3rd grade G&T programming

[Anonymous]

My child is going into 2nd in MCPS, and I have heard that they test in 2nd grade to decide who will get into the gifted programming for 3rd grade. But I know that CES doesn’t start until 4th grade, so I am confused about what kind of programming there is in 3rd grade for these students I have two questions:

1) what testing is done in 2nd grade to identify kids that will get there programming in 3rd? Is it the CogAT, or just MAP tests, or something else?

2) what programming is offered in 3rd grade for kids identified as gifted? Are they in separate classes, or is it just some enrichment within their existing classes?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

1) combination of tests

2) supposedly in-class enrichment, but I never saw or heard about anything challenging from either of my kids. Mine were both in the highest level reading group. Didn't see much difference in math until compacted in 4th.

[Anonymous]

The state of Maryland requires all school systems to evaluate for GT in 2nd grade. Therefore, MCPS does so. However, the designation means next to nothing and doesn’t affect the education your child gets in 3rd grade. It is largely based on InView testing. It is one factor among many used for groupings, etc within and among classrooms. I have been flat out told by administrators that it doesn’t really matter unless you think you will be leaving MCPS and moving to a place where it matters.

[Anonymous]

OP here — thanks, all. So it sounds like this is a formality that is done because it is required, and that the result is probably just getting some basic math enrichment and being in the highest reading group, as would happen anyway without the evaluation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here — thanks, all. So it sounds like this is a formality that is done because it is required, and that the result is probably just getting some basic math enrichment and being in the highest reading group, as would happen anyway without the evaluation.

You got it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here — thanks, all. So it sounds like this is a formality that is done because it is required, and that the result is probably just getting some basic math enrichment and being in the highest reading group, as would happen anyway without the evaluation.

You got it!

You may also want to check with your particular school. At some schools they use the William & Mary or Junior Great Books curriculum for the more advanced readers.

[Anonymous]

OP its a little more than a formality because that testing will help decide who goes into compacted Math in 4th and 5th grade and into most advanced Math in MS.

The good news is they are automatically inclined to put as many kids as possible into advanced track math. I wasn't sure my kid could handle it and asked them to put her in the regular track and they were like "no, she'll be fine".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is going into 2nd in MCPS, and I have heard that they test in 2nd grade to decide who will get into the gifted programming for 3rd grade. But I know that CES doesn’t start until 4th grade, so I am confused about what kind of programming there is in 3rd grade for these students I have two questions:

1) what testing is done in 2nd grade to identify kids that will get there programming in 3rd? Is it the CogAT, or just MAP tests, or something else?

2) what programming is offered in 3rd grade for kids identified as gifted? Are they in separate classes, or is it just some enrichment within their existing classes?

Thanks!

When asked what would change in the academic programming for a child identified as gifted, the principal in my ES said "Ideally, nothing. I should already be meeting your child's academic needs in the classroom with differentiation and flexible grouping." In other words, the teachers already knew who was gifted and provided appropriate enrichment. I found that to be true for all three of my kids.

[Anonymous]

we have W+M at our school but no enhanced math curriculum (in fact, they lost funding for the math specialist - so much for Focus schools). What can I push for? He's in W+M, but math was so boring this year and I'm really worried about him stagnating, and since he's a boy, getting into more behavioral trouble. (He has G+T designation, going into grade 3).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we have W+M at our school but no enhanced math curriculum (in fact, they lost funding for the math specialist - so much for Focus schools). What can I push for? He's in W+M, but math was so boring this year and I'm really worried about him stagnating, and since he's a boy, getting into more behavioral trouble. (He has G+T designation, going into grade 3).

I don't know what school you are at, but a lot of Focus schools lost their math specialist this year. What I've heard is that money was taken from Focus Schools and redistributed to Title I schools. Which...given that the functional difference between a Title I school and a Focus school could be five kids receiving FARMS, seems a little short-sighted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we have W+M at our school but no enhanced math curriculum (in fact, they lost funding for the math specialist - so much for Focus schools). What can I push for? He's in W+M, but math was so boring this year and I'm really worried about him stagnating, and since he's a boy, getting into more behavioral trouble. (He has G+T designation, going into grade 3).

Outside math enrichment. At least he won’t think math itself is boring. Beast Academy, Russian Math, or math games you do yourselves. Maybe if you get the Beast Academy materials they’ll let him do it as a “center” or after he finishes his other class work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we have W+M at our school but no enhanced math curriculum (in fact, they lost funding for the math specialist - so much for Focus schools). What can I push for? He's in W+M, but math was so boring this year and I'm really worried about him stagnating, and since he's a boy, getting into more behavioral trouble. (He has G+T designation, going into grade 3).

I don't know what school you are at, but a lot of Focus schools lost their math specialist this year. What I've heard is that money was taken from Focus Schools and redistributed to Title I schools. Which...given that the functional difference between a Title I school and a Focus school could be five kids receiving FARMS, seems a little short-sighted.

Do you mean for the upcoming (19-20) school year or the last one (18-19)? We are at a focus school with a great math specialist who did pull-outs and really good enrichment for the past few years, and I'd hate to hear that she might be gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we have W+M at our school but no enhanced math curriculum (in fact, they lost funding for the math specialist - so much for Focus schools). What can I push for? He's in W+M, but math was so boring this year and I'm really worried about him stagnating, and since he's a boy, getting into more behavioral trouble. (He has G+T designation, going into grade 3).

I don't know what school you are at, but a lot of Focus schools lost their math specialist this year. What I've heard is that money was taken from Focus Schools and redistributed to Title I schools. Which...given that the functional difference between a Title I school and a Focus school could be five kids receiving FARMS, seems a little short-sighted.

Do you mean for the upcoming (19-20) school year or the last one (18-19)? We are at a focus school with a great math specialist who did pull-outs and really good enrichment for the past few years, and I'd hate to hear that she might be gone.

I mean for the upcoming school year. Maybe some schools were able to keep them, and I don't know how much discretion the principal gets, but our math specialist was moved to an upper grade mathematics teaching role.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we have W+M at our school but no enhanced math curriculum (in fact, they lost funding for the math specialist - so much for Focus schools). What can I push for? He's in W+M, but math was so boring this year and I'm really worried about him stagnating, and since he's a boy, getting into more behavioral trouble. (He has G+T designation, going into grade 3).

I don't know what school you are at, but a lot of Focus schools lost their math specialist this year. What I've heard is that money was taken from Focus Schools and redistributed to Title I schools. Which...given that the functional difference between a Title I school and a Focus school could be five kids receiving FARMS, seems a little short-sighted.

Do you mean for the upcoming (19-20) school year or the last one (18-19)? We are at a focus school with a great math specialist who did pull-outs and really good enrichment for the past few years, and I'd hate to hear that she might be gone.

I mean for the upcoming school year. Maybe some schools were able to keep them, and I don't know how much discretion the principal gets, but our math specialist was moved to an upper grade mathematics teaching role.

Thanks for that information -- I'll have to keep an eye out to see what's happening at our school.