Can't take Language 3 in Middle School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will the school inform you if your child is takin the language class at a high school? My child is taking French 3 in 8th and as far as I know, it’s at the middle school.

They have to tell you because classes MS kids take in HSs are usually first period and HS first period starts earlier than middle school first period.

So if you haven't heard anything, your school is lucky enough to have a large enough cohort for the class to go forward.

[Anonymous]

It's not "common" for kids to be bused to high school for language for language. There were exactly 3 kids who did this at DD's large middle school.

The others took a year off or tried another language. As someone else pointed out some kids end up doing a private weekend language school for Spanish or French and then jumping back into the same language in high school.

In addition to OP's families own logistical and medical challenges you really miss out a lot by not being at your middle school first period. There are often activities like band or clubs that meet before school and you miss the morning announcements which leaves kids out of the loop. In MCPS having to wake up an hour earlier for HS is also not really healthy for many kids. I would not downplay the negatives of doing this.

[Anonymous]

What language is this? Is the MS really small? If it’s French or Spanish seems like they should offer level 3!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know what your restrictions are, but I would highly encourage your kid to do first period language 3 at the high school. He or she will have to wake up a bit earlier, that's all. And the advantage is that they will have a smooth transition to high school next year!

Appreciate this! Restrictions are a combination of parent work schedules, home/work/bus stop locations, and medical needs for the student. Also, due to split articulation - the high school is not the high school the student will attend. It would be a huge logistical challenge and I'm not sure it's worth it.

My teen with severe ADHD was able to walk to his bus stop. My other teen with medical needs too. Are your kid's medical issues that restrictive?
And for the high school choice, can't you pick the one your kid will eventually end up in? That seems like a reasonable request.

OMG you really think schools can customize schedules like that? Middle schools usually only run one bus to a one high school. Who would drive the kid back to the middle school after the class? Do you even work and have any idea what a disruption that would be to OP's schedule especially as they have two homes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bussing to HS for a 1st period class is common for both language and math. Schools don’t know in 6th grade how many kid’s will stick with a language to take level 3 in 8th at the MS.

I had one kid who paused language in 8th to be more in sync with most kids in his grade in HS. It worked out fine.

If you are choosing between a pause versus switching languages, I would pause and have your kid take a different elective in 8th grade - preferably a HS tech credit if available. Then summer before high school have you kids retake the second semester of the language in summer school to be ready for level 3 in 9th.

This is a good plan, to take a review class the summer before HS if you'd like your child to continue in that language.
Despite what one PP said the world will not end if your child has to retake 2 or is starting with 3 in high school. It is really not unusual for kids to retake language whatever they took in MS for language and as you pointed out it's usually a relatively easy A which really helps with the transition to high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What language is this? Is the MS really small? If it’s French or Spanish seems like they should offer level 3!

Some middle schools offer levels 1 and 2 of languages like Italian and Chinese but not 3.

[Anonymous]

When I was in MS/HS I did Spanish for grades 7-11, and added in French for 11-12. French was sooo easy to learn after 5 years of Spanish. I ended up doing a double-minor in them in college. Fun minors because i did study abroad for a semester -- one in Mexico and again in France.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know what your restrictions are, but I would highly encourage your kid to do first period language 3 at the high school. He or she will have to wake up a bit earlier, that's all. And the advantage is that they will have a smooth transition to high school next year!

Appreciate this! Restrictions are a combination of parent work schedules, home/work/bus stop locations, and medical needs for the student. Also, due to split articulation - the high school is not the high school the student will attend. It would be a huge logistical challenge and I'm not sure it's worth it.

My teen with severe ADHD was able to walk to his bus stop. My other teen with medical needs too. Are your kid's medical issues that restrictive?
And for the high school choice, can't you pick the one your kid will eventually end up in? That seems like a reasonable request.

OMG you really think schools can customize schedules like that? Middle schools usually only run one bus to a one high school. Who would drive the kid back to the middle school after the class? Do you even work and have any idea what a disruption that would be to OP's schedule especially as they have two homes?

My son walked to the HS bus stop in 8th grade. The same one he will walk to for 9th grade. He went to first period at the HS. There is a bus that brings him back to the MS after HS first period. He spent the rest of the day at the MS and took the MS bus home.

No parent transportation required. Any issues that will arise from having 2 households are still going to arise the following year.

[Anonymous]

You "little one's" ? You are talking about a middle schooler, correct?

[Anonymous]

Many middle schools cut level 3 of WL’s in the last 2 rounds of allocation cuts. Several middle schools don’t allow students to take a WL until 7th grade because they can’t staff level 3 classes.

If your child is college bound, they will have to take 3 years of a WL in HS anyway. So why not start a new language they can continue for 3 more years in HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My LO's middle school doesn't offer his language in level 3 (even though it has appeared in the course bulletin for years). The option given was to be bused to the nearby high school for a first period language 3 class and then bused back to middle school for second period. Or to switch to the first level of the other language offered (the school only offers French and Spanish)

There are a variety of reasons starting the day in a high school won't work for our family, but how common is this? Why do they let kids start language in sixth grade if they know there won't be a cohort in eighth grade? Do all middle schools only offer French and Spanish?

So, is it best to start a new language (which is not the one we wanted LO to learn or we would have chosen it in the first place)? Take a year off? If LO takes a year off, should LO retake Language 2 in 9th grade for an easy A? Are there things to do to keep mastery on level so they can take Language 3 in 9th grade?

Chinese kids shouldn’t take Chinese

[Anonymous]

If they are super strong in language and you can make it work, do 3 at hs. If not, no worries, repeat 2. Many kids opt to repeat 2 to reinforce.

Our MS has Spanish and French 1 over two years (1a in 6th and 1b in 7th) then 2 in 8th grade. I like this approach. Spanish 1 is a lot for a sixth grader and this gives them more time to practice and converse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know what your restrictions are, but I would highly encourage your kid to do first period language 3 at the high school. He or she will have to wake up a bit earlier, that's all. And the advantage is that they will have a smooth transition to high school next year!

Appreciate this! Restrictions are a combination of parent work schedules, home/work/bus stop locations, and medical needs for the student. Also, due to split articulation - the high school is not the high school the student will attend. It would be a huge logistical challenge and I'm not sure it's worth it.

My teen with severe ADHD was able to walk to his bus stop. My other teen with medical needs too. Are your kid's medical issues that restrictive?
And for the high school choice, can't you pick the one your kid will eventually end up in? That seems like a reasonable request.

OMG you really think schools can customize schedules like that? Middle schools usually only run one bus to a one high school. Who would drive the kid back to the middle school after the class? Do you even work and have any idea what a disruption that would be to OP's schedule especially as they have two homes?

My son walked to the HS bus stop in 8th grade. The same one he will walk to for 9th grade. He went to first period at the HS. There is a bus that brings him back to the MS after HS first period. He spent the rest of the day at the MS and took the MS bus home.

No parent transportation required. Any issues that will arise from having 2 households are still going to arise the following year.

In HS the rule is two miles. So, many kids don't get transportation and parents have to drive them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know what your restrictions are, but I would highly encourage your kid to do first period language 3 at the high school. He or she will have to wake up a bit earlier, that's all. And the advantage is that they will have a smooth transition to high school next year!

Appreciate this! Restrictions are a combination of parent work schedules, home/work/bus stop locations, and medical needs for the student. Also, due to split articulation - the high school is not the high school the student will attend. It would be a huge logistical challenge and I'm not sure it's worth it.

My teen with severe ADHD was able to walk to his bus stop. My other teen with medical needs too. Are your kid's medical issues that restrictive?
And for the high school choice, can't you pick the one your kid will eventually end up in? That seems like a reasonable request.

OMG you really think schools can customize schedules like that? Middle schools usually only run one bus to a one high school. Who would drive the kid back to the middle school after the class? Do you even work and have any idea what a disruption that would be to OP's schedule especially as they have two homes?

MS in the NEC will run busses from 4 different high schools, each with 1-2 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will the school inform you if your child is takin the language class at a high school? My child is taking French 3 in 8th and as far as I know, it’s at the middle school.

They have to tell you because classes MS kids take in HSs are usually first period and HS first period starts earlier than middle school first period.

So if you haven't heard anything, your school is lucky enough to have a large enough cohort for the class to go forward.

Thank you, this is good to know. There are a lot of kids that take French at that school so I’m assuming French 3 will be offered there.