Science as a special?

[Anonymous]

Our WOTP DCPS has science as a once a week special from PK-3rd. In 4th and 5th, science and social studies are ostensibly part of the daily classroom curriculum, although that wasn't always the practice, especially for social studies.

That said, scientific and social studies/history topics were somewhat baked into the math and ELA curriculum. Not to the degree that we would have liked, but it's there. We do a lot of enrichment outside of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear OP, if you are getting worked up about this & your child is starting elementary school, you will have a stroke by 12th grade. Trust the process & supplement at home as needed. It will be alright.

This. At our WotP elementary, my kids had science as a special one year, science as part of a single classroom other years, science as part of a STEM class that rotated with a humanities class in other years, and in still other years, had science as a stand-alone part of a four-class rotation. (This was a school coping with a renovation/swing space and then COVID, so the logistics of school were constantly changing.) My takeaway? It’s not the logistics that matter, it’s the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear OP, if you are getting worked up about this & your child is starting elementary school, you will have a stroke by 12th grade. Trust the process & supplement at home as needed. It will be alright.

My kid is going into 4th grade. We're new to the area. They've had science and social studies thus far. I have every reason to be upset. Why should I trust the process when I know they could be getting better living elsewhere? It seems most of you are just accepting of this subpar status quo and that's concerning.

[Anonymous]

There is a reason DCPS is not sharing out the Science standardized test scores.
At our WOTP elementary - science and social studies were specials.
KEY HERE FOR ANYONE WITH A CHILD WITH AN IEP - they did not receive specialized instruction since it was a special.
I learned this the hard way as my assumptions were all wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear OP, if you are getting worked up about this & your child is starting elementary school, you will have a stroke by 12th grade. Trust the process & supplement at home as needed. It will be alright.

My kid is going into 4th grade. We're new to the area. They've had science and social studies thus far. I have every reason to be upset. Why should I trust the process when I know they could be getting better living elsewhere? It seems most of you are just accepting of this subpar status quo and that's concerning.

I'm with you, OP. More educational malpractice, courtesy of DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our WOTP DCPS has science as a once a week special from PK-3rd. In 4th and 5th, science and social studies are ostensibly part of the daily classroom curriculum, although that wasn't always the practice, especially for social studies.

That said, scientific and social studies/history topics were somewhat baked into the math and ELA curriculum. Not to the degree that we would have liked, but it's there. We do a lot of enrichment outside of school.

As am DCPS teacher of math and science at the elementary level, math and science are not integrated. They cannot be integrated. Eureka is a scripted curriculum. Stemscopoes is also structured. Please post the the documents that show how they are integrated.

On the other hand, ELA and SS are thoroughly integrated. The SS topics are part of the ELA.

[Anonymous]

I must need new glasses because I thought the title was “silence as a special?” and was thinking for one of my kids, yes. Please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our WOTP DCPS has science as a once a week special from PK-3rd. In 4th and 5th, science and social studies are ostensibly part of the daily classroom curriculum, although that wasn't always the practice, especially for social studies.

That said, scientific and social studies/history topics were somewhat baked into the math and ELA curriculum. Not to the degree that we would have liked, but it's there. We do a lot of enrichment outside of school.

As am DCPS teacher of math and science at the elementary level, math and science are not integrated. They cannot be integrated. Eureka is a scripted curriculum. Stemscopoes is also structured. Please post the the documents that show how they are integrated.

On the other hand, ELA and SS are thoroughly integrated. The SS topics are part of the ELA.

I'm a parent and spoke of my observation (with qualifications- it really was minimal and handwaving). You obviously know more than I about the curriculum. Maybe it was just their teachers, but they did applied math projects that were sent home (and since recycled). I vaguely recall some astronomy, geology and biology adjacent projects. It's been a few years though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I must need new glasses because I thought the title was “silence as a special?” and was thinking for one of my kids, yes. Please.

Might be the most integral class one of mine could take actually

[Anonymous]

What is it about science that you think is so critical in ES? I would much rather have actual music instruction, more art, language immersion, outdoor exploration (which would probably lead to more genuine science interest anyway). Meanwhile I think library and SEL are pointless because I do those at home.

I’m not saying I’m right and you’re wrong, but this is a matter of preference, not some gold standard.

[Anonymous]

To the PP from STEAM school (Whittier), what are the STEM specials offered there? Googling didn't help. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is it about science that you think is so critical in ES? I would much rather have actual music instruction, more art, language immersion, outdoor exploration (which would probably lead to more genuine science interest anyway). Meanwhile I think library and SEL are pointless because I do those at home.

I’m not saying I’m right and you’re wrong, but this is a matter of preference, not some gold standard.

Yeah,so would I...that's why it shouldn't be taking up a special. I'd rather my kid learn drama, band, etc. It should be a part of the curriculum and the student's daily life, not a specials class.

[Anonymous]

To the people who are so pissed off with DCPS and haven't started it yet, please move to the suburbs. You will be happier there.
Signed,
A parent whose kid went to DCPS for elementary & now has a 4.0 at Basis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear OP, if you are getting worked up about this & your child is starting elementary school, you will have a stroke by 12th grade. Trust the process & supplement at home as needed. It will be alright.

My kid is going into 4th grade. We're new to the area. They've had science and social studies thus far. I have every reason to be upset. Why should I trust the process when I know they could be getting better living elsewhere? It seems most of you are just accepting of this subpar status quo and that's concerning.

I have not heard that CHML is a good school, so you may actually have better luck at a different DCPS. We are at a DCPS elementary with a lot of science and social studies, but we just left one that did not have much. Unfortunately it varies widely depending on the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the people who are so pissed off with DCPS and haven't started it yet, please move to the suburbs. You will be happier there.
Signed,
A parent whose kid went to DCPS for elementary & now has a 4.0 at Basis

Not the OP, but it is disheartening reading replies like yours and just assuming it will work out like that for everyone. DCPS has a responsibility to provide students with a well rounded curriculum that includes more than math and reading. Just because people are upset that that isn't a given at all schools doesn't mean they need to move. It means that they want things to change (rightfully so). You ARE accepting the status quo instead of wanting better for kids.