Are you happy with your kid’s English/writing instruction?

[Anonymous]

I’m concerned my kid is not going to read enough books for school or learn how to write with proper form and grammar the way things are headed with curriculum these days. They have the interest and aptitude to achieve much more than this (avid reader in free time, far above grade level in ELA currently, enjoys creative writing). Are you happy with what your middle or high schooler is learning in these areas, are they being challenged, and if so, where are they in school?

[Anonymous]

What grade is your kid in?

[Anonymous]

My daughter, in advanced 7th grade English, was told to make an Instagram post about a book she read. NOT HAPPY. Too many powerpoint presentations, not enough essays.

[Anonymous]

Public elementary - was not happy, except with the first grade teacher who of her own initiative taught herself how to teach phonics. She was awesome. Other than that, the kids were given sub-standard, non-evidence based language arts instruction.

Private elementary - much happier. The official curriculum is in some ways not much better than public (there's still too much Lucy Calkins influence), but it includes explicit teaching of spelling, grammar, and how to structure a paragraph. There are whole class novels. There are five paragraph essays.

Private middle - quite happy, backfilled a lot of gaps created in public elementary.

But this is the stereotype about public v. private these days, of course. Private will teach your kid to read and write. Public won't. But public high school will generally have better STEM education simply by having higher numbers of kids who are prepared for it, except when compared to the most high achieving, hard-to-get-into privates.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Upper elementary, looking at middle schools. My kid is doing well. I just am concerned with the writing instruction and the movement to read fewer full books. Looking to see what our options are for moving somewhere else where the public schools do it better or switching to private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Public elementary - was not happy, except with the first grade teacher who of her own initiative taught herself how to teach phonics. She was awesome. Other than that, the kids were given sub-standard, non-evidence based language arts instruction.

Private elementary - much happier. The official curriculum is in some ways not much better than public (there's still too much Lucy Calkins influence), but it includes explicit teaching of spelling, grammar, and how to structure a paragraph. There are whole class novels. There are five paragraph essays.

Private middle - quite happy, backfilled a lot of gaps created in public elementary.

But this is the stereotype about public v. private these days, of course. Private will teach your kid to read and write. Public won't. But public high school will generally have better STEM education simply by having higher numbers of kids who are prepared for it, except when compared to the most high achieving, hard-to-get-into privates.

Which private?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Private elementary - much happier. The official curriculum is in some ways not much better than public (there's still too much Lucy Calkins influence), but it includes explicit teaching of spelling, grammar, and how to structure a paragraph. There are whole class novels. There are five paragraph essays.

We are looking for a different private for elementary. That sounds better than our public. If you do not mind, which private school is the one above? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I have a middle school and high schooler, public school. Yes, instruction in writing is practically non existent until AP English.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m concerned my kid is not going to read enough books for school or learn how to write with proper form and grammar the way things are headed with curriculum these days. They have the interest and aptitude to achieve much more than this (avid reader in free time, far above grade level in ELA currently, enjoys creative writing). Are you happy with what your middle or high schooler is learning in these areas, are they being challenged, and if so, where are they in school?

Yes, very satisfied.

Sidwell Friends.

[Anonymous]

Actually fairly happy from a writing standpoint. Kid has learned full grammar (parts of speech, sentence composition), etymology (root words), and written 5 paragraph essays since 3rd grade. He’s now in 6th.

Less happy from a reading perspective. He no longer enjoys reading because it’s all short snippets instead of fun novels.

FCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Private elementary - much happier. The official curriculum is in some ways not much better than public (there's still too much Lucy Calkins influence), but it includes explicit teaching of spelling, grammar, and how to structure a paragraph. There are whole class novels. There are five paragraph essays.

We are looking for a different private for elementary. That sounds better than our public. If you do not mind, which private school is the one above? Thanks!

Trinity Christian - there are pretty strict requirements for agreeing with the statement of faith to attend, so if that's not you then you'll need to look for a different school. However from what I see on the private school board you'll find the better ELA curriculum almost anywhere in private around here.

[Anonymous]

No. We're into language as a family. I'm a lawyer and DH is a playwright. I did K-12 at MCPS and my kids attend now. They things they're learning track 3 years behind what I was taught 25 years ago.

[Anonymous]

We’re in catholic schools and I’ve been pleased. Explicit grammar instruction and practice with different types of writing. This year the 8th grade teacher is having them write drafts by hand in class and she reviews them individually with each student and provides feedback on the spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter, in advanced 7th grade English, was told to make an Instagram post about a book she read. NOT HAPPY. Too many powerpoint presentations, not enough essays.

Yikes!

[Anonymous]

I don't think any public school around here supports literacy feel the lowest functional level.