"Enriched" Classes for MS have now become the "advanced" water down classes at our MS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does one get their child into an enriched class when they weren’t recommended for it? Who do you speak with/what do you say?

You have to go back to your elementary school which made the recommendations. Although why are you pushing for this if they didn't think your kid should be in it?

[Anonymous]

NBMS

Historical Inquiry in World Studies 6
Students learn about the rich cultures and history from the earliest human settlements of Mesopotamia, Egypt,
Greece, Rome, and China to great civilizations of the year 1000 CE. Students are challenged to analyze
archeological evidence, ask questions to further their knowledge, and understand history as an ongoing
investigation. They are introduced to historical thinking skills including sourcing, close reading, corroboration,
and research as they analyze primary and secondary documents. This course lays a foundation for students to
understand key principles of cultural, political, economic and geographic systems both in the past and today.

Historical Inquiry into Global Humanities 6 (By recommendation only from the MCPS Office of
Accelerated and Enriched Instruction)
This course is built around the core Grade 6 social studies curriculum, Historical Inquiry in World Studies 6, that
includes historical content from early civilizations, the empires of Greece and Rome, the dynasties of China, and
civilizations of the first millennium. Cohort students will go beyond this core as they learn additional content,
explore deeper connections to today, engage in investigative inquiry to strengthen their writing through
Document Based Questions, and enhance their learning through relevant literature connections. They will also
participate in a culminating Model UN simulation at the end of the year.

Investigations into Mathematics
Investigations into Mathematics (IM) extends students’ understanding of mathematical concepts developed in
Mathematics 6 and accelerates the pace of instruction to prepare for Algebra 1. This course compacts all of the
Grade 7 Common Core State Standards and much of the Grade 8 Common Core State Standards into a single
year. Students who successfully complete IM are prepared for Algebra 1. Instruction for IM will focus on four
critical areas: (1) developing a unified understanding of number, recognizing fractions, decimals (including both
those that have a finite or a repeating decimal representation), and percents as different representations of
rational numbers; (2) using linear equations and systems of linear equations to represent, analyze, and solve a
variety of problems; (3) comparing two data distributions and reasoning about differences between populations;
(4) analyzing geometric relationships in order to solve real-world mathematical problems.
*Applied IM for 6th grade will be county determined by specific criteria (CogAt, MAP-M, and PARCC)

Applied Investigations into Mathematics 6 (By recommendation only from the MCPS Office of
Accelerated and Enriched Instruction)
This course is designed to extend students’ understanding of mathematical concepts aligned with common core
state standards, accelerating the pace of instruction while diving deeper into concepts at an equal level of
intensity. This is much more than accelerated mathematics course as the program offers access to many
academic competitions and the opportunity to conduct field work. Students work with an academic cohort to
conduct independent inquiries using mathematics, computer science, and the scientific process to solve
real-world problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It appears that our MS (a W-feeder) has decided to offer only AIM or Math 6, essentially taking the cohort rule that central office "promised" where there is an IM, Math 6, and AIM courses available. As a matter of fact, we don't even have a differentiated enriched social studies program. From the presentation, it was clear that all 6th grade kids will be invited .

Honestly, Central Office must think we are fools. They tell us that they will offer these "manget-lite" classes but has no real plan to really keep a cohort. I do not consider the entire 6th grade class the "cohort" that was spoken of.

I would be annoyed in your situation given the promises MCPS made. My child is IM, not AIM, at a W feeder and she says there is a big difference between her class this year and in 5/6 math which had mostly kids who ended up in AIM this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does one get their child into an enriched class when they weren’t recommended for it? Who do you speak with/what do you say?

You have to go back to your elementary school which made the recommendations. Although why are you pushing for this if they didn't think your kid should be in it?

DP: I agree with this statement. However, to clarify, ES didn't make the recommendation, it came from the central office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do all 6th graders take AIM or is it just being offered to all 6th graders?

That’s a big difference. OP is claiming the former. Yes, she sounds like she’s sad the hard math class isn’t exclusive enough. Which is a feeling I get from a lot of the parents whose kids weren’t invited. They wanted the exclusivity of being chosen.

No, not all 6th graders take AIM. Most MS seem to offer Math 6, IM and AIM. Compacted Math 5/6 kids can go to one of those three. If a kid is struggling in Compacted Math 5/6 in 5th grade, a teacher might recommend going to Math 6 in 6th grade. If a 5th grader is on par then the child might be asked to continue this path and take IM in 6th. Then there is a group of 5th graders who might benefit from a deeper math and are currently taking Compacted Math 5/6, they might be recommended into AIM in 6th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what MS is the OP?

If you look at the course bulletins for numerous W-feeder middle schools you see that for 19-20 AIM and IM are offered for grade 6 and that AIM requires data from central office (cogat, map, parcc etc). same for global humanities.

OP- can you post your course bulletin?

Yes, please post the bulletin and what school is this? I think you are a troll OP.

[Anonymous]

Robert Frost

Advanced Investigations in Mathematics (AIMS) Weekly Study Hours: 2.5
AIMS is intended for students who successfully completed Compacted Math 5/6 in 5th grade and
met the following criteria:
Math PARCC: Level 4 or 5
NWEA MAP-M Fall: 95%ile or higher

Investigations In Mathematics* Weekly Study Hours: 2.5
Students who successfully completed Compacted Math 5/6 in 5th grade are enrolled in this
course.

Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities 6 Weekly Study Hours: 2.5
Cohort Prerequisite: MAP-R score of >95%, PARCC ELA Level 4 or 5, and CogAT Non-Verbal
Reasoning and CogAT Verbal Reasoning of >90%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes and no. I don't think the school ever received the proper curriculum nor resources to maintain the "cohort" classes so they decided to just enroll all. That way, they can say the kids are indeed "enriched".

This seems like a cop-out. It's easy to blame the Central Office, but I think OP needs to take a hard look in the mirror. The issue is her, and her fellow parents, who the administration knew would have kittens if there was an enriched class that their child wasn't placed into.

+100

OP here. No, I am not sour grapes.

There are kids in our Elementary School 5th grade compact 5/6 class who did not get into the magnets. I was very shocked that they did not. They are exceptional, in my opinion. Their MAP-M scores easily went into the 260's, 270's and even 280's. They also do national competitions. The fact is: I believe this is the "cohort" AIM was meant to serve at the Middle School. Likewise, there are kids who did exceptionally well and can benefit from a deeper enrichment in 6th grade, and I believe again that the enriched social studies class is meant to meet their needs. I think there is something fundamentally wrong when the middle school decides to enroll all 6th graders in the social studies class. And I do not think all fifth graders taking Compacted 5/6 should be in AIM, likely including my own child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Robert Frost

Advanced Investigations in Mathematics (AIMS) Weekly Study Hours: 2.5
AIMS is intended for students who successfully completed Compacted Math 5/6 in 5th grade and
met the following criteria:
Math PARCC: Level 4 or 5
NWEA MAP-M Fall: 95%ile or higher

Investigations In Mathematics* Weekly Study Hours: 2.5
Students who successfully completed Compacted Math 5/6 in 5th grade are enrolled in this
course.

Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities 6 Weekly Study Hours: 2.5
Cohort Prerequisite: MAP-R score of >95%, PARCC ELA Level 4 or 5, and CogAT Non-Verbal
Reasoning and CogAT Verbal Reasoning of >90%.

Is the Cogat you stated for National or MCPS percentile?

Frost seems a lot more reasonable in indentifying the kids slotted into AIMS and the Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities (aka enriched social studies).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes and no. I don't think the school ever received the proper curriculum nor resources to maintain the "cohort" classes so they decided to just enroll all. That way, they can say the kids are indeed "enriched".

This seems like a cop-out. It's easy to blame the Central Office, but I think OP needs to take a hard look in the mirror. The issue is her, and her fellow parents, who the administration knew would have kittens if there was an enriched class that their child wasn't placed into.

+100

OP here. No, I am not sour grapes.

There are kids in our Elementary School 5th grade compact 5/6 class who did not get into the magnets. I was very shocked that they did not. They are exceptional, in my opinion. Their MAP-M scores easily went into the 260's, 270's and even 280's. They also do national competitions. The fact is: I believe this is the "cohort" AIM was meant to serve at the Middle School. Likewise, there are kids who did exceptionally well and can benefit from a deeper enrichment in 6th grade, and I believe again that the enriched social studies class is meant to meet their needs. I think there is something fundamentally wrong when the middle school decides to enroll all 6th graders in the social studies class. And I do not think all fifth graders taking Compacted 5/6 should be in AIM, likely including my own child.

What MS? There are examples of MS in W clusters (see above) that are differentiating, at least they appear to be doing this.

Also - all students may be enrolled but there could be sections of advanced students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Robert Frost

Advanced Investigations in Mathematics (AIMS) Weekly Study Hours: 2.5
AIMS is intended for students who successfully completed Compacted Math 5/6 in 5th grade and
met the following criteria:
Math PARCC: Level 4 or 5
NWEA MAP-M Fall: 95%ile or higher

Investigations In Mathematics* Weekly Study Hours: 2.5
Students who successfully completed Compacted Math 5/6 in 5th grade are enrolled in this
course.

Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities 6 Weekly Study Hours: 2.5
Cohort Prerequisite: MAP-R score of >95%, PARCC ELA Level 4 or 5, and CogAT Non-Verbal
Reasoning and CogAT Verbal Reasoning of >90%.

NP. Thank you, this is very interesting! Where did you get the specifics on the cut-off percentiles?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Robert Frost

Advanced Investigations in Mathematics (AIMS) Weekly Study Hours: 2.5
AIMS is intended for students who successfully completed Compacted Math 5/6 in 5th grade and
met the following criteria:
Math PARCC: Level 4 or 5
NWEA MAP-M Fall: 95%ile or higher

Investigations In Mathematics* Weekly Study Hours: 2.5
Students who successfully completed Compacted Math 5/6 in 5th grade are enrolled in this
course.

Historical Inquiry in Global Humanities 6 Weekly Study Hours: 2.5
Cohort Prerequisite: MAP-R score of >95%, PARCC ELA Level 4 or 5, and CogAT Non-Verbal
Reasoning and CogAT Verbal Reasoning of >90%.

NP. Thank you, this is very interesting! Where did you get the specifics on the cut-off percentiles?

course bulletins on MS website

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes and no. I don't think the school ever received the proper curriculum nor resources to maintain the "cohort" classes so they decided to just enroll all. That way, they can say the kids are indeed "enriched".

This seems like a cop-out. It's easy to blame the Central Office, but I think OP needs to take a hard look in the mirror. The issue is her, and her fellow parents, who the administration knew would have kittens if there was an enriched class that their child wasn't placed into.

+100

OP here. No, I am not sour grapes.

There are kids in our Elementary School 5th grade compact 5/6 class who did not get into the magnets. I was very shocked that they did not. They are exceptional, in my opinion. Their MAP-M scores easily went into the 260's, 270's and even 280's. They also do national competitions. The fact is: I believe this is the "cohort" AIM was meant to serve at the Middle School. Likewise, there are kids who did exceptionally well and can benefit from a deeper enrichment in 6th grade, and I believe again that the enriched social studies class is meant to meet their needs. I think there is something fundamentally wrong when the middle school decides to enroll all 6th graders in the social studies class. And I do not think all fifth graders taking Compacted 5/6 should be in AIM, likely including my own child.

The implication wasn't one of sour grapes. The implication was that the administration at your middle school didn't want to deal with entitle white people who would argue their child DESERVES to be in the advanced class despite not meeting the criteria, so decided to skip that headache and let everyone in preemptively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes and no. I don't think the school ever received the proper curriculum nor resources to maintain the "cohort" classes so they decided to just enroll all. That way, they can say the kids are indeed "enriched".

This seems like a cop-out. It's easy to blame the Central Office, but I think OP needs to take a hard look in the mirror. The issue is her, and her fellow parents, who the administration knew would have kittens if there was an enriched class that their child wasn't placed into.

+100

OP here. No, I am not sour grapes.

There are kids in our Elementary School 5th grade compact 5/6 class who did not get into the magnets. I was very shocked that they did not. They are exceptional, in my opinion. Their MAP-M scores easily went into the 260's, 270's and even 280's. They also do national competitions. The fact is: I believe this is the "cohort" AIM was meant to serve at the Middle School. Likewise, there are kids who did exceptionally well and can benefit from a deeper enrichment in 6th grade, and I believe again that the enriched social studies class is meant to meet their needs. I think there is something fundamentally wrong when the middle school decides to enroll all 6th graders in the social studies class. And I do not think all fifth graders taking Compacted 5/6 should be in AIM, likely including my own child.

Okay, I don't disagree with your reasoning. What school? So far, people have posted bulletins of other W-feeder schools that are not doing what you describe. What you state is happening at your school is NOT happening across the county. Again, if you are telling the truth, then you need to take this up with your principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The implication wasn't one of sour grapes. The implication was that the administration at your middle school didn't want to deal with entitle white people who would argue their child DESERVES to be in the advanced class despite not meeting the criteria, so decided to skip that headache and let everyone in preemptively.

Why the bigotry? Presumably the administration at the OP's middle school doesn't want to deal with entitled anything people who would argue their child DESERVES to be in the advanced class despite not meeting the criteria.