Feel like my well behaved 1st grader is basically ignored in FCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you are going down the path to private school. It kills me to be paying for private school, but by the time FCPS gets done paying and staffing everything else that they do, from AAP to ESOL, the 'average' student just doesn't get that much from FCPS. Took me through ES to figure that out - I regret every minute my kids were in FCPS.

Op here. I was just talking to DH about private school. Don't think Mclean will be any better for my child. We will see how things go. I feel we will be visiting Burgundy, Browne and SSSA.

McLean would be better, although judging from your posts you'd want to stay away from the big elementary school AAP centers like Churchill Road and Haycock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean? Is something going wrong that isn't being addressed?

I don't feel like he is challenged. There is 1 teacher and she mostly attends to the other kids who require more attention. My kid just sits at his desk, gets homework that is just busywork. I don't know if private school it the answer or a move to a different school district.

This is a teacher problem not necessarily a fairfax county-wide problem. Have you asked the teacher how she is challenging your son? Don't just sit back and let things happen. If you want something to change, you should speak up. Inquire first. Nicely.

Also, how do you know he's not being challenged? Have you asked to see work samples, asked about lessons, or how she differentiates to meet the needs of all students?

(as you may be able to tell, I'm a former teacher)

[Anonymous]

Talk to the teacher first. Ask for more classworks sample.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean? Is something going wrong that isn't being addressed?

I don't feel like he is challenged. There is 1 teacher and she mostly attends to the other kids who require more attention. My kid just sits at his desk, gets homework that is just busywork. I don't know if private school it the answer or a move to a different school district.

I think this is partly the way 1st grade is. Kids are very needy -- they need someone to read with them or to get them on task. Could you possibly talk to parents of kids who are in the older grades at this school?

FWIW, my child is in another school in the same general area and there are only 12% farms... now with DC in 6th grade, I see that it wasn't just 1st grade. It was kind of like this all the way through. It is not that way at the AAP center where my other child goes. I think there simply is a different expectation that the teachers have at the two schools. But, I do remember that 1st grade was kind of chaotic. I wouldn't assume, however, that desk work is "busy work." You won't get private school attention in a public school. First grade may be too soon to tell.... but you can look ahead by talking to parents of other students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I kinda wonder if the same problem won't occur at a private school. Are they also set up to provide lots of help to the "gifted" and not much to the "bright regular" types?

For LD, there a specialized privates. The average private is going to have much less AAP-type segregation, although they'll be more demanding of everyone. That's why you cannot beat AAP in FCPS if you can get into it - you'll never get that kind of advanced work from a private since they don't have the numbers to make it work. The best you'll do is a customized program for your kid - but he/she will likely be working by themselves. It's better in private HS because they then have the numbers to segregate the kids that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel exactly the same way. My kid isn't a special needs kid or a troublemaker, nor is he "greatly gifted", and therefore he is basically ignored. Any extra enrichment he gets is provided by me.

Changing schools won't help you -- my son is already in a very good school. It is just the nature of a giant school system.

Yup. And again, OP should be happy that her kid is not having any problems rather than looking for them. When I was in 1st grade at a catholic school I had 50 kids in my first grade class. I still remember one day when everyone was talking and the sister made us all stand up, and then allowed me to sit down since I was smart and always got my work done. I would make up for it later in elementary by causing plenty of problems and grabbing plenty of teacher attention. Ultimately, I would get 2 graduate degrees from an Ivy and top ten school and go on to have a successful career and a meaningful life.

It all balances out. Despite all the hysteria about our "gifted" kids getting lost and held back, the brightest do manage to succeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel exactly the same way. My kid isn't a special needs kid or a troublemaker, nor is he "greatly gifted", and therefore he is basically ignored. Any extra enrichment he gets is provided by me.

Changing schools won't help you -- my son is already in a very good school. It is just the nature of a giant school system.

Yup. And again, OP should be happy that her kid is not having any problems rather than looking for them. When I was in 1st grade at a catholic school I had 50 kids in my first grade class. I still remember one day when everyone was talking and the sister made us all stand up, and then allowed me to sit down since I was smart and always got my work done. I would make up for it later in elementary by causing plenty of problems and grabbing plenty of teacher attention. Ultimately, I would get 2 graduate degrees from an Ivy and top ten school and go on to have a successful career and a meaningful life.

It all balances out. Despite all the hysteria about our "gifted" kids getting lost and held back, the brightest do manage to succeed.

OP here. I don't think my child is gifted. I'm afraid he is not learning at his potential and is basically ignored since he causes no trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


Yup. And again, OP should be happy that her kid is not having any problems rather than looking for them. When I was in 1st grade at a catholic school I had 50 kids in my first grade class. I still remember one day when everyone was talking and the sister made us all stand up, and then allowed me to sit down since I was smart and always got my work done. I would make up for it later in elementary by causing plenty of problems and grabbing plenty of teacher attention. Ultimately, I would get 2 graduate degrees from an Ivy and top ten school and go on to have a successful career and a meaningful life.

It all balances out. Despite all the hysteria about our "gifted" kids getting lost and held back, the brightest do manage to succeed.

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Yup. And again, OP should be happy that her kid is not having any problems rather than looking for them. When I was in 1st grade at a catholic school I had 50 kids in my first grade class. I still remember one day when everyone was talking and the sister made us all stand up, and then allowed me to sit down since I was smart and always got my work done. I would make up for it later in elementary by causing plenty of problems and grabbing plenty of teacher attention. Ultimately, I would get 2 graduate degrees from an Ivy and top ten school and go on to have a successful career and a meaningful life.

It all balances out. Despite all the hysteria about our "gifted" kids getting lost and held back, the brightest do manage to succeed.

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

You're wishing ill on PP because she described how she caused problems in elementary but was successful anyway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Yup. And again, OP should be happy that her kid is not having any problems rather than looking for them. When I was in 1st grade at a catholic school I had 50 kids in my first grade class. I still remember one day when everyone was talking and the sister made us all stand up, and then allowed me to sit down since I was smart and always got my work done. I would make up for it later in elementary by causing plenty of problems and grabbing plenty of teacher attention. Ultimately, I would get 2 graduate degrees from an Ivy and top ten school and go on to have a successful career and a meaningful life.

It all balances out. Despite all the hysteria about our "gifted" kids getting lost and held back, the brightest do manage to succeed.

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

You're wishing ill on PP because she described how she caused problems in elementary but was successful anyway?

I'm sharing some age old advice about being careful about being arrogant and boastful. Learning humility is part of a Catholic education - I'm sure she caught my meaning even if you did not.

[Anonymous]

How do you know he's being ignored and/ or not receiving much attention?

[Anonymous]

The only time students are going to get much one on one attention in school is if they are being tested by the teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I kinda wonder if the same problem won't occur at a private school. Are they also set up to provide lots of help to the "gifted" and not much to the "bright regular" types?

My kid is in private and we prefer it. Here's how it works. Prospects are screened, if you have a history of not cooperating in class (outside of academic performance) based on teacher recommendations then you maybe dropped as a candidate. If you do get in and they find out you're trouble the kick you out. So my kids is able to get as much as they willing to without the usual distractions. And it's not FARMS that creates an unlearning environment. I saw issues in my mostly non farms classroom. Public school teachers all around spend a lot of their time managing snowflakes and their parents. Schools cannot teach your kid everything academic they need to know these days, that's your responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 7yo DS is a nice kid, doesn't cause any problems and listens to the teacher. DS's FCPS Alexandria school is 30% free lunch/ESOL. He has 27 kids in his class. DS is a bright kid but probably not gifted. I feel like he is completely ignored in his class. I don't know if this is unique to his class or school or if it will be the same everywhere for a well behaved non-troublemaker who isn't profoundly gifted.

I don't know if things will change if we move to Arlington or Mclean, deemed better schools. I would like to move to Arlington for closer proximity to work and smaller class sizes. Mclean has nicer curb appeal but I believe class sizes are even bigger.

Be glad he's being ignored. It's way better than the alternatives, trust me. In FCPS, ignored is about the best you can hope for, unless your child is one of the "gifted and privileged" and gets an actual education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 7yo DS is a nice kid, doesn't cause any problems and listens to the teacher. DS's FCPS Alexandria school is 30% free lunch/ESOL. He has 27 kids in his class. DS is a bright kid but probably not gifted. I feel like he is completely ignored in his class. I don't know if this is unique to his class or school or if it will be the same everywhere for a well behaved non-troublemaker who isn't profoundly gifted.

I don't know if things will change if we move to Arlington or Mclean, deemed better schools. I would like to move to Arlington for closer proximity to work and smaller class sizes. Mclean has nicer curb appeal but I believe class sizes are even bigger.

Be glad he's being ignored. It's way better than the alternatives, trust me. In FCPS, ignored is about the best you can hope for, unless your child is one of the "gifted and privileged" and gets an actual education.

OP here. I just reread your post three times. Are you saying that only the gifted kids in FCPS get a good education?