Time for a mutiny yet? MCPS = crummy math, no grammar, poor writing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how Title 1 ppl think they're differentiating skill and ability levels by [b]putting ESOL in one math break-out and non-ESOL in the other[/b].

You know this how, exactly?

And again, another faulty ridiculous presumption. Sorry your school sucks. We love it here at our Focus (or as you call it "Title 1") school. I know it's hard for you to believe but there are kids in our side of the county who are doing great academically and are getting a good education, Yes, even when the "lowest common denominator" as one racist PP mentioned is in the same building. Quite happy and glad we decided not to move to Bethesda with people who think their sh*t don't stink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Bethesda and we are very pleased with our public elementary school. There is a strong emphasis on writing (dc wrote a 12 pg paper in 4th grade) and they are learning advanced math skills. They have always had spelling tests at least every other week and grammar is part of the curriculum. They don’t teach math the way I was taught in the 70s, but I consider that a good thing. I wish they would spend more on cursive writing, but I will work on that with the DCs over the summer.

Did he actually write the paper or type it up on an auto spell check chrome book. Two very different things.

What is the obsession with spelling? When was the last time you had to write a doc on a piece of paper instead of a word processor? I spelled "obssessed" on this forum, and it underlined it in red so I knew I spelled it incorrectly. My spelling has always sucked, and we had spelling tests growing up, as do my MCPS ES kids. My spelling still sucks. Thank goodness for spell checker, yet I still got a good paying job (six figures) where I use my analytical, critical thinking and tech skills. Even when I write an email at work, it spell checks for me. My grammar is fine, good enough to get my point across without people misunderstanding. Spelling? No one cares that much, especially because we have spellchecker.

You clearly have very low educational expectations for your child. Congrats!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
What is the obsession with spelling? When was the last time you had to write a doc on a piece of paper instead of a word processor? I spelled "obssessed" on this forum, and it underlined it in red so I knew I spelled it incorrectly. My spelling has always sucked, and we had spelling tests growing up, as do my MCPS ES kids. My spelling still sucks. Thank goodness for spell checker, yet I still got a good paying job (six figures) where I use my analytical, critical thinking and tech skills. Even when I write an email at work, it spell checks for me. My grammar is fine, good enough to get my point across without people misunderstanding. Spelling? No one cares that much, especially because we have spellchecker.

Yeah, I don't get it either. How many writers today start with a first draft in longhand? Would they be better writers if they did?

[Anonymous]

My child told me the other day when another child asked how to spell something that they were in 3rd and should know how to spell already. Funny, as MCPS does not teach spelling. We were in a private for a few years until our child aged out and the quality of education which was a more traditional approach was much better. They did spelling, grammar and things like fractions in first grade. MCPS does fractions in 3rd. There are some positives that they do encourage a lot of writing but there is very little history or science. There is very little teaching and everything is structured around centers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Kids are bored in class because MCPS doesn't challenge them. I hear this from so many parents these days, particularly in "W" elementary schools. It's absolutely a failure of the system.

Kids are bored in class because boredom is a feeling that humans feel.

There are many schools where kids aren't bored in class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Bethesda and we are very pleased with our public elementary school. There is a strong emphasis on writing (dc wrote a 12 pg paper in 4th grade) and they are learning advanced math skills. They have always had spelling tests at least every other week and grammar is part of the curriculum. They don’t teach math the way I was taught in the 70s, but I consider that a good thing. I wish they would spend more on cursive writing, but I will work on that with the DCs over the summer.

Did he actually write the paper or type it up on an auto spell check chrome book. Two very different things.

What is the obsession with spelling? When was the last time you had to write a doc on a piece of paper instead of a word processor? I spelled "obssessed" on this forum, and it underlined it in red so I knew I spelled it incorrectly. My spelling has always sucked, and we had spelling tests growing up, as do my MCPS ES kids. My spelling still sucks. Thank goodness for spell checker, yet I still got a good paying job (six figures) where I use my analytical, critical thinking and tech skills. Even when I write an email at work, it spell checks for me. My grammar is fine, good enough to get my point across without people misunderstanding. Spelling? No one cares that much, especially because we have spellchecker.

You clearly have very low educational expectations for your child. Congrats!

I agree won hundred percent, spelling is quiet overrated because spellcheck works grate. Reeding is also knot all its maid out too bee, hoo kneads books when you can watch tv on you're PC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 6th grader is in a math class with 7th and 8th graders. Sorry your kid didn't make the cut.

No extra support here, and we are quite happy with how MCPS has moved her up.

Has she been with older kids since elementary school? How did you get MCPS to move her up-- or did they do so on their own initiative without prompting? Curious to know and am not criticizing.

She has been with her classmates in elementary school, though at the top reading and math level. MCPS assigned her middle school classes based on grades, teacher recommendations, and test scores. She was EXTREMELY nervous when she realized she was the one of two 6th graders in her math class, but it was an easy transition.

The only thing I work with her on in the evenings is Spanish (first year), and that only consists of basic vocabulary flash cards. We are very happy with MCPS.

So she's one of the few 6th graders in IM? They couldn't have skipped through required classes. If they have multiple sections of IM and they aren't setting one aside for sixth graders, that may not be ideal. There's a difference between sixth graders who are ahead and eighth graders who are behind. Our MS mixed everyone initially but switched to sections grouped by grade when possible. It's made for a better classroom experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child told me the other day when another child asked how to spell something that they were in 3rd and should know how to spell already. Funny, as MCPS does not teach spelling. We were in a private for a few years until our child aged out and the quality of education which was a more traditional approach was much better. They did spelling, grammar and things like fractions in first grade. MCPS does fractions in 3rd. There are some positives that they do encourage a lot of writing but there is very little history or science. There is very little teaching and everything is structured around centers.

MCPS does teach spelling.

[Anonymous]

I am so glad we’re moving.

Some of you are helping to destroy the system, which isn’t great to begin with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Bethesda and we are very pleased with our public elementary school. There is a strong emphasis on writing (dc wrote a 12 pg paper in 4th grade) and they are learning advanced math skills. They have always had spelling tests at least every other week and grammar is part of the curriculum. They don’t teach math the way I was taught in the 70s, but I consider that a good thing. I wish they would spend more on cursive writing, but I will work on that with the DCs over the summer.

Did he actually write the paper or type it up on an auto spell check chrome book. Two very different things.

What is the obsession with spelling? When was the last time you had to write a doc on a piece of paper instead of a word processor? I spelled "obssessed" on this forum, and it underlined it in red so I knew I spelled it incorrectly. My spelling has always sucked, and we had spelling tests growing up, as do my MCPS ES kids. My spelling still sucks. Thank goodness for spell checker, yet I still got a good paying job (six figures) where I use my analytical, critical thinking and tech skills. Even when I write an email at work, it spell checks for me. My grammar is fine, good enough to get my point across without people misunderstanding. Spelling? No one cares that much, especially because we have spellchecker.

You clearly have very low educational expectations for your child. Congrats!

My child reads a lot and focuses on critical writing skills rather than the spelling, which will come in time, but even if it doesn't, I wouldn't stress over it.

That's fine.. you can make your kid focus on spelling, and I'll have my kid focus on her critical thinking skills, formulating coherent sentences. Those all important standardized tests don't test your spelling knowledge, but they do test your critical thinking skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child told me the other day when another child asked how to spell something that they were in 3rd and should know how to spell already. Funny, as MCPS does not teach spelling. We were in a private for a few years until our child aged out and the quality of education which was a more traditional approach was much better. They did spelling, grammar and things like fractions in first grade. MCPS does fractions in 3rd. There are some positives that they do encourage a lot of writing but there is very little history or science. There is very little teaching and everything is structured around centers.

MCPS does teach spelling.

I am blown away by some of these posters. I have a first grader at MCPS. They have a spelling test every week and use those words to make a cumulative word wall of all the words they have learned thus far this year. MCPS does not teach spelling? So now we are basically just stating complete untruths I guess.

[Anonymous]

I hope all the mom's here will be busier tomorrow when the kids are back in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Bethesda and we are very pleased with our public elementary school. There is a strong emphasis on writing (dc wrote a 12 pg paper in 4th grade) and they are learning advanced math skills. They have always had spelling tests at least every other week and grammar is part of the curriculum. They don’t teach math the way I was taught in the 70s, but I consider that a good thing. I wish they would spend more on cursive writing, but I will work on that with the DCs over the summer.

Did he actually write the paper or type it up on an auto spell check chrome book. Two very different things.

What is the obsession with spelling? When was the last time you had to write a doc on a piece of paper instead of a word processor? I spelled "obssessed" on this forum, and it underlined it in red so I knew I spelled it incorrectly. My spelling has always sucked, and we had spelling tests growing up, as do my MCPS ES kids. My spelling still sucks. Thank goodness for spell checker, yet I still got a good paying job (six figures) where I use my analytical, critical thinking and tech skills. Even when I write an email at work, it spell checks for me. My grammar is fine, good enough to get my point across without people misunderstanding. Spelling? No one cares that much, especially because we have spellchecker.

cool beans. you can't spell.

Nope, and yet I was able to get a high paying job. We are not all lawyers, nor do we need anymore of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:K-12 education is about Curriculum, Teachers, and Peer Group.

You'll rarely find the trifecta, so pick a school (or house, whatever) that gets you the two you weight most highly.

Private, public, catholic, jesuit, up county, down county, Wash DC, Virginia, Howard county, Frederick.
Do your homework and pick. They are not similar.

I love how PP separated Catholic from Jesuit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child told me the other day when another child asked how to spell something that they were in 3rd and should know how to spell already. Funny, as MCPS does not teach spelling. We were in a private for a few years until our child aged out and the quality of education which was a more traditional approach was much better. They did spelling, grammar and things like fractions in first grade. MCPS does fractions in 3rd. There are some positives that they do encourage a lot of writing but there is very little history or science. There is very little teaching and everything is structured around centers.

MCPS does teach spelling.

I am blown away by some of these posters. I have a first grader at MCPS. They have a spelling test every week and use those words to make a cumulative word wall of all the words they have learned thus far this year. MCPS does not teach spelling? So now we are basically just stating complete untruths I guess.