Anonymous
Post 02/22/2016 13:26     Subject: Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If your son doesn't make it into compacted math, all it means is he will take algebra in 8th grade instead of 7th grade. No doom, no gloom.


My child took it in 6th. What happened. Why are they pushing Algebra back so far?


"Back so far"? I took algebra in 8th grade on the honors track. Grade-level in my school system was algebra in 9th grade.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2016 13:24     Subject: Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If your son doesn't make it into compacted math, all it means is he will take algebra in 8th grade instead of 7th grade. No doom, no gloom.


My child took it in 6th. What happened. Why are they pushing Algebra back so far?


Many teachers/parents complained kids lacked basic foundation knowledge when they got to higher level math. If you read some of the older posts on here, pre 2.0, you'll see some parents complaining about it. I also read an old article about this.

If a kid is that much of a genius in math, they will allow the kid to go ahead. Our HGC /compacted math teacher told us of a kid who was allowed to take HS math. But most kids don't need to be pushed that far that quickly, even if they show they *can* do Algebra in 6th, doesn't mean they should. It could be just rote memorization. That's how a lot of people got through math. Doesn't really do them much good later on.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2016 13:20     Subject: Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?
There are studies that have shown that there is insufficient brain development to learn algebra before 7th grade. (According to MCPS).
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2016 13:16     Subject: Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?
Anonymous wrote:If your son doesn't make it into compacted math, all it means is he will take algebra in 8th grade instead of 7th grade. No doom, no gloom.


My child took it in 6th. What happened. Why are they pushing Algebra back so far?
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2016 11:52     Subject: Re:Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?
A couple years ago my child was passed over for compacted math and I had no idea any testing was happening at all or that compacted math existed. He's now in "regular" math at the top of his class and understanding everything well, so it's all fine with me. And I went to an Ivy League school. He will rock algebra in 8th grade, which is better than I did way back when.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2016 10:25     Subject: Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?
Anonymous wrote:My DD is in 4th grade and in compacted math. She was always in the top math group with enrichment/acceleration.

That "math test" she took last year? Bombed it. She wasn't even close to the supposed cutoff score. Speaking to the teacher and other parents, a lot of the kids did not do well on the test at their school last year.

They are all in compacted math this year. My daughter is getting ES's in math, doing well.

The math test score is just one factor into who gets into compacted math.

Take a chill pill, realize it isn't the end of the world if they don't get into compacted math and also realize if your child is a strong math student that also counts for a lot.


OP here, thank you!. This is the post I needed to see. My friend who brought the whole compacted math thing to my attention two weeks ago totally scared me to death and said it was basically over if your kid doesn't get in. Completely freaked me out when I had zero concern before because he's always been a good student, in enrichment the whole time, works hard, and a great kid so there was never anything to worry about. Anyway that's why I posted here to get a different perspective from other parents. Chilled out now...it's out of my hands anyway. We'll see what happens.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2016 10:21     Subject: Re:Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have a 3rd grader and he took the tests this year (just finished). It was a series of 5 tests spread out over several months. Our DS didn't prep and I don't know anyone else who prepped. If your son is naturally gifted in math he will do fine, if he is not don't try to force him into a group that isn't a good fit skill-wise. The world does not begin and end with compacted math!


+1. To my knowledge, there is no way to prep for these tests. Noone has any clue what's on them.


he tried to use something his Dad taught him at home to solve it. He got it wrong.


+2 And this is one of the reasons why maybe parents shouldn't try to teach their kids alternate ways of doing math unless they have a firm grasp of the concept. Sometimes, it can confuse the kids. We have never had outside tutors for DC, nor do we have set aside time where we teach them at home.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2016 10:20     Subject: Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?
Anonymous wrote:My DD is in 4th grade and in compacted math. She was always in the top math group with enrichment/acceleration.

That "math test" she took last year? Bombed it. She wasn't even close to the supposed cutoff score. Speaking to the teacher and other parents, a lot of the kids did not do well on the test at their school last year.

They are all in compacted math this year. My daughter is getting ES's in math, doing well.

The math test score is just one factor into who gets into compacted math.

Take a chill pill, realize it isn't the end of the world if they don't get into compacted math and also realize if your child is a strong math student that also counts for a lot.


That's interesting. I also have a 4th grader. She was one point below the cutoff and still got in and I always wondered how that happened (and if we would have been better off putting her in regular math).
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2016 10:17     Subject: Re:Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?
OP here. Our teacher only finished early because she is out on temporary leave. She did it so the kids would be tested by her and not someone they didn't know. She is a rock star and we love her. She only told me she'd already tested them because I asked when it was happening. So it doesn't change the timeline on finding out for all of us.

In fact, Everyone else may still have a little more testing left. So good luck to those still testing!. Hoping for the best for all of us.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2016 10:15     Subject: Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?
Yes relax and realize that getting you in compact math gets your kid in Calculus in 11th grade and stuck taking AP Stats in 12th. Only the top truly top/exceptional math students should be on this path.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2016 09:47     Subject: Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?
My DD is in 4th grade and in compacted math. She was always in the top math group with enrichment/acceleration.

That "math test" she took last year? Bombed it. She wasn't even close to the supposed cutoff score. Speaking to the teacher and other parents, a lot of the kids did not do well on the test at their school last year.

They are all in compacted math this year. My daughter is getting ES's in math, doing well.

The math test score is just one factor into who gets into compacted math.

Take a chill pill, realize it isn't the end of the world if they don't get into compacted math and also realize if your child is a strong math student that also counts for a lot.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2016 08:25     Subject: Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?
Anonymous wrote:My child has been taking the "tests" this year and I agree there is no way to prep. She has come home and told me about several and they are more logic puzzles- a tutor would not be able to help with them. She was told earlier that no one test determines your path next year. I think the reason there are 5 is to make sure the child has a wide range of understanding, so I wouldn't worry if it was just one test that your child could not complete. he/she might still be recommended for the class.

For the PP's, how do you know that the testing is over? Did your child's teacher tell you? If they are over this early, does that mean we will find out earlier than in past years? Thank you.


Yeah... even I am wondering how PP knows its over? My DD has told me everytime she takes the test and looks like so far they had 4 (or 5?)..
On one of the test, no one in the UCARE group cracked the problem, so they were given another chance to work on the same after 2 days (which was a surprise as I didn't realize they do that!). My DD and one other kid got the answer the second time and after giving enough time, the teacher let the 2 girls explain their answer to everyone else. I am not sure if this was just the teachers initiative, or it counted for testing !! But bottom line, I don't think 1 off day gets you in/out of the compacted math program. They are looking deeper than that.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2016 08:10     Subject: Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?
My child has been taking the "tests" this year and I agree there is no way to prep. She has come home and told me about several and they are more logic puzzles- a tutor would not be able to help with them. She was told earlier that no one test determines your path next year. I think the reason there are 5 is to make sure the child has a wide range of understanding, so I wouldn't worry if it was just one test that your child could not complete. he/she might still be recommended for the class.

For the PP's, how do you know that the testing is over? Did your child's teacher tell you? If they are over this early, does that mean we will find out earlier than in past years? Thank you.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2016 07:56     Subject: Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?
Well OP, my child did not get into compacted math. Which means of course he will never be accepted to college, or go on to live a happy or productive life. He is a failure forever, obviously.

Moral of the story: A parent who is "sick" about getting their child into advanced math is truly sick. I hope that you and your child get the help you need.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2016 07:48     Subject: Re:Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have a 3rd grader and he took the tests this year (just finished). It was a series of 5 tests spread out over several months. Our DS didn't prep and I don't know anyone else who prepped. If your son is naturally gifted in math he will do fine, if he is not don't try to force him into a group that isn't a good fit skill-wise. The world does not begin and end with compacted math!


+1. To my knowledge, there is no way to prep for these tests. Noone has any clue what's on them.


I know what's on them, or at least what's on the questions my child did last year, because she came home and told me, and because the teacher went over one of them with me at the parent-teacher conference. But I agree that tutoring or going ahead in the curriculum won't help you with them. They're figure-it-out questions, not apply-this-algorithm questions.