MS classes vs HS classes

[Anonymous]

My dd is bored to tears in her classes this year in ms. Teacher talks, students do, repeat- day in, day out. No opportunities for discussions, group projects, interactive anything... Six of her 7 teachers don't even bother building relationships with their students. Is this confined to ms, or are hs teachers also teaching this way? Currently in 8th at Westland and will go to BCC next year. Hoping to hear that things change for hs, otherwise we need to figure out plan b. Would love to hear from anyone whose child found their hs classes much more intellectually stimulating and engaging than ms. Particularly if they did Westland--> BCC.
Thanks.

[Anonymous]

We're not in BCC cluster, but basically MS in general seems to really suck.

It's all about social emotional learning in MS apparently. No real academic challenge or interesting discussions. They do nothing about making sure the student is ready for more challenging work in HS. Lots of kids start taking AP classes in 9th grade, and it's a big jump.

IMO, HS is so much better because you do have the option to take AP classes.

Both my now HSers started with AP Gov and AP CS. It was a big jump for one of my kids who found AP gov challenging. Doing well now, but but the first few weeks were really bumpy for DC.

I really wish MCPS would focus more on MS academics. It really is lacking. And the so called "honors" courses MCPS created to appease the parents for making MS magnet more of a lottery is a joke. It was a bone they threw in, and it lacks any meat.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if it's a difference between MS and HS or just varies by teachers and schools.

My new 6th grader had a rough 5th grade year. Didn't get along with teachers, always bored but spacing out and not keeping up and horribly disorganized. I was ready to get an ADHD eval and was very concerned about MS. But he's thriving. He comes he excited to tell us about class discussions and projects they're doing in class. The teachers all seem like they like the kids and like what they do.

I work at the HS level and do a ton of observations for my job. It is ALL too often that there is no participation or discourse going on. Very little sharing of ideas. Lots of computer work and videos. I'm there to observe an individual student but it's difficult because NONE of the students are speaking up or sharing. If instructed to talk to partners or groups, they just don't unless an adult is helping guide the discussion. The opposite of what I'm hearing from my MSer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're not in BCC cluster, but basically MS in general seems to really suck.

It's all about social emotional learning in MS apparently. No real academic challenge or interesting discussions. They do nothing about making sure the student is ready for more challenging work in HS. Lots of kids start taking AP classes in 9th grade, and it's a big jump.

IMO, HS is so much better because you do have the option to take AP classes.

Both my now HSers started with AP Gov and AP CS. It was a big jump for one of my kids who found AP gov challenging. Doing well now, but but the first few weeks were really bumpy for DC.

I really wish MCPS would focus more on MS academics. It really is lacking. And the so called "honors" courses MCPS created to appease the parents for making MS magnet more of a lottery is a joke. It was a bone they threw in, and it lacks any meat.

My MS kid at TPMS seems to really enjoy their classes and teachers. Many go above and beyond to make school challenging and fun. DC was just telling me about one teacher's practical jokes and great sense of humor.

[Anonymous]

MS sucks, there's no differentiation and all classes are geared toward the lowest common denominator. In HS, you have on-grade level, honors, and AP, so they sort themselves!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MS sucks, there's no differentiation and all classes are geared toward the lowest common denominator. In HS, you have on-grade level, honors, and AP, so they sort themselves!

In defense of the teachers, there were big staging cuts at most schools. Allotments were reduced because the county determined them based on attendance in February. So less classes available to divide students by level. Principals only care about “priority students” that scored low on MAP tests. We are all now supposed to give up class time for students to work on their math and English IXL scores because the only point is to pass those tests 🙄

[Anonymous]

“Staffing cuts” not staging cuts

[Anonymous]

DD is at Westland after doing the CES at Chevy Chase and not being picked in the magnet lottery. We knew this would be a problem, so we fought hard to get her in Algebra 1 in 6th grade. She's in "advanced" classes whenever possible. She has a demanding extra-curricular and hobbies that keep her from going round the bend. Basically she goes to school to socialize, because there is zero academic challenge in school.

We also have a senior in high school who has taken multiple APs every year. At least in high school students have more choices. In general, you will find the best teachers teaching the most advanced courses. That's true for all levels of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
DD is at Westland after doing the CES at Chevy Chase and not being picked in the magnet lottery. We knew this would be a problem, so we fought hard to get her in Algebra 1 in 6th grade. She's in "advanced" classes whenever possible. She has a demanding extra-curricular and hobbies that keep her from going round the bend. Basically she goes to school to socialize, because there is zero academic challenge in school.

We also have a senior in high school who has taken multiple APs every year. At least in high school students have more choices. In general, you will find the best teachers teaching the most advanced courses. That's true for all levels of school.

LOL no

[Anonymous]

OP if your kid is that bored have them skip a grade. I am sure they are smart enough right? Or pull them out and experience private school. I am guessing that is what this post is actually about.

If your kid is that bored they are in the wrong classes.

I find it very hard to believe the school/MCPS is the issue academically.

[Anonymous]

OP here… I wish the issue was that the classes are too easy so that we could push for different classes, but the main issue has more to do w teaching style and lack of teacher engagement directly with students during class. Teachers seem to simply assign independent work for students to do during class- essentially hw- so dad is really struggling with the whole “what’s the point of physically going to school if I can do this on my own time.” She is really missing the mental stimulation that comes w collaborative learning experiences. Perhaps the “best” teachers in the more advanced classes are teaching this way?

I’m not looking for an explanation of why things are this way at Westland just hoping to hear that other teens had similar experiences and then got to high school and were happy to be learning again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here… I wish the issue was that the classes are too easy so that we could push for different classes, but the main issue has more to do w teaching style and lack of teacher engagement directly with students during class. Teachers seem to simply assign independent work for students to do during class- essentially hw- so dad is really struggling with the whole “what’s the point of physically going to school if I can do this on my own time.” She is really missing the mental stimulation that comes w collaborative learning experiences. Perhaps the “best” teachers in the more advanced classes are teaching this way?

I’m not looking for an explanation of why things are this way at Westland just hoping to hear that other teens had similar experiences and then got to high school and were happy to be learning again.

I'm the PP with the child at Westland. My daughter has not complained about teacher engagement, but she differentiates between good and bad teachers, and it's true that given her hints and what I saw from teacher personalities at BTSN and the in-class parent visit day last Monday, what she describes as the "good" teachers are also the ones who ask students to participate with thoughtful responses: her math and global humanities teachers most of all, Mr Engoron and Mr. Guiley.

My kids have been in different school systems, and Westland is definitely not worse off than other schools. Even though another poster laughed when I wrote that usually the best teachers teach the advanced classes, it has been true for my two kids, as well as my experience and my husband's, across many different educational systems in various countries.

[Anonymous]

or those of you frustrated with your kids being bored at school, please do look into the MCCPTA’s GEC which advocates for the needs of academically gifted children in our county schools. It is made up of parents (or other PTA members) from various MoCo schools/PTAs —these serve as liaisons, and a central organizing group.
I’m planning to volunteer as my PTA’s rep this year. Apparently the time commitment is not much.
This means you would need to join the PTA at your kid’s school if you haven’t already, but membership is usually $10-20 and you don’t need to commit to anything else besides this.

https://www.mccpta.org/gifted-child.html

And just to head off any snarky comments, gifted students do have needs that need to be better met in our a schools. For example, MCPS may invest $ in enrichment programs that aren’t embraced by the kids/families, or there may be gifted children whose parents aren’t involved enough to help them be less bored, and all these children should be well-served. We can close the achievement gap without keeping options for gifted children limited, which IMO they currently are.

[Anonymous]

^^should have read “For those of you..” —PP above, a NP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP if your kid is that bored have them skip a grade. I am sure they are smart enough right? Or pull them out and experience private school. I am guessing that is what this post is actually about.

If your kid is that bored they are in the wrong classes.

I find it very hard to believe the school/MCPS is the issue academically.

You don’t even have kids in MCPS, do you?

It is well-acknowledged that academics in MCPS Middle Schools are lacking.

It would be great if MCPS made some way that kids could ‘test out’ of classes, but it is nearly impossible to have your child ‘skip a grade’ as you say so flippantly.

And check your privilege. Not all parents can afford private school. Plenty of low-income families in MCPS, whose bright children are not being engaged or challenged in MS.