Dorothy Hamm - 6th grade info

[Anonymous]

That’s crazy! I guess you knew it was coming with the intensified classes on seventh and eighth. Luckily my son that I would be wary of pushing to take intensified classes is in sixth now and it wasn’t an option!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a current 8th grader and Mr Tuttle is great!
I’m not sure if I would be supportive of intensified classes in sixth grade other than math. Parents really push their kids do I feel like it would be the norm to take all intensified, and I feel like the first year of middle school is such an adjustment already. They don’t have grades in elementary anymore, so it’s the first time they understand that tests matter.
Reading in sixth grade is really important because I’ve seen kids who literally do not know how to read by then and I feel like it’s a good way to make sure no kid falls through the cracks.

+1

There is no penalty for not taking intensified. I would push to take algebra in 8th (prealgebra in 7th) for most kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a current 8th grader and Mr Tuttle is great!
I’m not sure if I would be supportive of intensified classes in sixth grade other than math. Parents really push their kids do I feel like it would be the norm to take all intensified, and I feel like the first year of middle school is such an adjustment already. They don’t have grades in elementary anymore, so it’s the first time they understand that tests matter.
Reading in sixth grade is really important because I’ve seen kids who literally do not know how to read by then and I feel like it’s a good way to make sure no kid falls through the cracks.

Some of the Hamm feeder schools do have grades. My kid gets letter grades every quarter and takes graded tests regularly.

It would be great if not all kids had to take Reading just because some kids are struggling. My kid has been reading about a thousand pages a week since they got hooked on reading during the pandemic. In 5th grade they've been plowing through adult series, like Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park, and Treasure Island. I have zero concerns about their ability to read or their comprehension. If Reading is required, there really should be an intensive version with more complex books and a heavier writing component. They shouldn't have to take a class primarily meant for kids who didn't learn to read in elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a current 8th grader and Mr Tuttle is great!
I’m not sure if I would be supportive of intensified classes in sixth grade other than math. Parents really push their kids do I feel like it would be the norm to take all intensified, and I feel like the first year of middle school is such an adjustment already. They don’t have grades in elementary anymore, so it’s the first time they understand that tests matter.
Reading in sixth grade is really important because I’ve seen kids who literally do not know how to read by then and I feel like it’s a good way to make sure no kid falls through the cracks.

+1

There is no penalty for not taking intensified. I would push to take algebra in 8th (prealgebra in 7th) for most kids.

I agree. I am really going to have to sit down with my child and see if they want to take an intensified version of science or social studies. That's something I wouldn't push unless they really had an interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a current 8th grader and Mr Tuttle is great!
I’m not sure if I would be supportive of intensified classes in sixth grade other than math. Parents really push their kids do I feel like it would be the norm to take all intensified, and I feel like the first year of middle school is such an adjustment already. They don’t have grades in elementary anymore, so it’s the first time they understand that tests matter.
Reading in sixth grade is really important because I’ve seen kids who literally do not know how to read by then and I feel like it’s a good way to make sure no kid falls through the cracks.

Parent of an 8th grader and I completely disagree. My child's lowest grade on a report card in non-math classes in 6th grade was I think a 98%. My child is bright but not a genius. Having the option of intensified classes for those kids who are ready for a challenge has a lot of benefits. It also makes it easier on the teachers in the regular courses to not have to differentiate across a broader spectrum of skills and abilities because families will have self-selected into the more challenging classes.

Reading was a joke. My oldest child has consistently tested well above grade level in reading since early elementary. Having to sit through a semester-long reading course with minimal differentiation was a huge waste of time.
 
We will be putting our 5th grader into all intensified classes next year since they've been a great experience this year for our 8th grader to have more rigor. Clearly YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. I love that they all have reading in 6th. Even for my 99%+ bookworm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I love that they all have reading in 6th. Even for my 99%+ bookworm.

I'm the PP. I might have been more impressed if they challenged children like yours and mine. Write an essay, dig into themes and discuss them. You know, intensified type stuff for kids who are ready. At least in my DC's class that didn't happen. The expectations were very low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a current 8th grader and Mr Tuttle is great!
I’m not sure if I would be supportive of intensified classes in sixth grade other than math. Parents really push their kids do I feel like it would be the norm to take all intensified, and I feel like the first year of middle school is such an adjustment already. They don’t have grades in elementary anymore, so it’s the first time they understand that tests matter.
Reading in sixth grade is really important because I’ve seen kids who literally do not know how to read by then and I feel like it’s a good way to make sure no kid falls through the cracks.

+1

There is no penalty for not taking intensified. I would push to take algebra in 8th (prealgebra in 7th) for most kids.

Is 8th grade algebra now the norm for most all kids and not just gifted/intensified? I thought 9th grade algebra was still the norm for most. Does this vary by middle school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I love that they all have reading in 6th. Even for my 99%+ bookworm.

I'm fine with a reading class (though I'd prefer a writing class or a foreign language). But it should challenge my kid and not be a reading course intended to help kids who didn't learn to read in elementary. That's a waste of their time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I love that they all have reading in 6th. Even for my 99%+ bookworm.

I'm fine with a reading class (though I'd prefer a writing class or a foreign language). But it should challenge my kid and not be a reading course intended to help kids who didn't learn to read in elementary. That's a waste of their time.

Well you’re in luck! There’s a reading strategies class for those kids. They won’t be mixing with your child

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I love that they all have reading in 6th. Even for my 99%+ bookworm.

I wouldn't get too excited. My 6th grader (at Swanson) last year said they didn't read any books at all. It was all just exercises using one of the apps (Lexia?). Child thought it was completely pointless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I love that they all have reading in 6th. Even for my 99%+ bookworm.

I wouldn't get too excited. My 6th grader (at Swanson) last year said they didn't read any books at all. It was all just exercises using one of the apps (Lexia?). Child thought it was completely pointless.

An entire class all year just using Lexia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I love that they all have reading in 6th. Even for my 99%+ bookworm.

I wouldn't get too excited. My 6th grader (at Swanson) last year said they didn't read any books at all. It was all just exercises using one of the apps (Lexia?). Child thought it was completely pointless.

I don't have to get excited because both of my kids already took reading in 6th. They read tons of books - together and independently, worked on reading comprehension, learned how to take notes (cornell notes), and worked on grammar (incl. Lexia for homework). I love that they have all kids do reading. It's such a critical skill that should be reinforced early and often.

I would complain about that class at Swanson - they should definitely be reading (and more) in reading class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I love that they all have reading in 6th. Even for my 99%+ bookworm.

I wouldn't get too excited. My 6th grader (at Swanson) last year said they didn't read any books at all. It was all just exercises using one of the apps (Lexia?). Child thought it was completely pointless.

Ugh. Parent of a 5th grader here. I was hoping that MS would be the end of the stupid apps. My kid is so over Lexia.

[Anonymous]

Lexia is a great supplement to the reading they do in class. Given that the kids all come from different ESs (plus covid interruptions) it's good to ensure they all have a good foundation. My kids had it in addition to in-class grammar & reading comprehension work. AND reading.