Assigning work to kids during Spring Break (or Winter Break) is wrong

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a DCPS teacher and homework that comes home before 4th grade goes directly in the trash. I don’t care what it’s for.

What grade and subject do you teach?

[Anonymous]

"I want rigor but, but not really"..This is why most of the parent complaints aren't taking seriously and nothing ever changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't DCPS just let kids have some down time with their families? Why must there be spring break assignments (looking at your Hardy with your math assignments). Back off.

No.

Bring it on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't DCPS just let kids have some down time with their families? Why must there be spring break assignments (looking at your Hardy with your math assignments). Back off.

+1 weeks with no assignments at our DCPS charter and then homework over the break. Eye roll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't DCPS just let kids have some down time with their families? Why must there be spring break assignments (looking at your Hardy with your math assignments). Back off.

+1 weeks with no assignments at our DCPS charter and then homework over the break. Eye roll.

All right, ignoring all of the petty nasty stuff being said. In our middle school they took away the devices so they could prep them for CAPE after spring break. So If they want all kids to be able to do extra work they need to do it on paper.
Second, regarding the point about no homework before break but now homework on break, you could argue that the teachers feel like being in school reinforces the skills, but 9 days of no school would cause some regression

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a DCPS teacher and homework that comes home before 4th grade goes directly in the trash. I don’t care what it’s for.

What grade and subject do you teach?

5th grade ELA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't DCPS just let kids have some down time with their families? Why must there be spring break assignments (looking at your Hardy with your math assignments). Back off.

+1 weeks with no assignments at our DCPS charter and then homework over the break. Eye roll.

All right, ignoring all of the petty nasty stuff being said. In our middle school they took away the devices so they could prep them for CAPE after spring break. So If they want all kids to be able to do extra work they need to do it on paper.
Second, regarding the point about no homework before break but now homework on break, you could argue that the teachers feel like being in school reinforces the skills, but 9 days of no school would cause some regression

Our school made it available online or print, but who doesn’t have access to an electronic device? (I know a few people which is why there are paper but there aren’t many ppl who the school computer is their only access to electorncis).

I just feel like it stinks of desperation - if you’re worried about test scores being significantly lower because of spring break, it means the kids weren’t proficient to begin with or you’re concerned that they’re so close to scoring catastrophically bad that even the normal bit of learning loss that results from a week off might have a meaningful impact for test scores.

I mean, if in nine days they’re going to fall to such perilous lows on the test you’re assigning homework, what hope do the kids have trying to get through summer break?

Either way, whatever retention you can drag out of kids by making them do homework on spring break seems unlikely to solve the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't DCPS just let kids have some down time with their families? Why must there be spring break assignments (looking at your Hardy with your math assignments). Back off.

+1 weeks with no assignments at our DCPS charter and then homework over the break. Eye roll.

All right, ignoring all of the petty nasty stuff being said. In our middle school they took away the devices so they could prep them for CAPE after spring break. So If they want all kids to be able to do extra work they need to do it on paper.
Second, regarding the point about no homework before break but now homework on break, you could argue that the teachers feel like being in school reinforces the skills, but 9 days of no school would cause some regression

Our school made it available online or print, but who doesn’t have access to an electronic device? (I know a few people which is why there are paper but there aren’t many ppl who the school computer is their only access to electorncis).

I just feel like it stinks of desperation - if you’re worried about test scores being significantly lower because of spring break, it means the kids weren’t proficient to begin with or you’re concerned that they’re so close to scoring catastrophically bad that even the normal bit of learning loss that results from a week off might have a meaningful impact for test scores.

I mean, if in nine days they’re going to fall to such perilous lows on the test you’re assigning homework, what hope do the kids have trying to get through summer break?

Either way, whatever retention you can drag out of kids by making them do homework on spring break seems unlikely to solve the problem.

There are many families without access to laptops or computers at home. Many families have cell phones or tablets, but those don't always work with the various apps and programs that schools want you to use. I am not sure where your kids have been going to school, but as someone who has been a family at a title 1 school for 9 years, I can say that access to technology is a big deal. We spent a lot of time during COVID working to get devices to families when the DCPS ones were delayed, from donations, refurbished, etc.
Some kids use libraries, others log on at schools (when open). I imagine this 'send a packet home' decision was citywide for middle schools at least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't DCPS just let kids have some down time with their families? Why must there be spring break assignments (looking at your Hardy with your math assignments). Back off.

+1 weeks with no assignments at our DCPS charter and then homework over the break. Eye roll.

All right, ignoring all of the petty nasty stuff being said. In our middle school they took away the devices so they could prep them for CAPE after spring break. So If they want all kids to be able to do extra work they need to do it on paper.
Second, regarding the point about no homework before break but now homework on break, you could argue that the teachers feel like being in school reinforces the skills, but 9 days of no school would cause some regression

Our school made it available online or print, but who doesn’t have access to an electronic device? (I know a few people which is why there are paper but there aren’t many ppl who the school computer is their only access to electorncis).

I just feel like it stinks of desperation - if you’re worried about test scores being significantly lower because of spring break, it means the kids weren’t proficient to begin with or you’re concerned that they’re so close to scoring catastrophically bad that even the normal bit of learning loss that results from a week off might have a meaningful impact for test scores.

I mean, if in nine days they’re going to fall to such perilous lows on the test you’re assigning homework, what hope do the kids have trying to get through summer break?

Either way, whatever retention you can drag out of kids by making them do homework on spring break seems unlikely to solve the problem.

There are many families without access to laptops or computers at home. Many families have cell phones or tablets, but those don't always work with the various apps and programs that schools want you to use. I am not sure where your kids have been going to school, but as someone who has been a family at a title 1 school for 9 years, I can say that access to technology is a big deal. We spent a lot of time during COVID working to get devices to families when the DCPS ones were delayed, from donations, refurbished, etc.
Some kids use libraries, others log on at schools (when open). I imagine this 'send a packet home' decision was citywide for middle schools at least.

It's tablet friendly, I checked.

But all of this just reinforces my point. It doesn't seem like a terribly realistic way to really accomplish anything, and so for it to be proposed, basically at the last minute, despite all of the potential hurdles, it all reeks of them having a massive "oh shit" moment a few days ago in which they realized that the kids are not prepared (either unable to hold the appropriate level of knowledge for more than 9 days, suggesting they don't really have a grasp OR so close to a disastrous score that the minor amount of loss from a nine-day break elicits total panic from administrators).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't DCPS just let kids have some down time with their families? Why must there be spring break assignments (looking at your Hardy with your math assignments). Back off.

+1 weeks with no assignments at our DCPS charter and then homework over the break. Eye roll.

All right, ignoring all of the petty nasty stuff being said. In our middle school they took away the devices so they could prep them for CAPE after spring break. So If they want all kids to be able to do extra work they need to do it on paper.
Second, regarding the point about no homework before break but now homework on break, you could argue that the teachers feel like being in school reinforces the skills, but 9 days of no school would cause some regression

Our school made it available online or print, but who doesn’t have access to an electronic device? (I know a few people which is why there are paper but there aren’t many ppl who the school computer is their only access to electorncis).

I just feel like it stinks of desperation - if you’re worried about test scores being significantly lower because of spring break, it means the kids weren’t proficient to begin with or you’re concerned that they’re so close to scoring catastrophically bad that even the normal bit of learning loss that results from a week off might have a meaningful impact for test scores.

I mean, if in nine days they’re going to fall to such perilous lows on the test you’re assigning homework, what hope do the kids have trying to get through summer break?

Either way, whatever retention you can drag out of kids by making them do homework on spring break seems unlikely to solve the problem.

There are many families without access to laptops or computers at home. Many families have cell phones or tablets, but those don't always work with the various apps and programs that schools want you to use. I am not sure where your kids have been going to school, but as someone who has been a family at a title 1 school for 9 years, I can say that access to technology is a big deal. We spent a lot of time during COVID working to get devices to families when the DCPS ones were delayed, from donations, refurbished, etc.
Some kids use libraries, others log on at schools (when open). I imagine this 'send a packet home' decision was citywide for middle schools at least.

It's tablet friendly, I checked.

But all of this just reinforces my point. It doesn't seem like a terribly realistic way to really accomplish anything, and so for it to be proposed, basically at the last minute, despite all of the potential hurdles, it all reeks of them having a massive "oh shit" moment a few days ago in which they realized that the kids are not prepared (either unable to hold the appropriate level of knowledge for more than 9 days, suggesting they don't really have a grasp OR so close to a disastrous score that the minor amount of loss from a nine-day break elicits total panic from administrators).

Interesting, ours is not tablet friendly so maybe each school has a different packet/plan.
Also, not sure about every school but ours is encouraged with random incentives (ex to be put in a raffle etc) but its also not going to punish kids if they don't do it

[Anonymous]

We send parcc data for admissions to private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We send parcc data for admissions to private school.

you apparently do not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't DCPS just let kids have some down time with their families? Why must there be spring break assignments (looking at your Hardy with your math assignments). Back off.

+1 weeks with no assignments at our DCPS charter and then homework over the break. Eye roll.

All right, ignoring all of the petty nasty stuff being said. In our middle school they took away the devices so they could prep them for CAPE after spring break. So If they want all kids to be able to do extra work they need to do it on paper.
Second, regarding the point about no homework before break but now homework on break, you could argue that the teachers feel like being in school reinforces the skills, but 9 days of no school would cause some regression

You could argue it but, the teachers say they are giving homework during time school is in, but it is totally inconsistent. Also, I do you work on vacation (I know the DMV is unique in that people pride themselves on being workaholics) but, I try not to because it is supposed to be time off so why should kids work on vacation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't DCPS just let kids have some down time with their families? Why must there be spring break assignments (looking at your Hardy with your math assignments). Back off.

+1 weeks with no assignments at our DCPS charter and then homework over the break. Eye roll.

All right, ignoring all of the petty nasty stuff being said. In our middle school they took away the devices so they could prep them for CAPE after spring break. So If they want all kids to be able to do extra work they need to do it on paper.
Second, regarding the point about no homework before break but now homework on break, you could argue that the teachers feel like being in school reinforces the skills, but 9 days of no school would cause some regression

You could argue it but, the teachers say they are giving homework during time school is in, but it is totally inconsistent. Also, I do you work on vacation (I know the DMV is unique in that people pride themselves on being workaholics) but, I try not to because it is supposed to be time off so why should kids work on vacation?

For me, if we are actually at a destination vacation (which the majority of parents do not have the luxury of taking their kids on), I make sure the kids read but that is probably it. But if we are around a house and there is down time, where the kids would be deciding between a book, technology, or a TV show , yes - I usually have them log on to do one of the Clever apps for a bit. And for the vast majority of kids in DC, they are not going on vacations - maybe doing day off camps, but most likely staying home while parents work. And in that case, yes I would rather have something for them to do if just for a half hour a day. These packets aren't really that intense.
And as a former educator, a lot of the families ask for extra work and homework, so it is important to acknowledge that the sample set on this thread is not representative of the city as a whole.
Unrelated, I'm happy to see DPR and the city or scheduling a lot of free activities next week for kids and families who are here over the break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We send parcc data for admissions to private school.

you apparently do not

NP and we definitely did.