Regional Scholastic Writing Awards

[Anonymous]

Regional Scholastic Writing Awards: https://www.fcps.edu/news/fcps-students-receive-2024-regional-scholastic-writing-awards

Why do TJ and McLean always shine at these competitions? It's not even a STEM contest. Do students at some schools not receive the same encouragement from their teachers or is it just parental support?

TJ 71
McLean 61
Langley 22
Longfellow 17
Oakton 12
Centreville 7
Madison 7
Woodson 7
Chantilly 6
Carson 5
Lake Braddock 5
Westfield 5
Edison 4
Kilmer 4
Robinson 4
Justice 3
Rocky Run 3
Fairfax 2
Marshall 2
Annandale 1
Cooper 1
Franklin 1
Frost 1
Hayfield 1
Herndon 1
Jackson 1
Johnson 1
Lewis 1
Liberty 1
South Lakes 1
West Springfield 1

[Anonymous]

Schools full of kids hoping to go to top colleges are more likely to participate in competitions in an effort to set themselves apart.

[Anonymous]

TJ's language arts and social studies instruction have always been sneaky good.

When you're in a class surrounded by kids who are motivated to do well, class can be more challenging. I assume this is also true of the honors/AP clusters at most FPCS high schools, and the bigger those clusters the better the classes and more kids who will do these kinds of competitions.

It's also true that when you're surrounded by kids who are all talking about competitions for this and that, you're more likely to enter yourself.

[Anonymous]

is it through the school or kids do it independently?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:is it through the school or kids do it independently?

They typically have a teacher encouraging/supporting/submitting but kids can do it independently.

[Anonymous]

My kid got several awards in this program but it was because I learned about it and had her submit work. A teacher had to sign off on the pieces, but the direction did not come from the school at all.

[Anonymous]

How is a kid with a G last name from TJ and listed as an 8th grader?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is a kid with a G last name from TJ and listed as an 8th grader?

It's probably a mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TJ's language arts and social studies instruction have always been sneaky good.

When you're in a class surrounded by kids who are motivated to do well, class can be more challenging. I assume this is also true of the honors/AP clusters at most FPCS high schools, and the bigger those clusters the better the classes and more kids who will do these kinds of competitions.

It's also true that when you're surrounded by kids who are all talking about competitions for this and that, you're more likely to enter yourself.

Some schools and communities just emphasize external awards more--it generates a culture of applying for these awards, supporting these awards etc. Other schools it's more if individual kids know about it and want to seek them a teacher will support, but there isn't a history of drumming up interest. I don't think it has much to do about the quality of instruction, more about the culture around these kinds of awards. It would be interesting to see the application/winning rate as a number--I doubt we'd see as much variation across schools.

[Anonymous]

There’s nothing wrong with kids seeking and gaining recognition for their academic accomplishments. FCPS makes a big deal when a local team wins an athletic championship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s nothing wrong with kids seeking and gaining recognition for their academic accomplishments. FCPS makes a big deal when a local team wins an athletic championship.

I don't think anyone implied there was--just explaining why some schools have more than others--guessing that it's more about an established culture where kids seek awards rather than there being inherently stronger instruction. Kids have to know about awards, know the timing of deadlines, have stuff prepared in advance, know how to submit--all of that is more about being oriented to awards and having a culture that clues you into it than it is just about instruction or writing skills. Having served on awards reviews in my field, there are always some schools that have a culture clued into the award and these tend to be self-perpetuating--when a lot of kids win an award more kids hear about it, know to prepare and to submit. Teachers remind kids of the deadlines, review submissions etc. They have a lot more submissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s nothing wrong with kids seeking and gaining recognition for their academic accomplishments. FCPS makes a big deal when a local team wins an athletic championship.

I don't think anyone implied there was--just explaining why some schools have more than others--guessing that it's more about an established culture where kids seek awards rather than there being inherently stronger instruction. Kids have to know about awards, know the timing of deadlines, have stuff prepared in advance, know how to submit--all of that is more about being oriented to awards and having a culture that clues you into it than it is just about instruction or writing skills. Having served on awards reviews in my field, there are always some schools that have a culture clued into the award and these tend to be self-perpetuating--when a lot of kids win an award more kids hear about it, know to prepare and to submit. Teachers remind kids of the deadlines, review submissions etc. They have a lot more submissions.

Sounds like a culture to be emulated, not contextualized. Too many schools are just looking for kids to get by and graduate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid got several awards in this program but it was because I learned about it and had her submit work. A teacher had to sign off on the pieces, but the direction did not come from the school at all.

This never knew the program existed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Sounds like a culture to be emulated, not contextualized. Too many schools are just looking for kids to get by and graduate.

The majority of the other kids are busy being absent, hiding in school bathrooms getting high or having sex, or working...no external motivation for academic contests!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s nothing wrong with kids seeking and gaining recognition for their academic accomplishments. FCPS makes a big deal when a local team wins an athletic championship.

I don't think anyone implied there was--just explaining why some schools have more than others--guessing that it's more about an established culture where kids seek awards rather than there being inherently stronger instruction. Kids have to know about awards, know the timing of deadlines, have stuff prepared in advance, know how to submit--all of that is more about being oriented to awards and having a culture that clues you into it than it is just about instruction or writing skills. Having served on awards reviews in my field, there are always some schools that have a culture clued into the award and these tend to be self-perpetuating--when a lot of kids win an award more kids hear about it, know to prepare and to submit. Teachers remind kids of the deadlines, review submissions etc. They have a lot more submissions.

Sounds like a culture to be emulated, not contextualized. Too many schools are just looking for kids to get by and graduate.

I think schools should focus on instructional and extracurricular quality. Sometimes places let the awards drive the experience rather than just being a minor motivator. I know art and music programs sometimes struggle with this--there may be more learning in engaging in rich creative processes, but that doesn't necessarily win you the awards on the right time schedule. But awards can be motivating and move resources to a department. I think there needs to be a balance.