Middle School is way too easy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So all you are doing is kicking the can down the road for the high school teachers and parents to try to pick up all the slack by not giving homework and giving easy assignments. If I was in charge of the school system high schook teachers would be paid a lot more than middle school teachers. Middle school teachers get the benefit of only teaching one core subject but have no pressure to make sure kids can handle AP classes or graduate or go onto college. And the 8th grade teachers have to pick up the slack of the 7th grade teachers in writing for that 8th grade writing sol test.

This is a ridiculous statement. Someone could also argue ES teachers should be paid more because they teach 6-7 different subjects and have less planning than secondary teachers.

So much this!
signed an elementary school teacher

[Anonymous]

It's election time let's get on DC mum and say how we hate public schools. WE got your number!

[Anonymous]

They have 90 minute classes! This allows time to instruct and gives kids opportunity to start homework and projects. No teacher is lecturing for90 minutes in middle school. Homework does not equal rigor. My kid is in 8 th grade at a AAP center. I have been impressed with the projects in Civics and Science. The essays and the way Language Arts is taught is also very engaging. I only get what my kid shares with me. I may be getting more info from my kid than others so that may be what weighs in my opinion of what/ how curriculum is being taught.

[Anonymous]

My AAP 7th grader has a couple hours of homework a night and several major tests and projects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They have 90 minute classes! This allows time to instruct and gives kids opportunity to start homework and projects. No teacher is lecturing for90 minutes in middle school. Homework does not equal rigor. My kid is in 8 th grade at a AAP center. I have been impressed with the projects in Civics and Science. The essays and the way Language Arts is taught is also very engaging. I only get what my kid shares with me. I may be getting more info from my kid than others so that may be what weighs in my opinion of what/ how curriculum is being taught.

Some people do not like the block schedule. That’s a choice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know I have my issues with FCPS but I can't help but get this funny feeling that as midterms approach, we are going to see a lot more threads and responses about FCPS sucking.
It's one thing to bring up a specific issue or look for feedback. But the generic "FCPS sucks" "FCPS needs to step it up" "Go private" responses are inane at this point.

This is not political except for the fact that FCPS has dropped their rigor in advanced classes. No idea why they have such an issue with differentiation at middle school but that is their issue. What are we even voting for in Fairfax this year? I live in a solid blue district. Doesn’t matter either way

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My AAP 7th grader has a couple hours of homework a night and several major tests and projects.

Are you in a TJ feeder? Can you name the school? Maybe I’ll mention this to my kid’s school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So all you are doing is kicking the can down the road for the high school teachers and parents to try to pick up all the slack by not giving homework and giving easy assignments. If I was in charge of the school system high schook teachers would be paid a lot more than middle school teachers. Middle school teachers get the benefit of only teaching one core subject but have no pressure to make sure kids can handle AP classes or graduate or go onto college. And the 8th grade teachers have to pick up the slack of the 7th grade teachers in writing for that 8th grade writing sol test.

This is a ridiculous statement. Someone could also argue ES teachers should be paid more because they teach 6-7 different subjects and have less planning than secondary teachers.

So much this!
signed an elementary school teacher

I agree elementary and high school teachers should get more money than middle. This is how it works in the tutoring world. If you want multiple subjects you pay extra. If you want Calculus or AP Lang over Algebra and middle school English you pay extra

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My AAP 7th grader has a couple hours of homework a night and several major tests and projects.

Are you in a TJ feeder? Can you name the school? Maybe I’ll mention this to my kid’s school

Does this middle school still read full length novels?

[Anonymous]

My son is at a TJ feeder school and homework has been very light. I’ve been appreciative though. They get a lot done in class or in their study hall block. Leaves time for instrument practice and pleasure reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My AAP 7th grader has a couple hours of homework a night and several major tests and projects.

Are you in a TJ feeder? Can you name the school? Maybe I’ll mention this to my kid’s school

Does this middle school still read full length novels?

Novels used to be read at home and then discussed in class. I think they have some novels but now they just read in class I guess

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My AAP 7th grader has a couple hours of homework a night and several major tests and projects.

Are you in a TJ feeder? Can you name the school? Maybe I’ll mention this to my kid’s school

Does this middle school still read full length novels?

I teach 7th grade AAP English. My students read a lot of short stories during 1st quarter vs novels. We do this because the large writing assignment is a personal narrative, which lends itself to short stories as a model. During second quarter we will read full length nonfiction texts and a lot of nonfiction articles. Third and fourth quarter include multiple full length novels as well as some nonfiction article readings that support the text themes. There is more to life/English class than hammering full length novels out all year long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My AAP 7th grader has a couple hours of homework a night and several major tests and projects.

Are you in a TJ feeder? Can you name the school? Maybe I’ll mention this to my kid’s school

Does this middle school still read full length novels?

I teach 7th grade AAP English. My students read a lot of short stories during 1st quarter vs novels. We do this because the large writing assignment is a personal narrative, which lends itself to short stories as a model. During second quarter we will read full length nonfiction texts and a lot of nonfiction articles. Third and fourth quarter include multiple full length novels as well as some nonfiction article readings that support the text themes. There is more to life/English class than hammering full length novels out all year long.

So why did my school not have the personal narrative? Why do some schools have this and not others? You would think the AAP level would not skip this stuff.

[Anonymous]

My kids were never in AAP and they never had a ton of homework in MS; however, they managed to learn what they needed to learn, developed good study habits, and tested well on their SATs and AP exams. They rarely asked for my help, and we never arranged for outside tutoring or supplemental learning. FCPS absolutely prepared them for college.

Homework does not necessarily equate to a good education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids were never in AAP and they never had a ton of homework in MS; however, they managed to learn what they needed to learn, developed good study habits, and tested well on their SATs and AP exams. They rarely asked for my help, and we never arranged for outside tutoring or supplemental learning. FCPS absolutely prepared them for college.

Homework does not necessarily equate to a good education.

But your experience is not current. We just want for our kids what your kids got. Is that unreasonable?