Bright but not gifted children essentially being ignored?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I said I was given non-answers about word study, which is true. Word study has been my primary concern all along - not sure how everyone got so fixated on the reading. DD's teacher went out of her way to say the two are NOT related. Do you disagree?

Five pages because you think your daughter's word study list isn't challenging enough?

Dear Teacher,

I think that my daughter is capable of handling a more difficult weekly word study list. If you already use one anyway in the classroom, could we try it out for a few weeks and see how it goes?

Sincerely,

You

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They told me her reading level at the fall conference. I forget the number now (20 maybe?) but all the teacher would say was that was "at the benchmark for first quarter" but if the other girls in her group are the same or similar level (as a group should be) why do they need to see the reading specialist?

DD does not bring reading books home this year (aside from library books she chooses.) She did bring home leveled reading books last year in first.

People might as well stop saying, "This is about your daughter, not about the other kids in the group," because you're disregarding it every time somebody says.

You're right I am. Because that is not how education works in this country. Children are forever compared with their peers. Selection for gifted programs, honors classes, AP classes, college admissions, etc. How else do you think it works?

The teacher is not going to tell you anything about the other kids in the group. That is none of your business. The teacher will only talk to you about your own daughter. That is how education works in this country.

Now, do you want to find out what (if anything) is going on with your daughter in the classroom? Because it doesn't sound to me like you do. It sounds to me like you believe you already have all the information you need. That attitude won't help your daughter.

I would LOVE to know what is going on with my daughter in the classroom! And I'd like the school to tell me without me having to subpoena them FFS!

I'm really thankful to everyone for their advice. I'll see what the teacher says and go from there. I also have a call into a friend who is an elementary school teacher in another district. Other than that I think this thread has run its course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I said I was given non-answers about word study, which is true. Word study has been my primary concern all along - not sure how everyone got so fixated on the reading. DD's teacher went out of her way to say the two are NOT related. Do you disagree?

Five pages because you think your daughter's word study list isn't challenging enough?

Dear Teacher,

I think that my daughter is capable of handling a more difficult weekly word study list. If you already use one anyway in the classroom, could we try it out for a few weeks and see how it goes?

Sincerely,

You

Been there. Done that. 3 times. Nada.

Sincerely,
Me

[Anonymous]

Well, if a word study list is the hill you want to die on, that's your right, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I said I was given non-answers about word study, which is true. Word study has been my primary concern all along - not sure how everyone got so fixated on the reading. DD's teacher went out of her way to say the two are NOT related. Do you disagree?

Five pages because you think your daughter's word study list isn't challenging enough?

Dear Teacher,

I think that my daughter is capable of handling a more difficult weekly word study list. If you already use one anyway in the classroom, could we try it out for a few weeks and see how it goes?

Sincerely,

You

Been there. Done that. 3 times. Nada.

Sincerely,
Me

I would say this is really weird. And you are saying this is happening two years in a row. Why cannot you tell her you want both lists so that she won't be afraid that your daughter has gaps in her word study.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, if a word study list is the hill you want to die on, that's your right, of course.

It does seem funny when you put it this way. But I do wonder where the communication broke down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I said I was given non-answers about word study, which is true. Word study has been my primary concern all along - not sure how everyone got so fixated on the reading. DD's teacher went out of her way to say the two are NOT related. Do you disagree?

Five pages because you think your daughter's word study list isn't challenging enough?

Dear Teacher,

I think that my daughter is capable of handling a more difficult weekly word study list. If you already use one anyway in the classroom, could we try it out for a few weeks and see how it goes?

Sincerely,

You

Been there. Done that. 3 times. Nada.

Sincerely,
Me

I would say this is really weird. And you are saying this is happening two years in a row. Why cannot you tell her you want both lists so that she won't be afraid that your daughter has gaps in her word study.

Yes it is really weird. Last year and this year we offered to do it on a trial basis and we also offered to have her complete the lists in between (in her spare time) to avoid gaps.

[Anonymous]

OP, is this your first?

Do you know that word study lists in first and second grade are about creating mastery of certain word patterns and blends and not about the actual words?

It is not like a traditional spelling list like your kid will get in 3rd grade which is about spelling.

The early lists are about patterns. It is as simple as that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, is this your first?

Do you know that word study lists in first and second grade are about creating mastery of certain word patterns and blends and not about the actual words?

It is not like a traditional spelling list like your kid will get in 3rd grade which is about spelling.

The early lists are about patterns. It is as simple as that

And I would bet if you were able to look at things objectively, you would see that your daughter is not yet at the point of maatery where she is effortlessly and fluently transferring the knowledge of the word patterns over into other areas of writing and perhaps reading.

Small group instruction or even pull outs is a good thing for her.

When it clicks she will advance quickly but I bet the teachers do not see it clicking yet across different areas.

The past two teachers are stonewalling you because you are making this first about the other students, secondly about the groups, and thirdly about a preschool IQ test which is generally known to be a very fluid and innaccurate test score due to the young age.

You need to focus your questions on skill mastery and perhaps ask about one on one time with a reading specialist.

[Anonymous]

Maybe your child is just not as special or bright as you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And I would bet if you were able to look at things objectively, you would see that your daughter is not yet at the point of maatery where she is effortlessly and fluently transferring the knowledge of the word patterns over into other areas of writing and perhaps reading.

Small group instruction or even pull outs is a good thing for her.

When it clicks she will advance quickly but I bet the teachers do not see it clicking yet across different areas.

The past two teachers are stonewalling you because you are making this first about the other students, secondly about the groups, and thirdly about a preschool IQ test which is generally known to be a very fluid and innaccurate test score due to the young age.

You need to focus your questions on skill mastery and perhaps ask about one on one time with a reading specialist.

OP, you wondered where the communications broke down. My guess is: right there in the bolded part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

OP here. I will do this (again.) But I asked all of these questions at the fall conference (this year and last year) and was basically given non-answers.

And I'm sorry to the PP who finds it "off-putting" that I don't agree that my daughter, who sails through homework and tests, is put into a learning group with children who are so far below grade level that they need excessive amounts of help and STILL do far worse than my daughter on graded assignments! WTH?

OP, I'll say this again.Forget about getting answers from the teacher at this point. You need a meeting ( not just the regular pt conference) with counselor, teacher, specialist... This is how it works in MCPS if you want some answers. The ball is in your court now.

It now turns out that OP actually wasn't given "non-answers" at the fall conference. The teacher told OP what OP's daughter's reading level is. But OP has since forgotten, and doesn't seem to consider it important information anyway.

I said I was given non-answers about word study, which is true. Word study has been my primary concern all along - not sure how everyone got so fixated on the reading. DD's teacher went out of her way to say the two are NOT related. Do you disagree?

So confusing. OP, you are worried about spelling group placement??? All of this for spelling? You can easily help improve her spelling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

OP here. I will do this (again.) But I asked all of these questions at the fall conference (this year and last year) and was basically given non-answers.

And I'm sorry to the PP who finds it "off-putting" that I don't agree that my daughter, who sails through homework and tests, is put into a learning group with children who are so far below grade level that they need excessive amounts of help and STILL do far worse than my daughter on graded assignments! WTH?

OP, I'll say this again.Forget about getting answers from the teacher at this point. You need a meeting ( not just the regular pt conference) with counselor, teacher, specialist... This is how it works in MCPS if you want some answers. The ball is in your court now.

It now turns out that OP actually wasn't given "non-answers" at the fall conference. The teacher told OP what OP's daughter's reading level is. But OP has since forgotten, and doesn't seem to consider it important information anyway.

I said I was given non-answers about word study, which is true. Word study has been my primary concern all along - not sure how everyone got so fixated on the reading. DD's teacher went out of her way to say the two are NOT related. Do you disagree?

So confusing. OP, you are worried about spelling group placement??? All of this for spelling? You can easily help improve her spelling.

The original post mentions a lot more than spelling so this is a very confusing post.

[Anonymous]

I think you're a control freak and you should back off. You're doing your daughter a disservice and the teacher for next year, will stonewall you for sure. Your name will be in red.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I have definitely not been expressing myself well since so many of you seem to be missing the point I am trying to make.

I'm not too worried about what the teacher thinks. I haven't told her what I've said in this post. I simply asked her if my DD could move to the next word study group.

Thanks for your advice all the same.