My dd started 7th grade this year and she just found out TODAY after she called the counselor that she can not be in Orchestra until she takes and passes a reading intervention class. WHAT WHAT WHAT????? She never had below a B on her report card last year, all of our conferences said she was doing well never did anyone mention that she needed extra help in this area. I called the counselor myself today but she has not returned my call yet. The only thing I can come up with is that her MAT (metropolital acheivement test ) score was a little below average for reading. If she has a problem that needs some extra attention then by all means I want her to get it. I am irritated for a few reasons:
1) At NO time did a teacher tell us that she had potential problems.... for goodness sakes the child never had a grade lower than a B on the material that they taught her.
2) If they had told us this this summer we could have put her in a program such as Sylvan or with a private tutor to get the help during the summer when she had more time on her hands.
3) I spend $200 ++ on a violin that now she may not be able to play this year.
4) This is MY child and I feel like any decision made regarding her should, at the minimum, include telling me about them.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 08:20 pm:

They tell you NOW? After summer is OVER? I would be furious, too! Sheesh! Hope the counselor calls back soon!

By Reds9298 on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 08:21 pm:

Ditto Dawnk...I would be so angry!!!! I hope you get a good explanation for this!

By Mrsheidi on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 08:25 pm:

WOW. Orchestra needs a reading class? Hhhmmm... I would definitely have some questions for that counselor. I would call again and if possible, leave another message. You should have been notified earlier. That's p!ss poor planning on their part...not to mention the fact that you have bought an expensive instrument that actually might HELP her to do better in school, including reading.
Let us know what happens with the counselor.
If things get sticky, email them with your objections and carbon copy the school board and principal. Guaranteed things will happen within seconds...
So sorry you guys are going through this!! Did she sign up for this class last year? Or, did she try to get in just recently? That might have something to do with it too?

By Enchens on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 03:51 am:

Former teacher here. Was her MAT taken at the end of the school year? One reason you may not have been notified earlier about the test scores may be because schools don't get score results from the end of the school year until the new school year has started, and sometimes well into 2 months after school started. Sometimes, on my job, I had to use previous year's test scores the rank my students learning because the most recent weren't available. If this is not the case, then, yes, you need to have a "nice, long" talk" with those at the school. Because I remember one of my primary responsibilities to my students and to the parents was to notify them of any changes in school, be it test scores, work completed or not, behavior, attendance, everything.

By Amecmom on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 08:36 am:

Regardles of when the scores came in, even failing a reading test should not keep a kid out of orchestra. Exposure to and participation in the arts boosts academic performance.
I would be angry, too. If you don't get a satisfactry answer from the counselor, request a meeting with the assistant principal or principal!
Hope it works out. If not, don't let the violin go to waste. Enroll her in a music school if you can - and let the regular school worry about the reading (which I'm sure is fine).
Ame

By Vicki on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 08:44 am:

I agree that the timing of things was bad. I can see that the test scores might have just became available. We got dd's results from her 4th grade testing at the end of the last school year about a week before this school year started. What really seems strange is that you had no idea she was having problems. It seems strange that a B student would have failed the test. I also know that at least in our school, students have to maintain a certain grade level to participate in extra activities, but I have never heard of a standardized test being figured into it!!

By Feona on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 08:47 am:

I totally agree with you that stinks. Especially since you are the type who would have gotten her help over the summer if she needed it.

I would say exactly what you said her and see if she can take the orchestra. They can bend rules if the parent is a squeaky nail. I loved band in 7th grade! Was the only sane thing in my life.

I would definitely tell them you rented or bought the violin already.

They wouldn't let me take band when I was in 7th grade. They wanted me to take shop. I walked into the band class and sort of demanded the switch myself. I did the same thing in 6th grade but it didn't work in 6th grade.


I thought it was so unfair that some of the kids got to take band and I didn't.

By Melanie on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 10:47 am:

Regardles of when the scores came in, even failing a reading test should not keep a kid out of orchestra. Exposure to and participation in the arts boosts academic performance.

I couldn't agree more with Amecmom. Taking her out of orchestra will not improve her reading. But keeping her in just might.

Good luck. What a terrible thing to spring on your family like this. I hope the school does the right thing on this. (((HUG)))

By Happynerdmom on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 10:53 am:

Many of these issues are with scheduling. If she did not pass a standardized reading test, they may require her to take a remedial reading course, which would not leave room in her schedule for any extras like orchestra. Unfortunately, I deal with this with my special needs son. We have to choose between band and his resource room help. No room for both. For us, it's a no-brainer, because he HAS to have the extra help. It's unfortunate.

By Breann on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 11:14 am:

I agree 100% with Ame.

Keep us updated on this. I want to know what they end up telling you.

By Mommyof5 on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 05:13 pm:

Yes, she was placed there due to MAT scores. Every teacher I have spoken with today has started the converstion with "I checked her MAT scores..." UGGGGGHHHHHH if I hear that term again I may have to hit someone. I still don't understand how a student who can get A and B's in the materials being taught in school but continues to test poorly is judges ONLY on the basis of those dam* test scores. The only answer I got today was "I don't know why she does well on the course work but performs poorly on the test but her test scores show that she needs extra help" I get really irritated that if a child scores very well on those test then they bring the parents in to meet with a team of professionals to make sure that child gets what they need but the children who REALLY need a team of professionals get squat!!!! I am just so frustrated that we go to conferences and here she is doing well, her grades show she is doing well but her whole placement depends upon those stupid tests. I don't know how to help her and that is the most frustrating part. She does her work at school and her grades show she has a graps on it but yet it all depends upon how well she tests......

Thanks for listening to me vent!

By Feona on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 08:44 am:

If it makes you feel better, I got a full scholorship to college and still had to take remedial writing. (notice it didn't help.. I still can't write.)

I think it is good they are giving her extra help. I am just wish she could take orchestra too.

How did it effect her placement? Did they change her class? They don't group kids here by test scores. But they used to group kids by test scores when I was growing up.

By Happynerdmom on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 09:37 am:

How frustrating. Vent away...

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 09:53 am:

What's difficult is that teachers aren't allowed to view most tests. They try to prevent teachers from "teaching to the test".
So, as a teacher, it's difficult to teach and gauge one's learning and have it congruent with the test results and requirements.
You'd be *shocked* at how much pressure there is on teachers (and kids for that matter)...
We have to use our curriculum for the school, county, state, and then on top of that, for these standardized tests.
I could bring this over to Debate Board here by saying this, but these kids (and teachers) are so stressed out by all of these requirements that it's difficult to actually INSPIRE kids anymore. Not to mention the fact that they take these kids out of class just to take these tests. Time out of class= less learning. Hhhmmmm....

When did she take the test? Are the teachers required to incorporate the requirements from those tests into their daily teachings?
I would be angry too if her grades are above average and her test results aren't.

I would ask the principal and teachers these questions:
1. Do you know the MAT content requirements?
2. Are teachers required to teach the MAT content?
3. How come her class results are not in line with her test results?

When she took the test...was she sick? A lot of things factor into these.
When can she take it again?

One last *important* thing here is that you might want to look at her grades more closely. Are her test scores below average and then her overall grade is raised, based on classwork/homework?

Girls tend to test lower, but are more diligent about homework/classwork/quizzes.
I've taught for 5 years and this is a very prominent trend.

By Enchens on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 06:06 pm:

When I posted earlier, I was trying to let Mommyof5 have some explanation to her reason #2, not to excuse the actions of "the school." Though, if I had wanted to go into detail, I would have to agree wholeheartedly with Mrsheidi.

By Mrsheidi on Thursday, September 1, 2005 - 04:20 pm:

Tammie, what happened with her orchestra class?