School is already starting......

16 years ago

Can you believe it?! LF is entering middle school this year. I know, I know, they grow up so fast. It's an academically geared school. During summer, they require he read two books and complete two projects, one by mid-Sept and one by mid-October. I'm trying to teach him not to procrastinate, to work on the projects so as to have them completed by school's beginning and then tweak them after discussing them in class. Anyway, the school just called and asked me to bring him in for his "math placement" test.

"Hello. Is this Mrs. North? This is ___ from ____."

"Yes, this is she."

"How are you doing?"

"Ironically, my son is in the other room writing book reports. (((laugh)))"

"That's great! We love to hear that (also laughs)."

It really struck me that she probably does hear that often. Well duh! It's a new world to me, as this school caters to kids like him. He'll be a much much smaller fish this time around, hope it's not too big a shock for him. It's such a different world than the one in which I grew up. Seems like they expect so much more out of them at younger and younger ages.

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Comments (4)

mawheel
16 years ago
Rob, with you for his Mom, he'll do fine! Hope he'll have a great year and enjoy it!
west_gardener
16 years ago
Hi Rob, I see that you mentioned that LF has to go in for math assement. My suggestion is to go with him and ask a whole lot of questions of the school, before he is tested.
Back when our children were in High School, the school came up with the "new math" and all hell broke lose. The children could not understand the new math, none of us parents could figure out what the math was about and we could not help our children with homework. We, the parents, rebelled and the new math was repealed.

Here is a link that might be useful: New Math
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rob333 (zone 7b)
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks West, but not necessary. The reason for today's test is, our state does standardized testing, using the scores for non-neighborhood kids (ironically, we're only on the other side of the same road!) to gain acceptance to his school. Since it's also part of a neighborhood where anyone can attend the school, and the test scores haven't made it to the school yet, we had to do the tests so they could figure which classes to put the children in so as to have similar levels in each class. He whizzed through it. It's actually opposite of "no child left behind". This is a school for gifted children and the neighborhood is in an intercity area. That is, the intercity kids are put through the same rigors as the gifted children and as a result, they do well. They use the separate classes for two subjects, giving the slower learners as much help is needed. The rest of the time, they are together. I know it's hard to believe that Nashville is so progressive, but it is. Nashville was one of the first cities to go Metro and, consequently, we don't suffer disparate areas with kids who lack education and support systems. It's a great place to raise a family.

Mostly, I am surprised how much earlier he's having to do the sorts of things I didn't do until high school. 5th vs 11th grade?! It's amazing how things are changing. For the better? I guess, but I thought summer was for relaxing!

;)
west_gardener
16 years ago
Rob, it looks like you have things in hand. Glad to see that LF did well.
As you explained, Nashville is progressive, so I guess they want to get started early to identify the student's abilities.