Your child might come home talking about how they, or other students, attend "challenge math." I felt it might be important to explain briefly about what this opportunity is, and what it is not.
Before each unit in math students take a pretest. This isn't a test to study for, and it is not included in their "grade." Students are asked to complete as much as they can, and skip those problems that they do not understand. Much of what is on a pretest is new material that they have not yet been taught. I correct the pretests and determine, by pretest score and student need, which students will attend challenge math for that unit. The student groups change for each unit. If students score particularly high on the pretest (usually somewhere around 80% or above), there is a need for some differentiation and additional enrichment. Challenge math is not ELP, nor is it a "priviledge." It is a learning service for those who indicate a need for some more in-depth study. Students who score very high on the pre-assessment, for example above 90% may do some "contract math" where they are working on some different or additional problem solving opportunities within the classroom. Students shouldn't be setting a goal to be in challenge math, it is a program for students who show a need for such services.
Many students score lower on the pretest, but pick up material quickly and learn the content with each lesson. This is a good place to be. If a student is progressing quickly through the unit, but does not attend challenge math, he or she will still be given opportunities to enrich or extend their learning within the regular education classroom.
If you have any questions, please let me know. Thanks! :)
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