Reinstating accelerated math in 4th grade

[Anonymous]

I've just heard that accelerated math will be reinstated at our MCPS ES this year, at least for 4th grade. 1/4 of the grade will be accelerated.

I really question if this is being done for the good of the students or to appease the parents who felt like their kid lost an advantage when there was no accelerated math classroom in 3rd grade.

Is it really the case that 25% of the class needs acceleration that cannot be accommodated by differentiation within the classroom in the 4th grade? How are the kids selected for acceleration? If they are so gifted, why are they not in the HCT program?

Personally, I felt like the differentiation in the classroom was working fine for my 3rd grader; she was sufficiently challenged; etc. I think that 4th grade is awfully young to start tracking based on nebulous, secret criteria.

[Anonymous]

There was a whole thread on this. Called compacted 4/5 math. A poster who said it was 13% county wide.

[Anonymous]

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/308590.page#3606454

[Anonymous]

The HGC curriculum does not include math. Also, they aren't reinstating it. Next year will be the first year 4th graders will be under 2.0.

[Anonymous]

They are reinstating it because the rising 5th and 6th graders have been stuck in (essentially) grade level math for the last 2 years. Even though they weren't under 2.0, they were getting the old curriculum without acceleration..which for some meant repeating math..same tests etc. Those kids truely got a raw deal from MCPS. Never fear though, after taking grade 4 math 3x (2nd thorugh 4th grade)and then grade 5 math (5th grade)..my child is being placed in IM next year in MS. This is the same class they would have been in had they moved up 1 grade each year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are reinstating it because the rising 5th and 6th graders have been stuck in (essentially) grade level math for the last 2 years. Even though they weren't under 2.0, they were getting the old curriculum without acceleration..which for some meant repeating math..same tests etc. Those kids truely got a raw deal from MCPS. Never fear though, after taking grade 4 math 3x (2nd thorugh 4th grade)and then grade 5 math (5th grade)..my child is being placed in IM next year in MS. This is the same class they would have been in had they moved up 1 grade each year.

That did not happen at our school. Last year's 4th and 5th graders were accelerated. There were definitely some taking math 7.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to those who linked to the other thread. Somehow I was oblivious to the entire thing which I suppose means that my child was not tested, and therefore has not been offered a place in "compacted 4/5 math." I just heard from another parent recently that of the 4 4th grade classes, one will be accelerated and the rest will be "regular."

I am new to MCPS, and obviously behind the curve. For some reason my DD's report card did not come in the mail, I had to chase it down and have it re-sent, and just received it. She received an "I" in the 4th quarter of math (Geometry). There is, of course, no explanation of this grade - I am clueless as to why - I review her papers that come home from school.

Being cynical, I am wondering if she got one "I" so that if I dare to ask how they selected which math class she should be in, I can be told she's not proficient in geometry (see, she received that "I" in the 4th quarter).

I also have never received any MSA scores for my daughter (these were referred to on the other thread). I guess you need to request them? Do I ask the principal for them?

[Anonymous]

To the PP who asid Math 7 is still offered at your ES, how will they incorpoate 2.0 to the 4th graders who have completed Math 6? Will they have to jump back to 4/5? Maybe they will goet to go to MS for math?

[Anonymous]

I don't think any parents have received MSA scores yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks to those who linked to the other thread. Somehow I was oblivious to the entire thing which I suppose means that my child was not tested, and therefore has not been offered a place in "compacted 4/5 math." I just heard from another parent recently that of the 4 4th grade classes, one will be accelerated and the rest will be "regular."

I am new to MCPS, and obviously behind the curve. For some reason my DD's report card did not come in the mail, I had to chase it down and have it re-sent, and just received it. She received an "I" in the 4th quarter of math (Geometry). There is, of course, no explanation of this grade - I am clueless as to why - I review her papers that come home from school.

Being cynical, I am wondering if she got one "I" so that if I dare to ask how they selected which math class she should be in, I can be told she's not proficient in geometry (see, she received that "I" in the 4th quarter).

I also have never received any MSA scores for my daughter (these were referred to on the other thread). I guess you need to request them? Do I ask the principal for them?

There was no separate test for compacted 4/5 math, so your being "oblivious" to the process didn't impact anything. If your child had excelled in math, he/she would have been placed in that class. The fact that your child got an "I" in math means that your child has no business being in accelerated/compacted math. Let the teachers do their job. Unfortunately, parents thinking that if they test the kid, or push the teacher, or complain to the principal, etc. that their kid will be accelerated has been the big problem in MCPS for years. You can't make this happen for your child simply b/c you want it. Your kid has to show that they are capable and ready for more challenge.

[Anonymous]

PP, I think different schools handled it differently. Some tested all the kids and some only tested the kids that showed the need. I was not aware that some schools did not test at all. I agree that a child who got and I in math is probably fine where s/he is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks to those who linked to the other thread. Somehow I was oblivious to the entire thing which I suppose means that my child was not tested, and therefore has not been offered a place in "compacted 4/5 math." I just heard from another parent recently that of the 4 4th grade classes, one will be accelerated and the rest will be "regular."

I am new to MCPS, and obviously behind the curve. For some reason my DD's report card did not come in the mail, I had to chase it down and have it re-sent, and just received it. She received an "I" in the 4th quarter of math (Geometry). There is, of course, no explanation of this grade - I am clueless as to why - I review her papers that come home from school.

Being cynical, I am wondering if she got one "I" so that if I dare to ask how they selected which math class she should be in, I can be told she's not proficient in geometry (see, she received that "I" in the 4th quarter).

I also have never received any MSA scores for my daughter (these were referred to on the other thread). I guess you need to request them? Do I ask the principal for them?

There was no separate test for compacted 4/5 math, so your being "oblivious" to the process didn't impact anything. If your child had excelled in math, he/she would have been placed in that class. The fact that your child got an "I" in math means that your child has no business being in accelerated/compacted math. Let the teachers do their job. Unfortunately, parents thinking that if they test the kid, or push the teacher, or complain to the principal, etc. that their kid will be accelerated has been the big problem in MCPS for years. You can't make this happen for your child simply b/c you want it. Your kid has to show that they are capable and ready for more challenge.

There was indeed a test. If your child was accepted, you received a letter with his/her score and a permission slip to allow them to take the class.

[Anonymous]

My daughter received an "I" for the 4th quarter in Geometry however, she was selected to move into the new compacted 4/5 math next year. It was based on 3 or 4 factors if I am remembering correctly from the letter I received. One was her performance throughout the school year in class and on various assessments. Two was how she did on a test they gave to I think everyone in third grade. You had to achieve above a certain cut off. And finally I think the teacher had to recommend that the student would benefit from accelerated curriculum. I could be getting some of this wrong.

This is completely different from HGC from which my daughter was waitlisted.

[Anonymous]

HGC curriculum does not include math. Kids who go to HGCs have the same math as everyone else in the county and also had to qualify for compacted math based on the same criteria.

[Anonymous]

Our HGC was offering math up to IM and my homeschool was only offer 5+ last year...to me that means that had an accerelated curriculum.