Explain state math test stress for 2nd graders in MoCo.

[Anonymous]

Please humor me, I am repeatedly missing something when I talk to my friends with children in 3 MoCo elementary schools. I've tried to ask directly but I feel like I'm not asking the right question, OR, all 3 not-overtly-competitive women are giving me a coded answer I can't decipher.

Why would you, as a parent of a 2nd grader, care a lot about how the child scored on the Maryland state NCLB test? In each instance, my friends' girls are all very smart and there is no chance any of the three would score in the "not meeting grade level" range, or whatever. Meaning to (clueless) me that I wouldn't personally stress over this test, since I knew my kid would score "pass."

Do the 2nd grade results of this NCLB test get you placed in something special as a 3rd grader? I thought the whole HGC thing started later than 3rd? Or is it that teachers pull up these scores when deciding whether to recommend a child or not for a HGC at some later date? Or ... what?

I know, MYOB. But it's weird that these 3 different women all seem a little white-knuckle / frantic over the results of this test and it's bugging me tht I can't figure out why. I just smiled and nodded dumbly (my kid isn't in MoCo). thank you, and again, I know, MYOB

[Anonymous]

I'm in my second time through second grade and I have no clue what you are asking about. The gifted and talented testing has been done, but results aren't due out for another week or so at least. The Terra Novas were also done, but results are not out from them either. The G&T testing might get you placed in a different program. MCPS also does regular assessments of math functioning. These assessments are used to determine whether your kid is functioning at, above or below grade level. They happen at least quarterly. They do have an effect on math placement in third grade.

[Anonymous]

Would your "math placement in third grade" basically dictate whether you are allowed to go on to a HGC for 4th/5th ? Meaning, you really need whatever is covered in the highest 3rd grade group in order to shine on GT testing?

[Anonymous]

GT testing is done in second grade, not third.

[Anonymous]

Our school did give out the Terra Nova test results from the 2nd graders earlier this week so my guess is that is what you are talking about. And for most parents, this is the first time that you receive standardized test results for your child...so it puts your child's "achievement" in perspective, and in relation to others nationally.

[Anonymous]

PP here: the terra nova's in 2nd grade are (I believe) partly used to give the schools ideas of who will need extra help in prepping for the MSAs (which begin in 3rd grade) which are the way in which schools are "graded"...And then there are the Inview/Raven parts of the Terra Novas which are used for determining eligibility for Gifted and Talented programs...

[Anonymous]

GT testing is done in second grade, not third.

Why is GT testing done in second grade, when the kids don't get accepted to Centers until the end of third? That seems a little premature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

GT testing is done in second grade, not third.

Why is GT testing done in second grade, when the kids don't get accepted to Centers until the end of third? That seems a little premature.

I honestly have no idea why GT testing is done at all in second grade. As far as I can tell it means absolutely nothing and does not get you any "special" gifted education. My dd tested gifted in second grade and she is still in the same classroom doing the same work as the other kids. And, apparently once you hit middle school, anyone can take honors classes, so I really don't understand the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

GT testing is done in second grade, not third.

Why is GT testing done in second grade, when the kids don't get accepted to Centers until the end of third? That seems a little premature.

GT testing in second grade is done for the purpose of determining which children need differentiation/acceleration in the home school.

Testing for the HGC is done in third grade, is voluntary, and is an entirely different process.

[Anonymous]

New MCSP here so I'm wading through this for the first time and trying to make some sense of it all. We receive the Terra Nova results week before last with some explanatory materials from the school but haven't gotten any other feedback from other tests.

I don't see any reason for stress over this type of testing but maybe they don't want to appear confident/overconfident about their kids' abilities and see this behavior as a more comfortable alternative? Kind of a better to aim low and then achieve high philosophy, like the kids in my grad program who always swore they failed a test then still aced it. Some did this out of insecurity, some may have felt uncomfortable displaying confidence. But I don't know your friends.

[Anonymous]

MCPS parent, received and other typos, I'm sure

[Anonymous]

OP, just for the record, none of this 2nd grade testing is due to No Child Left Behind. The mandatory state testing for Maryland (MSAs starts in 3rd grade).

[Anonymous]

It's my understanding that the GT testing is done in the winter of second grade so that the scores are ready by the application deadline in November of third grade for the GT centers.

We received our Terra Nova scores this past week and there was a letter that explained that it was for both student placement as well as identifying which topic areas or students need extra attention before the MSAs.