Cogat and Honors
I would like to open a converation in our pathway about honors placement and how we can best communicate with families so they can make the best decision for their students. This really is an area where a 6th grade decision can have real long term impact...
1. The Cogat is the primary assessment used to determine placement in junior high honors programs.
2. At this time, the Cogat is a self-select assessment that a family has to make the effort to go to Woodmoor on a Saturday and take
3. Honors Math students are one year and sometimes two years ahead in mathematics. (yes it is tracked) Once in or out of the honor it is tough to change tracks. Leaving honors math mid-year means going back to the math class you already took. Accelerating means summer school acceleration or testing into the program without the same curriculum the other students receiving.
4. The decision to take or not take the Cogat in 6th grade can be the difference between having the option to take Calculus in high school or not...or having advanced algebra experiences before taking the 10th grade WASL...or being way over your head developmentally in math
5. Our concern is that families that are “honors savy” may have better access to honors while other student who may have equal or greater math or literacy skills may not get the challenge they need.
6. Will you please advertise the district January and spring Cogat testing in your newsletters and help 6th grade teachers know that this is the "gate" for important decisions that can affect a student throughout secondary. (Jan. 7th 9 a.m. At Woodmoor Elementary for Skyview Pathway)
7. Jeanie M. said that schools have honors applications, newsletter templates for this process.
I am uncomfortable with some of the underlying issues (tracking...) outlined in this e-mail, but bottom line, in a somewhat self-select system like ours, it is important that all families get the information and encouragement that is best for that student.
I am more than open to conversations in our Pathway about these issues. Would it make sense to have Skyview counselors meet with your 6th grade teachers so they can better understand how junior high honors works?
1. The Cogat is the primary assessment used to determine placement in junior high honors programs.
2. At this time, the Cogat is a self-select assessment that a family has to make the effort to go to Woodmoor on a Saturday and take
3. Honors Math students are one year and sometimes two years ahead in mathematics. (yes it is tracked) Once in or out of the honor it is tough to change tracks. Leaving honors math mid-year means going back to the math class you already took. Accelerating means summer school acceleration or testing into the program without the same curriculum the other students receiving.
4. The decision to take or not take the Cogat in 6th grade can be the difference between having the option to take Calculus in high school or not...or having advanced algebra experiences before taking the 10th grade WASL...or being way over your head developmentally in math
5. Our concern is that families that are “honors savy” may have better access to honors while other student who may have equal or greater math or literacy skills may not get the challenge they need.
6. Will you please advertise the district January and spring Cogat testing in your newsletters and help 6th grade teachers know that this is the "gate" for important decisions that can affect a student throughout secondary. (Jan. 7th 9 a.m. At Woodmoor Elementary for Skyview Pathway)
7. Jeanie M. said that schools have honors applications, newsletter templates for this process.
I am uncomfortable with some of the underlying issues (tracking...) outlined in this e-mail, but bottom line, in a somewhat self-select system like ours, it is important that all families get the information and encouragement that is best for that student.
I am more than open to conversations in our Pathway about these issues. Would it make sense to have Skyview counselors meet with your 6th grade teachers so they can better understand how junior high honors works?
posted by Mike at 7:46 AM
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