Math recovery plan released

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm still confused! How will MCPS address the math learning gaps -- particularly in high school math classes? Will the curriculum that wasn't covered this year, be move to math next year or will they simply not cover it?

My kid missed 30% of Geometry, and it's never coming back!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m having trouble understanding what this means. My son is a 6th grader taking AIM. Next year it will be either Algebra 1 or Grade 7 math even though it states that AIM misses critical pieces of pre algebra even before the pandemic? And how will math placement be determined?

Your kid will be fine going on to Algebra. Mine skipped Aim and went directly to algebra and its fine.

DCUM maxim: what works for my kid works for everyone's kid!
And its corollary: what doesn't work for my kid doesn't work for anyone's kid!

Ok, pp you’ve touted your “maxim” enough now. Can you drop it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm still confused! How will MCPS address the math learning gaps -- particularly in high school math classes? Will the curriculum that wasn't covered this year, be move to math next year or will they simply not cover it?

It looks like for kids who have been in Algebra this year that they have the option to take Algebra 2 over two years instead of one, presumably to catch up on the missed Algebra 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm still confused! How will MCPS address the math learning gaps -- particularly in high school math classes? Will the curriculum that wasn't covered this year, be move to math next year or will they simply not cover it?

A lot of the units they eliminated overlapped or supported units in previous or subsequent levels. Things like reinforcement of a concept they learned the previous year before introducing a unit that builds on it, or a brief introduction to something covered next year in more depth. Sometimes they introduce something right after a unit that relates to it to help establish the connections, but it won’t be taught fully until a later level.

So it’s not an entire concept that’s being eliminated, but one of several places it would normally be covered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So they're slowing the whole math curriculum down to do Algebra in 9th as the standard pathway, correct?

THIS! The plan here is fundamental change of philosophy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm still confused! How will MCPS address the math learning gaps -- particularly in high school math classes? Will the curriculum that wasn't covered this year, be move to math next year or will they simply not cover it?

A lot of the units they eliminated overlapped or supported units in previous or subsequent levels. Things like reinforcement of a concept they learned the previous year before introducing a unit that builds on it, or a brief introduction to something covered next year in more depth. Sometimes they introduce something right after a unit that relates to it to help establish the connections, but it won’t be taught fully until a later level.

So it’s not an entire concept that’s being eliminated, but one of several places it would normally be covered.

Seems they are taking several days per marking period to cover the missed concepts. But then wouldn't they miss concepts from the current math class? It's kicking the can down the road, IMO.

I think I like the slow down in math, though. DC is in 7th and taking Algebra though DC is not really that strong in math. DC did fine (As on the report card), but I'm seriously concerned that DC is missing concepts and also that, not being a mathy kid, DC would be taking Calc in 11th. I was thinking of pulling DC back a bit, but this plan takes the decision out of my hands.

But, I'm confused as to what the recommended path is for a current 7th grader taking algebra..?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm still confused! How will MCPS address the math learning gaps -- particularly in high school math classes? Will the curriculum that wasn't covered this year, be move to math next year or will they simply not cover it?

A lot of the units they eliminated overlapped or supported units in previous or subsequent levels. Things like reinforcement of a concept they learned the previous year before introducing a unit that builds on it, or a brief introduction to something covered next year in more depth. Sometimes they introduce something right after a unit that relates to it to help establish the connections, but it won’t be taught fully until a later level.

So it’s not an entire concept that’s being eliminated, but one of several places it would normally be covered.

Seems they are taking several days per marking period to cover the missed concepts. But then wouldn't they miss concepts from the current math class? It's kicking the can down the road, IMO.

I think I like the slow down in math, though. DC is in 7th and taking Algebra though DC is not really that strong in math. DC did fine (As on the report card), but I'm seriously concerned that DC is missing concepts and also that, not being a mathy kid, DC would be taking Calc in 11th. I was thinking of pulling DC back a bit, but this plan takes the decision out of my hands.

But, I'm confused as to what the recommended path is for a current 7th grader taking algebra..?

I think it's up to the kid/parent as of high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I think I like the slow down in math, though. DC is in 7th and taking Algebra though DC is not really that strong in math. DC did fine (As on the report card), but I'm seriously concerned that DC is missing concepts and also that, not being a mathy kid, DC would be taking Calc in 11th. I was thinking of pulling DC back a bit, but this plan takes the decision out of my hands.

But, I'm confused as to what the recommended path is for a current 7th grader taking algebra..?

I also have a 7th grader in algebra and was trying to figure this out. It looks like the plan is to move on to geometry next year, and the curriculum might be adjusted (at the MCPS level) to include some of the missed algebraic concepts in geometry (possibly by continuing to reduce/eliminate the geometry concepts that were cut this year due to lack of time). After geometry, it looks like it might be possible to slow down by spreading Algebra 2 over two years (9th and 10th grade). I figure we can think about that after we see how next year goes and what the schools are offering/recommending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So they're slowing the whole math curriculum down to do Algebra in 9th as the standard pathway, correct?

THIS! The plan here is fundamental change of philosophy.

That's awesome. Pushing kids so fast was never a sound philosophy.

[Anonymous]

For those scheduled to take Algebra 1 next year, the document states:
"When considering students for Algebra 1, previous MCAP performance is a critical data point. Students not consistently earning a 3 or higher on prior MCAP assessments are likely to need Bridge Projects when taking Algebra 1 in Middle School. This pathway is tenuous given the number of 8th grade MCAP failures in normal years."

When did students take the MCAP most recently, and where can we find those scores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those scheduled to take Algebra 1 next year, the document states:
"When considering students for Algebra 1, previous MCAP performance is a critical data point. Students not consistently earning a 3 or higher on prior MCAP assessments are likely to need Bridge Projects when taking Algebra 1 in Middle School. This pathway is tenuous given the number of 8th grade MCAP failures in normal years."

When did students take the MCAP most recently, and where can we find those scores?

+1 anyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those scheduled to take Algebra 1 next year, the document states:
"When considering students for Algebra 1, previous MCAP performance is a critical data point. Students not consistently earning a 3 or higher on prior MCAP assessments are likely to need Bridge Projects when taking Algebra 1 in Middle School. This pathway is tenuous given the number of 8th grade MCAP failures in normal years."

When did students take the MCAP most recently, and where can we find those scores?

+1 anyone?

Two years ago -- spring of 2019. Only grades 3 and up took it. Scores were mailed home, so you'll have to check your own records or contact your school to ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm still confused! How will MCPS address the math learning gaps -- particularly in high school math classes? Will the curriculum that wasn't covered this year, be move to math next year or will they simply not cover it?

Click on the links. One of them has a detailed plan.

Thanks, PP, but I'm definitely not seeing a detailed plan. I'm specifically interested in the transition from Algebra 2 to Precalc, an this is all I can find regarding the plan:

However, teachers of Algebra 2 and Precalculus will need to be aware of the potential learning gaps and the need to incorporate diagnostic pre-assessments and insert content from prior coursework just-in-time as needed to access the content of the course of enrollment.

Does this mean the plan is to fit in the three units that weren't covered in Algebra 2 on an "as needed" basis in Precal next year? How is that even possible to do that with the amount of content that was missed and the amount of content that needs to be taught already in precalc? If I'm missing something, please let me know. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So they're slowing the whole math curriculum down to do Algebra in 9th as the standard pathway, correct?

THIS! The plan here is fundamental change of philosophy.

This doesn't appear to be true at all, but pushing kids that aren't ready was probably never a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm still confused! How will MCPS address the math learning gaps -- particularly in high school math classes? Will the curriculum that wasn't covered this year, be move to math next year or will they simply not cover it?

Click on the links. One of them has a detailed plan.

Thanks, PP, but I'm definitely not seeing a detailed plan. I'm specifically interested in the transition from Algebra 2 to Precalc, an this is all I can find regarding the plan:

However, teachers of Algebra 2 and Precalculus will need to be aware of the potential learning gaps and the need to incorporate diagnostic pre-assessments and insert content from prior coursework just-in-time as needed to access the content of the course of enrollment.

Does this mean the plan is to fit in the three units that weren't covered in Algebra 2 on an "as needed" basis in Precal next year? How is that even possible to do that with the amount of content that was missed and the amount of content that needs to be taught already in precalc? If I'm missing something, please let me know. Thanks!

I'm so glad our school didn't skip content.