2 in math

[Anonymous]

DD is in 3rd grade. We just got her report card and she received a 2 in math. How concerning is this? We're planning to reach out to her teacher, but I'd love to hear from people who have had similar experiences. Did you get your child extra support? What kind, and did it help? The issue seems to be algebraic thinking. TIA!

[Anonymous]

It is concerning and you should reach out to the teacher. You should come up with a plan to help bring her up to grade level. Ask if there are tutoring options available at the school -- there usually are.

The plan should also explore options for identifying and LDs, including discalcula.

Also how is her reading? Reading challenges can start to impact math at this age because of the increased amount of word problems and needing to refer to written directions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is concerning and you should reach out to the teacher. You should come up with a plan to help bring her up to grade level. Ask if there are tutoring options available at the school -- there usually are.

The plan should also explore options for identifying and LDs, including discalcula.

Also how is her reading? Reading challenges can start to impact math at this age because of the increased amount of word problems and needing to refer to written directions.

OP here. Thanks. Her reading scores are all 3s and 4s. She reads a ton. We had her tested in K because of low test scores, and she didn't meet any LD criteria.

[Anonymous]

First step is talk to the teacher, come up with a plan. Don't rule out LDs even if she was tested before. It may be something that is hard to test, like slow processing. But just start with the teacher.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher (DCPS) if your kid got a "2" in math then it shouldn't have been a big surprise. That means she's struggling and they should have flagged that for you by now (probably more than once) such as during the parent-teacher conferences. If you are completely caught blind by this you should definitely find out what led to the 2--specific assignments, for example?

[Anonymous]

It means needs improvement but it is also first quarter where some teachers grade more rigidly at year end. Ask the teacher at conferences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher (DCPS) if your kid got a "2" in math then it shouldn't have been a big surprise. That means she's struggling and they should have flagged that for you by now (probably more than once) such as during the parent-teacher conferences. If you are completely caught blind by this you should definitely find out what led to the 2--specific assignments, for example?

Yes, I would be surprised this is the first indication something is amiss.

How did she do on her BoY iReady assessment for math? That can be a good place to start because it will break the score down by component skill sets and can help you figure out where she needs the most help.

[Anonymous]

A first quarter 2 probably means some amount below grade level.

[Anonymous]

For Q1, I would never be concerned about a 2. I will say though as a teacher, the response on this board is why I skew to give my kids 3s because too many parents get worked up about ES grades. Your teacher will tell you if there is a real reason for concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is in 3rd grade. We just got her report card and she received a 2 in math. How concerning is this? We're planning to reach out to her teacher, but I'd love to hear from people who have had similar experiences. Did you get your child extra support? What kind, and did it help? The issue seems to be algebraic thinking. TIA!

Mine kid did too although they just switched schools and had exemplary math grades at the last school. It did come as a shock because we hadn’t heard about any struggles and in-class assessments were all above 85%. I am going to send an email and also use a math intervention program. I agree with comments on here that some teachers grade rigidly quarter 1 to show growth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is concerning and you should reach out to the teacher. You should come up with a plan to help bring her up to grade level. Ask if there are tutoring options available at the school -- there usually are.

The plan should also explore options for identifying and LDs, including discalcula.

Also how is her reading? Reading challenges can start to impact math at this age because of the increased amount of word problems and needing to refer to written directions.

OP here. Thanks. Her reading scores are all 3s and 4s. She reads a ton. We had her tested in K because of low test scores, and she didn't meet any LD criteria.

The academic expectations for kindergarten are so low that not identifying learning disabilities then doesn't definitively rule them out, especially if DCPS did the testing. But if you had her tested then, it means you've had at least borderline concerns for a while and I would consider retesting. Or if math is truly your only concern, ask that they provided tier 3/rti intervention and/or consider outside math tutoring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For Q1, I would never be concerned about a 2. I will say though as a teacher, the response on this board is why I skew to give my kids 3s because too many parents get worked up about ES grades. Your teacher will tell you if there is a real reason for concern.

This is why, as a special ed lawyer, I tell my clients to put very little stock in grades. It does no one any favors to pretend that someone is on grade level when they aren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For Q1, I would never be concerned about a 2. I will say though as a teacher, the response on this board is why I skew to give my kids 3s because too many parents get worked up about ES grades. Your teacher will tell you if there is a real reason for concern.

To be fair, those report cards and the 2 ten minute conferences are often all the specific feedback we get about our kids in early elementary so we tend to read into them. No graded assignments come home and very little homework is assigned. Maybe you are giving individual feedback about all students regularly, but that has not been our experience with three kids in 2 different DCPS elementary schools.

[Anonymous]

The advice for re-evaluation and talking with the teacher are spot on. I also have found that tutoring is one of the best things a parent can do and can control. If your school offers tutoring that is great but sometimes that is 1 tutor for up to four kids at a time. If you can have a tutor one on one with your child a couple of times a week you'll get personalized help and personalized reports. The other option is trying Khan Academy or IXL at home. Both can help you understand what skills or content your child is struggling to master.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For Q1, I would never be concerned about a 2. I will say though as a teacher, the response on this board is why I skew to give my kids 3s because too many parents get worked up about ES grades. Your teacher will tell you if there is a real reason for concern.

To be fair, those report cards and the 2 ten minute conferences are often all the specific feedback we get about our kids in early elementary so we tend to read into them. No graded assignments come home and very little homework is assigned. Maybe you are giving individual feedback about all students regularly, but that has not been our experience with three kids in 2 different DCPS elementary schools.

+1. I feel like it’s impossible to know how your kid is doing. My kid gets 3s and 4s and maybe one or 2 twos a few years ago and there’s really been no difference in the feedback over the years. I really dislike the number system and think they should go to grades from 3rd and onward. At least then I’d have some sense.