Underachieving kids

[Anonymous]

I have a teen in a MoCo high school, 9th grade. He had a history assignment that he blew off til the last minute and then when he did it, it was done not at all according to instructions. My husband and I decided to not say anything about it, to let the teacher/his grade be the one to teach him the lesson.

When he got the project returned (several weeks later, I might add), he received full credit for it. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is the thing I don't understand, if you child received less than a P, because the work was extremely challenging, would you be happier?

What I don't understand is the relationship of P to this. I have known any number of underachievers whose work was graded on the A/B/C/D/F system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know you are allowed to set the bar higher than the public school teachers do.

Exactly.

But then there are so many who find any raising of the bar a red flag for "Tiger momism" and a conspiracy for "widening the achievement gap" that people hesitate to do so.

[Anonymous]

The point is that mcps has lowered the bar, so kids can slack off, turn in sub-par work and still earn straight Ps. That's the issue: the lowering of the bar. It's pathetic.

When I was in elementary school (catholic school in MoCo), I could do the following in 4th grade:

1. Read a chapter in a text book (science, social studies) and prepare for a test by myself. (Note: mcps doesn't teach this skill until middle school. Actually, I take that back. They never teach that skill; rather, they expect kids to magically know how to do this when they arrive in MS).

2. Research and write a basic report or paper by myself (using the library, encyclopedias, textbooks, etc.).

3. Memorize long passages (albeit of scripture) and recite them orally every week. Mcps hates memorization. Regardless, having that weekly task which required me to study and memorize something that I had to recite each week helped with study skills as well as public speaking.

My straight Ps kids can't do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is the thing I don't understand, if you child received less than a P, because the work was extremely challenging, would you be happier?

Yes! I want my kid to be challenged, not bored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a teen in a MoCo high school, 9th grade. He had a history assignment that he blew off til the last minute and then when he did it, it was done not at all according to instructions. My husband and I decided to not say anything about it, to let the teacher/his grade be the one to teach him the lesson.

When he got the project returned (several weeks later, I might add), he received full credit for it. Ugh.

YES - happened to us numerous times in 6th grade, moved to private and the difference is amazing. The math teacher even corrected the misspelling of "Wednesday," which then led to a lesson about Latin roots and a little competition to find the one day of the week for which they couldn't find the Latin root. Thank you, Mrs. Sparling!

[Anonymous]

I want my kid to be challenged so they learn how to be a good student and are prepared for MS, HS, college and beyond. I don't want my kid to aspire to mediocrity...and that is precisely what 2.0 does: sets the bar low so everyone can get a P and mcps can "close" the achievement gap (by dragging all the above average and average kids down).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is the thing I don't understand, if you child received less than a P, because the work was extremely challenging, would you be happier?

Yes! I want my kid to be challenged, not bored.

Than you, as a parent should challenge him. Mental stimulation does not need to be in the form of classwork or homework. Most of the tv time my kids have is speant on the Discovery channel. Sometimes I ask them questions and we think up different scenarios during the commercial breaks. We read a LOT. We read individually and I still ready to them as a family. My kids are getting older, and they still love to have me read to them.

Other things - when we cook, I get them to help. I have them do measurement conversions. Not because I need their help, but rather, just to keep their heads turning. Play with them, interact with them, and they will have a desire to learn.

[Anonymous]

^ excuse the errors.

[Anonymous]

To 16:38 - that's swell, but the real issue is that they aren't teaching kids spelling, grammar, how to write clear paragraphs, etc...and I don't think the Discovery Channel teaches that sort of thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To 16:38 - that's swell, but the real issue is that they aren't teaching kids spelling, grammar, how to write clear paragraphs, etc...and I don't think the Discovery Channel teaches that sort of thing.

Ohhhhhh...this cracked me up!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To 16:38 - that's swell, but the real issue is that they aren't teaching kids spelling, grammar, how to write clear paragraphs, etc...and I don't think the Discovery Channel teaches that sort of thing.

My kids have been taught all of that at MCPS. You didn't say you were concerned with the curriculum, but you were concerned that you had an underachieving kid who was fine with a P. You can correct most of this at home. I don't see school (any school) as a end all/be all for education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is the thing I don't understand, if you child received less than a P, because the work was extremely challenging, would you be happier?

Yes! I want my kid to be challenged, not bored.

Than you, as a parent should challenge him. Mental stimulation does not need to be in the form of classwork or homework. Most of the tv time my kids have is speant on the Discovery channel. Sometimes I ask them questions and we think up different scenarios during the commercial breaks. We read a LOT. We read individually and I still ready to them as a family. My kids are getting older, and they still love to have me read to them.

Other things - when we cook, I get them to help. I have them do measurement conversions. Not because I need their help, but rather, just to keep their heads turning. Play with them, interact with them, and they will have a desire to learn.[/quote

Where do you find the time and energy to be this engaging??? I don't get home until 6:30, sometimes a little later. By the time dinner is done it is close to 7:30. I can monitor homework, provide help and then check it, but supplementing after a long day is HARD!!!

[Anonymous]

You can engage through conversation, that's my point. It doesn't have to be done by sitting down and diagramming sentences or doing math worksheets.

[Anonymous]

You need to move or invest in a private school for your child. MCPS isn't serving you or your child well, yet taking tons of property taxes to do a poor job. There are good schools and school districts that don't require home schooling by a parent in addition to mediocre public schools. Dc charter schools are way better, for example.