Enriched Middle School Classes

[Anonymous]

Three weeks in and my kid is completely bored. The novel study in English class for the first quarter is "A Wrinkle in Time," which he has already read numerous times. Last year, his class did a novel study on the book as well. Kids told the teacher, who responded that they have to do that book. No other options. As to the HIGH class, the teacher said the only difference between HIGH and on-level history is Model UN. Science is dreadful with rudimentary concepts.

I am sure I will be blasted for saying these things, but my kid previously loved school and hates it now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Three weeks in and my kid is completely bored. The novel study in English class for the first quarter is "A Wrinkle in Time," which he has already read numerous times. Last year, his class did a novel study on the book as well. Kids told the teacher, who responded that they have to do that book. No other options. As to the HIGH class, the teacher said the only difference between HIGH and on-level history is Model UN. Science is dreadful with rudimentary concepts.

I am sure I will be blasted for saying these things, but my kid previously loved school and hates it now.

What school?

[Anonymous]

Wow. I'm impressed your kids get a book in middle school. We haven't had any this year.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I agree that until kids reach high school and can do AP/IB, or a magnet, things aren't that interesting. However, when you look at what other schools are doing, well, it's even worse.

So be patient. High school can get very intense very fast. My teen will take a dozen APs total and it's no picnic.

[Anonymous]

No wonder the US public education system is ranked so low. This is a travesty, and it’s why we left MCPS for private. It does not have to be like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I'm impressed your kids get a book in middle school. We haven't had any this year.

This. You’re lucky, OP, that your kid even got A Wrinkle in Time. I have an 8th grader at a nonW MS and they have only read ‘excerpts’ on Study Sync. It was simply terrible.

MS Advanced English is abysmal because it’s a mixed ability class.

[Anonymous]

If you want your DC to read actual books, you need to do that on your own time. MCPS will not do that until well into high school.

[Anonymous]

The HIGH class has more challenging work beyond Model UN.

[Anonymous]

MS curriculum needs a major overall. Lack of enrichment/honors at the home school level is why many are so desperate to get their kids into magnet programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The HIGH class has more challenging work beyond Model UN.

Not at our school - a BCC feeder.

[Anonymous]

At SSIMS, Model UN isn't part of HIGH, it's a separate year-long elective class.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t write this post, but I could’ve. I’m with you, OP.

[Anonymous]

Is HIGH Global Humanities?

My DD's Global Humanities at Westland MS incorporates the National History competition. My son went to North Bethesda MS years ago, where he did not do this, but there was a separate Model UN activity instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is HIGH Global Humanities?

My DD's Global Humanities at Westland MS incorporates the National History competition. My son went to North Bethesda MS years ago, where he did not do this, but there was a separate Model UN activity instead.

NB 7th grade Global Humanities is doing National History comp this year. They did Model UN last year in 6th.

[Anonymous]

Not all schools have high. Be thankful yours does.