dropping or the RIT score?
If the RIT is going up, but the percentile is dropping, kid is making progress, but not at the same rate as peers, if RIT is dropping and it’s consistent, it may be effort or something else. Remember, the RIT score lets you compare your kid to themself, the percentile shows where this score falls in comparison to other students (nationally).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a significant correlation between decrease in map r score and increase in phone usage.

Ugh. That’s kind of sad, right?

MS is when most kids get a phone. I wonder what the specific issue is. Maybe the kids read less because they are on their phones more now in MS.

Or you know parents could hold off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! I forget the exact percentage but it was in the low 90% and went down to high 80s. Assuming that is decent but still weird to see a drop. And I want him to see himself ‘improve’ if that makes sense?

This is well within the range of random variation. It's only a 460
question test. Don't show him his scores if he doesn't look himself.
If you want him to see himself, do Khan Academy English / Vocabulary / Grammar. They have fantastic lessons, passages, questions, and discussions of answers.

[Anonymous]

Kids read less once they get a phone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! I forget the exact percentage but it was in the low 90% and went down to high 80s. Assuming that is decent but still weird to see a drop. And I want him to see himself ‘improve’ if that makes sense?

This is well within the range of random variation. It's only a 460
question test. Don't show him his scores if he doesn't look himself.
If you want him to see himself, do Khan Academy English / Vocabulary / Grammar. They have fantastic lessons, passages, questions, and discussions of answers.

OP here - thanks for this suggestion. We might try it. His English class was not great last year so maybe Khan Academy would be a good idea.