FCPS- middle school Strategies for success

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:still worth doing?

You won’t know until your kid is in it. Mine had a negative experience but others we know said it helped. It’s completely teacher dependent. If it means giving up something they really want to take then no, don’t do it.

[Anonymous]

Do they offer this class in high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your child has to be recommended for this class. It’s not open to the general population.

This was not the case at frost last year. It was not a top elective choice for my kid but it was the elective she got second semester and she actually liked it. There was a big focus on organization and how to apply the concepts to current course load

[Anonymous]

Strategies for Success at Cooper is ineffective and possibly detrimental. Teachers often use it for planning, resulting in minimal instruction. Content is hastily covered, and students are left to their own devices. Additionally, the high number of students with behavior issues overwhelm teachers, compromising the learning environment.

Avoida at Cooper.

[Anonymous]

Strats for Success is typically part of the informal planning time for SPED teachers. It gives them time to track goals and paperwork. The students get a lesson and then can work or relax. There is a good deal of unstructured time, but this is part of the class to give the students a space to practice their skills. If an individual student is not using the time to do school work, it might be that they just need the downtime to decompress. Also, remember that middle school is an early start and using the class to rest is needed for many students with IEPs and 504s. If the class is getting noisy, some students find it helpful to bring noise canceling headphones or they can self-advocate to go to the library.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ would add— it is easier to teach these skills at school, over the school year. The class should be real time and hands on. In a well run class, Strategies, should be doing a daily planner check, helping kids chunk large assignments, looking at blackboard and SIS with kids, etc. you can do these things if the kid has no assignments. And it’s the 7 classes, 7 teachers, 7 sets of homework, teachers not coordinating, responsibility to check blackboard, working within block schedules, etc., that kill ADHD kids.

Also, clearly request first semester on the registration sheet. I have know kids assigned to second semester. At which point, they were already in trouble.

It is usually a full year class for students with IEPs.

[Anonymous]

The county is too big for every class to be taught the same way. One problem we have is that teachers who are excellent don’t get the chance to pass on their methods, because all direction comes down from Gatehouse, where the staff is often years removed from being in a classroom.

Keep in ind that the Strats teacher has to work with the range of kids in the class who all have different teachers and assignments and abilities. It’s hard to help each one organize and catch up, while also teaching general lessons on executive functioning.

If you aren’t happy with how it is being handled, speak up to the teacher and then admin. If one or two kids are taking up all the time with behavioral issues, the teacher will be thrilled to have the admin notified that they really need more help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The county is too big for every class to be taught the same way. One problem we have is that teachers who are excellent don’t get the chance to pass on their methods, because all direction comes down from Gatehouse, where the staff is often years removed from being in a classroom.

Keep in ind that the Strats teacher has to work with the range of kids in the class who all have different teachers and assignments and abilities. It’s hard to help each one organize and catch up, while also teaching general lessons on executive functioning.

If you aren’t happy with how it is being handled, speak up to the teacher and then admin. If one or two kids are taking up all the time with behavioral issues, the teacher will be thrilled to have the admin notified that they really need more help.

This is very optimistic advice bless your heart.

We raised our concerns to the IEP team. The class was not a good use of time, no structure and DC was coming home having plenty of work left to do. The SPED teacher was gone frequently for meetings and the behavior problems were getting worse.

The school’s response was that sure, they could switch our child out of the class. But first we, the parents, had to sign that we wanted to remove the IEP since FCPS would not provide IEP services for middle school students who not enrolled in the Strats for Success. (This is incorrect, schools are not supposed to do this.)

[Anonymous]

Can anyone recommend a tutoring program/teacher that covers similar strategies that I could sign my rising 7th grader up for? I think they could strongly benefit from additional study skills, time management and organization. Does not listen to me when I try to advise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Strats for Success is typically part of the informal planning time for SPED teachers. It gives them time to track goals and paperwork. The students get a lesson and then can work or relax. There is a good deal of unstructured time, but this is part of the class to give the students a space to practice their skills. If an individual student is not using the time to do school work, it might be that they just need the downtime to decompress. Also, remember that middle school is an early start and using the class to rest is needed for many students with IEPs and 504s. If the class is getting noisy, some students find it helpful to bring noise canceling headphones or they can self-advocate to go to the library.

Agree with the PP to avoid this class at Cooper Middle due to behavior issues and no structure.

To the above PP (teacher? admin?), there are so many things wrong with this post and the underlying attitude towards special education. It is supposed to be an instructional class period where the kids can develop, practice and build lagging study skills within the context of their academic assignments, not a glorified free-for-all period so the teacher can go and do paperwork. The kids that are in this class for their IEP/504 need the explicit instruction to be successful especially after Covid.

Here is the course description:

Strats for Success (781980)

Grades 7, 8

Credit non-credit

Duration 36 weeks (year)

This elective course is designed to provide support to a student in core curricular areas and to provide direct instruction in specific learning strategies, study skills, time management, organization, and self-advocacy skills. Time is also allotted to address individual areas of need as identified in a student's Individual Educational Plan (IEP). While students may receive assistance on core curricular assignments, the course is not designed to serve as a study hall. Students enrolled in the course receive the equivalent of one period of instruction each day. Students may enroll in this course multiple years as appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Adore it at Lake Braddock!

Agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone recommend a tutoring program/teacher that covers similar strategies that I could sign my rising 7th grader up for? I think they could strongly benefit from additional study skills, time management and organization. Does not listen to me when I try to advise.

My kid did this the end of 6th grade to prepare him for 7th grade. He found it very useful and there are more like it out there. https://outschool.com/classes/getting-it-together-executive-function-for-tweens-teens-Viw4yz8q

[Anonymous]

Mine did it at Longfellow a couple of years ago. He said it was almost all study hall, which he didn't mind at all.

[Anonymous]

Are parents notified if our students are enrolled in this course? Is there an option to opt-out if desired?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is anybody else agonizing about whether to sign their kid up for this class next year? We received a teacher recommendation to sign out AAP level child up for this in 7th grade, but she's kicking and screaming to not take it an instead take something more fun.

Anybody know what the workbook they use is and if it's available commercially? Wondering if we should just homeschool her on these skills over the summer (I'm a former teacher with a Masters in Ed.)

Anybody else have any feedback on the class?

My kid kicked and screamed and threatened to just not go. She had ADHD, wasn’t happy about it, and was recommended by the school. We told her she was signed up and if she cut class, she could deal with the consequences the school imposed, and we would back the school up at home. It was impactful enough that she requested a second semester. She is currently kicking butt at WM in a very tough double major. So something worked.

You’re the parent. You have 5 years left to make good choices for your kid. They may make her mad. Parent anyway.