If you have a HS freshman or sophmore

[Anonymous]

Well, most of the kids in America are going to be in the same position. Yes, there will be some private school kids who may have different circumstances, but even many private schools are virtual right now. And the ones that aren't are still under a lot of stress and probably taking it easy on students. So, this will be all be relative. I suppose the only difference is that many other countries are doing better with COVID, and they apply to those schools too.

My thought is to wait until mid year and see what your kid has covered. Even if your school doesn't offer the PSAT, I believe you can find a place to administer it, and if it seems like your child isn't doing well, you can get some tutoring/supplemental stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SAT and ACT math is not that advanced. Have them do a practice test at the end of sophomore year (when they are almost done with pre-calc). Then you can start tutoring/test prep if you need it.

My kid will take pre-calc as a senior.

So did mine. But OP’s kid will take it as a freshman, so it will be second nature by that point.

[Anonymous]

*sophomore not freshman

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, most of the kids in America are going to be in the same position. Yes, there will be some private school kids who may have different circumstances, but even many private schools are virtual right now. And the ones that aren't are still under a lot of stress and probably taking it easy on students. So, this will be all be relative. I suppose the only difference is that many other countries are doing better with COVID, and they apply to those schools too.

My thought is to wait until mid year and see what your kid has covered. Even if your school doesn't offer the PSAT, I believe you can find a place to administer it, and if it seems like your child isn't doing well, you can get some tutoring/supplemental stuff.

Oh, no, they aren't.

Most kids in the DMV area will be in the same position because we are being held hostage by incompetent bureaucrats who are more concerned about politics than students' wellbeing. But that is not true across the country - many, many, many school districts and private schools are back in classes now or are at least in hybrid. Don't kid yourself that ours will somehow be spared this deficit year of education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, most of the kids in America are going to be in the same position. Yes, there will be some private school kids who may have different circumstances, but even many private schools are virtual right now. And the ones that aren't are still under a lot of stress and probably taking it easy on students. So, this will be all be relative. I suppose the only difference is that many other countries are doing better with COVID, and they apply to those schools too.

My thought is to wait until mid year and see what your kid has covered. Even if your school doesn't offer the PSAT, I believe you can find a place to administer it, and if it seems like your child isn't doing well, you can get some tutoring/supplemental stuff.

Oh, no, they aren't.

Most kids in the DMV area will be in the same position because we are being held hostage by incompetent bureaucrats who are more concerned about politics than students' wellbeing. But that is not true across the country - many, many, many school districts and private schools are back in classes now or are at least in hybrid. Don't kid yourself that ours will somehow be spared this deficit year of education.

I live 6 hours north of the DMV now and nearly all the schools in my area are all virtual.

[Anonymous]

Why would they be learning a lot less this year? I’m also an algebra 2 teacher and that’s not an option because I need to prepare them for the following year. I am expecting a lot more from them outside of class than ever before. That’s my plan, not cutting out essential content. It’s going to be difficult to track down the ones not keeping up. That’s when I’m really going to need the support of the parents because I can request that meet with me online for remediation but can’t do anything if they don’t log on.

[Anonymous]

I have a freshman n MCPS, and was very disheartened to hear the Algebra 2 teacher say at BTSN, they will be learning a lot less this year, but there is nothing we can do about it. Within MCPS, courses can be adjusted going forward to account for the content that wasn’t covered. But for purposes of SATs and ACTs, kids doing DL for extended periods will definitely have less knowledge than those who are returning to in-person learning. I worry a lot about this for my kid. Am I the only one concerned? Am I thinking about this wrong?

I'm guessing a 9th grader who has already taken Alg. 1 and geometry is in an honors or some other advanced Algebra 2 class. If they get through the "regular" Algebra 2 content, that will be enough for the SAT. The SAT is not designed so that only kids on the most advanced math track available can do well. Your kid is ahead of the game already.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. Thank you for the responses. Someone said most kids are in the same boat, but I am not sure that is correct, and what has increasingly worried me. I feel like I am hearing from more and more people in other places where in-school education seems to be happening. I don’t have a way of assessing what share of all kids— high school freshmen, for example, are attending school in person this fall. I feel like in the DMV we tend to assume if we are doing it, everyone else is, too. But I fear that isn’t so.
Anyway, I appreciate the conversation and perspectives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thank you for the responses. Someone said most kids are in the same boat, but I am not sure that is correct, and what has increasingly worried me. I feel like I am hearing from more and more people in other places where in-school education seems to be happening. I don’t have a way of assessing what share of all kids— high school freshmen, for example, are attending school in person this fall. I feel like in the DMV we tend to assume if we are doing it, everyone else is, too. But I fear that isn’t so.
Anyway, I appreciate the conversation and perspectives.

I posted earlier - I signed my kids up for AOPS due to the same concerns of them not learning everything this year and all they missed last year during quarter 4. Here is another way to look at it - not so much to learn the math for SATs, but just to learn it! One good thing about this pandemic is we are able to do other "stuff" with our time now that they don't have to catch a super early bus for high school and we don't have to commute to school/certain activities. That saved time allows my kids to do these extra math classes.

I know, I know - they could have still done it with in-person school but catching a bus at 6:50 am, going to school all day, any after-school activities, they would have done, coming home, eating dinner, doing homework, etc. That's a lot for anyone and to add a math class that runs from 7:15 - 9 pm on top of that? Plus add in that commute time?

You and your freshman now have extra time since no more commuting, etc. Seriously look into doing supplemental math classes. Not for the SAT aspect, but this is a perfect time for her to get a deeper base of math for future endeavors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who wants to go to a selective college, how worried are you about the impact of DL on their SAT performance, especially in math?

I have a freshman n MCPS, and was very disheartened to hear the Algebra 2 teacher say at BTSN, they will be learning a lot less this year, but there is nothing we can do about it. Within MCPS, courses can be adjusted going forward to account for the content that wasn’t covered. But for purposes of SATs and ACTs, kids doing DL for extended periods will definitely have less knowledge than those who are returning to in-person learning. I worry a lot about this for my kid. Am I the only one concerned? Am I thinking about this wrong?

I do worry that our kids are learning less, but when I look at hybrid or in person plans I've seen from other schools, those kids will clearly be learning less too. Classes are shortened to allow for socially distanced transitions, or happening less frequently, or have distractions due to kids livestreaming (depending on which option your school picks). There will be disruptions as classes open and close, and more subs than usual, and social distancing won't allow any coaching or small group work (things that are easier to do on line than they were pre-Covid) So your worries about the competition are not accurate.

There are plenty of online options for developing your kids' math skills. Use those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who wants to go to a selective college, how worried are you about the impact of DL on their SAT performance, especially in math?

I have a freshman n MCPS, and was very disheartened to hear the Algebra 2 teacher say at BTSN, they will be learning a lot less this year, but there is nothing we can do about it. Within MCPS, courses can be adjusted going forward to account for the content that wasn’t covered. But for purposes of SATs and ACTs, kids doing DL for extended periods will definitely have less knowledge than those who are returning to in-person learning. I worry a lot about this for my kid. Am I the only one concerned? Am I thinking about this wrong?

Why will they be learning less this year? Aren't they logging into their classes online? Isn't each class held daily for the same amount of time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, most of the kids in America are going to be in the same position. Yes, there will be some private school kids who may have different circumstances, but even many private schools are virtual right now. And the ones that aren't are still under a lot of stress and probably taking it easy on students. So, this will be all be relative. I suppose the only difference is that many other countries are doing better with COVID, and they apply to those schools too.

My thought is to wait until mid year and see what your kid has covered. Even if your school doesn't offer the PSAT, I believe you can find a place to administer it, and if it seems like your child isn't doing well, you can get some tutoring/supplemental stuff.

Oh, no, they aren't.

Most kids in the DMV area will be in the same position because we are being held hostage by incompetent bureaucrats who are more concerned about politics than students' wellbeing. But that is not true across the country - many, many, many school districts and private schools are back in classes now or are at least in hybrid. Don't kid yourself that ours will somehow be spared this deficit year of education.

Most are going to end up back at home because of govt officials making stupid decisions for political reasons and prolonging the virus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thank you for the responses. Someone said most kids are in the same boat, but I am not sure that is correct, and what has increasingly worried me. I feel like I am hearing from more and more people in other places where in-school education seems to be happening. I don’t have a way of assessing what share of all kids— high school freshmen, for example, are attending school in person this fall. I feel like in the DMV we tend to assume if we are doing it, everyone else is, too. But I fear that isn’t so.
Anyway, I appreciate the conversation and perspectives.

If isn't going to last.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thank you for the responses. Someone said most kids are in the same boat, but I am not sure that is correct, and what has increasingly worried me. I feel like I am hearing from more and more people in other places where in-school education seems to be happening. I don’t have a way of assessing what share of all kids— high school freshmen, for example, are attending school in person this fall. I feel like in the DMV we tend to assume if we are doing it, everyone else is, too. But I fear that isn’t so.
Anyway, I appreciate the conversation and perspectives.

I posted earlier - I signed my kids up for AOPS due to the same concerns of them not learning everything this year and all they missed last year during quarter 4. Here is another way to look at it - not so much to learn the math for SATs, but just to learn it! One good thing about this pandemic is we are able to do other "stuff" with our time now that they don't have to catch a super early bus for high school and we don't have to commute to school/certain activities. That saved time allows my kids to do these extra math classes.

I know, I know - they could have still done it with in-person school but catching a bus at 6:50 am, going to school all day, any after-school activities, they would have done, coming home, eating dinner, doing homework, etc. That's a lot for anyone and to add a math class that runs from 7:15 - 9 pm on top of that? Plus add in that commute time?

You and your freshman now have extra time since no more commuting, etc. Seriously look into doing supplemental math classes. Not for the SAT aspect, but this is a perfect time for her to get a deeper base of math for future endeavors.

FYI
AOPS is very rigorous compared to most school math classes, and the curriculum does not line up. I don't think your kids were behind but because school districts have different priorities. My district curriculum is integrated math 1, 2 and 3. It doesn't line up with what AOPS offers now. I don't think your kids were behind or tested down because of DL.

[Anonymous]

I am truly not worried about it. Have 10th grader. My husband was laid off and that kind of put everything in to perspective. We won't be able to see my parents until the pandemic is over because of where they live.

My kid always tests very well and does well in school. Things will work out. He will prep for the SAT if it is still relevant.

I would be worried perhaps with sports if we had been hoping for admission via athletics but that isn't our situation. I don't know what sports are back and the permanent heart safe they are seeing in college athletes who had covid would be very concerning to me, since they would need to be playing now and risking that exposure in order to get in to college through athletics.