Deal math tracks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. Is it iready? My kid is so sick of that diagnostic test and dreads it. He hates how it jumps around. He does fine but tends to underperform on it.

Mine too. DCPS is failing the kids having them test on these scam systems they pay millions for. It is creating a legacy of trash.

Please reach out to BOE, OSSE, council members, etc. about this. The amount of ed tech is criminal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My understanding from an administrator is that Deal was eventually prohibited from double blocking by OSSE or DCPS officials. Deal would have otherwise allowed it to continue as a way to prioritize math. Instead, they now send parents notes that kids are eligible to take the next math class at CTY based on their math grade as an alternate way to double up on math, but CTY fills up fast and costs several thousand dollars.

This is DCPS’ way towards equity. Not let Deal kids accelerate since other middle schools cant offer that level of acceleration.

+1. Folks this is how they try to close the achievement gap is by lowering the top.

[Anonymous]

So a kid who takes Algebra II in 8th grade will take Calc BC in 10th grade. Then what? Jackson-Reed isn't going to offer any math higher than Calc BC. Sure they could go Dual Enrollment, but there is really no benefit to DCPS as a whole to enable that kind of acceleration.

[Anonymous]

Acceleration gets them out of having to provide true honors classes.

[Anonymous]

BEWARE: If your kid underperforms on I-ready like mine did, they will be tracked into 6th, 7th and 8th grade math, with Algebra 1 in 9th grade. That makes them ineligible to reach calculus by 12th grade (the bare minimum needed for top colleges). Most middle schools have all 8th graders in Algebra 1 as the norm. Deal is an outlier.
Yes, I know it’s possible to skip ahead with Deal summer math but not everyone wants their kid to spend the summer doing math.
My kid took 6th and 7th grade math at Deal. I moved them into private school in 8th where they were placed in Algebra 1. (No 8th grade math existed). Guess what? Kid is getting straight A’s in Algebra. I’m flabbergasted that they would have wasted a year in 8th grade math had they stayed at Deal - all because my kid underperforms on the terrible I-ready assessment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BEWARE: If your kid underperforms on I-ready like mine did, they will be tracked into 6th, 7th and 8th grade math, with Algebra 1 in 9th grade. That makes them ineligible to reach calculus by 12th grade (the bare minimum needed for top colleges). Most middle schools have all 8th graders in Algebra 1 as the norm. Deal is an outlier.
Yes, I know it’s possible to skip ahead with Deal summer math but not everyone wants their kid to spend the summer doing math.
My kid took 6th and 7th grade math at Deal. I moved them into private school in 8th where they were placed in Algebra 1. (No 8th grade math existed). Guess what? Kid is getting straight A’s in Algebra. I’m flabbergasted that they would have wasted a year in 8th grade math had they stayed at Deal - all because my kid underperforms on the terrible I-ready assessment.

The alternative is that only the kids who are really behind take 8th grade math. That's not good for the kids being prematurely accelerated or the kids who are ready for algebra. It's difficult to teach that wide ability level, which is the whole point of tracking. Using any test is going to be imperfect, but Deal isn't setting kids up to struggle and repeat algebra the same way some of the other DCPS middle schools are, and that's a good thing.

[Anonymous]

The iready diagnostic is awful. Does anyone know if Deal or the other middles let the kids truly take as much time as needed until the test is completed? It’s supposed to be untimed but my upper elementary DC has gotten such mixed signals about that. Sometimes DC is pushed to finish within two class periods. Other times DC has been given as long as needed (sometimes up to 3-4 class periods). I’ve noticed that DC is usually not rushed for the EOY test, which probably is why they always do much better on that one (and I think the teachers are gaming the test to have more kids reach their growth goals but that’s somewhat beyond the point). Is my kid going to be pushed to finish the math diagnostic super quickly and then have that used for placement for 6th grade math?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The iready diagnostic is awful. Does anyone know if Deal or the other middles let the kids truly take as much time as needed until the test is completed? It’s supposed to be untimed but my upper elementary DC has gotten such mixed signals about that. Sometimes DC is pushed to finish within two class periods. Other times DC has been given as long as needed (sometimes up to 3-4 class periods). I’ve noticed that DC is usually not rushed for the EOY test, which probably is why they always do much better on that one (and I think the teachers are gaming the test to have more kids reach their growth goals but that’s somewhat beyond the point). Is my kid going to be pushed to finish the math diagnostic super quickly and then have that used for placement for 6th grade math?

Email administration at the school to ask. Parents need to put more things in writing, otherwise yes I’m sure some teachers will rush them through the iReady because most teachers hate it too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The iready diagnostic is awful. Does anyone know if Deal or the other middles let the kids truly take as much time as needed until the test is completed? It’s supposed to be untimed but my upper elementary DC has gotten such mixed signals about that. Sometimes DC is pushed to finish within two class periods. Other times DC has been given as long as needed (sometimes up to 3-4 class periods). I’ve noticed that DC is usually not rushed for the EOY test, which probably is why they always do much better on that one (and I think the teachers are gaming the test to have more kids reach their growth goals but that’s somewhat beyond the point). Is my kid going to be pushed to finish the math diagnostic super quickly and then have that used for placement for 6th grade math?

I find the diagnostic useful and very accurate as a DCPS math teacher. There is no time limit because it’s adaptive. Obviously testing conditions are important but assuming schools take it seriously and students know to take it seriously it is very reliable. Millions of students across the US take it so have percentile is also helpful. There will always be students around a cut off score schools use for acceleration who could have gone either way. “Algebra 1”can be taught in many ways. Trying to compare grades in a private school as evidence they would have done well in Deal is not apples to apples.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. Is it iready? My kid is so sick of that diagnostic test and dreads it. He hates how it jumps around. He does fine but tends to underperform on it.

Mine too. DCPS is failing the kids having them test on these scam systems they pay millions for. It is creating a legacy of trash.

Got a better solution? I know maybe according to parental advice. Give me a break. A test is always needed to figure out where kids are at. Just suck it up. I am so sick of hearing this diatribe of my kids hates i-Ready.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The iready diagnostic is awful. Does anyone know if Deal or the other middles let the kids truly take as much time as needed until the test is completed? It’s supposed to be untimed but my upper elementary DC has gotten such mixed signals about that. Sometimes DC is pushed to finish within two class periods. Other times DC has been given as long as needed (sometimes up to 3-4 class periods). I’ve noticed that DC is usually not rushed for the EOY test, which probably is why they always do much better on that one (and I think the teachers are gaming the test to have more kids reach their growth goals but that’s somewhat beyond the point). Is my kid going to be pushed to finish the math diagnostic super quickly and then have that used for placement for 6th grade math?

Is it really awful? How many times have you taken the diagnostic test? Can you provide your proof? Yeah, just like I thought. An armchair critic. If it wasn't i-Ready, you would criticize some other test until your child was in the class you thought they should be in. I hate this constant criticism by people with no experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The iready diagnostic is awful. Does anyone know if Deal or the other middles let the kids truly take as much time as needed until the test is completed? It’s supposed to be untimed but my upper elementary DC has gotten such mixed signals about that. Sometimes DC is pushed to finish within two class periods. Other times DC has been given as long as needed (sometimes up to 3-4 class periods). I’ve noticed that DC is usually not rushed for the EOY test, which probably is why they always do much better on that one (and I think the teachers are gaming the test to have more kids reach their growth goals but that’s somewhat beyond the point). Is my kid going to be pushed to finish the math diagnostic super quickly and then have that used for placement for 6th grade math?

I find the diagnostic useful and very accurate as a DCPS math teacher. There is no time limit because it’s adaptive. Obviously testing conditions are important but assuming schools take it seriously and students know to take it seriously it is very reliable. Millions of students across the US take it so have percentile is also helpful. There will always be students around a cut off score schools use for acceleration who could have gone either way. “Algebra 1”can be taught in many ways. Trying to compare grades in a private school as evidence they would have done well in Deal is not apples to apples.

As a math teacher, I too find the diagnostic useful, as well as the growth checks, and lessons. Better than many programs. Is it the best? Hard to say, but it is useful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The iready diagnostic is awful. Does anyone know if Deal or the other middles let the kids truly take as much time as needed until the test is completed? It’s supposed to be untimed but my upper elementary DC has gotten such mixed signals about that. Sometimes DC is pushed to finish within two class periods. Other times DC has been given as long as needed (sometimes up to 3-4 class periods). I’ve noticed that DC is usually not rushed for the EOY test, which probably is why they always do much better on that one (and I think the teachers are gaming the test to have more kids reach their growth goals but that’s somewhat beyond the point). Is my kid going to be pushed to finish the math diagnostic super quickly and then have that used for placement for 6th grade math?

I find the diagnostic useful and very accurate as a DCPS math teacher. There is no time limit because it’s adaptive. Obviously testing conditions are important but assuming schools take it seriously and students know to take it seriously it is very reliable. Millions of students across the US take it so have percentile is also helpful. There will always be students around a cut off score schools use for acceleration who could have gone either way. “Algebra 1”can be taught in many ways. Trying to compare grades in a private school as evidence they would have done well in Deal is not apples to apples.

As a math teacher, I too find the diagnostic useful, as well as the growth checks, and lessons. Better than many programs. Is it the best? Hard to say, but it is useful.

I'm a parent and I also find iReady just fine. It's useful as a diagnostic and seems pretty accurate, and in elementary school the kids have the rare ability to work at their own level with it, so it serves a differentiation purpose. There is much worse Ed Tech out there, and I agree that there will always be some test to place students in the right math class (and parents whose kids just miss the cutoff will complain).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The iready diagnostic is awful. Does anyone know if Deal or the other middles let the kids truly take as much time as needed until the test is completed? It’s supposed to be untimed but my upper elementary DC has gotten such mixed signals about that. Sometimes DC is pushed to finish within two class periods. Other times DC has been given as long as needed (sometimes up to 3-4 class periods). I’ve noticed that DC is usually not rushed for the EOY test, which probably is why they always do much better on that one (and I think the teachers are gaming the test to have more kids reach their growth goals but that’s somewhat beyond the point). Is my kid going to be pushed to finish the math diagnostic super quickly and then have that used for placement for 6th grade math?

I find the diagnostic useful and very accurate as a DCPS math teacher. There is no time limit because it’s adaptive. Obviously testing conditions are important but assuming schools take it seriously and students know to take it seriously it is very reliable. Millions of students across the US take it so have percentile is also helpful. There will always be students around a cut off score schools use for acceleration who could have gone either way. “Algebra 1”can be taught in many ways. Trying to compare grades in a private school as evidence they would have done well in Deal is not apples to apples.

As a math teacher, I too find the diagnostic useful, as well as the growth checks, and lessons. Better than many programs. Is it the best? Hard to say, but it is useful.

My kids are both good at math. The one who hates iready has somewhat maxed out what her school has to offer during class, despite only scoring in the 95-98 percentile on iready, and is now often doing side lessons on programs like Khan and IXL while the teacher is working with kids who are lagging behind. The fact that a kid like mine underperforms on iready concerns me and makes me skeptical of the program. Sure, my other kid who is way out on the tail of the 99th percentile doesn't mind it as much, but still isn't a huge fan.

As I mentioned above, I have two main concerns with iready. The first is that it apparently jumps around between topics in the diagnostic, which really drives one of my kids crazy. The other is that the diagnostic is supposed to be untimed but DC has gotten such inconsistent guidance on this from teachers. Sometimes DC is told they need to get to 50% of the test in the first class period, and finish in the second. Other times, DC is allowed to go as long as needed at whatever pace they want. I get it that the test seems quite long and teachers don't like it taking up so much class time but a few years of this has stressed my kid out, since they know the test matters and they also know they do much better on it when not rushed. AND DC senses that it actually gives you more questions when you're doing better, to test which harder topics you actually know how to do. DC does not mind the growth checks, which are 20 questions and more consistent, and does consistently well on those. As a parent, I know my kids are supposed to be learning test-taking skills and they aren't going to like every test, and I back up the school on this. But I find it interesting that DC does not mind any other test other than the math iready.

FWIW both of my kids also grumble about the iready lessons. They are happy to do Khan, Zearn, or IXL at school but find iready lessons really tedious. Zearn and IXL seem to get the point a little better and let them actually accelerate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The iready diagnostic is awful. Does anyone know if Deal or the other middles let the kids truly take as much time as needed until the test is completed? It’s supposed to be untimed but my upper elementary DC has gotten such mixed signals about that. Sometimes DC is pushed to finish within two class periods. Other times DC has been given as long as needed (sometimes up to 3-4 class periods). I’ve noticed that DC is usually not rushed for the EOY test, which probably is why they always do much better on that one (and I think the teachers are gaming the test to have more kids reach their growth goals but that’s somewhat beyond the point). Is my kid going to be pushed to finish the math diagnostic super quickly and then have that used for placement for 6th grade math?

I find the diagnostic useful and very accurate as a DCPS math teacher. There is no time limit because it’s adaptive. Obviously testing conditions are important but assuming schools take it seriously and students know to take it seriously it is very reliable. Millions of students across the US take it so have percentile is also helpful. There will always be students around a cut off score schools use for acceleration who could have gone either way. “Algebra 1”can be taught in many ways. Trying to compare grades in a private school as evidence they would have done well in Deal is not apples to apples.

As a math teacher, I too find the diagnostic useful, as well as the growth checks, and lessons. Better than many programs. Is it the best? Hard to say, but it is useful.

My kids are both good at math. The one who hates iready has somewhat maxed out what her school has to offer during class, despite only scoring in the 95-98 percentile on iready, and is now often doing side lessons on programs like Khan and IXL while the teacher is working with kids who are lagging behind. The fact that a kid like mine underperforms on iready concerns me and makes me skeptical of the program. Sure, my other kid who is way out on the tail of the 99th percentile doesn't mind it as much, but still isn't a huge fan.

As I mentioned above, I have two main concerns with iready. The first is that it apparently jumps around between topics in the diagnostic, which really drives one of my kids crazy. The other is that the diagnostic is supposed to be untimed but DC has gotten such inconsistent guidance on this from teachers. Sometimes DC is told they need to get to 50% of the test in the first class period, and finish in the second. Other times, DC is allowed to go as long as needed at whatever pace they want. I get it that the test seems quite long and teachers don't like it taking up so much class time but a few years of this has stressed my kid out, since they know the test matters and they also know they do much better on it when not rushed. AND DC senses that it actually gives you more questions when you're doing better, to test which harder topics you actually know how to do. DC does not mind the growth checks, which are 20 questions and more consistent, and does consistently well on those. As a parent, I know my kids are supposed to be learning test-taking skills and they aren't going to like every test, and I back up the school on this. But I find it interesting that DC does not mind any other test other than the math iready.

FWIW both of my kids also grumble about the iready lessons. They are happy to do Khan, Zearn, or IXL at school but find iready lessons really tedious. Zearn and IXL seem to get the point a little better and let them actually accelerate.

Meant to add that I get we're stuck with this test and we'd be stuck with some test regardless. There has to be a cutoff. But I do have some concerns about what happens when my eldest gets to Deal next year. She's been doing well in math at our ES and I'm bummed that it'll just be some cutoff on the test she does the worst on. But I suppose that's life.