Voicemail from school re: SOL scores

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I give my students the envelopes, pass out the reports, and have them stuff their envelopes.

Why would you do this? So that the kids can see who failed? How mortifying.

They are their grades. They may as we'll see what they are. They are told to look at them quietly, to not compare and then put them into the envelopes.

[Anonymous]

I know it's late to comment on this, but in reference to something on earlier pages - at my child's school they identify kids who are struggling in reading or math at the end of the first quarter of 3, 4, and 5th grade and they run after school reading and math remediation clubs once a week from the start of the second quarter to the SOL. It's clear that it's for SOL prep, but for the basic subjects of reading and math, a lot of SOL prep is going over core competencies that the kids should know anyway. And makes sure that the kids who have extra questions or need a little extra attention are getting it. I believe they also do some test taking strategies and I know they do some random stuff like fun games and teaching things like breathing exercises for the kids who get anxious and how to tune out the sounds around you and how to pace yourself etc. My DS only participated in this during 3rd grade (he's in 5th now) so I don't know if they still do it, but it's marketed as a confidence builder for the kids and to me, since he'd just be in extended day at that time anyway, it seemed like a no-brainer for a little extra academic help in an area where he struggled. The kids have to be invited, and they invite a large group of kids who have a wide variety of test taking issues.

[Anonymous]

Also, for any Arlington readers who haven't done this before, our scores don't come home in report cards. They get mailed and I feel like it wasn't until August last year, but I could be mis-remembering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know it's late to comment on this, but in reference to something on earlier pages - at my child's school they identify kids who are struggling in reading or math at the end of the first quarter of 3, 4, and 5th grade and they run after school reading and math remediation clubs once a week from the start of the second quarter to the SOL. It's clear that it's for SOL prep, but for the basic subjects of reading and math, a lot of SOL prep is going over core competencies that the kids should know anyway. And makes sure that the kids who have extra questions or need a little extra attention are getting it. I believe they also do some test taking strategies and I know they do some random stuff like fun games and teaching things like breathing exercises for the kids who get anxious and how to tune out the sounds around you and how to pace yourself etc. My DS only participated in this during 3rd grade (he's in 5th now) so I don't know if they still do it, but it's marketed as a confidence builder for the kids and to me, since he'd just be in extended day at that time anyway, it seemed like a no-brainer for a little extra academic help in an area where he struggled. The kids have to be invited, and they invite a large group of kids who have a wide variety of test taking issues.

Yes, we were discussing this on the previous pages. I agree that extra help is a good thing; however, at our school, these kids are "invited" only just before SOLs - to a two-week SOL boot camp. This does nothing to actually help kids who need remediation throughout the year, and is intended only to get the kids to pass the SOL. I sent my DC to these (before school) classes, and unfortunately, all they did was make DC even more anxious about the SOLs. So much more could have been accomplished had the school offered help much earlier in the year. In my opinion, and that of other posters, it was too little, too late.

[Anonymous]

We are in similar situation with a 3rd grade math SOL of 379. We opted to have a retake to make sure DD doesn't have a problem in math. If she doesn't do well the second time around I know we have work to do over the summer. If her score improves drastically then we know it was a fluke, bad day. That was THE only reason to have the retest. Her math grades have been consistently 3s all hear but I don't think her teacher is very good so it is possible she missed a few concepts, especially the word problems.

Frankly don't care about helping the school look good, not my main concern. I'm focused on making sure she masters the 3rd grade math concepts so she doesn't struggle next year. Her reading was in the 450 so we will work on that a little too.

[Anonymous]

Late poster here again.... FWIW I got the call from the AP yesterday and the retake is today and tomorrow. Late notice so had to make a decision pretty quickly. The original test was last week so I suppose they just got the scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Left yesterday from the Asst Principal. I have to assume that means DC failed one or both? We signed the form saying we didn't want DC to retake. DC is 3rd grade, Gen Ed. 3s and 4s on report cards.

This call came after an email last week that we'd get preliminary results the last week of school. So why the call now? Are they that freaked about scores?

Obviously I'll return the call tomorrow, but wildly speculating about this call, when I know we won't retest, is a welcome distraction from actual stressful family issues right now.

If my child failed I would like to know, especially in math. I looked at sample SOLs and they were really easy. Had my child failed I would not have him take it over (what for?) but I would certainly work with him over the summer to make sure he had the concepts he needed for next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I give my students the envelopes, pass out the reports, and have them stuff their envelopes.

Why would you do this? So that the kids can see who failed? How mortifying.

They are their grades. They may as we'll see what they are. They are told to look at them quietly, to not compare and then put them into the envelopes.

I think as a parent I should be the one deciding whether my kids see this. I guess although my tax dollars help to pay for public education I give up a lot of rights. Have you ever thought that sitting quietly and reading the scores might be hard for a kid who failed. Maybe seeing them in the comfort of their home with a parent to support them might be better for them? I guess stuffing the envelope is probably too much work for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I give my students the envelopes, pass out the reports, and have them stuff their envelopes.

Why would you do this? So that the kids can see who failed? How mortifying.

They are their grades. They may as we'll see what they are. They are told to look at them quietly, to not compare and then put them into the envelopes.

I think as a parent I should be the one deciding whether my kids see this. I guess although my tax dollars help to pay for public education I give up a lot of rights. Have you ever thought that sitting quietly and reading the scores might be hard for a kid who failed. Maybe seeing them in the comfort of their home with a parent to support them might be better for them? I guess stuffing the envelope is probably too much work for you.

+100
Couldn't agree more. The very idea that they would send these scores home with the kids shows a huge lack of common sense. These scores should only be seen by the parents, and then if they choose to share them with their kids, so be it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP whose DC failed math SOL with 379.

I decided not do a retake test. DC anxious the first time around and came home in distraught and convinced of failure. I can't in good conscience put DC through the stress again.

Feel like when the SOL reflects on the teacher and school at large, all of a sudden, DC needs immediate remedial attention and pull out instruction. Where was this concern mid-year? I figure DC will be re evaluated next school year anyway and appropriate placement made then. If failing the math sol means that DC is flagged for extra help or a stepped down math group, great.

How did you find out your DC's score? I'm pretty sure my DC failed it too, and like you, I would have so appreciated mid-year help when it mattered, rather than this frantic SOL cram session at the end of the year which has zero benefit for my child.

Yes, it has zero benefit for your child. But Pearson is being paid for every retake, and the district has the opportunity to raise its pass rates. See how everyone benefits from this but the child?