Parents, a couple of days ago, I received a message from one of my Academy moms. Her daughter had just received her IGCSE math results:
Of course I was proud of her. We worked hard together. Every Sunday without fail. But it also got me thinking about what you are facing going back for the new school year.
For some of my families, math results are arriving now. For others, school has already begun and students are discovering their new classes, teachers, placements and expectations.
I know results and placements matter, but neither tell us for full story of what your child can do.
Here are three questions I want you to ask:
Where did your child grow? Where are the gaps? What's secure? Where exactly is the improvement needed?
A student can earn a good grade while quietly losing confidence. Another can make progress and not yet show in the grades.
This one is critical especially at transition points ( Grades 5-8; Yr 6-9 (algebra readiness); Grades 10-12 (exam and college readiness). Each require different support—moving toward Algebra, entering a more demanding mathematics track, beginning IB or advanced coursework, or preparing for the mathematics required beyond secondary school.
The real work is understanding the learner behind it.
That's the work we've been doing with the “K” whose mom wrote to me. The “solid 7” matters. But so do the consistency, confidence, mathematical understanding and growth that made the 7 possible.
Over the next several Parent Hub notes, I'm going to share some of what I want parents to be watching:
- what to notice during the first 30 days of mathematics class;
- what Algebra readiness actually looks like;
- what parents should know about IB and other critical transition years;
- and what effective mathematics support should actually do for a child.
If you’ve received results or placement information and you’re wondering what it means for your child, you can tell me a little about what you’re seeing here. Please send this to someone who
