Everyone hates Benchmark. FCPS do better.

[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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!

You’re going to pick out books to read for your adult child too? Are you still going to cut her meat for her too? 🤣

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Thank you for speaking up!

[Anonymous]

Having a bad year in LA can absolutely hurt a child’s love of reading. A bad teacher can also do the same. Everyone’s experience is different. For those that it didn’t happen to, be grateful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Let’s not forget who started with the insults. You insulted me first by saying I wasn’t doing anything to try to help my daughter find any books. Your words: Parenting FAIL. And then you were condescending with “I’m sorry your daughter doesn’t like history.” So STFU. And while you are at it, touch grass.

[Anonymous]

Benchmark is good for those who are below grade level.