Reply to VA math changes - ways to speak out

Forum Index » VA Public Schools other than FCPS

Reply to "VA math changes - ways to speak out"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I haven't read all the comments but I am disappointed that the state is taking away a path for gifted and advanced math students. I am a black parent in Loudoun.  Both of my children are in advanced math classes and both tested into Algebra I for 6th grade.  I understand the lack of black students in advanced math is at the heart of it. I do not think this should cause other students white or otherwise to miss out on an opportunity.  The worst thing for a parent is when your child says they are bored or class is boring not because they don't enjoy the subject but because they have mastered the current material but they cannot move on.

I think the lack of black students comes down to early opportunity and attitudes toward gifted learning. My children went to Montessori preschool where I was told that they spent all their time in the sorting, sequencing and math area. They enjoyed it. I asked what things I could do to encourage it at home.  I am lucky enough to have the resources to do so.   However, in contrast, I was gifted as a very early reader. I can remember my parents and others in my extended family make jokes about my being a nerd at 4 or 5. I didn't know what it meant but it felt like it was bad.  While Black excellence is being celebrated today, I am not that old and I remember when smarts were not the celebrated thing in some black communities.  I do not want to paint with a broad brush, but I just feel like don't dumb it down, go to the root and build it up. Invest in free preschool programs not daycare, identify black children at younger ages, free book programs like Dolly Parton's.  I think that there been a history of not identifying those Black students that could be gifted, but why take away the opportunity for those that might be identified as gifted now.

The experience of my older child is that the Algebra I class moved too slowly.  My older child was put into class with 8th grade students. The 8 or so 6th grade students were spread out over several classes.  We felt that the class would have moved at a faster pace if all of the 6th grade students were put in a class together as they are interested in the topic and wanted to go at a faster pace.  My daughter made an A+ in the class and 550 on the SOL.  She probably could have made a higher score but she does not like Math test on a computer. My second child who is currently in the  Algebra I class as a 6th grader is mainly with other 6th graders and a few 7th graders. Different teacher from my first child but the class is going at a much faster pace. She loves it.

[/quote]

Please write to the VDOE. They need to hear from Black parents. [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics