My 4th grader has no teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So sorry, OP. This truly stinks. It is not ideal for anyone - teachers, students, staff. What kind of an effect will this have in morale.

I can’t believe people think we should just accept this nonsense. It has become abundantly clear that MCPS is just a dysfunctional school system and is too big and too overcrowded. How is this okay?

So what’s your solution, babe? Or did you just drop by to complain? Parents have been truly awful to teachers for years, and now the chickens are coming home to roost.

[Anonymous]

Having multiple teachers isn't the problem. Being the "extra" students going into classrooms that are set communities without a home base of their own is a big problem for elementary. Especially in a grade like fourth where teasing/friendship problems/ bullying can heighten. School is a lot more than content alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having multiple teachers isn't the problem. Being the "extra" students going into classrooms that are set communities without a home base of their own is a big problem for elementary. Especially in a grade like fourth where teasing/friendship problems/ bullying can heighten. School is a lot more than content alone.

+1 In some schools in other countries, kids start 1st grade with multiple subject teachers. It's not the rotating amongst classrooms that's the problem per se, it's the chaos and lack of staffing.

[Anonymous]

3 years ago my 4th grader started with 31 in her class, and of course it got bigger during the school year. Class sizes are too big, but it's also typical in mcps.

The fact that there's no teacher is problematic but not surprising these days. I also have a current 4th grader in mcps, but it seems like they have filled all the spots. Not sure why there are discrepancies within the same school system.

[Anonymous]

Which MCPS school is this?

[Anonymous]

There were new kindergarten and first grade openings posted just yesterday. I'm wondering how many parents are going to see similar situations today or in the coming weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD had 3rd, 4th and 5th grades in a trailer outside the main school building. Everyone's got something.

So your kid will learn to be very organized and not lose her stuff. She'll be ahead of the other kids in that regard come middle school.

I honestly do'nt see anything wrong with a trailer. Instead of going to a classroom in a building, you go to a classroom in a trailer. What is the big deal? Not having a teacher? That is chaotic for a fifth grader.

I'm sorry, OP. That sucks. It will be challenging for everyone, at least in the beginning. But kids are resilient and I'm sure you are providing lots of support so it'll be fine.

I’ve never taught in one personally, but…

the foundations can move, making it hard to lock the door.

they’re smaller than a regular classroom.

In a quad or modular, the walls are thinner than a regular classroom.

on rainy days, kids have to take extra time to put on jackets and drag in mud on the way back from specials, lunch, etc.

It takes the teacher longer to get places, cutting valuable minutes off of planning.


That being said, OP’s situation sounds worse. My suggestion is to supplement or move to a private. Honestly, the school will thank you for one less kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So sorry, OP. This truly stinks. It is not ideal for anyone - teachers, students, staff. What kind of an effect will this have in morale.

I can’t believe people think we should just accept this nonsense. It has become abundantly clear that MCPS is just a dysfunctional school system and is too big and too overcrowded. How is this okay?

So what’s your solution, babe? Or did you just drop by to complain? Parents have been truly awful to teachers for years, and now the chickens are coming home to roost.

That you're simple-mindedly pinning this on parents and not on ever-increasing administrative burdens, overcrowded classrooms, pay, etc. paints you as a sh*t stirrer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at our school switch teachers for each subject.

+1. Even second graders trade classes at our school for at least one subject, but for sure 4th grade trades for all classes. They all have multiple classrooms and teachers all day at our elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So sorry, OP. This truly stinks. It is not ideal for anyone - teachers, students, staff. What kind of an effect will this have in morale.

I can’t believe people think we should just accept this nonsense. It has become abundantly clear that MCPS is just a dysfunctional school system and is too big and too overcrowded. How is this okay?

So what’s your solution, babe? Or did you just drop by to complain? Parents have been truly awful to teachers for years, and now the chickens are coming home to roost.

That you're simple-mindedly pinning this on parents and not on ever-increasing administrative burdens, overcrowded classrooms, pay, etc. paints you as a sh*t stirrer.

This. Clearly MCPS has multiple issues. Blaming parents doesn’t help. The OP is bringing up valid issues that need to be addressed.

MCPS is too big and too over-crowded. Our ‘leaders’ just don’t seem to care.

The school system is broken. And our kids are suffering because of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having multiple teachers isn't the problem. Being the "extra" students going into classrooms that are set communities without a home base of their own is a big problem for elementary. Especially in a grade like fourth where teasing/friendship problems/ bullying can heighten. School is a lot more than content alone.

+1 In some schools in other countries, kids start 1st grade with multiple subject teachers. It's not the rotating amongst classrooms that's the problem per se, it's the chaos and lack of staffing.

Agree. It is not sustainable and not great for the kids or the staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids graduated out of MCPS last year. I spent a lot of my time through the years to research the MCPS curriculum and enrich, expand, accelerate it for my children. Yes, I did send them to MCPS for normal socialization, for learning how school works and other fun and interesting stuff, but my kids always had my home grown parallel system of education at home. I covered most of the subjects (between DH and I, we have multiple college degrees in multiple fields) at home, except for FL which was taught by an MCPS teacher

My kids were also in the magnet pipeline and I am sorry to say that even in the magnet programs, it was common to have dud teachers and worse administrators. Of course, the magnet programs were a 100 times better than the regular program because of the excellent cohort of students, the informed parents, and the pace and rigor of the curriculum - but it also fell short especially in middle school because of some terrible teachers, exceptionally evil and lazy administrators, and the general exodus of great teachers.

Unfortunately, all this was happening way before COVID. The quality of MCPS education has been going downhill for a long time because of the swinging pendulum of extreme right and extreme left.

I have no words of wisdom for OP. My heart aches for her and her child. Please do whatever is necessary to make sure that they are getting a very good education at home, in private schools, in private coaching classes, through online resources.

You're so extra. So was your response to a mention of not having a centralized teacher assignment in elementary.

+1 on bolded. No substance in that answer except for bragging and pats on the back

OP, I am so sorry for your situation. It truly sucks for your child. I dont think there is anything you can do, except to stay on top of her assignments, make sure nothing falls through the cracks with all the transitions. You might also want to ask school admin for designated person to send your questions/concerns to or a person that would "lead" parent communication for that class while the situation is being worked out. I am thinking in terms of weekly emails on what kids are learning in class/updates/etc. I do agree with the point that despite the challenges, your DD will be way ahead of her elementary peers when it comes to MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at our school switch teachers for each subject.

+1. Even second graders trade classes at our school for at least one subject, but for sure 4th grade trades for all classes. They all have multiple classrooms and teachers all day at our elementary school.

is this mcps? Which schools do this?

[Anonymous]

OP here- the 29 kids is one class. That class stays together. Here’s their schedule-

8:40- breakfast and morning circle with an “extra teacher” I think she teaches something else after she sees them.

9:15- this is reading time. They don’t know who is teaching it. They said they will try to get subs and the reading specialist will help when she can. If they don’t have a sub, it will be whomever is available.

11:15- lunch/recess

12:25- Specials. They are hoping to keep this class together and not with the not hired yet teachers.

1:10- Math with the math specialist. Once a teacher gets hired, they will be broken up into smaller classes.

2:30- Sci/SsThey don’t know who will cover. They are hoping for daily subs until they can find someone. Until then, it will most likely be a different teacher or para than reading as the teachers also all have different jobs.

The other classes get to just stay with 1 teacher all day. I know you all say that I should just think this is fine and normal, but different teachers all day and each day being different is not going to create the community that my child needs. And it will be a completely different experience than the other 4th grade classes.

[Anonymous]

The school is a focus school in Germantown