The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[21stamps]

Are Cincinnati schools really that much more competitive than Columbus schools? Every time you post something like this, I think you live in New York City where even daycares are competitive. But then I remember you're in Ohio with me. Is this something I will be experiencing too, or is it unique to your area? I thought I'd just put A into Kindergarten, and she'd go through the school system, and she wouldn't really have to worry about being competitive in school until middle school where you start building up for college?

I think all public schools are required to take standardized tests, that’s how they get money from the government and get their ratings. I’m not sure if Ohio has their own standardized test as well.

Private schools are different because we aren’t required to take them, and we don’t receive any government money.. We don’t prepare for them, it’s to try to get an idea of cognitive ability as well as how the kids are progressing and where they rank nationally with their peers.
I went to private schools all my life as well and still took placement tests annually, in high school they are much different, sometimes they had us take the public school tests too, just for a comparison.

T also had admissions test/interview for Kindergarten into his current school. I don’t know if public schools do that.
I had, and T will have, admission tests to get into high school, acceptance is based on those scores and your elementary school grades. They also have requirements and advanced subjects in elementary school that Ohio public schools don’t require (i.e. second language etc). The kids have to remain at a certain level to attend, because the school is only geared toward advanced learning. It is competitive, but not as stressful as it sounds.

I don’t know all of the differences for the reasoning behind Public or Private standardized testing.. and I don’t really understand the results and how they’re used in the big picture for private schools.

 

[Figgy1]

This is not right. You would be a great pet parent, because you love animals. I hope you go out and RESCUE yourself a dog or cat.

FTFY

 

[Figgy1]

I love summer up and out with the sun Getting chores done before then

 

[21stamps]

2nd grade is really early for tests like these I think. PA requires testing start in 3rd grade. Homeschoolers only need to test at 3rd, 5th, and 8th grade. If his regular school grades are fine, I wouldn’t fuss too much. I assume this is the first time he has taken any standardized tests, so it was something he wasn’t used to.

I have no idea when Ohio requires them. I didn’t even know he was taking them until the Friday before the testing started on the following Monday. He was sent home with a recommendation for parents to make sure the kids got enough sleep, ate breakfast, and weren’t stressed in the morning.

 

[21stamps]

Sorry guys that I haven’t posted pix. We have been trying to dodge birds if people the last couple of days. MK was baddd yesterday. We did Fps and left. Today is much better atView attachment 282708

Have a wonderful day!!! So jealous!!!

 

[21stamps]

I have no idea when Ohio requires them. I didn’t even know he was taking them until the Friday before the testing started on the following Monday. He was sent home with a recommendation for parents to make sure the kids got enough sleep, ate breakfast, and weren’t stressed in the morning.

I just googled it. Looks like Ohio public schools must be grade 3 as well, I think, if I’m reading correctly. So who are the students that he’s being measured against?

Here’s what the test measures..


What do you guys do with the results? Or do you just ignore them?

 

[93boomer]

Have a wonderful day!!! So jealous!!!

Thank you!!!

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Sorry guys that I haven’t posted pix. We have been trying to dodge birds if people the last couple of days. MK was baddd yesterday. We did Fps and left. Today is much better atView attachment 282708

I would think Monday would be a quieter day.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Is cortisone the same thing as cortisol? I had 2 shots in my hip a couple of years ago because of bursitis, and I was so scared leading up to the first one because I hate needles and I thought it was going to hurt so bad, but I wished I had done it way earlier because it helped so much and it really didn't hurt at all. So much easier than I thought it was going to be. But I don't know if that was a cortisone shot. I thought he called it Cortisol, but I don't really know now.

Cortisol is produced by the body.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I love summer up and out with the sun Getting chores done before then

Our sun disappeared. Massive house cleaning this weekend, since it will be time to PACK!!!!!! I cannot leave a house messy when we go away.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I have no idea when Ohio requires them. I didn’t even know he was taking them until the Friday before the testing started on the following Monday. He was sent home with a recommendation for parents to make sure the kids got enough sleep, ate breakfast, and weren’t stressed in the morning.

I think that is a problem. The school should have let you know, especially if they are going to base his placement on testing. I mean he did fine anyway. He scored better than at least 70% of kids with probably no preparation at all.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I just googled it. Looks like Ohio public schools must be grade 3 as well, I think, if I’m reading correctly. So who are the students that he’s being measured against?

Here’s what the test measures..
View attachment 282712

What do you guys do with the results? Or do you just ignore them?

I would ignore them. He was 7 when he took them. I am sorry, but reasoning ability to me can still be a judgement call even. I assume it was multiple guess. I bet he could have reasoned something his own way and came up with a different answer. He may read too much into questions as well.

 

[Cesar R M]

I know it must be horrible for the people involved but also amazing to watch.

https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_maps.html
Its amazing how far these cracks and lava are appearing from the summit of the volcano.


Also, the Volcano's summit's lava lake is draining..
Which means most of the lava is moving into the areas where the fissures are appearing. I bet there is going to be lava flows in the fissures for months..

 

[21stamps]

I think that is a problem. The school should have let you know, especially if they are going to base his placement on testing. I mean he did fine anyway. He scored better than at least 70% of kids with probably no preparation at all.

What I’ve heard when asking other parents about it, is that the school doesn’t want us to prep for the testing. But apparently after 2nd grade parents now know when the tests occur, so some do prepare.

I would ignore them. He was 7 when he took them. I am sorry, but reasoning ability to me can still be a judgement call even. I assume it was multiple guess. I bet he could have reasoned something his own way and came up with a different answer. He may read too much into questions as well.

Here’s how our after school conversations typically go-

“How was school, T?”
“Good.”
“What did you do today?”
“School stuff.”
“T, I saw on FB that you did a cool science project.”
“Oh, yeah. We did. I gotta go Mom. Love you, bye!”

Starting around October I printed off a list of “20 questions” and make him answer them
and a few of my own before bedtime. The kid will rarely tell me anything about school unless I specifically ask. The Harlem Glodetrotters came to the school and I didn’t even find out until I saw a FB post 2 days later. I asked him about it, he replied
“Oh that was epic”.
“Awesome!, so why didn’t you tell me.”
“My school is my business. I don’t think to tell you everything.”
“No, bud. Everything about your life is MY business. I need to know all of it.”

During the testing I kept asking him questions daily about it.. he just said “The teacher says something, and even if you don’t hear her, she isn’t allowed to repeat the question.” I’m assuming that was the ‘verbal’ portion, I’m also assuming he may not have been paying attention during all of it.

I wish we could see the questions and answers.

Oh well. I’ve email the teacher so I’m sure she’ll get back to me shortly. I’ll follow your advice and not going to worry too much about it.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

What I’ve heard when asking other parents about it, is that the school doesn’t want us to prep for the testing. But apparently after 2nd grade parents now know when the tests occur, so some do prepare.


Here’s how our after school conversations typically go-

“How was school, T?”
“Good.”
“What did you do today?”
“School stuff.”
“T, I saw on FB that you did a cool science project.”
“Oh, yeah. We did. I gotta go Mom. Love you, bye!”

Starting around October I printed off a list of “20 questions” and make him answer them
and a few of my own before bedtime. The kid will rarely tell me anything about school unless I specifically ask. The Harlem Glodetrotters came to the school and I didn’t even find out until I saw a FB post 2 days later. I asked him about it, he replied
“Oh that was epic”.
“Awesome!, so why didn’t you tell me.”
“My school is my business. I don’t think to tell you everything.”
“No, bud. Everything about your life is MY business. I need to know all of it.”

During the testing I kept asking him questions daily about it.. he just said “The teacher says something, and even if you don’t hear her, she isn’t allowed to repeat the question.” I’m assuming that was the ‘verbal’ portion, I’m also assuming he may not have been paying attention during all of it.

I wish we could see the questions and answers.

Oh well. I’ve email the teacher so I’m sure she’ll get back to me shortly. I’ll follow your advice and not going to worry too much about it.

Seriously, what is the attention span of a 7 year old? You're lucky if you can get 5 minutes. 10 is an achievement!

 

[21stamps]

Ok @dryerlintfan and @MySmallWorldof4 , I found the original email..




March 2nd notification.

Here’s what it said..so I guess it’s not the driving determination overall.

Testing will continue through March 16th and all make-ups must be completed no later than March 22nd. Every student in grades 2-7 will be administered the Iowa Test of Basic Skills as well as the Cognitive Abilities Test during those two weeks. Information gleaned from these tests is so important and helpful for sustaining strong academic programs as a school and also measuring the academic growth of our individual students.

While it is never intended as such, this testing time can be a source of anxiety for some students. In addition to being in a testing environment, their regular class schedule is interrupted and the school day as they know it changes a bit. At school we will be lightening the homework load to help reduce stress. We, as parents, can also help at home to alleviate some of this anxiety by doing the following:

Talk to your child/ren about testing week and reassure them in a positive way.
Remain calm, and discuss the confidence that you have in your child(ren).
Give your student a nutritious breakfast each day of the test.
Try to keep morning routines the same at home and avoid upsetting conversations the mornings of testing whenever possible.
Make sure your child(ren) get a good night’s sleep each night.
Celebrate the end of testing time with your child(ren).
Students at (**edited out**) typically perform very well on these tests. As teachers, we also recognize that these tests are a snapshot of our students’ learning and overall progress. For that reason, we utilize the results of the Iowa and CogAT tests in conjunction with other assessments and observations before making any final decisions about individual academic progress.

If you should ever have questions about the Iowa and CogAT tests, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or me. We are happy to assist in any way we can.

 

[21stamps]

Seriously, what is the attention span of a 7 year old? You're lucky if you can get 5 minutes. 10 is an achievement!

Ha ha. True!

 

[MOXOMUMD]

5 days until Mother's Day.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

 

[MOXOMUMD]