Russian School of Math for average math kid?

[Anonymous]

Do people do RSM only if their kid is super good at math? Our DC is in 3rd, very bright but doesn't love the academic aspect of school and scores in the lower "at grade level" range in math. We think it might be a self-confidence issue (gets bored/doesn't try very hard/refuses help from us). Looking for ways of making them feel better about their academic skills.

[Anonymous]

If child doesn’t like academic aspect of school and doesn’t try, I don’t know if RSM is the right fit. The don’t really encourage and coddle. It’s pretty dry. There are three different levels though. Remedial, grade level, and above grade level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If child doesn’t like academic aspect of school and doesn’t try, I don’t know if RSM is the right fit. The don’t really encourage and coddle. It’s pretty dry. There are three different levels though. Remedial, grade level, and above grade level.

I don't think those are the levels. RSM doesn't cover the same content as what they teach in public schools so the lower level for a third grader is introducing new concepts like variables, negative numbers and order of operations. None of those are remedial concepts for a third grader.

Once a kid has done the lowest RSM level for third grade, they generally move up to the middle level. I think the lowest level is probably better defined as "intro to concepts not yet taught in public school." The upper levels are for kids who have already done other math enrichment outside of school.

The lowest level for third grade doesn't re-teach any concepts that were taught in public school. My kid who took the lowest RSM 3rd grade class last year tests at 99th percentile in math, so not remedial.

[Anonymous]

If you have access to mathnasium, that might be a good option if you want to make it more fun. It really turned around my kid’s interest and confidence in math. She went from pretty average to above grade level in a year or so. They gamify things and have awards, incl candy, which I have mixed feelings about but I am comfortable with under the circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have access to mathnasium, that might be a good option if you want to make it more fun. It really turned around my kid’s interest and confidence in math. She went from pretty average to above grade level in a year or so. They gamify things and have awards, incl candy, which I have mixed feelings about but I am comfortable with under the circumstances.

I would also add that I would probably not have put her in RSM two years ago because she wasn’t excited about math but I definitely would now if we had one close to us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If child doesn’t like academic aspect of school and doesn’t try, I don’t know if RSM is the right fit. The don’t really encourage and coddle. It’s pretty dry. There are three different levels though. Remedial, grade level, and above grade level.

I don't think those are the levels. RSM doesn't cover the same content as what they teach in public schools so the lower level for a third grader is introducing new concepts like variables, negative numbers and order of operations. None of those are remedial concepts for a third grader.

Once a kid has done the lowest RSM level for third grade, they generally move up to the middle level. I think the lowest level is probably better defined as "intro to concepts not yet taught in public school." The upper levels are for kids who have already done other math enrichment outside of school.

The lowest level for third grade doesn't re-teach any concepts that were taught in public school. My kid who took the lowest RSM 3rd grade class last year tests at 99th percentile in math, so not remedial.

That’s not what my RSM principal told me, but I only have experience with the mid and upper levels. I was told that the lower level is for kids who are middling math students who can use remediation. I think they can also be put in a lower grade (2.2 as a 3rd grader).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If child doesn’t like academic aspect of school and doesn’t try, I don’t know if RSM is the right fit. The don’t really encourage and coddle. It’s pretty dry. There are three different levels though. Remedial, grade level, and above grade level.

I don't think those are the levels. RSM doesn't cover the same content as what they teach in public schools so the lower level for a third grader is introducing new concepts like variables, negative numbers and order of operations. None of those are remedial concepts for a third grader.

Once a kid has done the lowest RSM level for third grade, they generally move up to the middle level. I think the lowest level is probably better defined as "intro to concepts not yet taught in public school." The upper levels are for kids who have already done other math enrichment outside of school.

The lowest level for third grade doesn't re-teach any concepts that were taught in public school. My kid who took the lowest RSM 3rd grade class last year tests at 99th percentile in math, so not remedial.

That’s not what my RSM principal told me, but I only have experience with the mid and upper levels. I was told that the lower level is for kids who are middling math students who can use remediation. I think they can also be put in a lower grade (2.2 as a 3rd grader).

That's just not true. Our RSM center told us that almost no third grader who is new to the program is placed in the middle or top level because they aren't familiar with variables or other topics covered at RSM. That explanation was consistent with the work my kid did last year. Nothing she did at RSM was math that had been covered in public school. She came into the program at 95th percentile and looking for more challenge and left the year at 99th+ percentile. Her beginning 4th grade MAP score was a 244, so not remedial.

Having seen the homework last year, I wouldn't send a kid to RSM for remediation. I don't think that's what's provided in any of the levels. It's all enrichment. In third grade, at least, the lowest level just introduces new concepts (e.g., distributive property, balancing and solving equations, writing equations with variables from a word problem) and notation (e.g., two variables next to each other are being multiplied even though there isn't a multiplication symbol, how parentheses work). The middle level this year really doesn't seem significantly harder than the lowest level last year. It all just seems to build.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If child doesn’t like academic aspect of school and doesn’t try, I don’t know if RSM is the right fit. The don’t really encourage and coddle. It’s pretty dry. There are three different levels though. Remedial, grade level, and above grade level.

I don't think those are the levels. RSM doesn't cover the same content as what they teach in public schools so the lower level for a third grader is introducing new concepts like variables, negative numbers and order of operations. None of those are remedial concepts for a third grader.

Once a kid has done the lowest RSM level for third grade, they generally move up to the middle level. I think the lowest level is probably better defined as "intro to concepts not yet taught in public school." The upper levels are for kids who have already done other math enrichment outside of school.

The lowest level for third grade doesn't re-teach any concepts that were taught in public school. My kid who took the lowest RSM 3rd grade class last year tests at 99th percentile in math, so not remedial.

That’s not what my RSM principal told me, but I only have experience with the mid and upper levels. I was told that the lower level is for kids who are middling math students who can use remediation. I think they can also be put in a lower grade (2.2 as a 3rd grader).

That's just not true. Our RSM center told us that almost no third grader who is new to the program is placed in the middle or top level because they aren't familiar with variables or other topics covered at RSM. That explanation was consistent with the work my kid did last year. Nothing she did at RSM was math that had been covered in public school. She came into the program at 95th percentile and looking for more challenge and left the year at 99th+ percentile. Her beginning 4th grade MAP score was a 244, so not remedial.

Having seen the homework last year, I wouldn't send a kid to RSM for remediation. I don't think that's what's provided in any of the levels. It's all enrichment. In third grade, at least, the lowest level just introduces new concepts (e.g., distributive property, balancing and solving equations, writing equations with variables from a word problem) and notation (e.g., two variables next to each other are being multiplied even though there isn't a multiplication symbol, how parentheses work). The middle level this year really doesn't seem significantly harder than the lowest level last year. It all just seems to build.

Maybe it varies by center. Mine was put into the middle level and then put in the top level the next year. He consistently scores 95-99th percentile on the state/national tests, but remember that those are based on all kids state or nationwide, not just kids in middle to upper class districts. I don’t know that he would be 95th percentile if tested against his peers and similar schools. Plenty of DCUM posters have also said their kids are working a grade level above in RSM (so a 2nd grader put in a 3rd grade RSM class), so I don’t think the top level within grade is going to be challenging for a math whiz -they will be placed a grade above or put in the competition class.

The RSM principal told me that all incoming kids are put in the middle unless they are struggling, and the goal is to get the kid up to the top level by the end of the academic year. Parents have also told me the diagnostic test doesn’t require that you necessarily get all answers correct, only that you are able to listen and quickly apply the new information on the next problem. But again, I don’t think RSM is the best resource for a kid who is average to struggling in math.

[Anonymous]

RSM is very academic. You could try your kid in it, but maybe something more fun would be better. Or a tutor who has a more fun, lighthearted approach.

[Anonymous]

As much as I love RSM, i don't think it would be great for a struggling student. What about Beast Academy online, and starting a few chapters back so your child gains confidence? It's a self-paced gamified program and it's very well done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As much as I love RSM, i don't think it would be great for a struggling student. What about Beast Academy online, and starting a few chapters back so your child gains confidence? It's a self-paced gamified program and it's very well done.

If her DD doesn’t want to be challenged and is struggling a bit, I’m not sure Beast Academy is right. Does she like hard puzzles and manipulatives, OP?

[Anonymous]

A struggling student would be placed in the lowest class. Kids are placed based on ability, mine was placed in the highest level when he started and was moved up a grade level a month later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do people do RSM only if their kid is super good at math? Our DC is in 3rd, very bright but doesn't love the academic aspect of school and scores in the lower "at grade level" range in math. We think it might be a self-confidence issue (gets bored/doesn't try very hard/refuses help from us). Looking for ways of making them feel better about their academic skills.

Or it might be that math is not her strength and she’s doing her best. She’s not failing so that’s a good thing. If she doesn’t like the academic aspect of school she would probably hate going to another school after being in her school all day.

At this age you can find workbooks and games that you can do together. Or ask her teacher for any suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A struggling student would be placed in the lowest class. Kids are placed based on ability, mine was placed in the highest level when he started and was moved up a grade level a month later.

I’m not sure that last piece of brag was necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people do RSM only if their kid is super good at math? Our DC is in 3rd, very bright but doesn't love the academic aspect of school and scores in the lower "at grade level" range in math. We think it might be a self-confidence issue (gets bored/doesn't try very hard/refuses help from us). Looking for ways of making them feel better about their academic skills.

Or it might be that math is not her strength and she’s doing her best. She’s not failing so that’s a good thing. If she doesn’t like the academic aspect of school she would probably hate going to another school after being in her school all day.

At this age you can find workbooks and games that you can do together. Or ask her teacher for any suggestions.

I think RSM is fantastic for all ages, and all abilities. In fact, it can make a kid who doesn't love math learn to like it. I think everyone can do well in math.