Serious question - is there any reason for my kids (7th and 4th) to take MAP testing? (LCPS)

[Anonymous]

I opted out in the fall. Am I missing something? Can anyone explain to me how it helps my kids if they take the MAP tests? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Tangent: I don't know the answer, but it reminds of a funny story. A long time ago in 8th grade I thought I was too smart to waste time with the State standardized testing...it seemed like we had been doing it every year, and I had had it. So in 8th grade I totally "threw" the test and just marked in random bubbles. I had been in the "gifted program" in middle school. Unbeknownst to anyone, that year for high school they decided who was going to qualify for the high school "gifted" program purely based on those 8th grade state test scores. Whoops. I definitely didn't make the list, and they were pretty generous in inviting a large group of kids, which made it embarassing because it was publicly posted. It was really irrelevant in the end because HS AP/IB is more important than a HS "gifted" program. But the joke was on me.

(This is not me advocating for your kids to take the test...just a random aside).

[Anonymous]

Why did you opt out OP? That seems silly to me. It is just a test. When you opt out it seems like you're sending a message to your kids that the diagnostic test is "too" stressful and that they can't handle it. That seems like it is more harm than good.

We've read our kids' MAP test results and we got good information. It helped me decide where to provide extra support for two of our foster daughters who arrived into our home significantly below grade level. And if you think the girls arrived here all chill and happy because life is good (meaning I wasn't worried about their stress levels) then ... hhhmmm, I can't think of a nice way to say it. Anyway the MAP diagnostic test is probably the best out there in terms of what it looks at and what it can tell you and your kid's teachers about what your kid knows and where your kid needs support. There really is no good reason to skip it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did you opt out OP? That seems silly to me. It is just a test. When you opt out it seems like you're sending a message to your kids that the diagnostic test is "too" stressful and that they can't handle it. That seems like it is more harm than good.

We've read our kids' MAP test results and we got good information. It helped me decide where to provide extra support for two of our foster daughters who arrived into our home significantly below grade level. And if you think the girls arrived here all chill and happy because life is good (meaning I wasn't worried about their stress levels) then ... hhhmmm, I can't think of a nice way to say it. Anyway the MAP diagnostic test is probably the best out there in terms of what it looks at and what it can tell you and your kid's teachers about what your kid knows and where your kid needs support. There really is no good reason to skip it.

More...because of the information we were able to do about 15 minutes of focused work a day (reading & math) with the girls in each of their weakest areas, and now the girls are at or above grade level. That's a very significant change from last January/February through this November when they took it again. They changed 2-3 grade levels per subject. That's freaking amazing. And I think it is because their teachers and I had so much good information to work off of.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I never opted them out during real school and I won’t going forward. I don’t see it as a good use of screentime during DL. I was asking if anyone could convince me otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Is my kid's teacher actually going to help my child if it shows they are behind in something? I kind of doubt it.

[Anonymous]

The MAP test is very helpful for parents and teachers to see how your child is progressing and where there may be gaps to fill. Sounds like that information is not of interest to you. Good luck!

Please do not come back here and start complaining about how your kids are behind, are getting bad grades, etc. You can always look back fondly on that 1-2 hours when they read a book, or played a board game, or whatever non-screen activity you had them do instead of getting an education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The MAP test is very helpful for parents and teachers to see how your child is progressing and where there may be gaps to fill. Sounds like that information is not of interest to you. Good luck!

Please do not come back here and start complaining about how your kids are behind, are getting bad grades, etc. You can always look back fondly on that 1-2 hours when they read a book, or played a board game, or whatever non-screen activity you had them do instead of getting an education.

Testing is not an education. No one has answered my question - is the teacher actually going to change what she teaches based upon the results?