Being the only one...lower level classes then friends / peers

[Anonymous]

8th grade DS has dysg/dyscalc and low processing speed. High school recs from teachers came out and they were bummed that they were not recommended for honors or APs (as many friends/and most peers). They have pretty much maintained an A or B in all classes, even math which is a major hardship.

Teachers were using a rubric which included the state (NC) end of year tests as a big component (they did poorly on it last year) to make these recommendations. Soon after the teachers provided the recommendations on paper (in-class) with the recommendations the guidance counselor wrote to parents stating that the metric really is an A or B to take honors (so DS would "qualify"), but the moment in class still was a public moment of feeling "less then."

We are trying to pick classes that are a challenge but not overwhelming.

Most of their friends will likely opt for AP Gov (it is the second year it's an option for freshmen). Before the AP option academic and honors were blended together with different assignments, so the opportunity would exists to be with friends. They are currently in Math 1 that is technically considered 9th grade level, but in reality is the standard for most college bound kids, we are likely going to have him repeat it. They have the option to take either Bio honors or Earth Science but teacher recommended earth science. I just feel badly that they are going to feel so different and isolated.

[Anonymous]

My son is in the same situation. It stinks. I'm sorry.

[Anonymous]

Recommended means that’s what he has to take or can he sign up for whatever he wants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recommended means that’s what he has to take or can he sign up for whatever he wants?

Just recs, we are going with some honors (but not AP). Though the science (earth, not bio), math and social studies will mean he only has a few chances to be with his "smart" (his feelings, not mine) friends.

[Anonymous]

I’m also in NC, and there is a high likelihood we have rising 9th graders at the same school based on the available classes.

I think you really have to decide where you think your kid should “opt up” if anywhere. If they opt up for honors ELA and Earth science, they will be heterogeneously grouped, and I feel fairly confident that you can just drop back to academic level if it is a problem. For Math 2, my understanding is that honors is not heterogeneously grouped so dropping back will be more of a problem. And for AP US Gov, dropping back will also be a problem. For Biology, I think you have to be taking Math 2 honors to be in it.

Are they a language immersion kid that will be in level 5 for a language as a freshman? If this question doesn’t track for you, then our kids are not going to the same school. 😀

[Anonymous]

Do most kids really take AP as a freshman?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m also in NC, and there is a high likelihood we have rising 9th graders at the same school based on the available classes.

I think you really have to decide where you think your kid should “opt up” if anywhere. If they opt up for honors ELA and Earth science, they will be heterogeneously grouped, and I feel fairly confident that you can just drop back to academic level if it is a problem. For Math 2, my understanding is that honors is not heterogeneously grouped so dropping back will be more of a problem. And for AP US Gov, dropping back will also be a problem. For Biology, I think you have to be taking Math 2 honors to be in it.

Are they a language immersion kid that will be in level 5 for a language as a freshman? If this question doesn’t track for you, then our kids are not going to the same school. 😀

Yes, definitely same school. Small world. All the other details about honors bio / math 2 track, but he is not an immersion student. Yes, we were planning on doing H in the heterogeneous classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do most kids really take AP as a freshman?

One is now offered to them (current 9th graders are the first who were allowed this option vs wanting ring for 10th) and I think many have jumped at the chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do most kids really take AP as a freshman?

One is now offered to them (current 9th graders are the first who were allowed this option vs wanting ring for 10th) and I think many have jumped at the chance.

I am the poster with the kid going to the same school, and I think “many” might be an overstatement. My kid’s friend group are all pretty strong academically, and only 2 of them are doing AP. My kid will be the third.

[Anonymous]

Ok, maybe so (in terms of the many was thinking of the current class of freshman). May I ask how did you come across the post or this board? I needed to double check that this was on SN not teen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is in the same situation. It stinks. I'm sorry.

Thanks for sharing. Is your son also a rising 9th or is he already in this position?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, maybe so (in terms of the many was thinking of the current class of freshman). May I ask how did you come across the post or this board? I needed to double check that this was on SN not teen.

I came across this board several years ago. I have another kid with more significant SN, and I think this board has been very helpful.

[Anonymous]

Am I reading this correctly, that in North Carolina they mix honors and regular classes in the same classroom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is in the same situation. It stinks. I'm sorry.

Thanks for sharing. Is your son also a rising 9th or is he already in this position?

No, he's younger, and hates not being with his friends. It is what it is. He has an IEP and needs the extra help. That can't be accomplished in the more advanced classes. I do have a high schooler who is taking all honors and the school is so big that he's not with any friends in classes either even though they have the same class and same teachers. Some classes have kids from different grades too as kids progress at different rates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I reading this correctly, that in North Carolina they mix honors and regular classes in the same classroom?

For certain classes/schools, yes, this is what they do. In this particular school, the Honors kids basically get harder assignments. So, for example, in 9th grade, you can get Env Science regular or honors in the same class. But the smartest science kids get put in
Biology so they are separated. To be in Biology, you have to have taken 9th grade math in 8th grade. And be put in 10th grade math honors, which is separated. But if you are in 9th grade math, then regular and honors are the same class and you are going to get Honors Env Science or regular. ELA is the same class for regular and honors no matter what. The only AP class in 9th grade is SS. Regular SS, you have honors and regular in the same class. For this particular school, it has immersion kids for multiple languages, so the immersion kids start off in Level 5 of the language.

Other than ELA, most super smart kids are going to be separated. This is why my kid wants to do the AP US Gov class even though she only got recommended for honors. She knows it will be tough for her, but she also believes she will be much happier in a class where the kids care about school. Since she will be in Honors 10th grade math and Bio, she will only deal with the heterogeneous groupings for ELA, PE/Health and her electives — which for her are all in the arts and those kids tend to actually care about the arts even if they aren’t super academic.

Truthfully, AP US Gov may be sort of a disaster for her — although I don’t think she would actually fail. She will be totally shocked to go from all As to a C. But, I’m not going to stop her from trying. She is smart. She just has inattentive ADHD and the reading and writing will take her forever.