Rock'n Robin
Disney Queen
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2000
- Messages
- 7,810
I am really worked up and unable to sleep. DD#2 is in 2nd grade and they divide the 2nd graders into ability based reading groups. DD scored a 98% on a reading instrument last fall when she was referred to the gifted program--however they don't serve until 3rd grade, so the test really didn't do anything. Last week at open house her teacher said they based the groupings on a test the kids took last spring, which DD said was very easy. I mentioned I never knew how DD did and her teacher said "well! Really well." So I figured it must have been high for her to remember it.
Well today I find out (after teachers are gone of course) that she is in the 2nd highest group!
Plus that teacher (they switch teachers for reading) is having a baby early November, so she'd be cooling her heels with a sub for 2-3 months! Our district is having $$ problems so you can't tell me they will hire some wonderful teacher that's just sitting around waiting for a temporary maternity position. And next spring they give the Iowa tests--the only tests to get the kids into the gifted program. I'm sure after 1 1/2 hours a day with a sub, she won't do as well.
I specifically asked for her to be challenged this year. Her teacher LAST year, while nice, was new and had no idea what to do with her reading ability since it was so far above the rest of the class. (I am not trying to inflate this, she is really an excellent reader). I am wondering if this led to others catching up to her scores by the end of the year.
BUT, as a teacher, I know they will try to stonewall me if I ask to have her moved up to the highest group. I could ask to have her retested, perhaps. Come on, she reads "Magic Tree House" books in less than half an hour at age 7! She just sat down and read 3 chapters of Alice in Wonderland in 1/2 hour!
What kills me is DD#1 JUST missed getting into the gifted program--she is state identified, but our district has higher standards--you have to have a 95 on one of the Iowa tests AND a 130 on the cognitive test--she had 126 on the cognitive and 95 on two Iowas. If I have to go to ANOTHER meeting next year where that woman says "I'm sorry, but although your child meets state standards she doesn't meet ours, guess you'll have to enrich her yourself,", I'll scream. Also DD#1 told me that while the highest group has a lot of self-directed readings, this group does not--it's a lot of teacher talking and student listening.
Oh well. I don't expect anyone to know what to do here. I am seriously considering calling off tomorrow to go in before school and find out about this, although I'd have to go in before school started and leave lesson plans, and it's also my best teacher friend's BDay. But as a mother bear with a cub being left out in the cold, I want to right this as soon as I can.
Thanks for listening.
Robin M.
update--I got an EMail this morning that indeed, they have rotated the teachers for the reading groups and she is in the high group--all that worry for nothing--I got about 4 hours of sleep, and even called in to go talk to teacher--now I am home with DS (DH said "I'm not taking him if you're home!") who does not nap--maybe I'm one of those "i worry about everything obsessively" people on TV!
Well today I find out (after teachers are gone of course) that she is in the 2nd highest group!
Plus that teacher (they switch teachers for reading) is having a baby early November, so she'd be cooling her heels with a sub for 2-3 months! Our district is having $$ problems so you can't tell me they will hire some wonderful teacher that's just sitting around waiting for a temporary maternity position. And next spring they give the Iowa tests--the only tests to get the kids into the gifted program. I'm sure after 1 1/2 hours a day with a sub, she won't do as well.I specifically asked for her to be challenged this year. Her teacher LAST year, while nice, was new and had no idea what to do with her reading ability since it was so far above the rest of the class. (I am not trying to inflate this, she is really an excellent reader). I am wondering if this led to others catching up to her scores by the end of the year.
BUT, as a teacher, I know they will try to stonewall me if I ask to have her moved up to the highest group. I could ask to have her retested, perhaps. Come on, she reads "Magic Tree House" books in less than half an hour at age 7! She just sat down and read 3 chapters of Alice in Wonderland in 1/2 hour!
What kills me is DD#1 JUST missed getting into the gifted program--she is state identified, but our district has higher standards--you have to have a 95 on one of the Iowa tests AND a 130 on the cognitive test--she had 126 on the cognitive and 95 on two Iowas. If I have to go to ANOTHER meeting next year where that woman says "I'm sorry, but although your child meets state standards she doesn't meet ours, guess you'll have to enrich her yourself,", I'll scream. Also DD#1 told me that while the highest group has a lot of self-directed readings, this group does not--it's a lot of teacher talking and student listening.
Oh well. I don't expect anyone to know what to do here. I am seriously considering calling off tomorrow to go in before school and find out about this, although I'd have to go in before school started and leave lesson plans, and it's also my best teacher friend's BDay. But as a mother bear with a cub being left out in the cold, I want to right this as soon as I can.
Thanks for listening.
Robin M.
update--I got an EMail this morning that indeed, they have rotated the teachers for the reading groups and she is in the high group--all that worry for nothing--I got about 4 hours of sleep, and even called in to go talk to teacher--now I am home with DS (DH said "I'm not taking him if you're home!") who does not nap--maybe I'm one of those "i worry about everything obsessively" people on TV!
... and I am if you ask Dan 
