Teachers -- do you like the KidsMuseum programs?

[Anonymous]

It's like we are in the 1970s (or earlier) in MCPS middle schools. In my middle school in the mid-80s we had a required programming class where we learned about programming computers (we each had our own computer) and got to learn how to program a robot and write a simple computer game--everyone in the whole d*** school did this for a third of the year. This was not a magnet. It was the only MS that everyone in the town attended. We also learned grammar and how to write. I don't know why MCPS MS curriculum has to suck as bad as it does, but, a change is needed.

[Anonymous]

I'm a teacher in MCPS and my students have never been charged for anything. They offer a lot of support to schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's like we are in the 1970s (or earlier) in MCPS middle schools. In my middle school in the mid-80s we had a required programming class where we learned about programming computers (we each had our own computer) and got to learn how to program a robot and write a simple computer game--everyone in the whole d*** school did this for a third of the year. This was not a magnet. It was the only MS that everyone in the town attended. We also learned grammar and how to write. I don't know why MCPS MS curriculum has to suck as bad as it does, but, a change is needed.

My kids go to MCPS and do all that and more! Seriously, my kids' program computers, build robots, read actual books, and write 2000-word papers in MS even! The secret is...


YOU HAVE TO PUT IN A LITTLE EFFORT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher in MCPS and my students have never been charged for anything. They offer a lot of support to schools.

Maybe its for specific schools or the PTA paid for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher in MCPS and my students have never been charged for anything. They offer a lot of support to schools.

Maybe its for specific schools or the PTA paid for it.

This. It's supposed to be expanded further this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher in MCPS and my students have never been charged for anything. They offer a lot of support to schools.

Maybe its for specific schools or the PTA paid for it.

Our school went on a field trip there too and it was free. PTA had nothing to do with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:S/o of the thread about the contract being approved w/o a competitive bid. (Which I think is not unusual for a renewal.)

There isn't anything comparable around here and it's really nothing short of amazing!

Ok obviously PR or wifey here

[Anonymous]

My community school (elementary) has not been. We get Strathmore and Butlers Orchard—help out these great field trip locations.

[Anonymous]

I keep asking in the other thread and nobody can answer me... What programs?? What are they *doing*?

On their website I see "community hubs" listed which is over a year old. I also see something about coding for fourth graders but I teach 4th and know a lot of 4th grade teachers around the country and noone has ever heard about that "program."

It is very strange to me that they are getting millions of our dollars to do great things with students and they have zero online presence of what they are doing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I keep asking in the other thread and nobody can answer me... What programs?? What are they *doing*?

On their website I see "community hubs" listed which is over a year old. I also see something about coding for fourth graders but I teach 4th and know a lot of 4th grade teachers around the country and noone has ever heard about that "program."

It is very strange to me that they are getting millions of our dollars to do great things with students and they have zero online presence of what they are doing

It would be helpful for MCPS to have a web page specifically dedicated to these programs, so parents and teachers could know more details about what may be available for their schools. I can only find bits here and there about pilot projects, such as:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?pagetype=showrelease&id=8259&type=archive&startYear=2018&pageNumber=6&mode=

[Anonymous]

The Kid Museum/MCPS collaboration is funded by a grant. But there is not enough money for all schools, so Kid museum chooses which ones go usually based on free and reduced school lunch percentage. I assume it is a requirement of the grant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Kid Museum/MCPS collaboration is funded by a grant. But there is not enough money for all schools, so Kid museum chooses which ones go usually based on free and reduced school lunch percentage. I assume it is a requirement of the grant.

Yep. That's exactly what they did (not sure if that's the case with the update). I have been at multiple schools and they covered ALL the fees for their programs - including 5+ field trips in a year for their middle school program. They are such a valuable resource.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Kid Museum/MCPS collaboration is funded by a grant. But there is not enough money for all schools, so Kid museum chooses which ones go usually based on free and reduced school lunch percentage. I assume it is a requirement of the grant.

Yep. That's exactly what they did (not sure if that's the case with the update). I have been at multiple schools and they covered ALL the fees for their programs - including 5+ field trips in a year for their middle school program. They are such a valuable resource.

I guess the question is: why should some schools get 5+ fully paid field trips while other schools get zero? Is there not a way every student could at least get to go once? I strongly feel each mcps student should have relatively similar opportunities available districtwide. Clearly mcps does NOT feel this way because they continue to set up programming that is only available to small subsets of the district, and access always seems to be based on the parents’ home address.

[Anonymous]

We've had a few trips there that were completely free and the kids absolutely loved it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Kid Museum/MCPS collaboration is funded by a grant. But there is not enough money for all schools, so Kid museum chooses which ones go usually based on free and reduced school lunch percentage. I assume it is a requirement of the grant.

Yep. That's exactly what they did (not sure if that's the case with the update). I have been at multiple schools and they covered ALL the fees for their programs - including 5+ field trips in a year for their middle school program. They are such a valuable resource.

I guess the question is: why should some schools get 5+ fully paid field trips while other schools get zero? Is there not a way every student could at least get to go once? I strongly feel each mcps student should have relatively similar opportunities available districtwide. Clearly mcps does NOT feel this way because they continue to set up programming that is only available to small subsets of the district, and access always seems to be based on the parents’ home address.

Jesus - THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE EXPANSION. Tell that to the Title 1 kids that your Timmy didn't get his fair chance. Go away and take care of your kids, b/c clearly your education failed you. Leave it to the professionals.