Iowa

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The math inventory has an algebra readiness score and can be given online. It could be used together with SOLs, etc to make a decision.

Let the cheating commence

so what? the only consequence is the kid would fail math in middle school. it won't bother anyone else. I don't feel safe sending my kid to school just for a test.

Seriously? I'm sure you were squawking about needing to get your kid into AAP a few years ago because too much time was spend teaching to the bottom or middle. If you can't see how cheating on this test and a kid being placed in Algebra 1 honors as a 7th grader hurts the individual, the class, and the teacher, then I don't know what to tell you. If you don't feel safe sending your kid to school for just a test, don't. Problem solved.

Why does it hurt the class and the teacher? Teachers won't change the curriculum to accommodate the kids who are left behind. at least public school teachers don't really care. and the other students in the class could benefit from it as they may get curves on tests. How can I justify sending my kid to school for a test that can be done online when the national daily case number is 220K and close to 3000 deaths a day?? Maybe a better solution would be to get rid of this test and use teacher recommendations. Too many tests in fcps.

You don’t get it. Teachers do slow the class down for those who drag the pace down. If the schools can do the sats at school in a successful way, not sure how the Iowa couldn’t be done safely.

Not my kids algebra teacher. He just fails people. Parents are losing their minds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You don’t get it. Teachers do slow the class down for those who drag the pace down. If the schools can do the sats at school in a successful way, not sure how the Iowa couldn’t be done safely.

I disagree. DC is in Algebra 1 and our middle school does not grade on the curve and doesn't modify the curriculum - the teacher doesn't have the time and interest. DC just had an inequality test and the average in the class was C and she didn't change the syllabus, just gives them extra practice work during class. This is not specific to math; he has a very demanding history teacher and 1/3 class is failing and the teacher keeps on goingat the same pace.

If all of the teachers approached advanced classes like your child's teacher, none of this would be a problem. Teachers shouldn't slow down advanced classes for the kids who can't handle the pace. The obvious answer is to have the kid drop down to M7H or regular classes if they can't handle the pace of honors. Why do so many teachers slow down the classes for the kids who don't belong at the expense of the kids who do? Is it a directive from higher up? Do the teachers just feel sorry for the struggling kid? Are the rescheduling logistics impossible for switching kids to a new class midyear?

You're thinking of ES. This does not happen in MS and HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You don’t get it. Teachers do slow the class down for those who drag the pace down. If the schools can do the sats at school in a successful way, not sure how the Iowa couldn’t be done safely.

I disagree. DC is in Algebra 1 and our middle school does not grade on the curve and doesn't modify the curriculum - the teacher doesn't have the time and interest. DC just had an inequality test and the average in the class was C and she didn't change the syllabus, just gives them extra practice work during class. This is not specific to math; he has a very demanding history teacher and 1/3 class is failing and the teacher keeps on goingat the same pace.

If all of the teachers approached advanced classes like your child's teacher, none of this would be a problem. Teachers shouldn't slow down advanced classes for the kids who can't handle the pace. The obvious answer is to have the kid drop down to M7H or regular classes if they can't handle the pace of honors. Why do so many teachers slow down the classes for the kids who don't belong at the expense of the kids who do? Is it a directive from higher up? Do the teachers just feel sorry for the struggling kid? Are the rescheduling logistics impossible for switching kids to a new class midyear?

You're thinking of ES. This does not happen in MS and HS.

DP but I’m glad to hear that. Maybe if it did happen in ES, people would get serious about ability grouping and stop trying to cram their kids into AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You don’t get it. Teachers do slow the class down for those who drag the pace down. If the schools can do the sats at school in a successful way, not sure how the Iowa couldn’t be done safely.

I disagree. DC is in Algebra 1 and our middle school does not grade on the curve and doesn't modify the curriculum - the teacher doesn't have the time and interest. DC just had an inequality test and the average in the class was C and she didn't change the syllabus, just gives them extra practice work during class. This is not specific to math; he has a very demanding history teacher and 1/3 class is failing and the teacher keeps on goingat the same pace.

If all of the teachers approached advanced classes like your child's teacher, none of this would be a problem. Teachers shouldn't slow down advanced classes for the kids who can't handle the pace. The obvious answer is to have the kid drop down to M7H or regular classes if they can't handle the pace of honors. Why do so many teachers slow down the classes for the kids who don't belong at the expense of the kids who do? Is it a directive from higher up? Do the teachers just feel sorry for the struggling kid? Are the rescheduling logistics impossible for switching kids to a new class midyear?

You're thinking of ES. This does not happen in MS and HS.

DP but I’m glad to hear that. Maybe if it did happen in ES, people would get serious about ability grouping and stop trying to cram their kids into AAP.

My 7th grade son's work space is outside my office in the living room. I can hear most of his classes, sadly. I've heard his teacher tell the class almost daily (2X a week due to block scheduling) that many are failing and don't belong in the class and need to drop because he's not slowing down for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You don’t get it. Teachers do slow the class down for those who drag the pace down. If the schools can do the sats at school in a successful way, not sure how the Iowa couldn’t be done safely.

I disagree. DC is in Algebra 1 and our middle school does not grade on the curve and doesn't modify the curriculum - the teacher doesn't have the time and interest. DC just had an inequality test and the average in the class was C and she didn't change the syllabus, just gives them extra practice work during class. This is not specific to math; he has a very demanding history teacher and 1/3 class is failing and the teacher keeps on goingat the same pace.

If all of the teachers approached advanced classes like your child's teacher, none of this would be a problem. Teachers shouldn't slow down advanced classes for the kids who can't handle the pace. The obvious answer is to have the kid drop down to M7H or regular classes if they can't handle the pace of honors. Why do so many teachers slow down the classes for the kids who don't belong at the expense of the kids who do? Is it a directive from higher up? Do the teachers just feel sorry for the struggling kid? Are the rescheduling logistics impossible for switching kids to a new class midyear?

You're thinking of ES. This does not happen in MS and HS.

No, I’m not. In my kid’s algebra class, the teacher will go over every quiz and test problem because several (of the same) kids made many mistakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You don’t get it. Teachers do slow the class down for those who drag the pace down. If the schools can do the sats at school in a successful way, not sure how the Iowa couldn’t be done safely.

I disagree. DC is in Algebra 1 and our middle school does not grade on the curve and doesn't modify the curriculum - the teacher doesn't have the time and interest. DC just had an inequality test and the average in the class was C and she didn't change the syllabus, just gives them extra practice work during class. This is not specific to math; he has a very demanding history teacher and 1/3 class is failing and the teacher keeps on goingat the same pace.

If all of the teachers approached advanced classes like your child's teacher, none of this would be a problem. Teachers shouldn't slow down advanced classes for the kids who can't handle the pace. The obvious answer is to have the kid drop down to M7H or regular classes if they can't handle the pace of honors. Why do so many teachers slow down the classes for the kids who don't belong at the expense of the kids who do? Is it a directive from higher up? Do the teachers just feel sorry for the struggling kid? Are the rescheduling logistics impossible for switching kids to a new class midyear?

You're thinking of ES. This does not happen in MS and HS.

DP but I’m glad to hear that. Maybe if it did happen in ES, people would get serious about ability grouping and stop trying to cram their kids into AAP.

My 7th grade son's work space is outside my office in the living room. I can hear most of his classes, sadly. I've heard his teacher tell the class almost daily (2X a week due to block scheduling) that many are failing and don't belong in the class and need to drop because he's not slowing down for them.

I don't agree with the method of delivery, but the teacher is correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You don’t get it. Teachers do slow the class down for those who drag the pace down. If the schools can do the sats at school in a successful way, not sure how the Iowa couldn’t be done safely.

I disagree. DC is in Algebra 1 and our middle school does not grade on the curve and doesn't modify the curriculum - the teacher doesn't have the time and interest. DC just had an inequality test and the average in the class was C and she didn't change the syllabus, just gives them extra practice work during class. This is not specific to math; he has a very demanding history teacher and 1/3 class is failing and the teacher keeps on goingat the same pace.

If all of the teachers approached advanced classes like your child's teacher, none of this would be a problem. Teachers shouldn't slow down advanced classes for the kids who can't handle the pace. The obvious answer is to have the kid drop down to M7H or regular classes if they can't handle the pace of honors. Why do so many teachers slow down the classes for the kids who don't belong at the expense of the kids who do? Is it a directive from higher up? Do the teachers just feel sorry for the struggling kid? Are the rescheduling logistics impossible for switching kids to a new class midyear?

You're thinking of ES. This does not happen in MS and HS.

No, I’m not. In my kid’s algebra class, the teacher will go over every quiz and test problem because several (of the same) kids made many mistakes.

Sucks for you. I have 5 kids, 4 who have been through MS and parts of HS and that's never been their experience. Sounds like a bad teacher. That's not usually how it works in advanced classes in MS and HS because there are alternative classes kids can drop down to.

[Anonymous]

Is IOWA test still on for Jan 11th? Not sure if this is right given the cases spike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is IOWA test still on for Jan 11th? Not sure if this is right given the cases spike.

This will vary school by school. They have a window to give it from Jan- March. Some schools are doing it in Jan. I believe my school is waiting till Feb

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is IOWA test still on for Jan 11th? Not sure if this is right given the cases spike.

This will vary school by school. They have a window to give it from Jan- March. Some schools are doing it in Jan. I believe my school is waiting till Feb

Is this FCPS?

I have a 6th grader in FCPS and there has been no mention of the Iowa test at all. We do have some middle school orientation virtual events coming up soon including course selection. Perhaps it will be brought up then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is IOWA test still on for Jan 11th? Not sure if this is right given the cases spike.

This will vary school by school. They have a window to give it from Jan- March. Some schools are doing it in Jan. I believe my school is waiting till Feb

Is this FCPS?

I have a 6th grader in FCPS and there has been no mention of the Iowa test at all. We do have some middle school orientation virtual events coming up soon including course selection. Perhaps it will be brought up then.

That's just probably means that yours is scheduled towards the end of the window, maybe the second half of February or March.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who told me about this post so I came to look for it. If you’re reading this, hi, haha.

I have 6th grade AAP kid who is possibly interested in Algebra next year but my spouse is also a middle school math teacher. Our school has NOT mentioned anything about IATT yet. That said I’m not stressing because spouse agrees that if they can’t give the IATT they’ll figure out another way to recommend kids for 7th grade Algebra this year. HTH.

[Anonymous]

I have a 6th grader in AAP who has always done well in math and prior to this year I would have wanted him in Algevra for 7th. We don’t do any outside math tutoring.

I am concerned that missing 1/3rd of last year (we were at a school that did not teach new material) and then this year is substandard distance learning has not prepared him well for Algebra. There has to be a large subset of similarly situated kids. Unless everyone is secretly tutoring their kids on the side.

Anyway, I predict fewer kids taking algebra next year in 7th.

Can we skip the test if we aren’t interested in algebra next year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 6th grader in AAP who has always done well in math and prior to this year I would have wanted him in Algevra for 7th. We don’t do any outside math tutoring.

I am concerned that missing 1/3rd of last year (we were at a school that did not teach new material) and then this year is substandard distance learning has not prepared him well for Algebra. There has to be a large subset of similarly situated kids. Unless everyone is secretly tutoring their kids on the side.

Anyway, I predict fewer kids taking algebra next year in 7th.

Can we skip the test if we aren’t interested in algebra next year?

Everyone is tutoring their kids. And yes, you can skip the test if you're not interested. That said, we didn't think our child was ready but he took the test. He scored a 99 on IAAT and has a 104.3% on Algebra this year so far. So maybe let your son take the test and if he scores 95%+ let him try the class. If he doesn't then don't take the class. The score cutoff is 91%, BTW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who told me about this post so I came to look for it. If you’re reading this, hi, haha.

I have 6th grade AAP kid who is possibly interested in Algebra next year but my spouse is also a middle school math teacher. Our school has NOT mentioned anything about IATT yet. That said I’m not stressing because spouse agrees that if they can’t give the IATT they’ll figure out another way to recommend kids for 7th grade Algebra this year. HTH.

It's moving forward. My DD is taking it at school on Wednesday.