Compacted math placement

[Anonymous]

MCPS doesn't give information re what the 5 problems are. The kids have to explain their answers orally to the teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind of questions was your child asked? Content questions or logic? My kid keeps getting pulled out for enrichment by the math specialist but they do logic brain bending stuff not anything that would be taught in the classroom.

My child was tested last year. He said some of the tasks were "fun" logic problems. I got the impression that explaining the answers was a big part of the test. Just getting the right answer was not enough. Sounded like if you asked for a hint then points were taken off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of questions was your child asked? Content questions or logic? My kid keeps getting pulled out for enrichment by the math specialist but they do logic brain bending stuff not anything that would be taught in the classroom.

My child was tested last year. He said some of the tasks were "fun" logic problems. I got the impression that explaining the answers was a big part of the test. Just getting the right answer was not enough. Sounded like if you asked for a hint then points were taken off.

I'm the PP you are responding to. DC said the first problem they did, they was told that everybody got it wrong but to try in anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of questions was your child asked? Content questions or logic? My kid keeps getting pulled out for enrichment by the math specialist but they do logic brain bending stuff not anything that would be taught in the classroom.

My child was tested last year. He said some of the tasks were "fun" logic problems. I got the impression that explaining the answers was a big part of the test. Just getting the right answer was not enough. Sounded like if you asked for a hint then points were taken off.

I'm the PP you are responding to. DC said the first problem they did, they was told that everybody got it wrong but to try in anyway.

And also that they are asked to do the problems in silence with the teacher (not class teacher) watching them and taking notes, so they aren't allowed to ask for help.
Does this sound like the same thing? My kid at a DTSS school

[Anonymous]

I actually give the tasks to the kids. They can be given in the classroom or in a separate classroom. They can be given by the classroom teacher or a separate person. There are 5 tasks, all of which are different and are assessing different things like computation or reasoning. Solving the problems correctly, being able to explain why their answer makes sense, and persevering through the task (not relying on the teacher) are all important.

Relax- if your child is meant to be in the class he/she will be recommended for it.

[Anonymous]

at what grade does compacted math start ? 4th ? so assessment is done at 3rd ? I know InView is done at 2nd.

[Anonymous]

Compacted math is 4th and 5th grade. They test for it in 3rd grade so that kids start at the beginning of 4th grade.

[Anonymous]

Is placement based solely on test results or can the teacher weigh in subjectively

[Anonymous]

Test results are 1 part of decision. You will get a letter in May or June that tells you your child's test score and whether they're recommended. I think they had to get a certain score on the tests, but they also had to meet three other requirements. I remember thinking at the time that the other three things were pretty subjective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Test results are 1 part of decision. You will get a letter in May or June that tells you your child's test score and whether they're recommended. I think they had to get a certain score on the tests, but they also had to meet three other requirements. I remember thinking at the time that the other three things were pretty subjective.

The whole thing is secret and subjective. Since it has a major impact on the child's educational trajectory through 12th grade I think this is unacceptable.

To the poster who said relax your child will be recommended if appropriate, I know of specific examples where this is not the case.

Maybe now that Starr is no longer superintendent some changes will be made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Test results are 1 part of decision. You will get a letter in May or June that tells you your child's test score and whether they're recommended. I think they had to get a certain score on the tests, but they also had to meet three other requirements. I remember thinking at the time that the other three things were pretty subjective.

The whole thing is secret and subjective. Since it has a major impact on the child's educational trajectory through 12th grade I think this is unacceptable.

To the poster who said relax your child will be recommended if appropriate, I know of specific examples where this is not the case.

Maybe now that Starr is no longer superintendent some changes will be made.

Agree, we need more transparent procedure and parents should be well informed on what ever the schools take into considerations regarding placement. It is always subjective unless it is solely based a test result (we may call it selection test or whatever).

On the other hand, it is not the end of the world if not selected for compacted. You can always ask the school to have your kid be re-evaluated at 5th grade, and even in middle schools. You can prepare "compacted math" at home in the summer. Compacted should be relatively easy to get into for normal learning kids who can put a bit more hard work at home. This is very different from HGC and Magnet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The whole thing is secret and subjective. Since it has a major impact on the child's educational trajectory through 12th grade I think this is unacceptable.

To the poster who said relax your child will be recommended if appropriate, I know of specific examples where this is not the case.

Maybe now that Starr is no longer superintendent some changes will be made.

It's not secret -- you can read all about it here: http://marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/stateboard/legalopinions/2010/docs/PhilipP.Opin.No.14-39.pdf (Also you can ask your child's teacher about the process. My child's teacher volunteered information about the process at the parent-teacher conference in November.)

And everything not based exclusively on test scores is subjective. Do you think it would be better to base everything exclusively on test scores?

[Anonymous]

My child tells me every time they have one of the assessments and what her score was. I think she's had 3 out of 5 so far. She adores math and will be crushed if she doesn't in. The teacher explained the process pretty thoroughly to us at the teacher parent conference in the fall, when I asked what the process was. I don't think it's a big secret or anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Maybe now that Starr is no longer superintendent some changes will be made.

I wonder how long everybody will continue to blame everything on Joshua Starr.

[Anonymous]

Anyone know whether they test kids who do not get the 2nd Grade gifted ID?