Literacy enrichment experiences 2025-26

[Anonymous]

I figured I'd start an ongoing thread where folks can share info about how enriched literacy is going for your 4th and 5th graders this year after the switch away from the ELC (although if parents in other grades have things to share about literacy enrichment you can chime in here too.)

What are you hearing from your kids, or from Back to School Night? Have you seen any assignments come home yet? Anything else to share?

[Anonymous]

No info from my kid or the school. I’m pretty pissed. Their friend at a CES is already reading their first novel.

[Anonymous]

The WIN time at my DC’s ES is for finishing the CKLA work. I haven’t figured out if some kids can do the CKLA enrichment work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No info from my kid or the school. I’m pretty pissed. Their friend at a CES is already reading their first novel.

The whole thing is so unfair.

[Anonymous]

I haven't heard much from my daughter's teacher. No writing has come home. If you look at the "refrigerator page" on the MCPS website, you can compare the CES to the CKLA enrichment and it looks like a big difference. I am also pissed. A friend has twins and one got into CES and the other is in the CKLA enrichment class at the home school. She said she would report back soon about the differences.

[Anonymous]

So so glad we got into the CES. Currently diving deep on writing and Greek Gods.

[Anonymous]

It is week TWO people, week 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is week TWO people, week 2.

Yet it’s already so different! Barnsley CES has already started reading a novel and they do one narrative writing per quarter and one persuasive writing assignment per quarter.

Our home school has communicated nothing and I’ve seen nothing in the take home folder. No amplify worksheets like last year, no novels, no explanation about which model they are using for enriched ELA or how they’re using the daily FIT time at the end of the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is week TWO people, week 2.

Yet it’s already so different! Barnsley CES has already started reading a novel and they do one narrative writing per quarter and one persuasive writing assignment per quarter.

Our home school has communicated nothing and I’ve seen nothing in the take home folder. No amplify worksheets like last year, no novels, no explanation about which model they are using for enriched ELA or how they’re using the daily FIT time at the end of the day.

Because see above comment you responded to.

[Anonymous]

It’s pretty disappointing so far, despite supposedly being a Model 1 school. Supposedly they will eventually read novels once WIN time starts but that’s not even in sight (no one has decided). It’s clearly a major step down from ELC last year, and I don’t think it’s just because it’s yet another new curriculum.

For the people who yelling “it’s week two!!!” Do you have kids in compacted math? Because they have been able to pick right back up with the accelerated curriculum there. Last year, in ELC, my kid already understood the format of how often they would read books and the types of assignments that would be coming. There’s been nothing like that, because there’s nothing meaningful coming. The teacher said as much when I asked. It’s the CKLA curriculum with a handful of extra assignments and maybe some actual books during WIN time when they get around to that.

I’m so angry we turned down a CES spot - we felt it was absolutely the right choice last year and it was a slap in the face to have the best program at our school taken away. But kids should not be dependent on luck in a lottery and extended busy to another school to get meaningful enrichment in READING.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No info from my kid or the school. I’m pretty pissed. Their friend at a CES is already reading their first novel.

Find out what novel and have your kid read it too. Work with your kid on asking and discussing questions..yes it's more work for you but this is mcps...work is on parents in addition to parents' other job(s)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty disappointing so far, despite supposedly being a Model 1 school. Supposedly they will eventually read novels once WIN time starts but that’s not even in sight (no one has decided). It’s clearly a major step down from ELC last year, and I don’t think it’s just because it’s yet another new curriculum.

For the people who yelling “it’s week two!!!” Do you have kids in compacted math? Because they have been able to pick right back up with the accelerated curriculum there. Last year, in ELC, my kid already understood the format of how often they would read books and the types of assignments that would be coming. There’s been nothing like that, because there’s nothing meaningful coming. The teacher said as much when I asked. It’s the CKLA curriculum with a handful of extra assignments and maybe some actual books during WIN time when they get around to that.

I’m so angry we turned down a CES spot - we felt it was absolutely the right choice last year and it was a slap in the face to have the best program at our school taken away. But kids should not be dependent on luck in a lottery and extended busy to another school to get meaningful enrichment in READING.

This. I’m mad that my kids qualified for CES but didn’t get a spot due to the lottery and have had unequal experiences to their peers in CES. When will this change? It should be the same for all of them, not just lottery winners. And no busing required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No info from my kid or the school. I’m pretty pissed. Their friend at a CES is already reading their first novel.

Find out what novel and have your kid read it too. Work with your kid on asking and discussing questions..yes it's more work for you but this is mcps...work is on parents in addition to parents' other job(s)

Can anyone here with a kid in CES post what their kid is reading?

[Anonymous]

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No info from my kid or the school. I’m pretty pissed. Their friend at a CES is already reading their first novel.

Find out what novel and have your kid read it too. Work with your kid on asking and discussing questions..yes it's more work for you but this is mcps...work is on parents in addition to parents' other job(s)

Can anyone here with a kid in CES post what their kid is reading?

Ours is reading about the Greek gods but I don't know what they're reading exactly.