Give me constructive advice on how to help my middle schooler in English

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just send your kid to Catholic school and they’ll teach them.

OP has already categorically rejected private schools because apparently she’s looked at all the materials and knows it’s worse in private schools.

LOLOLOL

What? Fake news.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just send your kid to Catholic school and they’ll teach them.

We aren't Christian so that won't work for us.

You don’t have to be Catholic to go to Catholic school.

I realize but we still cannot do this. For some of the same reasons why I prefer very diverse schools.

Well you can just screw your kids over with a mediocre education OP. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just send your kid to Catholic school and they’ll teach them.

We aren't Christian so that won't work for us.

You don’t have to be Catholic to go to Catholic school.

I realize but we still cannot do this. For some of the same reasons why I prefer very diverse schools.

And your children illiterate, it seems.

PS: Catholic schools are often very diverse

Wow. I'd love to see metrics showing how their diversity stack up to public schools in Silver Spring or Germantown.

Catholic school enrollment often mirrors the demographics of the diocese, so they’re usually quite diverse.

But it seems like you want to prioritize diversity over the quality of your kids’ education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just send your kid to Catholic school and they’ll teach them.

OP has already categorically rejected private schools because apparently she’s looked at all the materials and knows it’s worse in private schools.

LOLOLOL

What? Fake news.

It’s 100% what OP said. She looked at notes from her friends kids’ school binders and concluded from that that private schools are inferior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just send your kid to Catholic school and they’ll teach them.

We aren't Christian so that won't work for us.

You don’t have to be Catholic to go to Catholic school.

I realize but we still cannot do this. For some of the same reasons why I prefer very diverse schools.

And your children illiterate, it seems.

PS: Catholic schools are often very diverse

Wow. I'd love to see metrics showing how their diversity stack up to public schools in Silver Spring or Germantown.

Catholic school enrollment often mirrors the demographics of the diocese, so they’re usually quite diverse.

But it seems like you want to prioritize diversity over the quality of your kids’ education.

Actually that's not what I said.
I said, I am very pleased with what my kids are learning in math, Humanities and science.
I am happy with their foreign language curriculum.
I am happy with the ECs offered.
I am happy with their friend group.
I am happy that Eid, Diwali and Chinese New Year are off. Kids feeling comfortable in their skin allows them to blossom.
I am happy with the short commute.
I am happy with the free cost. That's money I can save for their college and post grad education.

I am not happy with the English curriculum. I am not happy with the drug use in the high schools (although I hear this is in privates too)

I cannot forgo all the good for the few (albeit very big) bad aspects.

We are also financially fine. My kids are bright with no learning disabilities. They don't need special help. They are not illiterate (not sure why anyone would think that). Irrespective of whether they were in the crappiest public school or Sidwell Friends, my kids would be just fine because of the privilege of their birth family. Outcomes aren't going to be dramatically different.

[Anonymous]

I did not read the early replies, but I would recommend
1. Audiobooks
2. Tutor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just send your kid to Catholic school and they’ll teach them.

We aren't Christian so that won't work for us.

You don’t have to be Catholic to go to Catholic school.

I realize but we still cannot do this. For some of the same reasons why I prefer very diverse schools.

And your children illiterate, it seems.

PS: Catholic schools are often very diverse

Wow. I'd love to see metrics showing how their diversity stack up to public schools in Silver Spring or Germantown.

Catholic school enrollment often mirrors the demographics of the diocese, so they’re usually quite diverse.

But it seems like you want to prioritize diversity over the quality of your kids’ education.

Actually that's not what I said.
I said, I am very pleased with what my kids are learning in math, Humanities and science.
I am happy with their foreign language curriculum.
I am happy with the ECs offered.
I am happy with their friend group.
I am happy that Eid, Diwali and Chinese New Year are off. Kids feeling comfortable in their skin allows them to blossom.
I am happy with the short commute.
I am happy with the free cost. That's money I can save for their college and post grad education.

I am not happy with the English curriculum. I am not happy with the drug use in the high schools (although I hear this is in privates too)

I cannot forgo all the good for the few (albeit very big) bad aspects.

We are also financially fine. My kids are bright with no learning disabilities. They don't need special help. They are not illiterate (not sure why anyone would think that). Irrespective of whether they were in the crappiest public school or Sidwell Friends, my kids would be just fine because of the privilege of their birth family. Outcomes aren't going to be dramatically different.

So then what’s the problem? Seems like if they’ll be just fine then there’s no reason start a whole big thread.

Oh and my kid’s school has Eid, Diwali, and Chinese New Year off too. They also have school celebrations of those holidays, led by families who celebrate those holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just send your kid to Catholic school and they’ll teach them.

We aren't Christian so that won't work for us.

You don’t have to be Catholic to go to Catholic school.

I realize but we still cannot do this. For some of the same reasons why I prefer very diverse schools.

And your children illiterate, it seems.

PS: Catholic schools are often very diverse

Wow. I'd love to see metrics showing how their diversity stack up to public schools in Silver Spring or Germantown.

Catholic schools mirror the diversity of their locale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just send your kid to Catholic school and they’ll teach them.

We aren't Christian so that won't work for us.

You don’t have to be Catholic to go to Catholic school.

I realize but we still cannot do this. For some of the same reasons why I prefer very diverse schools.

And your children illiterate, it seems.

PS: Catholic schools are often very diverse

Wow. I'd love to see metrics showing how their diversity stack up to public schools in Silver Spring or Germantown.

Catholic school enrollment often mirrors the demographics of the diocese, so they’re usually quite diverse.

But it seems like you want to prioritize diversity over the quality of your kids’ education.

Actually that's not what I said.
I said, I am very pleased with what my kids are learning in math, Humanities and science.
I am happy with their foreign language curriculum.
I am happy with the ECs offered.
I am happy with their friend group.
I am happy that Eid, Diwali and Chinese New Year are off. Kids feeling comfortable in their skin allows them to blossom.
I am happy with the short commute.
I am happy with the free cost. That's money I can save for their college and post grad education.

I am not happy with the English curriculum. I am not happy with the drug use in the high schools (although I hear this is in privates too)

I cannot forgo all the good for the few (albeit very big) bad aspects.

We are also financially fine. My kids are bright with no learning disabilities. They don't need special help. They are not illiterate (not sure why anyone would think that). Irrespective of whether they were in the crappiest public school or Sidwell Friends, my kids would be just fine because of the privilege of their birth family. Outcomes aren't going to be dramatically different.

LOL. So I guess you just wrote this post for your health?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just send your kid to Catholic school and they’ll teach them.

We aren't Christian so that won't work for us.

You don’t have to be Catholic to go to Catholic school.

I realize but we still cannot do this. For some of the same reasons why I prefer very diverse schools.

And your children illiterate, it seems.

PS: Catholic schools are often very diverse

Wow. I'd love to see metrics showing how their diversity stack up to public schools in Silver Spring or Germantown.

Catholic schools mirror the diversity of their locale.

Yep. Seems as though perusing some kid’s binder didn’t actually teach OP all that much about private schools. Shocker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried CTY? They would be in class with other high performing peers which could get them out of the rut. My poor kid was in the dumbed down curriculum and became catatonic by the end of the school year, producing mediocre work. Being around kids who are at their same level might snap them out of that.

CTY is overpriced. If you're willing to go online and have gifted kids, there are better options like AoPS, NUMATS, Davidson, Athena's Academy, Astra Nova, Cresco Nova, Synthesis, Northwestern GLL, Eclipse Academy, Online G3, Stanford OHS, Lukeion, and CLRC. https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/online-gifted-learning-options/

Pp, can you expand on this? Which are really strong here? My kids are actually total rule followers and very respectful of their teachers - if their teachers ask them to do something, they will absolutely follow it to a T and not shirk at all. Virtual school was completely fine for them except the missed social aspect. I'd need something with a live teacher on zoom who somehow enforces accountability.

Which subject(s) do you want? Are they gifted, or advanced in one or more subject(s)? Do you want something supplemental/enrichment or a full course on a school subject complete with all the work and time commitments of a full course or a full course on a topic unlikely to be covered in school? What's your budget? What ages/grades are your children?

Op here.. kids going into 6th and 8th. They are both gifted. We opted out of both math/Humanities magnets (which they were both offered seats at) because we didn't want the commute and also they had good friends. Second guessing ourselves on the Humanities front now I guess. We want English and supplemental. Something like a book club with some rigor/analysis on text analysis and writing about the books. Ideally a class once a week (2 hrs) and reading/hw on the side. Fwiw Ms English is so dumb that my older kid routinely knocks out the required assignment in class and then uses the extra time to start her math hw.

I see this so much. People stick with mediocre public school because they want convenience and like the social aspect.

Well, your kids have friends and you have a short commute, but they can’t write.

I feel sorry for your kids but not you.

Seriously. My kid goes to a private school 45 min away because it's what's best for HIM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just send your kid to Catholic school and they’ll teach them.

We aren't Christian so that won't work for us.

You don’t have to be Catholic to go to Catholic school.

I realize but we still cannot do this. For some of the same reasons why I prefer very diverse schools.

People are offering you solutions. You keep rejecting them. Not our problem then, if you keep having problems.

OP (and other MCPS parents) on this thread have been very clear that they are interested in enrichment and supplementing MCPS - not in going to private schools. You and others keep coming back here to bash MCPS and tell us private is so much better. I'm glad that's an option and works for you; it does not work for me, and it sounds like it doesn't work for OP. So no, you're not giving helpful solutions; the solutions we are looking for allow kids to stay in MCPS but get reading/writing enrichment outside of school. -DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just send your kid to Catholic school and they’ll teach them.

We aren't Christian so that won't work for us.

You don’t have to be Catholic to go to Catholic school.

I realize but we still cannot do this. For some of the same reasons why I prefer very diverse schools.

And your children illiterate, it seems.

PS: Catholic schools are often very diverse

Wow. I'd love to see metrics showing how their diversity stack up to public schools in Silver Spring or Germantown.

Catholic school enrollment often mirrors the demographics of the diocese, so they’re usually quite diverse.

But it seems like you want to prioritize diversity over the quality of your kids’ education.

Actually that's not what I said.
I said, I am very pleased with what my kids are learning in math, Humanities and science.
I am happy with their foreign language curriculum.
I am happy with the ECs offered.
I am happy with their friend group.
I am happy that Eid, Diwali and Chinese New Year are off. Kids feeling comfortable in their skin allows them to blossom.
I am happy with the short commute.
I am happy with the free cost. That's money I can save for their college and post grad education.

I am not happy with the English curriculum. I am not happy with the drug use in the high schools (although I hear this is in privates too)

I cannot forgo all the good for the few (albeit very big) bad aspects.

We are also financially fine. My kids are bright with no learning disabilities. They don't need special help. They are not illiterate (not sure why anyone would think that). Irrespective of whether they were in the crappiest public school or Sidwell Friends, my kids would be just fine because of the privilege of their birth family. Outcomes aren't going to be dramatically different.

So then what’s the problem? Seems like if they’ll be just fine then there’s no reason start a whole big thread.

Oh and my kid’s school has Eid, Diwali, and Chinese New Year off too. They also have school celebrations of those holidays, led by families who celebrate those holidays.

The problem is specific to the English curriculum. OP is looking to supplement for that and that alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just send your kid to Catholic school and they’ll teach them.

We aren't Christian so that won't work for us.

You don’t have to be Catholic to go to Catholic school.

I realize but we still cannot do this. For some of the same reasons why I prefer very diverse schools.

And your children illiterate, it seems.

PS: Catholic schools are often very diverse

Wow. I'd love to see metrics showing how their diversity stack up to public schools in Silver Spring or Germantown.

Catholic school enrollment often mirrors the demographics of the diocese, so they’re usually quite diverse.

But it seems like you want to prioritize diversity over the quality of your kids’ education.

Actually that's not what I said.
I said, I am very pleased with what my kids are learning in math, Humanities and science.
I am happy with their foreign language curriculum.
I am happy with the ECs offered.
I am happy with their friend group.
I am happy that Eid, Diwali and Chinese New Year are off. Kids feeling comfortable in their skin allows them to blossom.
I am happy with the short commute.
I am happy with the free cost. That's money I can save for their college and post grad education.

I am not happy with the English curriculum. I am not happy with the drug use in the high schools (although I hear this is in privates too)

I cannot forgo all the good for the few (albeit very big) bad aspects.

We are also financially fine. My kids are bright with no learning disabilities. They don't need special help. They are not illiterate (not sure why anyone would think that). Irrespective of whether they were in the crappiest public school or Sidwell Friends, my kids would be just fine because of the privilege of their birth family. Outcomes aren't going to be dramatically different.

So then what’s the problem? Seems like if they’ll be just fine then there’s no reason start a whole big thread.

Oh and my kid’s school has Eid, Diwali, and Chinese New Year off too. They also have school celebrations of those holidays, led by families who celebrate those holidays.

No one who starts a thread is asking for it to be big.

I wanted advice on how I can improve the situation WITHIN the syy. I've already done privates, its not for us anymore. You can choose something else and be content with it - and accept that others will make different choices. We still love our kids as much as you do - we just prioritize differently.

Also - please tell me what private gives time off for those holidays and then tell me the cost of that school.

Some of us are saving for kids' college/grad school, while paying off med school debt, while financially supporting elderly parents. We all make choices with the limited resources we have, and I am betting that my kids will end up in a similar place (in terms of SAT/AP test scores + college acceptances) irrespective of whether they are in private/public.

[Anonymous]

*system