Textbooks?

[Anonymous]

Lots of discussion lately about falling test scores, kids not being prepared for college etc.
teachers saying kids aren’t as smart etc

Why doesn’t MCPS have textbooks??
With a book, a kid could learn even if the teacher isn’t great, or if the kid misses school, or needs to review something or doesn’t have access to a parent/tutor who can help them.

The slides that are posted on canvas are so cumbersome and not conducive to learning.

Seems like a simple solution to all the falling scores - textbooks! Then kids aren’t so dependent on having a good teacher. The falling scores is no longer covid.

Can someone please explain why a few slides with little information separated into random places that require so many clicks and require computer access is better/faster than textbooks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of discussion lately about falling test scores, kids not being prepared for college etc.
teachers saying kids aren’t as smart etc

Why doesn’t MCPS have textbooks??
With a book, a kid could learn even if the teacher isn’t great, or if the kid misses school, or needs to review something or doesn’t have access to a parent/tutor who can help them.

The slides that are posted on canvas are so cumbersome and not conducive to learning.

Seems like a simple solution to all the falling scores - textbooks! Then kids aren’t so dependent on having a good teacher. The falling scores is no longer covid.

Can someone please explain why a few slides with little information separated into random places that require so many clicks and require computer access is better/faster than textbooks?

If the textbook publishers threw better parties MCPS would sign up! But right now it's the tech companies that have the good trips and perks.

[Anonymous]

This is one of my pet peeves about MCPS.
I usually look at the syllabus and buy a textbook online that seems to align most closely with the curriculum. That way if my kid doesn't understand something or needs extra practice/study questions, they have a reference.

[Anonymous]

They do for hs but some, many teachers choose not to use them saying that the kids don’t read them. We have two ap classes this year and no textbooks. Last year the same thing happened and it makes it impossible to study for ap exams except on your own. One teacher even gave the book but never used it. There is no consistency in mcps and no expectations. History teachers are the only ones who consistently use them and they have been the better teachers.

[Anonymous]

My kids don’t have textbooks and unsurprisingly our school has about 20% proficiency in reading and math. Only 20% EML. I don’t think there are like 80% IEP students either.

(Sidebar: Looking through school climate surveys, teachers/admin allowing disruptiveness to take over classrooms is a huge problem).

Sadly, I have resorted to printing out slide decks from the few teachers that post them on Canvas. This is as close to a textbook we can get as far as I can tell.

[Anonymous]

OP here- my kid had a math textbook/workbook the past few years and they were excellent! Kid could learn from the book if the teacher wasn’t great or kid spaced out in class or was absent. Kid could learn on their own without help from me.
This year they just got the book in 2nd quarter and they aren’t following it. My kid needs a lot more support from me to basically teach them geometry.

The slides are way too cumbersome to find or use and don’t have much detail. So frustrating!

I find I’m basically teaching chemistry to my kid too. Thankfully, I’m a math/science person so I know the material but if I didn’t, my kid would either not learn or I’d have to hire a tutor. So everyday when I come home from work, I have to teach my kid what they would be able to learn from a textbook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- my kid had a math textbook/workbook the past few years and they were excellent! Kid could learn from the book if the teacher wasn’t great or kid spaced out in class or was absent. Kid could learn on their own without help from me.
This year they just got the book in 2nd quarter and they aren’t following it. My kid needs a lot more support from me to basically teach them geometry.

The slides are way too cumbersome to find or use and don’t have much detail. So frustrating!

I find I’m basically teaching chemistry to my kid too. Thankfully, I’m a math/science person so I know the material but if I didn’t, my kid would either not learn or I’d have to hire a tutor. So everyday when I come home from work, I have to teach my kid what they would be able to learn from a textbook.

We gave up and last year got affordable tutors online. We were doing that too, but it was too much to learn ourselves and teach after school, work and activities.