compact math

[Anonymous]

received letter from DC's 3rd grade teacher. What is it? Is it really hard to get in? What's the selection criteria?

[Anonymous]

Compacted math is MCPS's version of accelerated math program.

In 4th grade, they take all of Math 4, half of Math5
In 5th grade, they take the rest of Math 5, all of Math 6

That puts the kid on track to take Algebra in 7th grade.

Your DC will get assessed by the 3rd grade math teacher on 4 points - including UCARE assessment, test scores, class work, verbal Q&A with the teacher.

Depending on your ES, some kids get bused to the local MS at 8am to take the advanced math class. For other ES, if there are enough kids in that school who qualify for Compacted math, then the school might offer the math class within the local ES.

[Anonymous]

What did the letter say? We never received notification before our child was tested.

[Anonymous]

it said go post something about this on dcum and you will get bashed by the parents of the kids who didn't get into compact math because they didn't have time to prep them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What did the letter say? We never received notification before our child was tested.

I'm 13:52. We never received any kind of notification either. The first I heard of DC getting in was the letter telling us that DC got in.

[Anonymous]

I haven't heard of any testing either. Should all schools have sent a letter by now?

[Anonymous]

We received our letter today (11/6)

[Anonymous]

All letters must be sent by today. The letter just states that all 3rd graders will be evaluated for compacted math. Conferences are next week and would be a perfect time to ask your child's teacher if your child is being considered.

[Anonymous]

We got our first 'letter' on the back of dd's progress report. It described the ucare testing. We got more from the principal last Friday in the Friday folder

[Anonymous]

Interesting that they are now testing everyone.

[Anonymous]

They are not testing everyone. Everyone is considered for compacted math and goes through a screening process that looks at prior grades, Inview scores, and whether their teachers feel they do in depth thinking. If they appear to be a good match for the class, then they do the testing. You can ask your child's teacher whether your child is being considered for the class at your conference next week. They can even show you your child's scores- you are the parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are not testing everyone. Everyone is considered for compacted math and goes through a screening process that looks at prior grades, Inview scores, and whether their teachers feel they do in depth thinking. If they appear to be a good match for the class, then they do the testing. You can ask your child's teacher whether your child is being considered for the class at your conference next week. They can even show you your child's scores- you are the parent.

Ok, so they are all being evaluated. I have a 5th grader in compacted math (the first class to be in compacted math) and the year he was in 3rd the testing was at the end of the school year (because the program had just been created) and very few students were evaluated.

[Anonymous]

ask at teacher conference if your child is being evaluated. It is hard to get into compact math. Percentages vary by school.

[Anonymous]

My letter said they are "reviewing existing student data" to "identify which students might be considered candidates." "Students identified as potential candidates will engage in several assessment tasks from November to February."

"You child, M________, has been identified as a potential candidate for next year's Grade 4/5 Compacted Math course."

At my school, I don't think everyone is tested.

[Anonymous]

Given that all 3rd graders have the exact same math class, how do they determine whether your child is a candidate? There is no way for the child to show s/he is ready for more, at least at our school.