Low MAP reading score of a bookworm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Something is wrong. Check how fast she is completing test.
Also talk to her about what she has read at home. Ask questions.

I have asked questions and she's understanding texts. She isn't rushing through the test. She talks to me about complex storylines she has read and runs through mysteries step by step, etc. I don't think it's a concentration or attention thing either, since she doesn't have classroom issues and also tests just fine on Math tests.

[Anonymous]

The drop in scores in concerning. Especially that it isn’t just a one-off bad score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it seems like people are generally in agreement here that 42 percentile is concerning?

Yes. Maybe ask school admin to see the more detailed report. They should have it on file someplace.

I asked the classroom teacher after the drop on the Winter report and she said it was not at all concerning and DD is above grade level, no concerns. I will ask again after this most recent drop, but given that school is over and she was very dismissive before I am not that optimistic that I will get any answers or suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The drop in scores in concerning. Especially that it isn’t just a one-off bad score.

That is what I was thinking. Would the teacher even know what specific gaps may be there? I can hire a tutor or do work at home, but we don't know what the issue is. When I asked in February, the classroom teacher was dismissive and I didn't really get a sense that she was given any more information. Do teachers have a separate MAP test portal with more data?

[Anonymous]

Do teachers have a separate MAP test portal with more data?

Yes. As a teacher I see a breakdown of 'Larla is ready to develop these skills...' based on their score range.

[Anonymous]

What do students do after the test is over? My kid's scores were always highest in the fall. Once he saw that his teacher allowed students to play games on the computer when they finished the test, he flew through it to get to the games. Computer based testing on little kids is BS IMO.

[Anonymous]

OP, these posters are NUTS. I am a reading specialist and while I would talk to her teacher about the drop in scores, I would not be overly concerned. MAPS is not a very good test of reading ability. Does the school use DIBELS or any other reading assessment? That would be much more indicative of any actual reading problems. Sometimes kids are just bored with the test, and sometimes MAPS asks weird questions and it adjusts as they go, so getting a few wrong in a row can make a big difference in the difficulty of the following questions and the ultimate score. The posters saying they would be concerned about anything below 99% and reading Harry Potter in first grade or whatever are crazy and not at all in touch with reality. Your daughter is reading advanced books for her age and according to your own report, she can retell and answer questions with attention to detail. She is likely fine, but if you are truly worried you can always have full testing done by a private psychologist. However, from everything you say I would not be alarmed at all. The obsession with poorly designed tests has to stop.

[Anonymous]

I would be concerned at the consistent tending down and push for more info. It may be a test taking skill though, she’s familiar with the math test questions, but not the style of test they use for reading assessments. Can you get a practice test and see if she just needs to learn how to take that specific test?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, these posters are NUTS. I am a reading specialist and while I would talk to her teacher about the drop in scores, I would not be overly concerned. MAPS is not a very good test of reading ability. Does the school use DIBELS or any other reading assessment? That would be much more indicative of any actual reading problems. Sometimes kids are just bored with the test, and sometimes MAPS asks weird questions and it adjusts as they go, so getting a few wrong in a row can make a big difference in the difficulty of the following questions and the ultimate score. The posters saying they would be concerned about anything below 99% and reading Harry Potter in first grade or whatever are crazy and not at all in touch with reality. Your daughter is reading advanced books for her age and according to your own report, she can retell and answer questions with attention to detail. She is likely fine, but if you are truly worried you can always have full testing done by a private psychologist. However, from everything you say I would not be alarmed at all. The obsession with poorly designed tests has to stop.

The school uses Fountus and Pinell reading assessment and some other kind of spelling or vocabulary assessment but I don’t know what it’s called. The classroom teacher was not concerned at all in Kindergarten and in 1st and 2nd grade I was told she was reading well above grade level. I know several kids have been flagged in 1st and 2nd grade but DD was never a concern. The teacher doesn’t seem concerned either, it seems like it’s just me so far. I just don’t know if I should be hiring a reading specialist or tutor or something to work with her to catch up over the summer? Or if there is even anything to catch up?

I don’t know that I would want to pay hundreds for psych testing, I assume out of pocket because it has not been recommended or prescribed by teacher or principal. What kinds of things are tested - some kinds of language disorders, ADHD, anxiety or what would they even be looking for based on OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be concerned at the consistent tending down and push for more info. It may be a test taking skill though, she’s familiar with the math test questions, but not the style of test they use for reading assessments. Can you get a practice test and see if she just needs to learn how to take that specific test?

That would make sense, I think. I have not seen any reading comprehension work from her this year so it’s hard to know. But she doesn’t do the kinds of math problems I’m seeing the MAP sample tests either.

Are the reading questions here the kinds of things that would be on the real test? Weirdly I can find a lot of printable MAP math questions but not reading: https://www.testprep-online.com/map-2nd-grade-free-sample-questions

[Anonymous]

I think a large part of the problem is your daughter isn’t actively learning in school. The teacher and the curriculum are part of the problem. It sounds like she isn’t being present new material in class- hence the flat scores and drops in percentile. While she may read hard material at home- she may not be learning the specific skills these questions are asking. If she scored in the 80th percentile in the fall and teachers have never had concerns- I think it is very unlikely she has a learning disorder or is behind.

I would do some work with her over the summer. Maybe a mom/daughter book club? Get a kids magazine subscription and read articles together and talk about them, have her do some vocab work. Get a Spectrum reading workbook a grade level up and have her work through that here and there. Also a good tool, an IXL subscription. IXL has assents, but my favorite part is it breaks down subjects into very specific categories and you can answer questions for those specific categories. The MAP questions are very very similar to the questions on IXL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only thing map-r matters for is CES lottery in 4th grade and middle school magnet lottery.

If you don't care for that then it doesn't matter.

They are often used for G&T placement

Not in MCPS. That’s done in 2nd grade before kids are even eligible to take the MAP-R.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do students do after the test is over? My kid's scores were always highest in the fall. Once he saw that his teacher allowed students to play games on the computer when they finished the test, he flew through it to get to the games. Computer based testing on little kids is BS IMO.

Nothing tempting enough to rush through. I agree that computer testing for elementary is BS.

[Anonymous]

OP, ignore the “your kid can’t be an above grade level reader if she’s not 99th percentile” posters. They just want a venue to feel good about themselves because it’s not cool to brag and put other kids down like that in real life. Sad.

[Anonymous]

Is she reading Harry Potter to you or to herself? There can be a big difference and I'm saying that w.r.t..my own kids, not in judgment of yours. They can comprehend most of a book like that but not necessarily be able to sound everything out or spell. Yes, spelling is super important and is a window into how well they understand the language.