Voicemail from school re: SOL scores

[Anonymous]

^ Yeah, I know. I think the poster is a troll. After school remediation for weeks and the child "loved it".

Right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't know for sure what the call was about, but I would assume it is because a score was in the 375-399 range.

If I was given the option for my own DS, I would decline, and I teach 4th grade.

Same with me.

-6th grade teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
^ Yeah, I know. I think the poster is a troll. After school remediation for weeks and the child "loved it".

Right.

I'm an elementary teacher, and my school has an after school math club that was offered by invite only to those who we thought might benefit from the extra math practice. A parent might identify this as "after school remediation" while the kid sees nothing but fun math games and hanging out with their friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your child will be pulled out to retake a test he has already taken. Why put your child in the position of having all his friends know he failed the first time and so has to retake. Not worth it since there's no real benefit to him from retaking the test.

I'm pretty sure you have to have "already taken" a test in order to REtake it. No wonder you people's kids are failing tests on state minimum requirements...

[Anonymous]

Our school had before school sessions twice a week (8-8:30) for 4th grade math. Like a PP, my DD liked going.

I don't plan on having my kids re-take the SOLs (and I know two of my kids are likely to fail at least math). When I weigh the cost vs the benefit, it's not worth it. My kids get anxious about it, it's stressful, it takes a long time and they don't get anything out of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Your child will be pulled out to retake a test he has already taken. Why put your child in the position of having all his friends know he failed the first time and so has to retake. Not worth it since there's no real benefit to him from retaking the test.


I'm pretty sure you have to have "already taken" a test in order to REtake it. No wonder you people's kids are failing tests on state minimum requirements...

Unnecessary. "You people's kids"??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
^ Yeah, I know. I think the poster is a troll. After school remediation for weeks and the child "loved it".

Right.

I'm an elementary teacher, and my school has an after school math club that was offered by invite only to those who we thought might benefit from the extra math practice. A parent might identify this as "after school remediation" while the kid sees nothing but fun math games and hanging out with their friends.

That's nice. Did the PTA organize it? Did teachers run it? If so, did they get a stipend?

[Anonymous]

Today I received an invitation to send home with a student. I might ask tomorrow if we should send it home. He got a pass advance score in math and passed the reading with a score in the mid-400s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
^ Yeah, I know. I think the poster is a troll. After school remediation for weeks and the child "loved it".

Right.

I'm an elementary teacher, and my school has an after school math club that was offered by invite only to those who we thought might benefit from the extra math practice. A parent might identify this as "after school remediation" while the kid sees nothing but fun math games and hanging out with their friends.

That's nice. Did the PTA organize it? Did teachers run it? If so, did they get a stipend?

It's teacher organized and run. They do not receive a stipend. We have a Math Resource teacher, and the club was her initiative. She runs it with the help of a few other teachers and occasional high school volunteers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
^ Yeah, I know. I think the poster is a troll. After school remediation for weeks and the child "loved it".

Right.

I'm an elementary teacher, and my school has an after school math club that was offered by invite only to those who we thought might benefit from the extra math practice. A parent might identify this as "after school remediation" while the kid sees nothing but fun math games and hanging out with their friends.

That's nice. Did the PTA organize it? Did teachers run it? If so, did they get a stipend?

It's teacher organized and run. They do not receive a stipend. We have a Math Resource teacher, and the club was her initiative. She runs it with the help of a few other teachers and occasional high school volunteers.

High school volunteers...that's a good idea. My DW said her school did something like that last year but they were paid for it. She thought the money came from the Cluster office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your child will be pulled out to retake a test he has already taken. Why put your child in the position of having all his friends know he failed the first time and so has to retake.

My DD was in an after school "remediation" class for weeks prior to the SOLs. Apparently, they did some kind of assessment and were concerned she might not pass. Was I supposed to turn it down because her friends might find out and she'd feel humiliated by it? Heck no. All her friends were in the same class. She had a great time.

And if she still doesn't pass the SOL and they want her to re-test, they have my blessing. We've always told our kids that the SOLs are a reflection on the school's teaching methods rather than the students' ability. It's all smoke and mirrors.

Was this in an elementary school? We don't have anything like that.

My DC also had this remediation prior to the SOLs, but it was in the mornings, before school. Even with that, DC said the teacher talked on the phone half the time, or had trouble with her computer and just handed them worksheets. No real, hardcore instruction. I was very angry that I had gotten DC up early for weeks to attend these classes - and I'm pretty sure DC failed the SOLs nonetheless. So much for remediation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My DD was in an after school "remediation" class for weeks prior to the SOLs. Apparently, they did some kind of assessment and were concerned she might not pass. Was I supposed to turn it down because her friends might find out and she'd feel humiliated by it? Heck no. All her friends were in the same class. She had a great time.

And if she still doesn't pass the SOL and they want her to re-test, they have my blessing. We've always told our kids that the SOLs are a reflection on the school's teaching methods rather than the students' ability. It's all smoke and mirrors.

Glad to hear that your DD enjoyed her SOL remediation classes based on the worry that she might not pass it. Since you feel they are a reflection on the school's teaching methods, what were the methods that caused your DD to have to be in after school remediation?

Agree with this.

They were concerned enough about her passing the SOLs that they decided to remediate just at the end of the school year before the tests. Why were they not concerned the entire school year? Why did they not notify you by the end of the first quarter or at least during the second quarter? They should have put in place extra supports, but you know why they didn't? She's on grade level right? They didn't want to go through the IEP process to put formal extra supports in place. Why would they? At grade level means it's not worth the extra money, your child is passing and that's good enough.

But when the school will be graded, they don't want to take the chance. All of the sudden, extra supports 'unofficially' pop up and they are fine with it, since they won't have to do it again until next SOL season.

+1,000,000
I'm the PP whose DC went to the before-school SOL remediation classes in April and May. DC is on grade level in all subjects - not a standout student, but gets 3s and 4s on report card, so not bad either. However, obviously something isn't clicking because DC didn't do well at all on the practice SOLs; thus the "invitation" to "Math and Reading Workshops". If there was a problem, wouldn't you think DC would be doing poorly in schoolwork throughout the year? Nope - it's just the f-ing SOLs which have tripped up DC and which suddenly seem to warrant concern from the administration.

I am so over FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
^ Yeah, I know. I think the poster is a troll. After school remediation for weeks and the child "loved it".

Right.

I'm an elementary teacher, and my school has an after school math club that was offered by invite only to those who we thought might benefit from the extra math practice. A parent might identify this as "after school remediation" while the kid sees nothing but fun math games and hanging out with their friends.

My kid knew exactly what this was for and was devastated to have been "invited". DC knew it was because someone considered him "dumb" and in need of extra help. This was not a fun experience in the least.

[Anonymous]

My school tried to get a before or after school remediation started, but it went nowhere. They couldn't convince enough staff to participate. They have the same problem trying to staff SELT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
^ Yeah, I know. I think the poster is a troll. After school remediation for weeks and the child "loved it".

Right.

I'm an elementary teacher, and my school has an after school math club that was offered by invite only to those who we thought might benefit from the extra math practice. A parent might identify this as "after school remediation" while the kid sees nothing but fun math games and hanging out with their friends.

My kid knew exactly what this was for and was devastated to have been "invited". DC knew it was because someone considered him "dumb" and in need of extra help. This was not a fun experience in the least.

Would you rather they not get the extra help and struggle the following year? I know many people who needed extra help as a child and are now very successful. Just tell your child that the teachers are there to help him/her get ready for the next grade.