Brent rebuild details to know before you accept that lottery spot

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP – I cannot speak toward other DCPS elementary schools except that they follow a set of core standards (measured via PARCC/CAPE). Brent’s curriculum is made up by its teachers and does not follow coherent sequence of lessons. The assignments are not the same between two classes, which leads to one teacher being more desired than another. The curriculum also fails to take into account different learning styles and intelligences. Brent teaches to the “median” student; students above or below are supplementing outside of school, which helps Brent students reach 4/5s on standardized tests (skews the appearance of the quality of the curriculum/teaching).

This. My kids went to different DCPS elementaries, and they learned entirely different things. The math was the same because they followed the same Eureka books, but reading, writing, science, and social studies were completely different.

Hmm, I think this might be a bit of a misperception.

Math and ELA curriculums are pretty standard across DCPS. There is some leeway among schools (and individual teachers) in terms of emphasis and time. Some schools will augment these curriculums with additional work. Some will emphasize writing more or less (as a PP noted, with 15 minutes versus 30 minutes of writing at different schools). But the materials, the standards, the grading -- it's all standardized.

Science and social studies technically have standardized curriculums but the reality is that these areas are not tested and not as emphasized in elementary, so you do see huge differences between schools in how they are approached. In my opinion, the best approach is when teachers and schools find ways to incorporate these subjects into the math and ELA instruction. Consistently my child's best teachers will find ways to incorporate science, especially, into reading and writing practice, or use a science lesson to reinforce math concepts. This is basically the only way you can get substantive science and social studies into DCPS curriculum because the testing and targets for reading and math require a lot of time and many teachers just don't feel they have any left over for these subjects that are not tested. Especially true at schools trying to lift test scores.

What WILL impact kids is peer levels. DCPS schools generally teach to the median student, good-to-great teachers will do some differentiation to help meet needs across a spectrum. But if most of the kids in class are below grade level, that will impact what material an on-grade level student sees. Likewise if there just is not a substantial above-grade level cohort that can impact it. The mix of kids in the classroom matters a lot, especially when it comes to what gets repeated and reinforced.

I don't have a kid at Brent and can't say with any authority what is going on, but the idea that they "teach to the median" is not itself cause for alarm. These reports about rampant supplementing are relevant, but not necessarily in the way people might think. One thing that can happen when say a third to half the class is supplementing, especially in math, is that teacher introduce concepts only to discover half their kids not only understand already, but are bored with them. This creates problems for teachers in terms of teaching the kids who aren't supplementing (but may still be on grade level -- just not doing math after school 3 days a week) and also dealing with disengagement from kids who are getting inundated with math curriculum even outside of school. Supplementing can be a godsend for a kid who is behind, has a learning disorder, or simply loves the subject matter. Supplementing can be problematic for kids who are generally average/on target.

There is way more variation than this. My kids' current school has a separate writing block, taught by a different teacher, for at least 1 hour every day for grades 3-5. Obviously there is also some writing integrated into ELA instruction, which is a separate 1+ hour block every day. My kids' old school had writing as part of their 1 hour-ish ELA class and I don't think there was any more writing than there is in my kids' current ELA block. They essentially get 1 hour more per day now with a separate writing-focused curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Supplementing can be essential for kids who would have been generally average/on target if they hadn't gone up to 18 months without normal school during the pandemic, as in most DC public schools. That's what happened to my Brent 2nd grader when the lockdowns started. Later on, Brent pretended that most of the kids in her cohort had kept up on math via virtual instruction. Mine given 4s in math in the upper grades although, unbeknownst to us, she has still behind due to Covid learning loss, and not just a tad. Mathnasium blew Brent's cover eventually, and caught our kid up in math, teaching her more than two years worth in one. I'm sure things are much more normal now at Brent where math instruction goes, but we've stuck with Mathnasium just the same. I'd do commercials for them. Don't expect Brent to teach your kid much in the way of spelling, grammar or punctuation either - they gloss over writing concepts, provide little drill, maintain low ELA standards. It's a friendly, happy, fun school for the kids but we've really had to play catch up academically in middle school and hear similar stories from Brent pals. My kids have no special needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Supplementing can be essential for kids who would have been generally average/on target if they hadn't gone up to 18 months without normal school during the pandemic, as in most DC public schools. That's what happened to my Brent 2nd grader when the lockdowns started. Later on, Brent pretended that most of the kids in her cohort had kept up on math via virtual instruction. Mine given 4s in math in the upper grades although, unbeknownst to us, she has still behind due to Covid learning loss, and not just a tad. Mathnasium blew Brent's cover eventually, and caught our kid up in math, teaching her more than two years worth in one. I'm sure things are much more normal now at Brent where math instruction goes, but we've stuck with Mathnasium just the same. I'd do commercials for them. Don't expect Brent to teach your kid much in the way of spelling, grammar or punctuation either - they gloss over writing concepts, provide little drill, maintain low ELA standards. It's a friendly, happy, fun school for the kids but we've really had to play catch up academically in middle school and hear similar stories from Brent pals. My kids have no special needs.

Unless you have been at Brent post-covid, commentary on spelling, grammar, punctuation and reading instruction is outdated. They've revamped how they are teaching (presumably in response to earlier complaints) and its greatly improved. I've been blown away by the new K & 1st reading and writing curriculums as compared to that for my older child. My understanding is that based on how successful the new strategies have been at the younger ages, they are gradually being introduced into the curriculums for the olders as well. Changes seem to be the result of a combo of a response to gaps in learning from COVID & general complaints of ill preparedness for middle school from alumni/their parents.

[Anonymous]

Get back to us on Brent ELA instruction in 5th grade! They seem to roll out a hip new approach every few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Supplementing can be essential for kids who would have been generally average/on target if they hadn't gone up to 18 months without normal school during the pandemic, as in most DC public schools. That's what happened to my Brent 2nd grader when the lockdowns started. Later on, Brent pretended that most of the kids in her cohort had kept up on math via virtual instruction. Mine given 4s in math in the upper grades although, unbeknownst to us, she has still behind due to Covid learning loss, and not just a tad. Mathnasium blew Brent's cover eventually, and caught our kid up in math, teaching her more than two years worth in one. I'm sure things are much more normal now at Brent where math instruction goes, but we've stuck with Mathnasium just the same. I'd do commercials for them. Don't expect Brent to teach your kid much in the way of spelling, grammar or punctuation either - they gloss over writing concepts, provide little drill, maintain low ELA standards. It's a friendly, happy, fun school for the kids but we've really had to play catch up academically in middle school and hear similar stories from Brent pals. My kids have no special needs.

Unless you have been at Brent post-covid, commentary on spelling, grammar, punctuation and reading instruction is outdated. They've revamped how they are teaching (presumably in response to earlier complaints) and its greatly improved. I've been blown away by the new K & 1st reading and writing curriculums as compared to that for my older child. My understanding is that based on how successful the new strategies have been at the younger ages, they are gradually being introduced into the curriculums for the olders as well. Changes seem to be the result of a combo of a response to gaps in learning from COVID & general complaints of ill preparedness for middle school from alumni/their parents.

Total BS. Norah and DCPS don't give a hoot about "ill preparedness" for writing challenges up the chain. K and 1st grade are just fine, right.

- Signed Brent parent of 9 years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Supplementing can be essential for kids who would have been generally average/on target if they hadn't gone up to 18 months without normal school during the pandemic, as in most DC public schools. That's what happened to my Brent 2nd grader when the lockdowns started. Later on, Brent pretended that most of the kids in her cohort had kept up on math via virtual instruction. Mine given 4s in math in the upper grades although, unbeknownst to us, she has still behind due to Covid learning loss, and not just a tad. Mathnasium blew Brent's cover eventually, and caught our kid up in math, teaching her more than two years worth in one. I'm sure things are much more normal now at Brent where math instruction goes, but we've stuck with Mathnasium just the same. I'd do commercials for them. Don't expect Brent to teach your kid much in the way of spelling, grammar or punctuation either - they gloss over writing concepts, provide little drill, maintain low ELA standards. It's a friendly, happy, fun school for the kids but we've really had to play catch up academically in middle school and hear similar stories from Brent pals. My kids have no special needs.

Unless you have been at Brent post-covid, commentary on spelling, grammar, punctuation and reading instruction is outdated. They've revamped how they are teaching (presumably in response to earlier complaints) and it's greatly improved. I've been blown away by the new K & 1st reading and writing curriculums as compared to that for my older child. My understanding is that based on how successful the new strategies have been at the younger ages, they are gradually being introduced into the curriculums for the olders as well. Changes seem to be the result of a combo of a response to gaps in learning from COVID & general complaints of ill preparedness for middle school [b]from alumni/their parents.[/b]

Just wait until your 5th grader is repeating 4th grade material unnecessarily. Nothing prepares kids for middle school better than having them sit through a year of 4th grade again.

[Anonymous]

We got the ill communication

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Supplementing can be essential for kids who would have been generally average/on target if they hadn't gone up to 18 months without normal school during the pandemic, as in most DC public schools. That's what happened to my Brent 2nd grader when the lockdowns started. Later on, Brent pretended that most of the kids in her cohort had kept up on math via virtual instruction. Mine given 4s in math in the upper grades although, unbeknownst to us, she has still behind due to Covid learning loss, and not just a tad. Mathnasium blew Brent's cover eventually, and caught our kid up in math, teaching her more than two years worth in one. I'm sure things are much more normal now at Brent where math instruction goes, but we've stuck with Mathnasium just the same. I'd do commercials for them. Don't expect Brent to teach your kid much in the way of spelling, grammar or punctuation either - they gloss over writing concepts, provide little drill, maintain low ELA standards. It's a friendly, happy, fun school for the kids but we've really had to play catch up academically in middle school and hear similar stories from Brent pals. My kids have no special needs.

Unless you have been at Brent post-covid, commentary on spelling, grammar, punctuation and reading instruction is outdated. They've revamped how they are teaching (presumably in response to earlier complaints) and it's greatly improved. I've been blown away by the new K & 1st reading and writing curriculums as compared to that for my older child. My understanding is that based on how successful the new strategies have been at the younger ages, they are gradually being introduced into the curriculums for the olders as well. Changes seem to be the result of a combo of a response to gaps in learning from COVID & general complaints of ill preparedness for middle school [b]from alumni/their parents.[/b]

Just wait until your 5th grader is repeating 4th grade material unnecessarily. Nothing prepares kids for middle school better than having them sit through a year of 4th grade again.

I won't have a 5th grader at Brent nor would I have. We had a backup plan. Expecting to be happy with 5th grade at Brent is asking for disappointment - it is what it is, and wasn't great before the 4th/5th combo either. 4th has never been super strong either to be honest. Regardless, I'm still impressed with the improvements in the K - 3 reading and writing curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Supplementing can be essential for kids who would have been generally average/on target if they hadn't gone up to 18 months without normal school during the pandemic, as in most DC public schools. That's what happened to my Brent 2nd grader when the lockdowns started. Later on, Brent pretended that most of the kids in her cohort had kept up on math via virtual instruction. Mine given 4s in math in the upper grades although, unbeknownst to us, she has still behind due to Covid learning loss, and not just a tad. Mathnasium blew Brent's cover eventually, and caught our kid up in math, teaching her more than two years worth in one. I'm sure things are much more normal now at Brent where math instruction goes, but we've stuck with Mathnasium just the same. I'd do commercials for them. Don't expect Brent to teach your kid much in the way of spelling, grammar or punctuation either - they gloss over writing concepts, provide little drill, maintain low ELA standards. It's a friendly, happy, fun school for the kids but we've really had to play catch up academically in middle school and hear similar stories from Brent pals. My kids have no special needs.

Unless you have been at Brent post-covid, commentary on spelling, grammar, punctuation and reading instruction is outdated. They've revamped how they are teaching (presumably in response to earlier complaints) and it's greatly improved. I've been blown away by the new K & 1st reading and writing curriculums as compared to that for my older child. My understanding is that based on how successful the new strategies have been at the younger ages, they are gradually being introduced into the curriculums for the olders as well. Changes seem to be the result of a combo of a response to gaps in learning from COVID & general complaints of ill preparedness for middle school [b]from alumni/their parents.[/b]

Just wait until your 5th grader is repeating 4th grade material unnecessarily. Nothing prepares kids for middle school better than having them sit through a year of 4th grade again.

I won't have a 5th grader at Brent nor would I have. We had a backup plan. Expecting to be happy with 5th grade at Brent is asking for disappointment - it is what it is, and wasn't great before the 4th/5th combo either. 4th has never been super strong either to be honest. Regardless, I'm still impressed with the improvements in the K - 3 reading and writing curriculum.

So easy to say, such a judgmental statement. Fact is, 5th grade at Brent IS the back-up plan for most families, which makes sense. You're really going to move your kid just for 5th to a cohort with entirely new kids, then do it all over again for 6th at a different school if you were shut out of Latins and BASIS after 4th? Maybe, especially now that 5th grade at Brent hardly exists, but not necessarily.

[Anonymous]

I'm a new poster to this thread. This is our family's third experience in 4th grade at Brent, and I was just (sort of) joking with my spouse that 4th grade at Brent exists to make sure you aren't sorry if your kid leaves for another school at 5th. I really dislike Brent's ELA curriculum. My child needs a lot more support and structure to learn to write well, and they do not receive any of that from the teachers or curriculum. I also don't love the Upper School model in general for 4th or 5th, and I am glad we have the opportunity to leave.

[Anonymous]

I'd love to hear which schools are doing these 1 hour dedicated writing blocks. That sounds awesome and is definitely something that should attract families!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd love to hear which schools are doing these 1 hour dedicated writing blocks. That sounds awesome and is definitely something that should attract families!

Ludlow-Taylor does for 3rd-5th grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Supplementing can be essential for kids who would have been generally average/on target if they hadn't gone up to 18 months without normal school during the pandemic, as in most DC public schools. That's what happened to my Brent 2nd grader when the lockdowns started. Later on, Brent pretended that most of the kids in her cohort had kept up on math via virtual instruction. Mine given 4s in math in the upper grades although, unbeknownst to us, she has still behind due to Covid learning loss, and not just a tad. Mathnasium blew Brent's cover eventually, and caught our kid up in math, teaching her more than two years worth in one. I'm sure things are much more normal now at Brent where math instruction goes, but we've stuck with Mathnasium just the same. I'd do commercials for them. Don't expect Brent to teach your kid much in the way of spelling, grammar or punctuation either - they gloss over writing concepts, provide little drill, maintain low ELA standards. It's a friendly, happy, fun school for the kids but we've really had to play catch up academically in middle school and hear similar stories from Brent pals. My kids have no special needs.

Unless you have been at Brent post-covid, commentary on spelling, grammar, punctuation and reading instruction is outdated. They've revamped how they are teaching (presumably in response to earlier complaints) and it's greatly improved. I've been blown away by the new K & 1st reading and writing curriculums as compared to that for my older child. My understanding is that based on how successful the new strategies have been at the younger ages, they are gradually being introduced into the curriculums for the olders as well. Changes seem to be the result of a combo of a response to gaps in learning from COVID & general complaints of ill preparedness for middle school [b]from alumni/their parents.[/b]

Just wait until your 5th grader is repeating 4th grade material unnecessarily. Nothing prepares kids for middle school better than having them sit through a year of 4th grade again.

I won't have a 5th grader at Brent nor would I have. We had a backup plan. Expecting to be happy with 5th grade at Brent is asking for disappointment - it is what it is, and wasn't great before the 4th/5th combo either. 4th has never been super strong either to be honest. Regardless, I'm still impressed with the improvements in the K - 3 reading and writing curriculum.

So easy to say, such a judgmental statement. Fact is, 5th grade at Brent IS the back-up plan for most families, which makes sense. You're really going to move your kid just for 5th to a cohort with entirely new kids, then do it all over again for 6th at a different school if you were shut out of Latins and BASIS after 4th? Maybe, especially now that 5th grade at Brent hardly exists, but not necessarily.

This. No easy answers if you've been at Brent for years and your kid doesn't get into Latin or BASIS, or if you have plans to move on to a DCPS or private MS that starts in 6th. I wish there was much more pressure on Norah to improve the 5th grade experience. She claims it's wonderful. It's not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Supplementing can be essential for kids who would have been generally average/on target if they hadn't gone up to 18 months without normal school during the pandemic, as in most DC public schools. That's what happened to my Brent 2nd grader when the lockdowns started. Later on, Brent pretended that most of the kids in her cohort had kept up on math via virtual instruction. Mine given 4s in math in the upper grades although, unbeknownst to us, she has still behind due to Covid learning loss, and not just a tad. Mathnasium blew Brent's cover eventually, and caught our kid up in math, teaching her more than two years worth in one. I'm sure things are much more normal now at Brent where math instruction goes, but we've stuck with Mathnasium just the same. I'd do commercials for them. Don't expect Brent to teach your kid much in the way of spelling, grammar or punctuation either - they gloss over writing concepts, provide little drill, maintain low ELA standards. It's a friendly, happy, fun school for the kids but we've really had to play catch up academically in middle school and hear similar stories from Brent pals. My kids have no special needs.

Unless you have been at Brent post-covid, commentary on spelling, grammar, punctuation and reading instruction is outdated. They've revamped how they are teaching (presumably in response to earlier complaints) and it's greatly improved. I've been blown away by the new K & 1st reading and writing curriculums as compared to that for my older child. My understanding is that based on how successful the new strategies have been at the younger ages, they are gradually being introduced into the curriculums for the olders as well. Changes seem to be the result of a combo of a response to gaps in learning from COVID & general complaints of ill preparedness for middle school [b]from alumni/their parents.[/b]

Just wait until your 5th grader is repeating 4th grade material unnecessarily. Nothing prepares kids for middle school better than having them sit through a year of 4th grade again.

I won't have a 5th grader at Brent nor would I have. We had a backup plan. Expecting to be happy with 5th grade at Brent is asking for disappointment - it is what it is, and wasn't great before the 4th/5th combo either. 4th has never been super strong either to be honest. Regardless, I'm still impressed with the improvements in the K - 3 reading and writing curriculum.

So easy to say, such a judgmental statement. Fact is, 5th grade at Brent IS the back-up plan for most families, which makes sense. You're really going to move your kid just for 5th to a cohort with entirely new kids, then do it all over again for 6th at a different school if you were shut out of Latins and BASIS after 4th? Maybe, especially now that 5th grade at Brent hardly exists, but not necessarily.

Does your child participate in any other activities on the Hill outside of school? Because if so, it’s likely that they will know kids at their new 5th grade school if it is also in the Hill. My kid knows lots of other Hill kids his age through Little League, summer camps, etc. The adjustment may not be as hard as you are imagining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Supplementing can be essential for kids who would have been generally average/on target if they hadn't gone up to 18 months without normal school during the pandemic, as in most DC public schools. That's what happened to my Brent 2nd grader when the lockdowns started. Later on, Brent pretended that most of the kids in her cohort had kept up on math via virtual instruction. Mine given 4s in math in the upper grades although, unbeknownst to us, she has still behind due to Covid learning loss, and not just a tad. Mathnasium blew Brent's cover eventually, and caught our kid up in math, teaching her more than two years worth in one. I'm sure things are much more normal now at Brent where math instruction goes, but we've stuck with Mathnasium just the same. I'd do commercials for them. Don't expect Brent to teach your kid much in the way of spelling, grammar or punctuation either - they gloss over writing concepts, provide little drill, maintain low ELA standards. It's a friendly, happy, fun school for the kids but we've really had to play catch up academically in middle school and hear similar stories from Brent pals. My kids have no special needs.

Which MS are your kids at?