Benchmark is awful - what can be done

[Anonymous]

Parent of a kindergartener with a background in education. I don’t understand why MCPS is using such an awful curriculum like Benchmark?
It seems like they are just teaching kids to read by guessing words based on pictures. And repetitive stories that just change one word that the child can guess. I have finally just decided to teach my kid phonics myself since it’s not being taught and he cannot sound out words to save his life, he just keeps guessing, but I am really frustrated that the school is not teaching phonics. I have talked with other parents who are in a similar boat—if the kids did not enter kindergarten reading already, they are not learning from the instruction. Yet somehow all their math worksheets and reading assignments require a high degree of reading fluency - at least 2nd grade I would guess. What can be done here as an engaged parent? It is so sad to me to see how these kids who are already not reading are just getting left behind unless their parents are super engaged and able to basically homeschool.

[Anonymous]

Just curious as to what book you’re using? We had this issue with our daughter and I asked my dad, who has a background in education as well. He recommended Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, which uses the phonics-based Distar method. We combine it with Scholastic Bob books. DD is doing quite well with it! I’ve had to heavily incentivize her with little stickers on each section she completes, a chocolate at the end, lots of cheering, etc. But it’s definitely working!

As it happens, every single other parent I speak to who has kindergarteners has said the same thing. Their kids can’t sound out words. They just guess. It’s honestly horrifying.

[Anonymous]

I wish I could tell you that Benchmark is better once kids learn to read, but it is still awful. I also have no faith after seeing what happened last time when they chose Benchmark that they would choose anything better if they get rid of Benchmark. My solution has been to pay for private tutoring. Lots of parents can’t do that. Having a crappy curriculum just exacerbates disparities.

[Anonymous]

“ Based on regular feedback from MCPS, Benchmark has developed an upgraded curriculum with more culturally responsive materials and increased foundational skills instruction, Benchmark Advance 2022. MCPS will implement this new curriculum in a limited number of schools. This new curriculum will also be evaluated as part of this process.”

[Anonymous]

They won't be using benchmark after this year. They'll be using a more phonics based curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“ Based on regular feedback from MCPS, Benchmark has developed an upgraded curriculum with more culturally responsive materials and increased foundational skills instruction, Benchmark Advance 2022. MCPS will implement this new curriculum in a limited number of schools. This new curriculum will also be evaluated as part of this process.”

Of course. That’s the priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“ Based on regular feedback from MCPS, Benchmark has developed an upgraded curriculum with more culturally responsive materials and increased foundational skills instruction, Benchmark Advance 2022. MCPS will implement this new curriculum in a limited number of schools. This new curriculum will also be evaluated as part of this process.”

Window dressing. Even 2.0 was better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“ Based on regular feedback from MCPS, Benchmark has developed an upgraded curriculum with more culturally responsive materials and increased foundational skills instruction, Benchmark Advance 2022. MCPS will implement this new curriculum in a limited number of schools. This new curriculum will also be evaluated as part of this process.”

Of course. That’s the priority.

+1. Absolutely. As long as it’s culturally responsive, what the hell is the problem with it?

[Anonymous]

As a parent, you would need to either teach your child or get a tutor that does phonics. There is so much info you can find about it. Look up Science of Reading.
All About Reading is an easy prepackaged curriculum if you are looking to do it yourself with multiple levels depending where your child is right now. It fascinating when you see how children should be taught to read and yet somewhat horrific the way they are currently being taught.

[Anonymous]

MCPS is moving slowly towards Science of Reading.
Staff is being trained in LETRS now and elementary teachers are getting structured literacy training this summer.
Hopefully the tide will shift in a big way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is moving slowly towards Science of Reading.
Staff is being trained in LETRS now and elementary teachers are getting structured literacy training this summer.
Hopefully the tide will shift in a big way.

That doesn’t help the kids who need the instruction now. It’s not like current kindergarteners can go back and do K when MCPS finally figures out how to teach kids to read properly.

[Anonymous]

It seems like my DD is doing some form of phonics. I had bought the Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons book last year in case school didn't happen this year but hadn't used it yet. I pulled it out recently I was surprised my DD could read many of the words or if she couldn't read them she would sound them out. She told me her teacher taught her how to blend them (her words). She is in a title 1 school. Are they using the same curriculum?

They don't send much home in terms of what they are working on in reading except for a few photocopied books that they have done in their reading groups. It's only been recent that my DD has wanted to read with me. Her teacher does an after school virtual tutoring group for anyone in K at the school who wants to participate. As a group they review and write sight words, they write a sentence and draw a picture about the sentence and do a phonics ladder. It's formulaic but the teacher makes it fun for the kids. My DD loves her teacher and the group. It's 3x a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is moving slowly towards Science of Reading.
Staff is being trained in LETRS now and elementary teachers are getting structured literacy training this summer.
Hopefully the tide will shift in a big way.

That doesn’t help the kids who need the instruction now. It’s not like current kindergarteners can go back and do K when MCPS finally figures out how to teach kids to read properly.

+1 It's great if it's true mcps is finally trying to use phonics instruction, but the lack of ability to read in some second graders right now thanks to their years of 'whole words' instruction is truly alarming. I take it Benchmark is whole words-based. Regardless, the online reading of subpar materials is awful.

My poor DD has to sit through very remedial reading instruction while the rest of the class is learning the very basics of how to read. Such a waste of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is moving slowly towards Science of Reading.
Staff is being trained in LETRS now and elementary teachers are getting structured literacy training this summer.
Hopefully the tide will shift in a big way.

That doesn’t help the kids who need the instruction now. It’s not like current kindergarteners can go back and do K when MCPS finally figures out how to teach kids to read properly.

+1 It's great if it's true mcps is finally trying to use phonics instruction, but the lack of ability to read in some second graders right now thanks to their years of 'whole words' instruction is truly alarming. I take it Benchmark is whole words-based. Regardless, the online reading of subpar materials is awful.

My poor DD has to sit through very remedial reading instruction while the rest of the class is learning the very basics of how to read. Such a waste of time.

I’ve got one of those second graders. Granted no one helped by 1.5 years of Zoom school that started for current 2nd graders in K, but the curriculum is no help. My DC now struggling to catch up and has tutoring four times a week using OG to learn phonics and decipher words. My advice to parents is supplement if you notice your child not “getting it” with Benchmark and do so pronto. Our child’s teachers were somewhat dismissive of our concerns and said the curriculum works - it doesn’t for all kids.

Also recommend the book, PP noted above. We used it this year and it was helpful. Wish I’d used on when DC was in K and 1st.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems like my DD is doing some form of phonics. I had bought the Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons book last year in case school didn't happen this year but hadn't used it yet. I pulled it out recently I was surprised my DD could read many of the words or if she couldn't read them she would sound them out. She told me her teacher taught her how to blend them (her words). She is in a title 1 school. Are they using the same curriculum?

They don't send much home in terms of what they are working on in reading except for a few photocopied books that they have done in their reading groups. It's only been recent that my DD has wanted to read with me. Her teacher does an after school virtual tutoring group for anyone in K at the school who wants to participate. As a group they review and write sight words, they write a sentence and draw a picture about the sentence and do a phonics ladder. It's formulaic but the teacher makes it fun for the kids. My DD loves her teacher and the group. It's 3x a week.

Your teacher sounds amazing! It seems like any classes getting phonics instruction is because the teacher is supplementing the benchmark curriculum