Filling in Gaps With Middle School and High School Math

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The amount of instruction that students received in middle school and high school math during COVID was significantly reduced. The Wednesdays with no instruction really took a toll and the curriculum did not cover all the content a math course normally covered.

What is MCPS doing to fill in the gaps for content that wasn’t covered? How are the gaps being filled in?

We were told at back to school night that the students who took Algebra last year will be required to take the exam next month. So much of the curriculum wasn’t covered and they haven’t been in an algebra class since June. When I pointed out the difficulty of the situation I was told that it does seem unfair, but they will have another chance to take it if they fail. I asked if there could be extra tutoring for the students before the exam and was told that isn’t possible. They did say they are trying to get some tutoring started after school to backfill some of the math gaps, but aren’t sure how they will identify which kids need it because they don’t have staff to offer it to everyone, and it would be after school and not during school. Plus, that wouldn’t start until a few more months.

According to this info from the mcps website[/url], it looks like kids who took algebra last year have to take the fall MCAP, but don’t have to pass it. https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/curriculum/mcap/MCAP_EarlyFall_Overview_1_Pgr_v.7%20(1)_Final.pdf

The link didn't work for me, but here's the info:
COVID-19 WAIVER
High school students who were enrolled in an ELA/L 10, Algebra I or High School Science course last year
and take the shorter Early Fall assessment will not be required to pass the assessment to meet Maryland’s
graduation requirements. Additionally, during the 2021-2022 school year, students enrolled in an ELA/L 10,
Algebra I, Biology or Life Science, or Government course will be required to take, yet not required to pass, the
current assessments for graduation. Students must pass the respective course.

Passing a course during COVID was turning in assignments for completion and at home tests with unlimited time so students looked up the answers while taking tests.

Yep. This.

My kid took Virtual Algebra last year and they skipped over a good deal of material. 30% is the estimate? Almost all the kids were passed into Geometry.

Their Geometry teacher this year was clear that he will NOT be teaching the kids Algebra. He said that he’s a Geometry teacher. But that if the kids need support, they can go for extra help.

So, basically, any kid who missed out on certain Algebra topics will need to find their own initiative to fill in the gaps.

We found an online Algebra course, thankfully. But I do agree that the tests are made to be pretty basic. However, if your kid wants to continue in any way that requires higher level Math classes, he/she will likely require a solid foundation in Algebra.