How can kids be successful in average MCPS schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. And you will be the difference maker. In an average MCPS school, you'll have to supplement like crazy if the goal is for you kid to leave middle school with a great education.

MCPS is not good at providing high quality instruction in its average schools. Your kid will get C-level academic instruction and experiences, with maybe a bright spot with a teacher/subject or two.

You're definitely a troll and have no idea of what you're talking about.

I'm not a troll. I'm an experienced advocate who's shepherded multiple kids through MCPS. I have real lived experiences that have led me to this conclusion.

If you've not been at or experience an average-to-low-performing MCPS school, then you are the one who is trolling.

I have been and seen many, many students from average-to-low performing schools, received excellent education and being successful.
You truly have no idea of what you're talking.
Troll

[Anonymous]

Read this -
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/716481.page

I could give an answer but it will be a 6 hours TED - talk.

Short answer.

- I became an expert in MCPS, curriculum and learning resources from the best in US and also from some Asian and European countries. For all grades.

- I used textbooks, quizlet, Khan Academy, Great Courses, and E D Hirsch's books and core knowledge foundation. I sat and worked with my kids for 1- 2 hours each day.

- I created lesson plans for all the subjects and made sure that it was interesting and enriched. The enrichment was with documentaries, research, reading books/comics, projects, fieldtrips etc. I did it from K-8th grade. My kids were flying on their own throughout HS, college, internships , job searches etc, because they knew how to do it since K-8.

- I went beyond MCPS and US education and my kids studied a lot of other subjects that are not taught here. Geography, poetry and elocution, astronomy, permaculture and ecology, sociology, anthropology, history of indigenous people, economics, personal finance and investing, debate and public speaking, essay and precis writing, math, world history in chronological order, art history...

- I educated myself in the ins and outs of the college process, timelines etc. I guided my kids like a private tutor and a private counselor.

But most importantly, I wanted them to learn what their brain was capable of learning and also I wanted them to learn how to learn and enjoy learning. I knew that the more varied subjects that they learned and the more I could reinforce the learning from various learning tools - they would start seeing the patterns and connections across subjects.

Yes, my kids were high achievers but that happened organically - just because they were so accelerated and enriched. My kids were also avid readers because I was reading to them till they were 8 years old, even though they could read since 3 yrs old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. And you will be the difference maker. In an average MCPS school, you'll have to supplement like crazy if the goal is for you kid to leave middle school with a great education.

MCPS is not good at providing high quality instruction in its average schools. Your kid will get C-level academic instruction and experiences, with maybe a bright spot with a teacher/subject or two.

You're definitely a troll and have no idea of what you're talking about.

I'm not a troll. I'm an experienced advocate who's shepherded multiple kids through MCPS. I have real lived experiences that have led me to this conclusion.

If you've not been at or experience an average-to-low-performing MCPS school, then you are the one who is trolling.

I 100% agree with you.

I am the Asian mom who basically made sure that from K-8, when there is no fear of GPA and pressure of college admissions and where school can be a safe sandbox- I enriched and accelerated my kids in all subjects and also included subjects not taught in MCPS.

I had to be extremely organized so that I could not overwhelm my kids or make them miss out the fun of childhood - friendships, travel, socializing, eating out, sports, ECs, life skills - and at the same time get them into good work and life habitsl.

It took a toll on me because I had to do a lot of research, prep work, lesson plans etc to teach my kids and be self-disciplined. I did not want to miss the critical period of K-8 and waste these years for my kids. I did not want doors and opportunities to close for my kids.

BTW - it is not only for average MCPS schools. Even the best W schools get a B- and magnet programs only get a B+ from me. Middle school especially is terrible. Weakest link.

The kids who are doing well are the kids whose parents are supplementing, enriching, accelerating at home. Educated parents who are in the know - they make the difference. The others are happy if their kid is getting an A because they are not bothered to even check what their kid is learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. And you will be the difference maker. In an average MCPS school, you'll have to supplement like crazy if the goal is for you kid to leave middle school with a great education.

MCPS is not good at providing high quality instruction in its average schools. Your kid will get C-level academic instruction and experiences, with maybe a bright spot with a teacher/subject or two.

How do you know?? I never understand posts like these. You post as if you are an expert and have some sort of inside knowledge. How do you know? Did you have one kids attend Pyle MS and an “average” middle school? They all teach the same curriculum!!! Hello!!!!!!

Because you are ignorant and scared. You have no idea what the curriculum, syllabus and textbooks are. You have no idea what your kid writes on tests. You drink the kool-aid MCPS gives you because you have either missed the bus already or you know deep down that your kid is in deep doo doo. You have not even compared MCPS curriculum and education with any other country's curriculum and rigor.

We are not in competition with kids in Pyle, and that is because the MCPS curriculum is substandard across the board. The magnet programs are also not excellent across the board because in MS only 2-3 subjects are magnet and the guidance also remains poor. It is only in HS that the top students can self-segregate by choosing more and more AP courses.

Now the competition is global and for our kids to be able to live in this AI powered world, they have to compete with kids from around the world. HELLO!!!!!! Wake up!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. And you will be the difference maker. In an average MCPS school, you'll have to supplement like crazy if the goal is for you kid to leave middle school with a great education.

MCPS is not good at providing high quality instruction in its average schools. Your kid will get C-level academic instruction and experiences, with maybe a bright spot with a teacher/subject or two.

You're definitely a troll and have no idea of what you're talking about.

I'm not a troll. I'm an experienced advocate who's shepherded multiple kids through MCPS. I have real lived experiences that have led me to this conclusion.

If you've not been at or experience an average-to-low-performing MCPS school, then you are the one who is trolling.

I have been and seen many, many students from average-to-low performing schools, received excellent education and being successful.
You truly have no idea of what you're talking.
Troll

I can bet these are students who are from educated and reasonably well off families. Most will be Asian-American kids and their families and culture prioritizes education and achievement. You have no idea what you are talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read this -
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/716481.page

I could give an answer but it will be a 6 hours TED - talk.

Short answer.

- I became an expert in MCPS, curriculum and learning resources from the best in US and also from some Asian and European countries. For all grades.

- I used textbooks, quizlet, Khan Academy, Great Courses, and E D Hirsch's books and core knowledge foundation. I sat and worked with my kids for 1- 2 hours each day.

- I created lesson plans for all the subjects and made sure that it was interesting and enriched. The enrichment was with documentaries, research, reading books/comics, projects, fieldtrips etc. I did it from K-8th grade. My kids were flying on their own throughout HS, college, internships , job searches etc, because they knew how to do it since K-8.

- I went beyond MCPS and US education and my kids studied a lot of other subjects that are not taught here. Geography, poetry and elocution, astronomy, permaculture and ecology, sociology, anthropology, history of indigenous people, economics, personal finance and investing, debate and public speaking, essay and precis writing, math, world history in chronological order, art history...

- I educated myself in the ins and outs of the college process, timelines etc. I guided my kids like a private tutor and a private counselor.

But most importantly, I wanted them to learn what their brain was capable of learning and also I wanted them to learn how to learn and enjoy learning. I knew that the more varied subjects that they learned and the more I could reinforce the learning from various learning tools - they would start seeing the patterns and connections across subjects.

Yes, my kids were high achievers but that happened organically - just because they were so accelerated and enriched. My kids were also avid readers because I was reading to them till they were 8 years old, even though they could read since 3 yrs old.

DP. You sound like you’re cultivating the curriculum you think your children should have which is fine but it doesn’t exemplify their own natural curiosity. Two of my kids went through MCPS and ended up at top 10 colleges and are very successful. I didn’t supplement other than when my kid missed a month of school due to medical reasons and that was to hire a math tutor two or three times.

Maybe what you did worked for your children but graduates of MCPS can and are still very successful in college without all of that.

As a side note, textbooks aren’t the solution to a good curriculum but average joes on DCUM without any advance training on education pedagogy will try to convince you otherwise.

[Anonymous]

My oldest child graduated last year two years ago from what would be considered an average MCPS high school in the East County Consortium. She is a diligent and highly motivated student, and we found that, in some ways, she and her peers were able to stand out more than they might have in one of the W-schools that people always talk about. She had a very nice cohort of like-minded students throughout her tenure in MCPS. I didn't notice that her high school was lacking in AP level coursework, so although it's likely that the school was offering fewer sections of these classes than some high schools, she had many opportunities to be challenged. The group of students leaning toward these higher levels coursework was relatively small at her school, so she and her friends often had similar course schedules and benefited from knowing and supporting each other both inside and outside the classroom. At some schools, the existence of more sections of each higher level class might prevent this from happening as much. We also felt that the teachers got to know this group of students and provided opportunities for ample challenge and opportunity. This is not to detract at all from what is happening at schools in MCPS that have a larger number of students who take this pathway - I'm just trying to point out that there are some benefits when that group is smaller. I have heard stories from friends in the county about very strong students from Bethesda or Potomac who are denied admittance from University of Maryland, not because they are unqualified, but likely because there are SO SO many students of that caliber applying from their individual high schools. At our smaller ECC school, my daughter and a number of her peers were accepted not only in the the university, but into UMD's Honors Program. This is just my own belief, but I think it could be because UMD can only accept so many students from each high school. If there are dozens and dozens of students whose weighted GPAs far exceed a 4.0, some will be excluded. At our high school, there were maybe a couple of dozen students who were known for this level of achievement. When coming from a more average school, high achieving students can, in some ways, be recognized and rewarded more for their achievements.

I hope I have stated this well. My comments are in no way meant to offend or to degrade any school or other family's experience. We were fortunate in the sense that our child was very motivated to do well in school. If she had not been as motivated, it's possible that we would have felt differently about her experience in this particular high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read this -
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/716481.page

I could give an answer but it will be a 6 hours TED - talk.

Short answer.

- I became an expert in MCPS, curriculum and learning resources from the best in US and also from some Asian and European countries. For all grades.

- I used textbooks, quizlet, Khan Academy, Great Courses, and E D Hirsch's books and core knowledge foundation. I sat and worked with my kids for 1- 2 hours each day.

- I created lesson plans for all the subjects and made sure that it was interesting and enriched. The enrichment was with documentaries, research, reading books/comics, projects, fieldtrips etc. I did it from K-8th grade. My kids were flying on their own throughout HS, college, internships , job searches etc, because they knew how to do it since K-8.

- I went beyond MCPS and US education and my kids studied a lot of other subjects that are not taught here. Geography, poetry and elocution, astronomy, permaculture and ecology, sociology, anthropology, history of indigenous people, economics, personal finance and investing, debate and public speaking, essay and precis writing, math, world history in chronological order, art history...

- I educated myself in the ins and outs of the college process, timelines etc. I guided my kids like a private tutor and a private counselor.

But most importantly, I wanted them to learn what their brain was capable of learning and also I wanted them to learn how to learn and enjoy learning. I knew that the more varied subjects that they learned and the more I could reinforce the learning from various learning tools - they would start seeing the patterns and connections across subjects.

Yes, my kids were high achievers but that happened organically - just because they were so accelerated and enriched. My kids were also avid readers because I was reading to them till they were 8 years old, even though they could read since 3 yrs old.

Striver mentality is soul-sucking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read this -
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/716481.page

I could give an answer but it will be a 6 hours TED - talk.

Short answer.

- I became an expert in MCPS, curriculum and learning resources from the best in US and also from some Asian and European countries. For all grades.

- I used textbooks, quizlet, Khan Academy, Great Courses, and E D Hirsch's books and core knowledge foundation. I sat and worked with my kids for 1- 2 hours each day.

- I created lesson plans for all the subjects and made sure that it was interesting and enriched. The enrichment was with documentaries, research, reading books/comics, projects, fieldtrips etc. I did it from K-8th grade. My kids were flying on their own throughout HS, college, internships , job searches etc, because they knew how to do it since K-8.

- I went beyond MCPS and US education and my kids studied a lot of other subjects that are not taught here. Geography, poetry and elocution, astronomy, permaculture and ecology, sociology, anthropology, history of indigenous people, economics, personal finance and investing, debate and public speaking, essay and precis writing, math, world history in chronological order, art history...

- I educated myself in the ins and outs of the college process, timelines etc. I guided my kids like a private tutor and a private counselor.

But most importantly, I wanted them to learn what their brain was capable of learning and also I wanted them to learn how to learn and enjoy learning. I knew that the more varied subjects that they learned and the more I could reinforce the learning from various learning tools - they would start seeing the patterns and connections across subjects.

Yes, my kids were high achievers but that happened organically - just because they were so accelerated and enriched. My kids were also avid readers because I was reading to them till they were 8 years old, even though they could read since 3 yrs old.

Striver mentality is soul-sucking.

People who criticize those who want to achieve are lazy and jealous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. And you will be the difference maker. In an average MCPS school, you'll have to supplement like crazy if the goal is for you kid to leave middle school with a great education.

MCPS is not good at providing high quality instruction in its average schools. Your kid will get C-level academic instruction and experiences, with maybe a bright spot with a teacher/subject or two.

You're definitely a troll and have no idea of what you're talking about.

I'm not a troll. I'm an experienced advocate who's shepherded multiple kids through MCPS. I have real lived experiences that have led me to this conclusion.

If you've not been at or experience an average-to-low-performing MCPS school, then you are the one who is trolling.

I have been and seen many, many students from average-to-low performing schools, received excellent education and being successful.
You truly have no idea of what you're talking.
Troll

I can bet these are students who are from educated and reasonably well off families. Most will be Asian-American kids and their families and culture prioritizes education and achievement. You have no idea what you are talking about.

You couldn't be more wrong. You have no idea of what you're talking about.
Troll

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. And you will be the difference maker. In an average MCPS school, you'll have to supplement like crazy if the goal is for you kid to leave middle school with a great education.

MCPS is not good at providing high quality instruction in its average schools. Your kid will get C-level academic instruction and experiences, with maybe a bright spot with a teacher/subject or two.

You're definitely a troll and have no idea of what you're talking about.

I'm not a troll. I'm an experienced advocate who's shepherded multiple kids through MCPS. I have real lived experiences that have led me to this conclusion.

If you've not been at or experience an average-to-low-performing MCPS school, then you are the one who is trolling.

I have been and seen many, many students from average-to-low performing schools, received excellent education and being successful.
You truly have no idea of what you're talking.
Troll

I can bet these are students who are from educated and reasonably well off families. Most will be Asian-American kids and their families and culture prioritizes education and achievement. You have no idea what you are talking about.

You couldn't be more wrong. You have no idea of what you're talking about.
Troll

You keep calling every parent who talks about their lived experiences a "troll," even though you're the one engaging in troll-like tactics and rhetoric.

I recognize your repetition and tactics as part of a clearly intentional and orchestrated campaign. What is your purpose in engaging in this discrediting campaign?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read this -
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/716481.page

I could give an answer but it will be a 6 hours TED - talk.

Short answer.

- I became an expert in MCPS, curriculum and learning resources from the best in US and also from some Asian and European countries. For all grades.

- I used textbooks, quizlet, Khan Academy, Great Courses, and E D Hirsch's books and core knowledge foundation. I sat and worked with my kids for 1- 2 hours each day.

- I created lesson plans for all the subjects and made sure that it was interesting and enriched. The enrichment was with documentaries, research, reading books/comics, projects, fieldtrips etc. I did it from K-8th grade. My kids were flying on their own throughout HS, college, internships , job searches etc, because they knew how to do it since K-8.

- I went beyond MCPS and US education and my kids studied a lot of other subjects that are not taught here. Geography, poetry and elocution, astronomy, permaculture and ecology, sociology, anthropology, history of indigenous people, economics, personal finance and investing, debate and public speaking, essay and precis writing, math, world history in chronological order, art history...

- I educated myself in the ins and outs of the college process, timelines etc. I guided my kids like a private tutor and a private counselor.

But most importantly, I wanted them to learn what their brain was capable of learning and also I wanted them to learn how to learn and enjoy learning. I knew that the more varied subjects that they learned and the more I could reinforce the learning from various learning tools - they would start seeing the patterns and connections across subjects.

Yes, my kids were high achievers but that happened organically - just because they were so accelerated and enriched. My kids were also avid readers because I was reading to them till they were 8 years old, even though they could read since 3 yrs old.

Striver mentality is soul-sucking.

People who criticize those who want to achieve are lazy and jealous.

People who don't create and implement an entire separate curriculum for their kids are not "lazy" or "jealous."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read this -
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/716481.page

I could give an answer but it will be a 6 hours TED - talk.

Short answer.

- I became an expert in MCPS, curriculum and learning resources from the best in US and also from some Asian and European countries. For all grades.

- I used textbooks, quizlet, Khan Academy, Great Courses, and E D Hirsch's books and core knowledge foundation. I sat and worked with my kids for 1- 2 hours each day.

- I created lesson plans for all the subjects and made sure that it was interesting and enriched. The enrichment was with documentaries, research, reading books/comics, projects, fieldtrips etc. I did it from K-8th grade. My kids were flying on their own throughout HS, college, internships , job searches etc, because they knew how to do it since K-8.

- I went beyond MCPS and US education and my kids studied a lot of other subjects that are not taught here. Geography, poetry and elocution, astronomy, permaculture and ecology, sociology, anthropology, history of indigenous people, economics, personal finance and investing, debate and public speaking, essay and precis writing, math, world history in chronological order, art history...

- I educated myself in the ins and outs of the college process, timelines etc. I guided my kids like a private tutor and a private counselor.

But most importantly, I wanted them to learn what their brain was capable of learning and also I wanted them to learn how to learn and enjoy learning. I knew that the more varied subjects that they learned and the more I could reinforce the learning from various learning tools - they would start seeing the patterns and connections across subjects.

Yes, my kids were high achievers but that happened organically - just because they were so accelerated and enriched. My kids were also avid readers because I was reading to them till they were 8 years old, even though they could read since 3 yrs old.

I’m relieved I am not your DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is very successful at Gaithersburg and will be most likely be accepted at every college they apply at. Work ethic and effort translates no matter which school you attend.

I agree with what you wrote but it takes a whole lot from kids when they are constantly surrounded by distractions they do not need in school. And again its on the parents to help the kids when the school is an average or below average school like Gaithersburg. A very smart and focused kid will succeed anywhere but kids who have the potential but not super smart or not focused may lose their way in these average schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read this -
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/716481.page

I could give an answer but it will be a 6 hours TED - talk.

Short answer.

- I became an expert in MCPS, curriculum and learning resources from the best in US and also from some Asian and European countries. For all grades.

- I used textbooks, quizlet, Khan Academy, Great Courses, and E D Hirsch's books and core knowledge foundation. I sat and worked with my kids for 1- 2 hours each day.

- I created lesson plans for all the subjects and made sure that it was interesting and enriched. The enrichment was with documentaries, research, reading books/comics, projects, fieldtrips etc. I did it from K-8th grade. My kids were flying on their own throughout HS, college, internships , job searches etc, because they knew how to do it since K-8.

- I went beyond MCPS and US education and my kids studied a lot of other subjects that are not taught here. Geography, poetry and elocution, astronomy, permaculture and ecology, sociology, anthropology, history of indigenous people, economics, personal finance and investing, debate and public speaking, essay and precis writing, math, world history in chronological order, art history...

- I educated myself in the ins and outs of the college process, timelines etc. I guided my kids like a private tutor and a private counselor.

But most importantly, I wanted them to learn what their brain was capable of learning and also I wanted them to learn how to learn and enjoy learning. I knew that the more varied subjects that they learned and the more I could reinforce the learning from various learning tools - they would start seeing the patterns and connections across subjects.

Yes, my kids were high achievers but that happened organically - just because they were so accelerated and enriched. My kids were also avid readers because I was reading to them till they were 8 years old, even though they could read since 3 yrs old.

DP. You sound like you’re cultivating the curriculum you think your children should have which is fine but it doesn’t exemplify their own natural curiosity. Two of my kids went through MCPS and ended up at top 10 colleges and are very successful. I didn’t supplement other than when my kid missed a month of school due to medical reasons and that was to hire a math tutor two or three times.
How do you come to that conclusion? The additional subjects were put in place based on the interests of my kids and yes, I was cherry picking from what was taught in schools in other countries too.

Maybe what you did worked for your children but graduates of MCPS can and are still very successful in college without all of that.
What is very successful? Can you define it? Are your kids sufficiently resilient and have the training, skills and knowledge to be able to figure out the way forward when jobs start disappearing or when our workplace become global? We are massively behind other countries because our kids do not have foundational knowledge in school. Many HS grads are functionally illiterate. I watch kids not being able to hack it in STEM majors in UMD not because they are stupid but because they were not taught foundational content or skills in K-12.

As a side note, textbooks aren’t the solution to a good curriculum but average joes on DCUM without any advance training on education pedagogy will try to convince you otherwise.
Completely disagree. Do you work for MCPS central office? Textbooks are the minimum floor for public education in the classroom. That is what you can build on. And no, I was not using the MCPS prescribed textbooks because there are none. I was searching for the best textbooks and comparing and contrasting and using all of that. Which meant that as a parent I put in the work and did not let MCPS rot the brains of my children. After all, what does MCPS or posters like you have to lose by giving shoddy service or misdirecting parents?