High School bs end of the year projects

[Anonymous]

All high school students should be allowed to do independent study these last few weeks of school. That could take place at home, school, or someplace else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All high school students should be allowed to do independent study these last few weeks of school. That could take place at home, school, or someplace else.

Be so for real

[Anonymous]

Who decides what’s a “BS” project? In 10th grade my kids are doing a research project because we had to tie in research and media standards based on the updated 2024 SOLs. It’s not a passive project on my end and is involves teaching them the research process, evaluating sources, paraphrasing content and citing their sources, creating a final product for which they need a template we made, etc etc. It’s completely standards aligned and skills-focused and I could not have covered the major standards for this grade level had I just taken OP’s idea of doing no teaching or learning for the last MONTH of school. That’s nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And other people are complaining that the kids are not doing anything for the last month of school. They can't win. There is always a significant number of parents who are upset no matter what schools do. But really, your complaint is silly. You are upset that school is still ... school? The last day of school is four weeks from today.

Not exactly.

Tgey are complaining that the ridiculous fcps calendar has kids pointlessly attending school for a full month after AP exams, including one 2 day week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So like I said, have teachers do short lectures or quick one day assignments. The only reason teachers are doing these bs “projects” is so they can coast and not teach the rest of the year.

So let me get this straight, you want your kid to do less work the last few weeks but still want teachers to do more work. I hope your kid inherited logic and reasoning skills from someone else.

No.

She wants school to have 5 day weeks during the year, and end right after AP exams like a normal school calendar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who decides what’s a “BS” project? In 10th grade my kids are doing a research project because we had to tie in research and media standards based on the updated 2024 SOLs. It’s not a passive project on my end and is involves teaching them the research process, evaluating sources, paraphrasing content and citing their sources, creating a final product for which they need a template we made, etc etc. It’s completely standards aligned and skills-focused and I could not have covered the major standards for this grade level had I just taken OP’s idea of doing no teaching or learning for the last MONTH of school. That’s nuts.

That is not a BS project, and no one is complaining about projects like you have described. We are complaining about what is effectively a coloring project in calculus or AP history, or similar. No actual learning happening, no guidance from the teacher, “easy A” so no one complaints. Well.. besides few who’d rather learn something or wouldn’t be bothered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who decides what’s a “BS” project? In 10th grade my kids are doing a research project because we had to tie in research and media standards based on the updated 2024 SOLs. It’s not a passive project on my end and is involves teaching them the research process, evaluating sources, paraphrasing content and citing their sources, creating a final product for which they need a template we made, etc etc. It’s completely standards aligned and skills-focused and I could not have covered the major standards for this grade level had I just taken OP’s idea of doing no teaching or learning for the last MONTH of school. That’s nuts.

You didn’t read the thread did you? I clearly stated you know it’s a bs project when the teacher basically says it is. The teacher said this is designed to be a grade booster and will be graded on effort and participation only. Thanks but no thanks. My kid worked their butts off all year and has a solid A. We don’t need the extra work or hassle. It should be optional for kids who don’t need the grade boost.

[Anonymous]

If they're easy what's the big deal? Some kids can use the grade after getting through the hardest part of the year (testing).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they're easy what's the big deal? Some kids can use the grade after getting through the hardest part of the year (testing).

It’s busy work and a waste of time. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to put a lot of time and effort into things that aren’t meaningful and that I won’t get anything out of. If the kid doesn’t need the grade boost, why should the kid have to do the work? Let the kid opt out. The good kids are getting punished with this bs while the struggling kids think it’s great because they can easily bring up their grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All high school students should be allowed to do independent study these last few weeks of school. That could take place at home, school, or someplace else.

McLean HS offers an internship program.

Students choose their own and submit to the school for approval, well in advance.

Quality/ value varies. Have heard of:

Working for an uncle’s company,
Helping in an elementary school library,
Working in a bike shop,
Behind the counter at a pharmacy,
Shadowing doctors/ nursing staff at a hospital,
Assisting in a research laboratory,

Etc.

Believe Loudoun County might offer something similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who decides what’s a “BS” project? In 10th grade my kids are doing a research project because we had to tie in research and media standards based on the updated 2024 SOLs. It’s not a passive project on my end and is involves teaching them the research process, evaluating sources, paraphrasing content and citing their sources, creating a final product for which they need a template we made, etc etc. It’s completely standards aligned and skills-focused and I could not have covered the major standards for this grade level had I just taken OP’s idea of doing no teaching or learning for the last MONTH of school. That’s nuts.

You didn’t read the thread did you? I clearly stated you know it’s a bs project when the teacher basically says it is. The teacher said this is designed to be a grade booster and will be graded on effort and participation only. Thanks but no thanks. My kid worked their butts off all year and has a solid A. We don’t need the extra work or hassle. It should be optional for kids who don’t need the grade boost.

Lol, the royal "we" here says a lot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It could be worse. Our kids have been watching a movie for the past 3 days of school in one subject.

That is worse. We still have a month of school. Too early for movies, but they love to push them after the SOLs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All high school students should be allowed to do independent study these last few weeks of school. That could take place at home, school, or someplace else.

McLean HS offers an internship program.

Students choose their own and submit to the school for approval, well in advance.

Quality/ value varies. Have heard of:

Working for an uncle’s company,
Helping in an elementary school library,
Working in a bike shop,
Behind the counter at a pharmacy,
Shadowing doctors/ nursing staff at a hospital,
Assisting in a research laboratory,

Etc.

Believe Loudoun County might offer something similar.

Are the year end internships allowed for all McLean students or just for seniors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high schooler has now been slapped with 2 bs projects to take them through the end of the year. Why can’t they give these kids a break? Just do short lessons and discussions with minimal work. So annoyed! So now he has to use his Memorial Day weekend to work on the ridiculous projects.

Nearby school districts have a senior experience where seniors can engage in an approved experience outside of school (like travel, internship, reading, hiking, etc.). Arlington high schools do that, and they're not the only ones. There's no reason to keep seniors at school.

Seniors do have the option for an “internship” for 3 weeks. It’s been going on for a couple weeks now.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate the grade booster projects/ assignments at the end, but we’re in this cycle with at least 3 classes right now. Signed DC out of school for the past two days so she can record/“video” these assignments. One is an AP Chem presentation on a topic. One is an AP USH video of changing up a pop song lyrics to match some history content. And the other is in ASL.