Minimal homework in 2.0

[Anonymous]

If there are people whose experience is better under Curriculum 2.0, and people whose experience is worse under Curriculum 2.0, that suggests that Curriculum 2.0 itself is actually not the problem.

I don't believe that there are people not associated with MCPS that enjoy 2.0. I do know that MCPS is desperate to ignore parent complaints and praying that people will just shut up and go away. The ONLY positive praise for 2.0 has always come from MCPS employees.

What is far worse is that we're friends with a few teachers. They are strongly instructed and warned never to say anything negative about 2.0 in front of parents. They are allowed to voice concerns through the teacher's union but any out of step comments beyond their union is grounds for backlash from the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If there are people whose experience is better under Curriculum 2.0, and people whose experience is worse under Curriculum 2.0, that suggests that Curriculum 2.0 itself is actually not the problem.

I don't believe that there are people not associated with MCPS that enjoy 2.0. I do know that MCPS is desperate to ignore parent complaints and praying that people will just shut up and go away. The ONLY positive praise for 2.0 has always come from MCPS employees.

What is far worse is that we're friends with a few teachers. They are strongly instructed and warned never to say anything negative about 2.0 in front of parents. They are allowed to voice concerns through the teacher's union but any out of step comments beyond their union is grounds for backlash from the principal.

Believe it.

Believe also that I have heard criticism of Curriculum 2.0, from teachers, in their professional capacity.

[Anonymous]

No one on this thread has disagreed that there has been a significant reduction in homework under 2.0. Can any of the MCPS posters explain why reducing homework was part of the plan?

Was it just forgotten and the teachers don't have access to homework assignments yet?
Did you think there was too much homework?
Do you not want parents to see what the kids are doing in school?
Is it part of leveling the achievement gap because some parents take homework seriously and make sure their kids do it while others don't?
You're afraid that kids will perform above the standards if they can study or practice outside of class and hurt the achievement gap?

[Anonymous]

I thought there was too much homework.

Also, there doesn't need to be homework for parents to see what the kids are doing in school. Parents can see what the kids are doing in school if the school sends the kids' in-class work home -- which the school should, in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

I think the elimination or reduction of homework is about the achievement gap. There's a lot of time spent on understanding the gap. It seems to be the #1 goal in MCPS. Parental involvement and education is one of the biggest affects on the gap. MCPS can't find a way to get disinterested parents to do more at home so the only option was to reduce the ability for interested parents to be involved.

Some parents will still supplement anyway. However, there are many parents who if there kids have homework will make sure they do it and do a good job but won't necessarily create their own homework if the school doesn't send it home. We're spending money on math tutoring because the deficiencies in the curriculum seem much larger in math. I just don't have more time or money to supplement and come up with my own assignments for writing. Sadly, I guess my kids will get "leveled" in writing. Thanks MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the elimination or reduction of homework is about the achievement gap. There's a lot of time spent on understanding the gap. It seems to be the #1 goal in MCPS. Parental involvement and education is one of the biggest affects on the gap. MCPS can't find a way to get disinterested parents to do more at home so the only option was to reduce the ability for interested parents to be involved.

Some parents will still supplement anyway. However, there are many parents who if there kids have homework will make sure they do it and do a good job but won't necessarily create their own homework if the school doesn't send it home. We're spending money on math tutoring because the deficiencies in the curriculum seem much larger in math. I just don't have more time or money to supplement and come up with my own assignments for writing. Sadly, I guess my kids will get "leveled" in writing. Thanks MCPS.

Except, of course, that there is, at best, no consensus that homework in elementary school has any effect on achievement.

(I never stop being amazed at the number of PPs on DCUM who believe that MCPS is deliberately trying to close the achievement gap by reducing their high-achieving children's achievement.)

[Anonymous]

Just curious how you identified the large deficiencies..were your children struggling with certain concepts? Did you just decide that in second grade I think my child should know XXX. Is there a reference? I am a pretty mathy person but I am not sure I can say what is required at any particular point.

[Anonymous]

I also have a third grader. She gets one sheet of math and then has spelling words. They have a spelling test every other week. She also is expected to read. She reads all the time, so the rest only takes 10minutes or so a night.

[Anonymous]

Except, of course, that there is, at best, no consensus that homework in elementary school has any effect on achievement.

You know this isn't true. Parental involvement is one of the biggest influencers on a child's academic success. It has a bigger impact than teachers or amount spent per student. Homework is one the primary ways that parents set the expectations at home that school work is important. Its not just that the parents make sure the kids do it but they check it afterwards and have the kids correct mistakes or improve it. This gives kids valuable feedback on their work and instills the value that its not just about getting done quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Except, of course, that there is, at best, no consensus that homework in elementary school has any effect on achievement.

You know this isn't true. Parental involvement is one of the biggest influencers on a child's academic success. It has a bigger impact than teachers or amount spent per student. Homework is one the primary ways that parents set the expectations at home that school work is important. Its not just that the parents make sure the kids do it but they check it afterwards and have the kids correct mistakes or improve it. This gives kids valuable feedback on their work and instills the value that its not just about getting done quickly.

Actually, it is true.

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/family/2006/09/forget_homework.html

[Anonymous]

Slate.com?? Are you kidding me?

[Anonymous]

I think MCPS just doesn't give a damn about doing anything beyond the bottom bar. Remember we all aim for P, that's the goal. It doesn't take much to get a P so why bother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Slate.com?? Are you kidding me?

If you would click on the link, then you would see that the article refers to books and research, which you could then read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also have a third grader. She gets one sheet of math and then has spelling words. They have a spelling test every other week. She also is expected to read. She reads all the time, so the rest only takes 10minutes or so a night.

I have a 3rd grader as well. DC gets a worksheet at the beginning of the week:

1) math

2) writing assignment

3) daily reading

DC also gets Drexel math which sometimes replaces the regular math homework
Also gets a William & Mary assignment 1 to 3 times a week
My kid has not had a reduction in homework.
Kid also brings home graded and commented on classwork
We are pleased with the work and the curriculum
Guess we are unicorns on DCUM!

[Anonymous]

No more homework. No more unit testing. No more math. Just magical deeper busy work.