Help! 6th grade course registration - clueless foreign parent here.

[Anonymous]

I did not attend K-12 in this country, and during my middle school years, everyone took the same classes.
Today we received a letter saying my 5th grader had until February 12, 2016 to select and register for his 6th grade courses!

First question: there are advanced courses for English, and it's not clear to me whether students actually have a real say or whether teachers indicate what courses students should take, based on how they are doing now. The letter mentions placement tests. Does this mean that if my child's 5th grade teachers do not agree with his choice of 6th grade course, he will have to take a test to prove he can do them? When would the test be? Would it be at his elementary or his middle school? Do I need to inquire of his 5th grade teachers what courses they think he should take before the registration?

Second question: we are bilingual in one of the three languages offered at his middle school, although my child's written expression in that language is not as strong as his reading or his verbal expression. Would this correspond to the highest level (level 3) of this language course, and would he be allowed to test into this course? Or would his time be better spent having a free period, if that is allowed? If he has a free period, is there a study hall or somewhere he can go?

Third question: math - what is the linear progression of courses or is there even one? Is math 6 more basic than math IM? Is compacted math a requirement before IM, or can you test into IM? Then what?


SO confusing. Thank you for helping me make sense of it all.

[Anonymous]

The advanced courses are NOT honors or GT.

[Anonymous]

Call the guidance counselor. This is the exact kind of thing they SHOULD be helping walk you through. Classes taken in 6th grade make a difference in what is taken in high school, so you want it to be right for you child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call the guidance counselor. This is the exact kind of thing they SHOULD be helping walk you through. Classes taken in 6th grade make a difference in what is taken in high school, so you want it to be right for you child.

Definitely. OP, even people born and raised here have difficulty navigating the system. Don't worry about asking questions. In fact, copy and paste your questions into an email and ask to discuss the details via phone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Call the guidance counselor. This is the exact kind of thing they SHOULD be helping walk you through. Classes taken in 6th grade make a difference in what is taken in high school, so you want it to be right for you child.

Definitely. OP, even people born and raised here have difficulty navigating the system. Don't worry about asking questions. In fact, copy and paste your questions into an email and ask to discuss the details via phone.

Thank you, PPs. Do you mean the guidance counselor at the middle school?

[Anonymous]

I believe the MSs have several meetings for parents to help with the course choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe the MSs have several meetings for parents to help with the course choice.

Yes, our MSPS middle school has a 5th grade parents' meeting the first week of February. I went for an older child, and they answered at least some of these kinds of questions. But you may need to set up a meeting for more specific issues. Also, you can ask the 5th grade teacher what he/she advises for math placement, etc., if it's not already on the form.

[Anonymous]

I asked last year here about Spanish in MCPS 6th grade; consensus here and among parents at my kids' school was don't do it. Spanish in 6th grade is counted as a full class on the HS transcript, whereas it's possible to take the first year over 7th & 8th if you start then. Don't get me wrong, I heard some parents say their kids did great, but I figured w/new schedule & other issues, my kid didn't need to have HS pressure starting when he's only 11yo.

[Anonymous]

Pp info about languages is school dependant. Some allow you to take Spanish 1 over 6th and 7 combined. Some don't offerca a language at all till 7th. English and math will basically be determined by the 5 the grade teacher. I would pose you language question to the ms counselor. Do go to the info night for 5 the grade parents as well...

[Anonymous]

The whole process will be simpler than it sounds at first. Go to the parent meeting. The 5th graders will probably also have an assembly explaining it to them and then they will bring home their registration cards. The classes they have to take like history and science will already be printed, the only part you need to fill out is the electives. The fifth grade teacher makes recommendations for placement in Math, English and possibly Reading. Some things are MS dependent but again you won't need to fill this part out, it's taken care of.
Ask the teacher now about the plan for your child. Nothing's set in stone it's a collaborative process should you disagree with the recommendations see if you can convince the teacher. What foreign language is offered and when is very MS dependent and you will need to ask the MS counselor your question about that. It is a high school credit class, you probably don't need him to skip levels even though he's a native speaker, but find out what the school has to say.
Finally, look for the printed schedule you will receive over the summer. The process is complicated and sometimes mistakes are made. If anything doesn't look right call the MS counsellor immediately, they have the ability to make changes. If they need to pull placement scores to support a change, they will have the MS content specialist do that and make a decision.
The process is daunting for all new 6th grade parents but it will work.

[Anonymous]

Last year, my child's 5th grade teacher made recommendations on what he should take (with regard to the level of English and World Studies).

Your child's math class is based on whether or not he/she is in Compacted Math or not this year.

Our MS also had a parent night in January about course selection, which help explained the Math track.

[Anonymous]

It sounds needlessly complicated and confusing. What a shame.

[Anonymous]

It's not really that complicated at all. The packet seems a little confusing when you first get it, which is why meetings are planned for the faculty to walk you through the curriculum at the middle school and what choices are available to your students. In my experience, the process was very well-managed. Avail yourself of the resources at the elementary school and the middle school including the guidance counselors if you have additional questions that are not addressed at group meetings.

[Anonymous]

OK so now I am even confused. My 5th grader had a meeting with the middle school counselor today and the only choices for reading are 1) advanced reading or 2) ESOL. So I guess everyone is advanced. Is there really no differentiation in MS either?

[Anonymous]

PP here, my child was recommended for foreign language and IM so wil be in "Advanced" reading I guess.