Everyone hates Benchmark. FCPS do better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS needs to replace this awful tool. Students and teachers alike hate it. Students find the readings uninteresting and are not at all inspired. There is no independent reading time in class anymore which students also hate. Students feel they have to interpret readings in the exact same manner, no room for diversity of thought. Students find the questions really confusing. In conclusion, benchmark really really sucks. FCPS do better.

I said this last year and was pilloried for it here. The defenders jumped into action, screaming how their child’s reading scores actually improved. Thankfully we moved on the middle school where they are not using Benchmark. My child’s love of reading has finally - her class did a book club. And my child is finally reading independently again after a whole year off.

\

Anyone who describes those of us who said that Benchmark helped our children as "screaming" and who claims that a school curriculum is the reason their child didn't read outside of school is just not credible.

It's YOUR job as a parent to make sure your child is reading outside of school, not the school's. Weren't you buying her books, taking her to the library, etc.? There are a TON of resources out there to help you find the perfect books for your child's interests. I subscribed to a middle school librarian's substack and get great recommendations from her. There is BookTok if you're a TikTok person, librarian influencers on Instagram, even Barnes & Noble has lists of the most popular middle grade books out there. You're doing your children a great disservice if you're not helping them find great books to read.

My child lost interest in reading outside of school the one year they did Benchmark. This year is the first year since then that they have expressed an interest in a book outside of school, despite everything I tried.

I don't see how your child could lose interest in reading because of the language arts unit at school. You were NOT doing anything to encourage them to read. Parenting fail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Upper ES teacher here. While I don’t like benchmark, this year is way better. I am able to differentiate for my AAP kids. My students have an assigned novel for each fiction unit and I am using small group to select stronger articles about thematic topics. Vocabulary instruction is actually happening this year. No one is policing like last year. It also helps we are cutting down on the unit tests.

I still hate the writing. But things have improved now that we have flexibility To adapt.

I have a 4th grader (not in AAP) whose teacher encouraged the class to, for example, check out Because of Winn Dixie from the library after they read that excerpt. My daughter looked through it in the classroom library and then asked me if we could check it out from the public library, which we did, and now she has a book to read tomorrow. So I don't see how, as a PP earlier suggested, a child could totally lose all interest in reading anything because of Benchmark.

[Anonymous]

My kid reads at home, she has tons of books and uses her kindle. Why isn’t your kid reading at home. My 6th grader is loving benchmark. She doing amazing on the test and is usually getting top grades. Last test she only missed 1/2 point. She has dyslexia and loves it better than I ready.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Upper ES teacher here. While I don’t like benchmark, this year is way better. I am able to differentiate for my AAP kids. My students have an assigned novel for each fiction unit and I am using small group to select stronger articles about thematic topics. Vocabulary instruction is actually happening this year. No one is policing like last year. It also helps we are cutting down on the unit tests.

I still hate the writing. But things have improved now that we have flexibility To adapt.

I have a 4th grader (not in AAP) whose teacher encouraged the class to, for example, check out Because of Winn Dixie from the library after they read that excerpt. My daughter looked through it in the classroom library and then asked me if we could check it out from the public library, which we did, and now she has a book to read tomorrow. So I don't see how, as a PP earlier suggested, a child could totally lose all interest in reading anything because of Benchmark.

Seriously? Your experience is not universal. The 6th grade Benchmark curriculum was god awful last year. All the excerpts were non fiction and boring. There was one on Queen Elizabeth 1 and one on archaeology technology and they were painfully boring. On top of that maybe we just had a crappy LA teacher. Her classroom library sucked (think lots of anime) and she complained all year to the kids about Benchmark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS needs to replace this awful tool. Students and teachers alike hate it. Students find the readings uninteresting and are not at all inspired. There is no independent reading time in class anymore which students also hate. Students feel they have to interpret readings in the exact same manner, no room for diversity of thought. Students find the questions really confusing. In conclusion, benchmark really really sucks. FCPS do better.

I said this last year and was pilloried for it here. The defenders jumped into action, screaming how their child’s reading scores actually improved. Thankfully we moved on the middle school where they are not using Benchmark. My child’s love of reading has finally - her class did a book club. And my child is finally reading independently again after a whole year off.

\

Anyone who describes those of us who said that Benchmark helped our children as "screaming" and who claims that a school curriculum is the reason their child didn't read outside of school is just not credible.

It's YOUR job as a parent to make sure your child is reading outside of school, not the school's. Weren't you buying her books, taking her to the library, etc.? There are a TON of resources out there to help you find the perfect books for your child's interests. I subscribed to a middle school librarian's substack and get great recommendations from her. There is BookTok if you're a TikTok person, librarian influencers on Instagram, even Barnes & Noble has lists of the most popular middle grade books out there. You're doing your children a great disservice if you're not helping them find great books to read.

My child lost interest in reading outside of school the one year they did Benchmark. This year is the first year since then that they have expressed an interest in a book outside of school, despite everything I tried.

I don't see how your child could lose interest in reading because of the language arts unit at school. You were NOT doing anything to encourage them to read. Parenting fail.

That’s utter bs. How would you know what I did and didn’t do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Upper ES teacher here. While I don’t like benchmark, this year is way better. I am able to differentiate for my AAP kids. My students have an assigned novel for each fiction unit and I am using small group to select stronger articles about thematic topics. Vocabulary instruction is actually happening this year. No one is policing like last year. It also helps we are cutting down on the unit tests.

I still hate the writing. But things have improved now that we have flexibility To adapt.

I have a 4th grader (not in AAP) whose teacher encouraged the class to, for example, check out Because of Winn Dixie from the library after they read that excerpt. My daughter looked through it in the classroom library and then asked me if we could check it out from the public library, which we did, and now she has a book to read tomorrow. So I don't see how, as a PP earlier suggested, a child could totally lose all interest in reading anything because of Benchmark.

Seriously? Your experience is not universal. The 6th grade Benchmark curriculum was god awful last year. All the excerpts were non fiction and boring. There was one on Queen Elizabeth 1 and one on archaeology technology and they were painfully boring. On top of that maybe we just had a crappy LA teacher. Her classroom library sucked (think lots of anime) and she complained all year to the kids about Benchmark.

i

6th grade teacher here. It isn’t necessarily that the readings are all boring, it is the fact that the kids get bored reading the same thing for a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Upper ES teacher here. While I don’t like benchmark, this year is way better. I am able to differentiate for my AAP kids. My students have an assigned novel for each fiction unit and I am using small group to select stronger articles about thematic topics. Vocabulary instruction is actually happening this year. No one is policing like last year. It also helps we are cutting down on the unit tests.

I still hate the writing. But things have improved now that we have flexibility To adapt.

I have a 4th grader (not in AAP) whose teacher encouraged the class to, for example, check out Because of Winn Dixie from the library after they read that excerpt. My daughter looked through it in the classroom library and then asked me if we could check it out from the public library, which we did, and now she has a book to read tomorrow. So I don't see how, as a PP earlier suggested, a child could totally lose all interest in reading anything because of Benchmark.

Seriously? Your experience is not universal. The 6th grade Benchmark curriculum was god awful last year. All the excerpts were non fiction and boring. There was one on Queen Elizabeth 1 and one on archaeology technology and they were painfully boring. On top of that maybe we just had a crappy LA teacher. Her classroom library sucked (think lots of anime) and she complained all year to the kids about Benchmark.

Jokes on you, PP because I HAD a 6th grader last year. She READ A LOT OF BOOKS because I found her a lot of books that were interesting and at an appropriate reading level for her, so nope, sorry, this is on you. You cannot blame your child not reading any books last year on Benchmark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Upper ES teacher here. While I don’t like benchmark, this year is way better. I am able to differentiate for my AAP kids. My students have an assigned novel for each fiction unit and I am using small group to select stronger articles about thematic topics. Vocabulary instruction is actually happening this year. No one is policing like last year. It also helps we are cutting down on the unit tests.

I still hate the writing. But things have improved now that we have flexibility To adapt.

I have a 4th grader (not in AAP) whose teacher encouraged the class to, for example, check out Because of Winn Dixie from the library after they read that excerpt. My daughter looked through it in the classroom library and then asked me if we could check it out from the public library, which we did, and now she has a book to read tomorrow. So I don't see how, as a PP earlier suggested, a child could totally lose all interest in reading anything because of Benchmark.

Seriously? Your experience is not universal. The 6th grade Benchmark curriculum was god awful last year. All the excerpts were non fiction and boring. There was one on Queen Elizabeth 1 and one on archaeology technology and they were painfully boring. On top of that maybe we just had a crappy LA teacher. Her classroom library sucked (think lots of anime) and she complained all year to the kids about Benchmark.

i

6th grade teacher here. It isn’t necessarily that the readings are all boring, it is the fact that the kids get bored reading the same thing for a week.

Which is why it was especially important for the parents to support their kids reading at home by helping them find interesting and fun books to read outside of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher & the articles/stories in the Benchmark magazines aren’t bad. The scripted curriculum sucks and makes no sense, especially for writing. I am experienced enough that I aim to teach the kids what they need to know rather than following a script. I realize FCPS would say this isn’t following the program with integrity, but I don’t care and am pretty sure most parents agree with me.

What grade do you teach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Upper ES teacher here. While I don’t like benchmark, this year is way better. I am able to differentiate for my AAP kids. My students have an assigned novel for each fiction unit and I am using small group to select stronger articles about thematic topics. Vocabulary instruction is actually happening this year. No one is policing like last year. It also helps we are cutting down on the unit tests.

I still hate the writing. But things have improved now that we have flexibility To adapt.

I have a 4th grader (not in AAP) whose teacher encouraged the class to, for example, check out Because of Winn Dixie from the library after they read that excerpt. My daughter looked through it in the classroom library and then asked me if we could check it out from the public library, which we did, and now she has a book to read tomorrow. So I don't see how, as a PP earlier suggested, a child could totally lose all interest in reading anything because of Benchmark.

Seriously? Your experience is not universal. The 6th grade Benchmark curriculum was god awful last year. All the excerpts were non fiction and boring. There was one on Queen Elizabeth 1 and one on archaeology technology and they were painfully boring. On top of that maybe we just had a crappy LA teacher. Her classroom library sucked (think lots of anime) and she complained all year to the kids about Benchmark.

Jokes on you, PP because I HAD a 6th grader last year. She READ A LOT OF BOOKS because I found her a lot of books that were interesting and at an appropriate reading level for her, so nope, sorry, this is on you. You cannot blame your child not reading any books last year on Benchmark.

I said she lost interest, not that she didn’t read any. It was difficult to get her interested in any of the books I suggested. It’s wonderful that your DD continued to be engaged and accepted the books you found for her. My DD would not. Whatever I suggested was rejected. Perhaps my child is more independent than yours. By 6th grade, Mommy should not be picking out their books. Parenting fail. And yes, Benchmark still sucks.

[Anonymous]

“ Seriously? Your experience is not universal. The 6th grade Benchmark curriculum was god awful last year. All the excerpts were non fiction and boring. There was one on Queen Elizabeth 1 and one on archaeology technology and they were painfully boring. On top of that maybe we just had a crappy LA teacher. Her classroom library sucked (think lots of anime) and she complained all year to the kids about Benchmark.”
My kid enjoyed that section it prompted her to do more research on QE1. She also thriving on the phonics section. As part of her Dyslexia supports phonics has been part of her extra help. This is helping her high scores. I am sorry your kid cannot find history interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Upper ES teacher here. While I don’t like benchmark, this year is way better. I am able to differentiate for my AAP kids. My students have an assigned novel for each fiction unit and I am using small group to select stronger articles about thematic topics. Vocabulary instruction is actually happening this year. No one is policing like last year. It also helps we are cutting down on the unit tests.

I still hate the writing. But things have improved now that we have flexibility To adapt.

I have a 4th grader (not in AAP) whose teacher encouraged the class to, for example, check out Because of Winn Dixie from the library after they read that excerpt. My daughter looked through it in the classroom library and then asked me if we could check it out from the public library, which we did, and now she has a book to read tomorrow. So I don't see how, as a PP earlier suggested, a child could totally lose all interest in reading anything because of Benchmark.

Seriously? Your experience is not universal. The 6th grade Benchmark curriculum was god awful last year. All the excerpts were non fiction and boring. There was one on Queen Elizabeth 1 and one on archaeology technology and they were painfully boring. On top of that maybe we just had a crappy LA teacher. Her classroom library sucked (think lots of anime) and she complained all year to the kids about Benchmark.

Jokes on you, PP because I HAD a 6th grader last year. She READ A LOT OF BOOKS because I found her a lot of books that were interesting and at an appropriate reading level for her, so nope, sorry, this is on you. You cannot blame your child not reading any books last year on Benchmark.

I said she lost interest, not that she didn’t read any. It was difficult to get her interested in any of the books I suggested. It’s wonderful that your DD continued to be engaged and accepted the books you found for her. My DD would not. Whatever I suggested was rejected. Perhaps my child is more independent than yours. By 6th grade, Mommy should not be picking out their books. Parenting fail. And yes, Benchmark still sucks.

My kids are grown. But, DD always picked out books I disliked. I never told her I didn't like them. She loves fantasy and werewolves. Ihate them. Kids should be able to read for pleasure books that they like. It doesn't hurt to have them also do required reading of classics--but the classics are classics for a reason. And, from the sounds of some of the assessment questions posted here, it does not sound like there is much flexibility.

[Anonymous]

I’m an upper grade teacher who hates Benchmark. The reading selections are uninspiring. I was actually on the selection committee and looking at my notes which I saved, Benchmark was toward the bottom of my list of choices. Kids need whole books to read and delve into - not out of context fiction excerpts and dull nonfiction pieces. I used to be creative with my teaching and projects. Now that I have to be faithful to the Benchmark curriculum, my love for teaching language arts has dwindled. Oh, and my students dislike LA, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Upper ES teacher here. While I don’t like benchmark, this year is way better. I am able to differentiate for my AAP kids. My students have an assigned novel for each fiction unit and I am using small group to select stronger articles about thematic topics. Vocabulary instruction is actually happening this year. No one is policing like last year. It also helps we are cutting down on the unit tests.

I still hate the writing. But things have improved now that we have flexibility To adapt.

I have a 4th grader (not in AAP) whose teacher encouraged the class to, for example, check out Because of Winn Dixie from the library after they read that excerpt. My daughter looked through it in the classroom library and then asked me if we could check it out from the public library, which we did, and now she has a book to read tomorrow. So I don't see how, as a PP earlier suggested, a child could totally lose all interest in reading anything because of Benchmark.

Seriously? Your experience is not universal. The 6th grade Benchmark curriculum was god awful last year. All the excerpts were non fiction and boring. There was one on Queen Elizabeth 1 and one on archaeology technology and they were painfully boring. On top of that maybe we just had a crappy LA teacher. Her classroom library sucked (think lots of anime) and she complained all year to the kids about Benchmark.

Jokes on you, PP because I HAD a 6th grader last year. She READ A LOT OF BOOKS because I found her a lot of books that were interesting and at an appropriate reading level for her, so nope, sorry, this is on you. You cannot blame your child not reading any books last year on Benchmark.

I said she lost interest, not that she didn’t read any. It was difficult to get her interested in any of the books I suggested. It’s wonderful that your DD continued to be engaged and accepted the books you found for her. My DD would not. Whatever I suggested was rejected. Perhaps my child is more independent than yours. By 6th grade, Mommy should not be picking out their books. Parenting fail. And yes, Benchmark still sucks.

LOL!! Nice try, but that was really weak. You're blaming a school curriculum for your child not being interested in books you suggested, but then you are attempting to insult me for helping my daughter pick out books. What a joke! I will never stop encouraging my child to read books and helping her find books that I think she'll enjoy. Not even when she's an adult. It's sad that you think that's a bad thing!

[Anonymous]

Me again, I don't think Benchmark is the greatest curriculum ever, but I think it's dumb to say "Benchmark is the reason my kid stopped liking to read." Nope, nope, nope.