question about 7th grade-MCPS

[Anonymous]

I have not heard anyone say that 7th grade is a big step up from 6th. I would add the challenge. You could always dial it back. At my middle school advanced and regular are taught in the same class just with different tests and assignments. The majority of kids are in advanced (not actually too advanced)

[Anonymous]

Maybe your son is like mine: the easier the class, the less he pays attention, the more he forgets to turn stuff in, aces the test without studying, but gets a B for the class because of missed assignments?

In which case, the harder the class the better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am 15:00 and agree with OP that I am not the OP.

For the person who wanted my source, I already said it. It was my kid's guidance counselor. Here is the sentence from her message. "As a side note, “34” is code which we use with advanced students in Science." So perhaps that doesn't mean advanced level of science per se, but my DC is "labeled" as an Advanced student b/c of English and World Studies and is also taking science 7.

My DC's science course is listed as "3529_3413" in Edline. My guess is the 13 refers to DC's section.


OP, I was going to tell you in another message that I think my DC has had more HW this year, but not exponentially more. DC actually moved up from on-grade English to Adv English in the 2nd/3rd quarter this year, per the English teacher's suggestions. DC was in Adv World Studies for both 6th and 7th.

So there is just one science class. The number matches with the one posted earlier. Please remember next time to not post misinformation - it confuses everyone when MCPS is already doing an excellent job of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone get the feeling that OP is a troll?
Which is strange, because why would anyone troll over courses?

What OP says doesn't add up, and he/she won't disclose what advanced classes her child is considering.

Yeah, I have questions. Is OP a troll? Are OP and 15:00 (talking about advanced science) two different people? Is it possible that OP's kid is actually maybe below grade level, and has been recommended for math 7 instead of IM?

I am OP. I am not troll, I am also not 15:00. My child is also not below grade level. I was not being specific because I was worried (maybe not rightly so) that the school counselor would figure out who I was. I didn't find the school counselor particular helpful or specific other than explaining that there were other options and telling me that was not what was recommended. I was trying not to call them out.

It is amazing how quick people are to cry troll rather than assuming people have other motives. I guess I could have phrased my question differently and just asked if people thought 7th grade was much harder than 6th grade.

Thank you to the people that responded.

You have to understand how the school system works, OP. The course selection was done early in 2017, so if you contacted them a few days or even weeks ago, it means more work for them. Also, the end of the year is incredibly busy for school administrators and staff, as they wrap up everything and hold end of year meetings for students with special needs (the counselor is usually present at those) - not the best time to suddenly wake up and ask for stuff!

Your child's 7th grade courses were discussed and recommended to him in a letter which you should have received and signed in February (if memory serves). You should have signed him up for those recommended courses after that, online or on paper. This is what the counselor probably meant when she said that other courses were not recommended.

If you really think your child can handle more, and if he's on board with that, you have to insist and send a joint email to the subject teachers AND the counselor and request a change in course. My son's math course was changed in the Fall, right at the end of the first quarter, but that is not common, and it was only because his math teacher saw he knew everything already and wasn't making any effort. However, scheduling changes so late means that he may not get the electives he wants, so inquire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 15:00 and agree with OP that I am not the OP.

For the person who wanted my source, I already said it. It was my kid's guidance counselor. Here is the sentence from her message. "As a side note, “34” is code which we use with advanced students in Science." So perhaps that doesn't mean advanced level of science per se, but my DC is "labeled" as an Advanced student b/c of English and World Studies and is also taking science 7.

My DC's science course is listed as "3529_3413" in Edline. My guess is the 13 refers to DC's section.


OP, I was going to tell you in another message that I think my DC has had more HW this year, but not exponentially more. DC actually moved up from on-grade English to Adv English in the 2nd/3rd quarter this year, per the English teacher's suggestions. DC was in Adv World Studies for both 6th and 7th.

So there is just one science class. The number matches with the one posted earlier. Please remember next time to not post misinformation - it confuses everyone when MCPS is already doing an excellent job of that.

There is only one code but it is still taught at two levels..different from English and SS. Not sure why but that is how it was explained to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 15:00 and agree with OP that I am not the OP.

For the person who wanted my source, I already said it. It was my kid's guidance counselor. Here is the sentence from her message. "As a side note, “34” is code which we use with advanced students in Science." So perhaps that doesn't mean advanced level of science per se, but my DC is "labeled" as an Advanced student b/c of English and World Studies and is also taking science 7.

My DC's science course is listed as "3529_3413" in Edline. My guess is the 13 refers to DC's section.


OP, I was going to tell you in another message that I think my DC has had more HW this year, but not exponentially more. DC actually moved up from on-grade English to Adv English in the 2nd/3rd quarter this year, per the English teacher's suggestions. DC was in Adv World Studies for both 6th and 7th.

So there is just one science class. The number matches with the one posted earlier. Please remember next time to not post misinformation - it confuses everyone when MCPS is already doing an excellent job of that.

The 34 is designating it's for advanced, per guidance counselor. If you have had a conversation with a guidance counselor that states otherwise, please share.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 15:00 and agree with OP that I am not the OP.

For the person who wanted my source, I already said it. It was my kid's guidance counselor. Here is the sentence from her message. "As a side note, “34” is code which we use with advanced students in Science." So perhaps that doesn't mean advanced level of science per se, but my DC is "labeled" as an Advanced student b/c of English and World Studies and is also taking science 7.

My DC's science course is listed as "3529_3413" in Edline. My guess is the 13 refers to DC's section.


OP, I was going to tell you in another message that I think my DC has had more HW this year, but not exponentially more. DC actually moved up from on-grade English to Adv English in the 2nd/3rd quarter this year, per the English teacher's suggestions. DC was in Adv World Studies for both 6th and 7th.

So there is just one science class. The number matches with the one posted earlier. Please remember next time to not post misinformation - it confuses everyone when MCPS is already doing an excellent job of that.

This varies according to school. Eastern offers both Advance Science and on-level as separate classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone get the feeling that OP is a troll?
Which is strange, because why would anyone troll over courses?

What OP says doesn't add up, and he/she won't disclose what advanced classes her child is considering.

Yeah, I have questions. Is OP a troll? Are OP and 15:00 (talking about advanced science) two different people? Is it possible that OP's kid is actually maybe below grade level, and has been recommended for math 7 instead of IM?

I am OP. I am not troll, I am also not 15:00. My child is also not below grade level. I was not being specific because I was worried (maybe not rightly so) that the school counselor would figure out who I was. I didn't find the school counselor particular helpful or specific other than explaining that there were other options and telling me that was not what was recommended. I was trying not to call them out.

It is amazing how quick people are to cry troll rather than assuming people have other motives. I guess I could have phrased my question differently and just asked if people thought 7th grade was much harder than 6th grade.

Thank you to the people that responded.

You have to understand how the school system works, OP. The course selection was done early in 2017, so if you contacted them a few days or even weeks ago, it means more work for them. Also, the end of the year is incredibly busy for school administrators and staff, as they wrap up everything and hold end of year meetings for students with special needs (the counselor is usually present at those) - not the best time to suddenly wake up and ask for stuff!

Your child's 7th grade courses were discussed and recommended to him in a letter which you should have received and signed in February (if memory serves). You should have signed him up for those recommended courses after that, online or on paper. This is what the counselor probably meant when she said that other courses were not recommended.

If you really think your child can handle more, and if he's on board with that, you have to insist and send a joint email to the subject teachers AND the counselor and request a change in course. My son's math course was changed in the Fall, right at the end of the first quarter, but that is not common, and it was only because his math teacher saw he knew everything already and wasn't making any effort. However, scheduling changes so late means that he may not get the electives he wants, so inquire.

I'm not OP nor have I posted yet, but what you say does not track with how classes are selected at my kid's mcps middle school. My child came home around spring break, so nowhere near Feb, and told us that he had selected his classes for 7th grade. No letter was sent home recommending any classes, just an email from the school confirming that the students had selected their courses and had 2 weeks to confer with parents and either get sign off or make switches. I also think it is nbd to call a counselor now or even over the summer to make a switch - new kids enroll constantly and their schedules are set even if it is the day before school starts.

I also don't understand op's questions, though, because at my kid's school, there are only 3 class choices for seventh graders, the rest are set classes. Those choices are math, elective, and elective/foreign language. All kids take "advanced" english and "advanced" world studies (I have to stifle a snort as I write that since they are not advanced), and there is no opportunity for an "advanced" designation in science or any other subject.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son has done very well in 6th grade. Mostly As with one to two bs, has not felt very challenged. Most nights he has no hw, already doing it in school. I met with the school counselor yesterday to talk about moving him into more honors classes, he is only taking honors english and advanced social studies an she said "7th grade is exponentially harder than 6th grade. Most kids who have grades like your son start to slip in 7th grade. I would keep him where he is."

Have other parents found this to be true?

There are no honors classes in MCPS middle school, so this conversation sounds odd. 7th grade teachers don't hold hands, but the material isn't harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son has done very well in 6th grade. Mostly As with one to two bs, has not felt very challenged. Most nights he has no hw, already doing it in school. I met with the school counselor yesterday to talk about moving him into more honors classes, he is only taking honors english and advanced social studies an she said "7th grade is exponentially harder than 6th grade. Most kids who have grades like your son start to slip in 7th grade. I would keep him where he is."

Have other parents found this to be true?

There are no honors classes in MCPS middle school, so this conversation sounds odd. 7th grade teachers don't hold hands, but the material isn't harder.

This is just not true. There are advance and regular classes in middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son has done very well in 6th grade. Mostly As with one to two bs, has not felt very challenged. Most nights he has no hw, already doing it in school. I met with the school counselor yesterday to talk about moving him into more honors classes, he is only taking honors english and advanced social studies an she said "7th grade is exponentially harder than 6th grade. Most kids who have grades like your son start to slip in 7th grade. I would keep him where he is."

Have other parents found this to be true?

There are no honors classes in MCPS middle school, so this conversation sounds odd. 7th grade teachers don't hold hands, but the material isn't harder.

This is just not true. There are advance and regular classes in middle school.

They are not called honors, though, right? I've only seen advanced and non-advanced, as well as some that are designated high school courses and which need to be taken at the local high school.
Some of my son's courses are labeled G for gifted, and that's because he's part of a gifted/learning disabled program. I don't know how the magnet courses are identified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is "more honors classes"? At our middle school, all the 6th graders are in "advanced" english and "advanced" world studies. Outside of being tracked to a higher math, what options are there? Is there an "advanced" science?

Yeah seriously, everything is advanced or honors in MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is "more honors classes"? At our middle school, all the 6th graders are in "advanced" english and "advanced" world studies. Outside of being tracked to a higher math, what options are there? Is there an "advanced" science?

Yeah seriously, everything is advanced or honors in MCPS

+1. Curriculum has become watered down and everyone is being served the same fare. Even Magnet curriculum is not accelerated like the pre-curriculum-2.0 days.