"4x4" block at Wilson HS next year?

[Anonymous]

Is there even time in the 2nd semester to teach the entire content of an AP class before the early May test dates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't that leave very few slots for anything ther than "core" courses?

Same number of classes in the end. Seems like it would encourage students to add more challenging courses, though, because they wouldn't have to deal with 6 APs at once, only 3 per semester.

Pretty sure that you can count on one hand the # of DCPS kids who take 6 AP classes in one year. Even the highest achievers struggle with 5. Put AP chem or physics in there and you have your hands completely full.

And no, this schedule would encourage my child to take fewer AP classes, because for any that occurred first semester, she would be at a huge disadvantage on a national test on which most kids were completing the class right before taking the test, whereas she would have had 5 months to forget the material.

For the IB diploma, students take 6 or 7 tests, more challenging than AP classes, in one year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was announced at the faculty meeting last Monday. The teacher I talked to said it was presented as a "non-negotiable" from DCPS -- it doesn't seem that teachers (or administration?) are being asked what's best for their school and students.

By “last Monday,” do you mean March 5? If so, why hasn’t this been communicated in the weekly parent newsletter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there even time in the 2nd semester to teach the entire content of an AP class before the early May test dates?

If they have done the right pre-Ap work in their 9th and 10th grade years, yes. Students also should never only rely on what they get during class to be preapred for AP exams -- review / self-study / practice is needed too, at least for the harder classes.

[Anonymous]

It is coming from one instructional superintendent--David Pinder, who thinks it will save the world. Feel free to email him if you have more questions, I'm sure he'd love it.

[Anonymous]

Thank goodness my child is a senior!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't that leave very few slots for anything ther than "core" courses?

Same number of classes in the end. Seems like it would encourage students to add more challenging courses, though, because they wouldn't have to deal with 6 APs at once, only 3 per semester.

Pretty sure that you can count on one hand the # of DCPS kids who take 6 AP classes in one year. Even the highest achievers struggle with 5. Put AP chem or physics in there and you have your hands completely full.

And no, this schedule would encourage my child to take fewer AP classes, because for any that occurred first semester, she would be at a huge disadvantage on a national test on which most kids were completing the class right before taking the test, whereas she would have had 5 months to forget the material.

For the IB diploma, students take 6 or 7 tests, more challenging than AP classes, in one year.

Good for them. This discussion is about Wilson, where there are no IB classes.

[Anonymous]

Has this been done at any other school in DC before?

Or is this experiment being rolled out everywhere at once?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has this been done at any other school in DC before?

Or is this experiment being rolled out everywhere at once?

My understanding is that this is how most of the other schools work but Wilson has been an outlier. I got confirmation from an Assistant Principal that DCPS is making Wilson shift to this schedule.

I think the reason why they have not communicated it to parents is because they themselves don't want to implement it and plus they probably need to think through how it will work before communicating with us.

So I think I'm ready to start emailing Mr. Pinder

Contact Email:
[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has this been done at any other school in DC before?

Or is this experiment being rolled out everywhere at once?

CHEC already does it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has this been done at any other school in DC before?

Or is this experiment being rolled out everywhere at once?

My understanding is that this is how most of the other schools work but Wilson has been an outlier. I got confirmation from an Assistant Principal that DCPS is making Wilson shift to this schedule.

I think the reason why they have not communicated it to parents is because they themselves don't want to implement it and plus they probably need to think through how it will work before communicating with us.

So I think I'm ready to start emailing Mr. Pinder

Contact Email:
[e-mail]

Not how it works at Ellington or SWW. Don't know what happens at any of the other comprehensives.

[Anonymous]

Everybody calm down. Yesterday the Wilson Beacon, the school newspaper, reported that the Chancellor's office said it would be up to the Principal to decide if they would do the 4X4 schedule, and she said she would not do it.

[Anonymous]

Wilson teacher here. Yes, this was at the March 5th staff meeting. One reason being given is that all the other comprehensive (i.e. non-exam or special entrance process) schools already do it and this will facilitate transitions when a student transfers from one school to another. But it is, in fact, pretty rare for a student to transfer between DCPS high schools during the year. We get many more students who transfer in from out of town, from privates, or from SWW or other schools that don't use the 4 X 4, so it seems that it would just create new problems. For example, a junior who transfers to Wilson in November would not be able to catch up in core classes that would normally be year-long. They would have to wait until 2nd semester to take classes for credit, wouldn't they? IMO, this is a bad move, and definitely one being made without an understanding of Wilson's challenges. Students are able to give 10 reasons it's a bad idea within two minutes of hearing the proposal. Parents and students are probably the only voices that will be listened to in this case, so please read about the pros/cons and make yourself heard. When big decisions like this are implemented without teacher input, it's no wonder morale is low and turnover is high. The "panorama" survey regarding school climate that we received this week asks if teachers feel their voices are taken into account in school decision making. Here's your answer, DCPS. I know several veteran Wilson teachers who are ready to leave if this schedule becomes a reality. But it's just one example of larger issues about how DCPS makes it hard to develop and maintain a healthy, collaborative school culture. Really a shame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has this been done at any other school in DC before?

Or is this experiment being rolled out everywhere at once?

My understanding is that this is how most of the other schools work but Wilson has been an outlier. I got confirmation from an Assistant Principal that DCPS is making Wilson shift to this schedule.

I think the reason why they have not communicated it to parents is because they themselves don't want to implement it and plus they probably need to think through how it will work before communicating with us.

So I think I'm ready to start emailing Mr. Pinder

Contact Email:
[e-mail]

Not how it works at Ellington or SWW. Don't know what happens at any of the other comprehensives.

Just sent my email as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everybody calm down. Yesterday the Wilson Beacon, the school newspaper, reported that the Chancellor's office said it would be up to the Principal to decide if they would do the 4X4 schedule, and she said she would not do it.

I'd like to get a firm commitment from her. Or better yet, from Mr. Pinder. I'm sorry to sound cynical, but this is 100% different than what teachers have been told so far. Basically "don't even bother complaining because this is a done deal." If we come back in August and the 4 x 4 block schedule has been created, it will be too late. Registration and scheduling will be happening soon, so the conversation has to happen now.