DS is in the only third grade class that doesn't transition - is this the slow class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. At our school they start transitioning from their homeroom for reading,math in addition to specials. So, excluding specials, kids might have three teachers throughout the day (homeroom, morning/math and afternoon/reading, for example).

This is considered a big change so they prep the kids and to some extent the parents at the end of second grade. I am concerned because DS is in the only class that doesn't transition and not with other kids whom I know to be "accelerated" or whatever in math, which he is very good in. If they think he isn't ready for transitioning thats one thing, but they should have communicated that to me. Also, obviously, I don't want him to be bored/falling behind his peers academically.

And yes, normally I would go to the teacher first, but she is new to the school and given the issues we had last year that required principal involvement, he knows DS and the backstory. Also, I want him to be accountable on some level, b/c at this point the school is hurting my child, not helping him.

What did the results of his Inview testing say? The letter indicates if the child will be recommended for accelerated and enriched math.

[Anonymous]

I thought with 2.0 that none of the cases were "transitioning", in other words, homecoming teacher is expected to teache all levels of math and reading.

[Anonymous]

You were snapping pictures of bullying?

I don't understand . . .

Anonymous wrote:There haven't been behavioral problems per se, but last year DS' teacher bullied him in a pretty significant way - I had photographic evidence that I took to the Principal, who I thought handled it well at the time, but now has totally dropped the ball/I feel is he dicking around. I can't go in to more detail as I don't want to out myself/my kids.

I do know a lot of the kids and where they were placed, which is what makes me think he is in a "lower" class, in my view unnecessary and to his detriment.

I appreciate the advice - I have no idea how to navigate this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought with 2.0 that none of the cases were "transitioning", in other words, homecoming [b]teacher is expected to teache all levels of math and reading.

What's a homecoming teacher? In all my years in the system, I've never heard of this term connected to academics. Does this teacher have brains AND beauty?

[Anonymous]

This doesn't sound like a Montgomery Cty school, since school just started today and kids generally don't start moving on the first day. I also heard that transitions would not occur for science and social studies under 2.0. While transitioning may occur for math in later grades, I haven't heard anything yet (for 5th). Where is this school? Anyway , I would certainly start with the teacher. Since the school year just started and the teacher is new, u can get off to a fresh start.

[Anonymous]

OP, my daughter was placed in the inclusion math class in first grade after being in an advanced class in kindergarten. When I saw that she wasn't being challenged, I asked the teacher about her placement and it turned out it was based on 1 assessment for which she answered every question with the correct number but did not draw the pictures. I asked my daughter about it and she asked why she should waste time drawing the pictures when she already knew the answer?

I tried talking to the teacher but the teacher was adamant that she should not have advanced instruction because if she wouldn't draw the pictures she wouldn't pass some standardized test. I tried to reason with her to no avail, but I didn't go to the principal and truly regret that decision. My daughter was bored all year and spent so much time trying to master the pictures that what was once automatic became confusing to her. She finally got back into advanced math in 3rd grade after several tests showed she was well above average (the school placed her, I didn't request it), but she missed an entire year of instruction (3rd grade math) and her calculating speed is still much slower than it was in kindergarten. All this to say, teachers aren't always right about your child's abilities. Do listen to them with an open mind, but if you think there is something wrong, trust your instinct and be persistent in ensuring your child is appropriately placed.

[Anonymous]

My DC fell 20% on a standardized test 80% (beginning of year) to 60% in ( end of year) third grade. She was placed in the slow group. I have spent money on tutoring to get her back up to where she needs to be.

Sometimes I feel that a teacher for some reason doesn't like a child. My DC also had a reading problem according to the teacher though she scored in the top %'s on the standardized tests in both the beginning and end of year.

When a teacher doesn't like your kid, your child can get screwed. Teacher didn't level with me either. Told me that my child was doing the same work as in the other classes.
Find someone who will level with you. Sorry it really stinks to be in that position.

[Anonymous]

In my message above, I was discussing math in the first paragraph.

[Anonymous]

Advanced class in kindergarten? In MCPS?