Eastern Middle Magnet experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was really impressed by the Eastern Magnet's open house tonight. The program sounds amazing and the staff were dynamic and very good at expressing what opportunities Eastern can offer. The projects throughout the curriculum sound fun, demanding, and packed with growth opportunities.

Yes, I was also impressed tonight. The teachers and students were so enthusiastic and the curriculum looked great. We were at the TPMS open house last night, too, and it was also impressive, but I think we are leaning towards Eastern for my kid. Will take a week or so to consider trade offs and decide.

My kid was lucky enough to have the same choice a few years ago and decided to attend Eastern because he thought the program sounded more interesting and exciting. Another child might have come to the same conclusion about takoma. My point is your child probably has a gut feeling about which program is likely to excite and engage her/him

[Anonymous]

I was a little disappointed. I feel they were talking all the fun fun things, seems they were trying hard to sell this program.
I didn't hear anything about the writing curriculum at the English section. I was looking forward to hearing how they help kids to develop writing skills, instead they had a little drama presentation.
How's the writing instruction there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s easier to supplement math and science than the humanities.

Ha! I was thinking the opposite. But, I am a college professor in the humanities (but also math-y).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was really impressed by the Eastern Magnet's open house tonight. The program sounds amazing and the staff were dynamic and very good at expressing what opportunities Eastern can offer. The projects throughout the curriculum sound fun, demanding, and packed with growth opportunities.

Yes, I was also impressed tonight. The teachers and students were so enthusiastic and the curriculum looked great. We were at the TPMS open house last night, too, and it was also impressive, but I think we are leaning towards Eastern for my kid. Will take a week or so to consider trade offs and decide.

My kid was lucky enough to have the same choice a few years ago and decided to attend Eastern because he thought the program sounded more interesting and exciting. Another child might have come to the same conclusion about takoma. My point is your child probably has a gut feeling about which program is likely to excite and engage her/him

We had the same choice w/ both of ours. Both chose Takoma. No regrets. The media sounded really cool though. But, my kids have done so much more in math/sci/comp sci. Some of the English & History teachers were meh, but there are a few outstanding ones, so well rounded. And block schedule & music put TPMS over the top for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s easier to supplement math and science than the humanities.

Ha! I was thinking the opposite. But, I am a college professor in the humanities (but also math-y).

My husband and I are science/computer people. Our kid came away from the two open houses leaning towards eastern because it seems more likely we can find other coding and science opportunities/supplementing than that we can provide similar humanities/media opportunities. But I imagine it is different for every family and also (as the PP at 22:35 said) for every kid, as far as what they are most excited about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a little disappointed. I feel they were talking all the fun fun things, seems they were trying hard to sell this program.
I didn't hear anything about the writing curriculum at the English section. I was looking forward to hearing how they help kids to develop writing skills, instead they had a little drama presentation.
How's the writing instruction there?

The writing instruction is fantastic. They write a 10 page fully-researched paper in seventh grade, giving them all the scaffolding that they need to understand what is truly needed to be able to accomplish something like that.

They were selling the program because, unlike in years past where the kids chose themselves and applied, this year kids were chosen with no application. The 8th graders wanted to highlight all the good parts so people could understand how good the program is. They didn't, however, highlight the New York trip, which is a big thing in 8th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a little disappointed. I feel they were talking all the fun fun things, seems they were trying hard to sell this program.
I didn't hear anything about the writing curriculum at the English section. I was looking forward to hearing how they help kids to develop writing skills, instead they had a little drama presentation.
How's the writing instruction there?

The writing instruction is fantastic. They write a 10 page fully-researched paper in seventh grade, giving them all the scaffolding that they need to understand what is truly needed to be able to accomplish something like that.

They were selling the program because, unlike in years past where the kids chose themselves and applied, this year kids were chosen with no application. The 8th graders wanted to highlight all the good parts so people could understand how good the program is. They didn't, however, highlight the New York trip, which is a big thing in 8th grade.

+1. Eastern has without a doubt the best writing instruction in the county. 7th grade IDRP paper is the bane of every 7th grader’s existence and they all want to burn their papers by the end of the year, but they have all learned to write papers for college and beyond. DC declined HS IB program, because required paper structure/teaching by comparison was worse than Eastern, so no point doing.

In HS, due to Eastern experience, DD had no problem knocking out class papers and essays effortlessly w/ good grades. Frustrated though because she got LESS comment and instruction on papers than at Eastern.

Now in college, DD has written papers that drew the attention of professers and provided her unique opportunities.

There were definitely things I did not like about Eastern, but, on balance, DD says it was the best educational experience she had in MCPS.

BTW, DD’s closest friends still are from Eastern program.

So socially and academically - a win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a little disappointed. I feel they were talking all the fun fun things, seems they were trying hard to sell this program.
I didn't hear anything about the writing curriculum at the English section. I was looking forward to hearing how they help kids to develop writing skills, instead they had a little drama presentation.
How's the writing instruction there?

The writing instruction is fantastic. They write a 10 page fully-researched paper in seventh grade, giving them all the scaffolding that they need to understand what is truly needed to be able to accomplish something like that.

They were selling the program because, unlike in years past where the kids chose themselves and applied, this year kids were chosen with no application. The 8th graders wanted to highlight all the good parts so people could understand how good the program is. They didn't, however, highlight the New York trip, which is a big thing in 8th grade.

+1. Eastern has without a doubt the best writing instruction in the county. 7th grade IDRP paper is the bane of every 7th grader’s existence and they all want to burn their papers by the end of the year, but they have all learned to write papers for college and beyond. DC declined HS IB program, because required paper structure/teaching by comparison was worse than Eastern, so no point doing.

In HS, due to Eastern experience, DD had no problem knocking out class papers and essays effortlessly w/ good grades. Frustrated though because she got LESS comment and instruction on papers than at Eastern.

Now in college, DD has written papers that drew the attention of professers and provided her unique opportunities.

There were definitely things I did not like about Eastern, but, on balance, DD says it was the best educational experience she had in MCPS.

BTW, DD’s closest friends still are from Eastern program.

So socially and academically - a win.

Just wondering - can you elaborate on the bolded part above? Did you mean that the IB program would have had a lot more of the same (writing), so no point doing? Or, by "worse than" did you mean it would have been easier than the Eastern program? (Genuinely curious about if the IB program would be a good fit for students from Eastern program.)

[Anonymous]

Can you elaborate on what you did not like about Eastern? DS is sold on the curriculum and teachers but we don't understand the rest of it.

What about the administration? Is there bullying? Do the magnet kids interact with the rest of the school? Do they feel like they are part of he school? Would a boy who is not very athletic stand out?

Is there a parent of a boy at Eastern who can provide some help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you elaborate on what you did not like about Eastern? DS is sold on the curriculum and teachers but we don't understand the rest of it.

What about the administration? Is there bullying? Do the magnet kids interact with the rest of the school? Do they feel like they are part of he school? Would a boy who is not very athletic stand out?

Is there a parent of a boy at Eastern who can provide some help?

Athleticism is not cachet at magnet schools, or generally at east-county schools. This is not the culture of club soccer and lacrosse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a little disappointed. I feel they were talking all the fun fun things, seems they were trying hard to sell this program.
I didn't hear anything about the writing curriculum at the English section. I was looking forward to hearing how they help kids to develop writing skills, instead they had a little drama presentation.
How's the writing instruction there?

The writing instruction is fantastic. They write a 10 page fully-researched paper in seventh grade, giving them all the scaffolding that they need to understand what is truly needed to be able to accomplish something like that.

They were selling the program because, unlike in years past where the kids chose themselves and applied, this year kids were chosen with no application. The 8th graders wanted to highlight all the good parts so people could understand how good the program is. They didn't, however, highlight the New York trip, which is a big thing in 8th grade.

Are they still doing the 8th grade trip? This could be a pure rumor that I heard, but another parent mentioned that they might not be doing the trip. I think the upcounty magnet isn't doing it?

Again, I could be totally misinformed, but that could be why they did not highlight the trip. Hopefully someone will chime in either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you elaborate on what you did not like about Eastern? DS is sold on the curriculum and teachers but we don't understand the rest of it.

What about the administration? Is there bullying? Do the magnet kids interact with the rest of the school? Do they feel like they are part of he school? Would a boy who is not very athletic stand out?

Is there a parent of a boy at Eastern who can provide some help?

Athleticism is not cachet at magnet schools, or generally at east-county schools. This is not the culture of club soccer and lacrosse.

How does the rest of the school react to the possibly more academic kids, especially boys, in the magnet? Is it easy for them to make friends outside the program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a little disappointed. I feel they were talking all the fun fun things, seems they were trying hard to sell this program.
I didn't hear anything about the writing curriculum at the English section. I was looking forward to hearing how they help kids to develop writing skills, instead they had a little drama presentation.
How's the writing instruction there?

The writing instruction is fantastic. They write a 10 page fully-researched paper in seventh grade, giving them all the scaffolding that they need to understand what is truly needed to be able to accomplish something like that.

They were selling the program because, unlike in years past where the kids chose themselves and applied, this year kids were chosen with no application. The 8th graders wanted to highlight all the good parts so people could understand how good the program is. They didn't, however, highlight the New York trip, which is a big thing in 8th grade.

Are they still doing the 8th grade trip? This could be a pure rumor that I heard, but another parent mentioned that they might not be doing the trip. I think the upcounty magnet isn't doing it?

Again, I could be totally misinformed, but that could be why they did not highlight the trip. Hopefully someone will chime in either way.

A lot of misinformation on this board. The sixth grade already started fundraising for their trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a great program in a not-so-great school, and it feels divided, like two schools in one building. My kid learned how to write/read/research - skills that are invaluable. And she had fun in all those cool classes. Gym and Art and math/science were not so great. So it's a trade-off. One we'd do again - the enriched instruction is really amazing - but know what you're getting.

I doubt most parents would send their kids to Eastern if it wasn't split up. Easter is a slipping into being a very high poverty baby sitting and ESOL program.

Have you ever tried learning a second language by way of full academic immersion? It's very hard. Stop being an asswipe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a little disappointed. I feel they were talking all the fun fun things, seems they were trying hard to sell this program.
I didn't hear anything about the writing curriculum at the English section. I was looking forward to hearing how they help kids to develop writing skills, instead they had a little drama presentation.
How's the writing instruction there?

The writing instruction is fantastic. They write a 10 page fully-researched paper in seventh grade, giving them all the scaffolding that they need to understand what is truly needed to be able to accomplish something like that.

They were selling the program because, unlike in years past where the kids chose themselves and applied, this year kids were chosen with no application. The 8th graders wanted to highlight all the good parts so people could understand how good the program is. They didn't, however, highlight the New York trip, which is a big thing in 8th grade.

Are they still doing the 8th grade trip? This could be a pure rumor that I heard, but another parent mentioned that they might not be doing the trip. I think the upcounty magnet isn't doing it?

Again, I could be totally misinformed, but that could be why they did not highlight the trip. Hopefully someone will chime in either way.

The trip was described during the presentation by the media teachers at the open house.