Worked up about dss class placement for this year

[wildmonkeys]

:

My son received his 3rd grade class assignment today and I am unhappy. He attends an economically diverse school that does okay, but struggles a bit when compared with other schools in our immediate area. He is VERY quiet. He read VERY early.

He has consistently been placed in the second highest reading group for his grade (they place the kids in homerooms based on reading levels with a high, middle and emergent reading group in each class). Then every year his teacher says it is the wrong placement and he is sent out class 2x per week for gifted & talented enrichment activities with a reading group from another class. He has done really well and the enrichment teacher has consistently said how well he does.

Last year he took the standardized test given in our state and his lowest score was a 97%. Today I find out that yet again, he is not placed in a homeroom with any kids who participate in enrichment. I do not want him for a third year to be placed in the wrong reading group. I don't know how to handle this without seeming insane. One of my close friends is very excited her daughter is in his class because she sees it as an indication that her daughter is "getting closer to being a strong reader". She meant it as a compliment and I took it as such, but in fact they do not read the same sorts of books...

My second son is starting kinder this year and is not reading. He will not be in the highest reading group, I have no plans to complain or worry unless he does not progress or is not interested/challenged. My second son has been assessed as being well ahead in math and they plan to pull him out for math. In otherwords, I don't think my kids need to be in the highest group. I just don't want a repeat of first grade where they let him play on the computer alone for over an hour a day because they weren't sure what to do with him...

Help me. Anyone. How to handle? DH is saying enough with this crappy school we need more space anyway, we should just move. Seems more extreme than my immediate reaction...

[famousmockngbrd]

Do you have a specific class you would like him placed in? You could call his school and ask that he be placed there.

I did that with DS, for non-academic reasons, but they were open to my wishes.

If he has been in enrichment classes before now, I would say you have a case for asking that he be placed in one now.

[Adele_Mommy]

I'm actually kind of with your dh on this because the school does sound really crappy. :

However, since moving is probably not realistic

I would send an email to the person or persons who makes the placement decisions, or to the guidance counselor and/or principal and/or your ds's newly assigned teacher and ask for an explanation of the reasoning behind his placement. Or better yet, request a meeting to give them the opportunity to explain their rationale. You can do this in a completely non-confrontational way even if you know the placement is completely wrong. Then when you know specifically why he was placed in this class you will be in a much better position to argue for why the placement is wrong and you will not come across as a parent who just assumes her child must be in the highest group.

Good luck!

[Ellien C]

Is it possible they are just using the same placement as last year and forgetting that he was moved up? I think a polite phone call or email is in order reminding them that he's been moved up the past 2 years and it would be better for him to start off in the right spot and alleviate any moving next year. I'm sure they expect some shuffling which is why they send out advanced notice.

[Momily]

To some degree I'm with your DH on this. Although I recognize the value of being in an economically diverse community (I teach in such a school, send my child to another such school), I feel like the practice of tracking kids into classes by reading levels has been proven again and again to be harmful to the kids in every group but the top, and not significantly helpful to the kids at the top. In my experience, when diverse schools make choices like this they're counteracting the diversity and saying that some kids (usually those of the highest economic status) are more important that the children who are clearly hurt by this, and that responding the the desires of their parents is more important than assuring that every child receives the education they deserve.

If you decide to move I'd ask for a meeting and just lay out what you've seen happen the past few years and ask them for their reasoning in placing him where they have. Maybe you can get him moved.

[bobandjess99]

Originally Posted by Ellien C

Is it possible they are just using the same placement as last year and forgetting that he was moved up? I think a polite phone call or email is in order reminding them that he's been moved up the past 2 years and it would be better for him to start off in the right spot and alleviate any moving next year. I'm sure they expect some shuffling which is why they send out advanced notice.

totally this. cracks, things fall..you get the drift......

[mar123]

Have you talked to the admin or teachers?

My son is gifted in math and really struggles in reading. At his school, if you are in honors math, you have to be in honors reading (small school and scheduling- just the way it is). Initially, ds was placed in the "B" group. I called the teacher and asked why b/c I found out math was the deciding class (I had assumed it was reading). She said that he would be the only kid in honors reading going to resource to take his tests, like he had done the year before classes were leveled. We talked and I explained it was more important to me for him to reach his potential and not be bored in math, which is when most boys get into trouble. I said that I have no problem helping him in reading (Luckily I am an English teacher, LOL) and was fine if he got Cs in honors reading as long as he was challenged in his strength. SO, they moved him.

My dd was on the border of A and B reading in 3rd grade. Just so happens there were X number of kids above her and only X number of spots. They ended up moving her b/c of her strong school skills and work ethic.

Sometimes it does depend on how many kids need to be in a class and how many spaces there are. This is not usually an issue in high school, only in lower level schools.

LOng story, but I would call and check and ask. But if you aren't happy, move to a better school if possible. I really love my kids school and am fortunate enough to be able to put them were I want them. We have lots of options here. They cost, but are affordable. Good luck!