math placement decision

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math placement decision

by 7th grade parent

Sep 3, 2009

Last year DD was in a small pullout gifted math class. According to the teacher, they covered Pre-Algebra and the last two months of the year they were working on Algebra.

When we went to enroll her in 7th grade last night, the principal was concerned about our decision to put her in Algebra. He said her NWEA scores were not as high as those students who are normally placed in the enriched Algebra Class. We asked about her being placed in the regular, non enriched class. He said our choices we either the enriched Pre-Algebra or the enriched Algebra class. Apparently once you are in a "track" you stay in it.

The other classes (English, Soc St. and Science) do not start their enriched sections untill the 2nd quarter, the idea being to get the kids used to junior high first.

Math was actually DD's lowest test area. Her scores were still very high in it (working three grades above) just that her other scores were higher. Math is also not her favorite area, The ot...See MoreLast year DD was in a small pullout gifted math class. According to the teacher, they covered Pre-Algebra and the last two months of the year they were working on Algebra.

When we went to enroll her in 7th grade last night, the principal was concerned about our decision to put her in Algebra. He said her NWEA scores were not as high as those students who are normally placed in the enriched Algebra Class. We asked about her being placed in the regular, non enriched class. He said our choices we either the enriched Pre-Algebra or the enriched Algebra class. Apparently once you are in a "track" you stay in it.

The other classes (English, Soc St. and Science) do not start their enriched sections untill the 2nd quarter, the idea being to get the kids used to junior high first.

Math was actually DD's lowest test area. Her scores were still very high in it (working three grades above) just that her other scores were higher. Math is also not her favorite area, The other three areas are. Even though math was her lowest area, it was the only one that she recieved any acceleration/modification/differentiation in.

My husband and I don't know whether to keep her in the enriched Algebra class or put her in the enriched Pre- Algebra class? I am afraid that if she fails at it and they switch her down in 3-4 weeks, she will be afraid or unwilling to try any of the other enrichment assignments. We haven't seen these enrichment packets, so can not yet judge their value or if they will actually happen. So we are nervous about turning down the one accleleration she has actually been given in exchange for these promised accleration packets. She will refuse to do them if they are additional work not work in lieu of.

I am open to any thoughts or suggestions. School does not start till the 10th, so I still have some time. By the way I am planning on taking DD on Tuesday and seeing if we can view the enriched preAlgebra book, that will at least give us alittle more info. Does anyone have any idea what they are talking about for these enrichment packets?

Thank you

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Janette I'm certainly not a middle school math teacher, but given what you've told us about your daughter I would put her in the Algebra class, even if she struggles a little. Sounds like the rest of her schedule won't be much of a challenge.

Sep 4, 2009

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KK Go with the advanced option. It opens more doors down the road. Be direct with her about the fact that it may be challenging and frustrating, but when she learns to work through it, she will have a lot more confidence, and you know she is capable of it. You can talk about things like the value of a hard-earned B+ being worth more than an easy A. Do...See MoreGo with the advanced option. It opens more doors down the road. Be direct with her about the fact that it may be challenging and frustrating, but when she learns to work through it, she will have a lot more confidence, and you know she is capable of it. You can talk about things like the value of a hard-earned B+ being worth more than an easy A. Don't scare her, but be honest about the value of this experience as a practice for more difficult thinking, so that when she is hitting a wall, you can remind her that it's part of a process . . . this is hard, okay, now how are you going to figure this out?

It is so much better that she learn this confidence now, rather than avoid the discomfort of the challenge in a subject that isn't her favorite. That "track" can lead to calculus and physics, while the other may not. She might not ever need calculus and physics, but maybe down the road she will look back and know she could have done it if she had pushed herself, and wonder why she didn't, and what else she might have been able to do.

I don't think frustration with that is likely to spill over into other enrichment areas. I think the key is maintaining a mindset that math can be fun and that it isn't beyond her, rather than letting her gravitate toward favorites.

On 9/03/09, 7th grade parent wrote: > Last year DD was in a small pullout gifted math class. > According to the teacher, they covered Pre-Algebra and the > last two months of the year they were working on Algebra. > > When we went to enroll her in 7th grade last night, the > principal was concerned about our decision to put her in > Algebra. He said her NWEA scores were not as high as those > students who are normally placed in the enriched Algebra > Class. We asked about her being placed in the regular, non > enriched class. He said our choices we either the enriched > Pre-Algebra or the enriched Algebra class. Apparently once > you are in a "track" you stay in it. > > The other classes (English, Soc St. and Science) do not > start their enriched sections untill the 2nd quarter, the > idea being to get the kids used to junior high first. > > Math was actually DD's lowest test area. Her scores were > still very high in it (working three grades above) just > that her other scores were higher. Math is also not her > favorite area, The other three areas are. Even though math > was her lowest area, it was the only one that she recieved > any acceleration/modification/differentiation in. > > My husband and I don't know whether to keep her in the > enriched Algebra class or put her in the enriched Pre- > Algebra class? I am afraid that if she fails at it and > they switch her down in 3-4 weeks, she will be afraid or > unwilling to try any of the other enrichment assignments. > We haven't seen these enrichment packets, so can not yet > judge their value or if they will actually happen. So we > are nervous about turning down the one accleleration she > has actually been given in exchange for these promised > accleration packets. She will refuse to do them if they > are additional work not work in lieu of. > > I am open to any thoughts or suggestions. School does not > start till the 10th, so I still have some time. By the way > I am planning on taking DD on Tuesday and seeing if we can > view the enriched preAlgebra book, that will at least give > us alittle more info. Does anyone have any idea what they > are talking about for these enrichment packets? > > Thank you

Sep 5, 2009

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