MCPS Teachers: Why cling to grade inflation and disregard MAP?

[Anonymous]

Come Middle School, except to get into the magnet and specialty programs for high school, it is meaningless. You are put on the math track in 6th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Come Middle School, except to get into the magnet and specialty programs for high school, it is meaningless. You are put on the math track in 6th.

OP isn’t interested in facts. Just micromanaging already overworked staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Come Middle School, except to get into the magnet and specialty programs for high school, it is meaningless. You are put on the math track in 6th.

OP isn’t interested in facts. Just micromanaging already overworked staff.

I'm micromanaging overworked staff by talking about my child's MAP-M score during parent-teacher conference, which I was told to do by the school and the school system? The MAP-M scores that MCPS uses as a KPI to hold itself and staff accountable for learning goals? Are you serious or popping psychedelics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Come Middle School, except to get into the magnet and specialty programs for high school, it is meaningless. You are put on the math track in 6th.

OP isn’t interested in facts. Just micromanaging already overworked staff.

I'm micromanaging overworked staff by talking about my child's MAP-M score during parent-teacher conference, which I was told to do by the school and the school system? The MAP-M scores that MCPS uses as a KPI to hold itself and staff accountable for learning goals? Are you serious or popping psychedelics?

Asking the teacher about the results was not micromanaging. However, you chose to not believe the teacher that your average child is doing well in class. An average child will occasionally get a C or D without concern. You have already stated that the lower areas are geometry and data which do not come up as frequently in the curriculum and have not been taught yet this year.

It is 100% okay to decide that average is not okay for your daughter and get tutors or a math program to help. But this is not a teacher or grade issue. It is just that you want better for your child. Great! Go for it! But don’t bring down the teacher because of your desires.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mathnasium has a strong financial incentive to tell you that your kid is behind at the beginning and then, after months of classes there, they will probably proudly announce that she is fixed, thanks to them!

I wouldn’t assume that the teacher is hiding something and mathnasium is the objective arbiter here.

This was my first thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mathnasium has a strong financial incentive to tell you that your kid is behind at the beginning and then, after months of classes there, they will probably proudly announce that she is fixed, thanks to them!

I wouldn’t assume that the teacher is hiding something and mathnasium is the objective arbiter here.

This was my first thought.

NP. Mathnasium’s also matched my daughter’s MAPS score. As a result of going to Mathnasium for a year, my 5th grade daughter with multiple learning differences and an IEP, not only increased her MAPS score by 50% but her special education teacher also used her score to suggest suspending services. DD is thrilled not to be pulled out of class anymore.

[Anonymous]

OP, I don’t think you are devoted to or interested in public school education. That’s okay - to each her own. It’s no mystery though that many parents with resources choose to supplement their kids’ public school education. In other words, I’m surprised Mathnasium is such a big deal to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Come Middle School, except to get into the magnet and specialty programs for high school, it is meaningless. You are put on the math track in 6th.

OP isn’t interested in facts. Just micromanaging already overworked staff.

I'm micromanaging overworked staff by talking about my child's MAP-M score during parent-teacher conference, which I was told to do by the school and the school system? The MAP-M scores that MCPS uses as a KPI to hold itself and staff accountable for learning goals? Are you serious or popping psychedelics?

Asking the teacher about the results was not micromanaging. However, you chose to not believe the teacher that your average child is doing well in class. An average child will occasionally get a C or D without concern. You have already stated that the lower areas are geometry and data which do not come up as frequently in the curriculum and have not been taught yet this year.

It is 100% okay to decide that average is not okay for your daughter and get tutors or a math program to help. But this is not a teacher or grade issue. It is just that you want better for your child. Great! Go for it! But don’t bring down the teacher because of your desires.

You keep saying she's average, but again, according to MAP-M, my daughter is slightly below the grade-level average. I'm literally working to get her back to average, aka ON GRADE LEVEL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mathnasium has a strong financial incentive to tell you that your kid is behind at the beginning and then, after months of classes there, they will probably proudly announce that she is fixed, thanks to them!

I wouldn’t assume that the teacher is hiding something and mathnasium is the objective arbiter here.

This was my first thought.

NP. Mathnasium’s also matched my daughter’s MAPS score. As a result of going to Mathnasium for a year, my 5th grade daughter with multiple learning differences and an IEP, not only increased her MAPS score by 50% but her special education teacher also used her score to suggest suspending services. DD is thrilled not to be pulled out of class anymore.

OP here. This is encouraging. Thank you for sharing this. I hope my child sees a similar bump in her MAP score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don’t think you are devoted to or interested in public school education. That’s okay - to each her own. It’s no mystery though that many parents with resources choose to supplement their kids’ public school education. In other words, I’m surprised Mathnasium is such a big deal to you.

What are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Come Middle School, except to get into the magnet and specialty programs for high school, it is meaningless. You are put on the math track in 6th.

OP isn’t interested in facts. Just micromanaging already overworked staff.

I'm micromanaging overworked staff by talking about my child's MAP-M score during parent-teacher conference, which I was told to do by the school and the school system? The MAP-M scores that MCPS uses as a KPI to hold itself and staff accountable for learning goals? Are you serious or popping psychedelics?

Asking the teacher about the results was not micromanaging. However, you chose to not believe the teacher that your average child is doing well in class. An average child will occasionally get a C or D without concern. You have already stated that the lower areas are geometry and data which do not come up as frequently in the curriculum and have not been taught yet this year.

It is 100% okay to decide that average is not okay for your daughter and get tutors or a math program to help. But this is not a teacher or grade issue. It is just that you want better for your child. Great! Go for it! But don’t bring down the teacher because of your desires.

The OP looked at multiple data points( declining MAP scores, struggles with homework, inconsistent grades, and the own teachers words that she hadn’t had time to review things in depth, which matched her daughters stated issue). It’s okay for a student to not be an A student or in the 90th percentile. It’s also very valid for a parent to see, express and address concern about things that are pointing to a negative trend. I have no idea why folks are trying to dissuade this level of concern and engagement from a parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Come Middle School, except to get into the magnet and specialty programs for high school, it is meaningless. You are put on the math track in 6th.

OP isn’t interested in facts. Just micromanaging already overworked staff.

I'm micromanaging overworked staff by talking about my child's MAP-M score during parent-teacher conference, which I was told to do by the school and the school system? The MAP-M scores that MCPS uses as a KPI to hold itself and staff accountable for learning goals? Are you serious or popping psychedelics?

Asking the teacher about the results was not micromanaging. However, you chose to not believe the teacher that your average child is doing well in class. An average child will occasionally get a C or D without concern. You have already stated that the lower areas are geometry and data which do not come up as frequently in the curriculum and have not been taught yet this year.

It is 100% okay to decide that average is not okay for your daughter and get tutors or a math program to help. But this is not a teacher or grade issue. It is just that you want better for your child. Great! Go for it! But don’t bring down the teacher because of your desires.

The OP looked at multiple data points( declining MAP scores, struggles with homework, inconsistent grades, and the own teachers words that she hadn’t had time to review things in depth, which matched her daughters stated issue). It’s okay for a student to not be an A student or in the 90th percentile. It’s also very valid for a parent to see, express and address concern about things that are pointing to a negative trend. I have no idea why folks are trying to dissuade this level of concern and engagement from a parent.

I agree. It's disheartening.

I don't know how many of these anonymous posters are educators themselves, but if they are, it speaks to the truly broken dynamic of our schools today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Come Middle School, except to get into the magnet and specialty programs for high school, it is meaningless. You are put on the math track in 6th.

OP isn’t interested in facts. Just micromanaging already overworked staff.

I'm micromanaging overworked staff by talking about my child's MAP-M score during parent-teacher conference, which I was told to do by the school and the school system? The MAP-M scores that MCPS uses as a KPI to hold itself and staff accountable for learning goals? Are you serious or popping psychedelics?

Asking the teacher about the results was not micromanaging. However, you chose to not believe the teacher that your average child is doing well in class. An average child will occasionally get a C or D without concern. You have already stated that the lower areas are geometry and data which do not come up as frequently in the curriculum and have not been taught yet this year.

It is 100% okay to decide that average is not okay for your daughter and get tutors or a math program to help. But this is not a teacher or grade issue. It is just that you want better for your child. Great! Go for it! But don’t bring down the teacher because of your desires.

You keep saying she's average, but again, according to MAP-M, my daughter is slightly below the grade-level average. I'm literally working to get her back to average, aka ON GRADE LEVEL.

Omg. Please get some sleep and leave it alone. Seriously. Get her a tutor or this for-profit place that takes your money and tells you what you want and call it a day. You are exhausting. You have some answers. The district has specific criteria to meet to qualify for services. Being slightly behind on a MAP test is nothing. They take MAP 2-3 times a year for all of their time in MCPS. If a trend happens and teachers are concerned they will reach out. It’s just one data point. One. It’s not the whole picture of her abilities. It’s rarely used in the classroom. It’s used as a reference within the district because it’s standardized- everyone takes the same test. You are putting too much emphasis on one data point at this time in her life. All you need is a tutor if you both want to improve. If she’s not invested and starts to resent your approach it won’t make a difference what you do.

[Anonymous]

Parent of older kid here. Of course not all teachers are like this but, I found that sometimes grades in ES can unfortunately be tied to kids behavior rather than performance. One of my kids has 504 for ADHD and had significant behavior challenges in ES. Grades not great despite high MAP-M scores. Grades improved in later grades when able to move between classes. MAP-M stayed high and not excelling in high school math.

It's great that OP used the data to take action when there were a few red flags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Come Middle School, except to get into the magnet and specialty programs for high school, it is meaningless. You are put on the math track in 6th.

OP isn’t interested in facts. Just micromanaging already overworked staff.

I'm micromanaging overworked staff by talking about my child's MAP-M score during parent-teacher conference, which I was told to do by the school and the school system? The MAP-M scores that MCPS uses as a KPI to hold itself and staff accountable for learning goals? Are you serious or popping psychedelics?

Asking the teacher about the results was not micromanaging. However, you chose to not believe the teacher that your average child is doing well in class. An average child will occasionally get a C or D without concern. You have already stated that the lower areas are geometry and data which do not come up as frequently in the curriculum and have not been taught yet this year.

It is 100% okay to decide that average is not okay for your daughter and get tutors or a math program to help. But this is not a teacher or grade issue. It is just that you want better for your child. Great! Go for it! But don’t bring down the teacher because of your desires.

You keep saying she's average, but again, according to MAP-M, my daughter is slightly below the grade-level average. I'm literally working to get her back to average, aka ON GRADE LEVEL.

Omg. Please get some sleep and leave it alone. Seriously. Get her a tutor or this for-profit place that takes your money and tells you what you want and call it a day. You are exhausting. You have some answers. The district has specific criteria to meet to qualify for services. Being slightly behind on a MAP test is nothing. They take MAP 2-3 times a year for all of their time in MCPS. If a trend happens and teachers are concerned they will reach out. It’s just one data point. One. It’s not the whole picture of her abilities. It’s rarely used in the classroom. It’s used as a reference within the district because it’s standardized- everyone takes the same test. You are putting too much emphasis on one data point at this time in her life. All you need is a tutor if you both want to improve. If she’s not invested and starts to resent your approach it won’t make a difference what you do.

You are a poor reader. This is not one data point. I already spelled out multiple.

I also pointed out this latest MAP-M score is a downward trend, and the lowest from her peak.

AND the Mathnasium assessment MIRRORED THE MAP-M SCORE>

The fact that YOU think MAP is worthless is your opinion. That's NOT what MCPS tells parents.