Example of APE Astroturf tactics - textbooks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if APE is going to opine on CRT and masks?

Anyone seen this from them?

Turner commented on masks on AEM. It was a pretty funny word salad.

Interesting. From APE or Turner?

and just a comment on AEM, that's it? Really? This is the group that issues press releases and newsletters left and right but they can't put out a public statement on masks? I guess they don't want to.

Turner doesn’t want to admit they support Youngkin’s order. It won’t help her secure the Dem caucus endorsement when she inevitably runs again this year.

I would never vote for Miranda. If she’s the nominee I will write someone in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

As a parent it would be nice to understand what she’s learning and a textbook would help with that and make me better able to assist. My sons private school uses textbooks and it also helps him stay organized. Having a great teacher that can carefully curate curriculum and materials is great but some teachers are not as good as it and it really stinks when your kids is reliant on their half ass materials. The OP is desperate.

Isn't the problem that your kid will need to learn how to stay organized without a textbook to actually function in the real world? To not flame out in college if they end up going? How will they learn that skill if they aren't given the chance in school?

It seems like this is an example of alot of parents not being able to handle that teaching and technology have moved on from what they experienced in the 80s and 90s and hamstringing their kids because of it.

Maybe things have changed in the last 9 years but the only courses I took in college that did not have textbooks were literature courses and one history course. I majored in economics and I'm positive that every course had a textbook.

[Anonymous]

I have nothing to do with APE but last year's virtual learning math made it abundantly clear that we need math text books. My 2nd grader did so so little math last year. The kids just didn't do enough problems to become comfortable with math facts or concepts. It was really bad.

I bought a set of Singapore Math workbooks and my kid has been doing extra practice. They basically follow the APS curriculum and are really good. They are not like the textbooks we grew up with--they teach concepts, practice the concepts and then ask for kids to take the concepts further through multistep problems. I wish APS would adopt something similar. They're great.

Oh, and you do hear teachers complain about lack of resources, particularly when they switch grades. It's a ton of work to develop a whole new curriculum to meet Virginia standards on your own. Teachers will beg and borrow materials from other teachers when they switch grades, but APS gives them nothing. They are dependent on their own network to source resources. It's embarrassing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

As a parent it would be nice to understand what she’s learning and a textbook would help with that and make me better able to assist. My sons private school uses textbooks and it also helps him stay organized. Having a great teacher that can carefully curate curriculum and materials is great but some teachers are not as good as it and it really stinks when your kids is reliant on their half ass materials. The OP is desperate.

Isn't the problem that your kid will need to learn how to stay organized without a textbook to actually function in the real world? To not flame out in college if they end up going? How will they learn that skill if they aren't given the chance in school?

It seems like this is an example of alot of parents not being able to handle that teaching and technology have moved on from what they experienced in the 80s and 90s and hamstringing their kids because of it.

Believe it or not, there are still textbooks in college. Many opt for the online version; but there's still a book or two or three.

Also, the point is to scaffold kids to a place where they don’t need textbooks— not to assume every 2nd grader has excellent executive functions already. I’m 100% pro mask, in favor of teaching about systemic racism and the power of privilege, and pro textbook. Also- lots of us use manuals or books at work so… it’s not like book learning must end at some point

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every private school in the area uses textbooks. I’m assuming there’s a reason.

Yes. Just because kids will eventually use electronic resources/technology doesn’t mean their young brains and lack of self control are ready for it as kids. The responses on here make me realize how important it is to advocate for this. Many, many kids have no self control with screens. They sit and play games during class. And not all teachers are great and many of them put together crap materials and lessons. At least with a text book kids are starting with a base source and can get help.

THIS!!!

This -- my daughter in 6th grade science ends up getting things wrong on tests because she didn't have the material to study. I helped her a few times, and she studies all the handouts given in class, but then there will be facts that are no where. If she had a reference to study from, I feel she would be able to prepare herself more easily than studying from 7 or 8 random handouts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every private school in the area uses textbooks. I’m assuming there’s a reason.

Yes. Just because kids will eventually use electronic resources/technology doesn’t mean their young brains and lack of self control are ready for it as kids. The responses on here make me realize how important it is to advocate for this. Many, many kids have no self control with screens. They sit and play games during class. And not all teachers are great and many of them put together crap materials and lessons. At least with a text book kids are starting with a base source and can get help.

THIS!!!

This -- my daughter in 6th grade science ends up getting things wrong on tests because she didn't have the material to study. I helped her a few times, and she studies all the handouts given in class, but then there will be facts that are no where. If she had a reference to study from, I feel she would be able to prepare herself more easily than studying from 7 or 8 random handouts.

YES! And there needs to be better teaching of how to take notes....handwritten notes in a notebook - because yes, there are college professors who don't allow notetaking on laptops during lectures. And because it has been shown to be better for learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people complain about the lack of textbooks. I don’t see why it’s better to have teachers pulling random worksheets from a “Teachers Pay Teachers” website. What’s wrong with providing teachers with a curriculum and materials that support that curriculum?

This.

So many teachers pull cutesy worksheets from this site and yes, they are cute but the content is often not that amazing. Remember, these are just random teachers across the US who are creating the worksheets- some are first year teachers, some aren't even teachers any more and they also know that cute sells.

1 - Textbooks across subjects would standardize curriculums across schools. APS is big on equity as is many parents. This would help ensure it because a student in S. Arl is getting the same resource and textbook as a student in N. Arl.

2 - when teachers think they can do better, the result for students is a pile of worksheets that they have worked through at the end of a unit that they may or may not have kept track of but what do they do with them? When it's an elementary student, teachers don't spend any time helping students learn to study for a test so that means parents have to do it. So the test is coming up and the student hands the parents a mess of worksheets and then the parent has to try and figure out what exactly was learned, to what depth, and in what order. If a parent can't figure it out, how could a student be expected to do this.

3 - Should a first year teacher be pulling together their own curriculum when they haven't even taught in a classroom for one month, 6 months, one year? They have zero experience but you want them creating their own worksheets and making up their own curriculum to try and teach your child and figure out what works and what doesn't? I don't. I don't want a second year teacher or a third year teacher doing it either. Maybe after 5+ years with experience and feedback they would have the ability to do this but right off the bat, no.


4 - Teachers complain that they have to do all their own planning and gather all their own materials and make copies. Textbooks with workbooks would alleviate some of that load.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people complain about the lack of textbooks. I don’t see why it’s better to have teachers pulling random worksheets from a “Teachers Pay Teachers” website. What’s wrong with providing teachers with a curriculum and materials that support that curriculum?

This.

So many teachers pull cutesy worksheets from this site and yes, they are cute but the content is often not that amazing. Remember, these are just random teachers across the US who are creating the worksheets- some are first year teachers, some aren't even teachers any more and they also know that cute sells.

1 - Textbooks across subjects would standardize curriculums across schools. APS is big on equity as is many parents. This would help ensure it because a student in S. Arl is getting the same resource and textbook as a student in N. Arl.

2 - when teachers think they can do better, the result for students is a pile of worksheets that they have worked through at the end of a unit that they may or may not have kept track of but what do they do with them? When it's an elementary student, teachers don't spend any time helping students learn to study for a test so that means parents have to do it. So the test is coming up and the student hands the parents a mess of worksheets and then the parent has to try and figure out what exactly was learned, to what depth, and in what order. If a parent can't figure it out, how could a student be expected to do this.

3 - Should a first year teacher be pulling together their own curriculum when they haven't even taught in a classroom for one month, 6 months, one year? They have zero experience but you want them creating their own worksheets and making up their own curriculum to try and teach your child and figure out what works and what doesn't? I don't. I don't want a second year teacher or a third year teacher doing it either. Maybe after 5+ years with experience and feedback they would have the ability to do this but right off the bat, no.


4 - Teachers complain that they have to do all their own planning and gather all their own materials and make copies. Textbooks with workbooks would alleviate some of that load.

Very good points! Even if a specific textbook isn't used, APS should still provide all of the materials for the basic curriculum so, as you say, all students across all schools in APS get the benefit of consistent instruction and resources.
That sums it all up. There shouldn't be any need for further discussion or debate. If teachers want to supplement and enhance what they're given, that's fine. But there should be no need for every teacher to put together their own, unique combinations of materials to cover the course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people complain about the lack of textbooks. I don’t see why it’s better to have teachers pulling random worksheets from a “Teachers Pay Teachers” website. What’s wrong with providing teachers with a curriculum and materials that support that curriculum?

This.

So many teachers pull cutesy worksheets from this site and yes, they are cute but the content is often not that amazing. Remember, these are just random teachers across the US who are creating the worksheets- some are first year teachers, some aren't even teachers any more and they also know that cute sells.

1 - Textbooks across subjects would standardize curriculums across schools. APS is big on equity as is many parents. This would help ensure it because a student in S. Arl is getting the same resource and textbook as a student in N. Arl.

2 - when teachers think they can do better, the result for students is a pile of worksheets that they have worked through at the end of a unit that they may or may not have kept track of but what do they do with them? When it's an elementary student, teachers don't spend any time helping students learn to study for a test so that means parents have to do it. So the test is coming up and the student hands the parents a mess of worksheets and then the parent has to try and figure out what exactly was learned, to what depth, and in what order. If a parent can't figure it out, how could a student be expected to do this.

3 - Should a first year teacher be pulling together their own curriculum when they haven't even taught in a classroom for one month, 6 months, one year? They have zero experience but you want them creating their own worksheets and making up their own curriculum to try and teach your child and figure out what works and what doesn't? I don't. I don't want a second year teacher or a third year teacher doing it either. Maybe after 5+ years with experience and feedback they would have the ability to do this but right off the bat, no.


4 - Teachers complain that they have to do all their own planning and gather all their own materials and make copies. Textbooks with workbooks would alleviate some of that load.

Very good points! Even if a specific textbook isn't used, APS should still provide all of the materials for the basic curriculum so, as you say, all students across all schools in APS get the benefit of consistent instruction and resources.
That sums it all up. There shouldn't be any need for further discussion or debate. If teachers want to supplement and enhance what they're given, that's fine. But there should be no need for every teacher to put together their own, unique combinations of materials to cover the course.

Looks like the astroturfing has gotten to you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people complain about the lack of textbooks. I don’t see why it’s better to have teachers pulling random worksheets from a “Teachers Pay Teachers” website. What’s wrong with providing teachers with a curriculum and materials that support that curriculum?

This.

So many teachers pull cutesy worksheets from this site and yes, they are cute but the content is often not that amazing. Remember, these are just random teachers across the US who are creating the worksheets- some are first year teachers, some aren't even teachers any more and they also know that cute sells.

1 - Textbooks across subjects would standardize curriculums across schools. APS is big on equity as is many parents. This would help ensure it because a student in S. Arl is getting the same resource and textbook as a student in N. Arl.

2 - when teachers think they can do better, the result for students is a pile of worksheets that they have worked through at the end of a unit that they may or may not have kept track of but what do they do with them? When it's an elementary student, teachers don't spend any time helping students learn to study for a test so that means parents have to do it. So the test is coming up and the student hands the parents a mess of worksheets and then the parent has to try and figure out what exactly was learned, to what depth, and in what order. If a parent can't figure it out, how could a student be expected to do this.

3 - Should a first year teacher be pulling together their own curriculum when they haven't even taught in a classroom for one month, 6 months, one year? They have zero experience but you want them creating their own worksheets and making up their own curriculum to try and teach your child and figure out what works and what doesn't? I don't. I don't want a second year teacher or a third year teacher doing it either. Maybe after 5+ years with experience and feedback they would have the ability to do this but right off the bat, no.


4 - Teachers complain that they have to do all their own planning and gather all their own materials and make copies. Textbooks with workbooks would alleviate some of that load.

Very good points! Even if a specific textbook isn't used, APS should still provide all of the materials for the basic curriculum so, as you say, all students across all schools in APS get the benefit of consistent instruction and resources.
That sums it all up. There shouldn't be any need for further discussion or debate. If teachers want to supplement and enhance what they're given, that's fine. But there should be no need for every teacher to put together their own, unique combinations of materials to cover the course.

Looks like the astroturfing has gotten to you!

If providing consistent quality instruction across a school district is astroturfing, then sure. If giving teachers a sufficient baseline curriculum and materials to teach their classes so they don't have to reinvent the wheel every time they change classes or grade levels, or just don't need to spend endless hours putting together materials and curriculum rather than spending time providing quality feedback and developing their teaching skills, then sure. If just happening to agree with someone saying this stuff, then sure. Whatever makes your world make sense for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every private school in the area uses textbooks. I’m assuming there’s a reason.

Yes. Just because kids will eventually use electronic resources/technology doesn’t mean their young brains and lack of self control are ready for it as kids. The responses on here make me realize how important it is to advocate for this. Many, many kids have no self control with screens. They sit and play games during class. And not all teachers are great and many of them put together crap materials and lessons. At least with a text book kids are starting with a base source and can get help.

THIS!!!

This -- my daughter in 6th grade science ends up getting things wrong on tests because she didn't have the material to study. I helped her a few times, and she studies all the handouts given in class, but then there will be facts that are no where. If she had a reference to study from, I feel she would be able to prepare herself more easily than studying from 7 or 8 random handouts.

Yes-- a kid needs to study for a test, but they literally do not know what to study. There were some online activities that they may or may not be able to access, and maybe some handouts, depending on the class. With a textbook, you have the basic information consolidated in one place to read/review. There's no reason teachers can't supplement this with other resources, but textbooks are a great, basic resource. We ended up buying textbooks for my middle schooler during virtual school last year, and he still uses them for reference and studying this year, even though school is in person. I am pro-mask, have no association with APE, and am also pro-textbook. This is not a fringe or astroturfed issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if APE is going to opine on CRT and masks?

Anyone seen this from them?

Turner commented on masks on AEM. It was a pretty funny word salad.

Interesting. From APE or Turner?

and just a comment on AEM, that's it? Really? This is the group that issues press releases and newsletters left and right but they can't put out a public statement on masks? I guess they don't want to.

Turner doesn’t want to admit they support Youngkin’s order. It won’t help her secure the Dem caucus endorsement when she inevitably runs again this year.

I would never vote for Miranda. If she’s the nominee I will write someone in.

Especially now. If she doesn't support masks, ZERO chance I could ever vote for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if APE is going to opine on CRT and masks?

Anyone seen this from them?

Turner commented on masks on AEM. It was a pretty funny word salad.

Interesting. From APE or Turner?

and just a comment on AEM, that's it? Really? This is the group that issues press releases and newsletters left and right but they can't put out a public statement on masks? I guess they don't want to.

Turner doesn’t want to admit they support Youngkin’s order. It won’t help her secure the Dem caucus endorsement when she inevitably runs again this year.

I would never vote for Miranda. If she’s the nominee I will write someone in.

Especially now. If she doesn't support masks, ZERO chance I could ever vote for her.

Yes, why would we ever trust her if she can't make a stand based on science/data on this very clear cut issue. She is pandering to the nut jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if APE is going to opine on CRT and masks?

Anyone seen this from them?

Turner commented on masks on AEM. It was a pretty funny word salad.

Interesting. From APE or Turner?

and just a comment on AEM, that's it? Really? This is the group that issues press releases and newsletters left and right but they can't put out a public statement on masks? I guess they don't want to.

Turner doesn’t want to admit they support Youngkin’s order. It won’t help her secure the Dem caucus endorsement when she inevitably runs again this year.

I would never vote for Miranda. If she’s the nominee I will write someone in.

Especially now. If she doesn't support masks, ZERO chance I could ever vote for her.

Yes, why would we ever trust her if she can't make a stand based on science/data on this very clear cut issue. She is pandering to the nut jobs.

She and APE are not taking a stand. Their press release yesterday was completely devoid of substance. Another word salad from her.

[Anonymous]

Not in Arlington. What or who is APE?