How are the 6th grade enrichment classes for cohort kids who were not accepted to magnet programs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone provide any details on the actual differences between the new classes and the existing classes? Anyone?

+1

Deafening silence.

I responded earlier and I’m not sure what you are looking for. No, I haven’t compared the curriculum nor am I planning to (not sure why I would?).

The social studies class was the same because the teacher told us that at parent’s night. My DC has 100 so she can’t be too challenged, but she really enjoys the class and is discussing the material at home. The math class is much more challenging than the 4th and 5th grade advanced class but the teacher is weak so that could be the issue. I will say it appears the magnet students were better prepared. That said, she’s a strong math student so is still doing well, it’s just not straight 100s like in 3rd and 4th.

All that said, we are comfortable with the level of challenge DC is receiving. Middle school is a time of huge biological change and as long as they get through it mentally healthy i’m not worried about the academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone provide any details on the actual differences between the new classes and the existing classes? Anyone?

+1

Deafening silence.

I responded earlier and I’m not sure what you are looking for. No, I haven’t compared the curriculum nor am I planning to (not sure why I would?).

The social studies class was the same because the teacher told us that at parent’s night. My DC has 100 so she can’t be too challenged, but she really enjoys the class and is discussing the material at home. The math class is much more challenging than the 4th and 5th grade advanced class but the teacher is weak so that could be the issue. I will say it appears the magnet students were better prepared. That said, she’s a strong math student so is still doing well, it’s just not straight 100s like in 3rd and 4th.

All that said, we are comfortable with the level of challenge DC is receiving. Middle school is a time of huge biological change and as long as they get through it mentally healthy i’m not worried about the academics.

Thanks for sharing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone provide any details on the actual differences between the new classes and the existing classes? Anyone?

+1

Deafening silence.

I responded earlier and I’m not sure what you are looking for. No, I haven’t compared the curriculum nor am I planning to (not sure why I would?).

The social studies class was the same because the teacher told us that at parent’s night. My DC has 100 so she can’t be too challenged, but she really enjoys the class and is discussing the material at home. The math class is much more challenging than the 4th and 5th grade advanced class but the teacher is weak so that could be the issue. I will say it appears the magnet students were better prepared. That said, she’s a strong math student so is still doing well, it’s just not straight 100s like in 3rd and 4th.

All that said, we are comfortable with the level of challenge DC is receiving. Middle school is a time of huge biological change and as long as they get through it mentally healthy i’m not worried about the academics.

I wonder if you didn't hear the teacher correctly?

My child is a 6th grader at Rosa. The Global Humanities teacher (who is excellent BTW) told us that he would cover the same curriculum as the other class--but far more in depth, and with added enrichment and activities. The class is truly interesting and my son enjoys it tremendously.

[Anonymous]

I heard it correctly because the parents were discussing it after the meeting. They could be going faster. As I said, I haven’t looked at the curriculum for the other classes. I know a lot of the kids in the class and it is a bright group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard it correctly because the parents were discussing it after the meeting. They could be going faster. As I said, I haven’t looked at the curriculum for the other classes. I know a lot of the kids in the class and it is a bright group.

Oy vey.

Learning isn't about going faster---it's about going deeper.

At our school, they are reading supplemental texts and having thought provoking discussions. I imagine they are doing similar extensions in your school. If not, then it sounds like you have a lazy teacher...which isn't surprising in the more affluent schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So far in this thread all we have is multiple people reporting that Pyle MS hasn't implemented anything different. In other words, the teachers at a well-performing, UMC school didn't really see the need to change what they were doing, and the administration doesn't see a problem with that. If parents believe differently, then they need to complain to the school. This isn't an MCPS issue - it is a Pyle issue.

FWIW, I know several former consulting teachers and they get an interesting insight into how different the middle schools and high schools are actually run, and how curriculum is or is not implemented in different departments. One CT reported that in one of the W schools (I don't remember which) they were teaching science curriculum from 20 years ago (two revisions ago) because they saw no need to change. If MCPS said your students are going to get a different curriculum, then go an make sure that is happening. Go observe, go ask for reports, get your PTA involved, get the department head involved, get the principal involved. Unless the teachers want to change, they won't. They'll do what is easiest, which is teach the same thing they taught before.

You’re right, but I don’t think the teachers are defying the principal’s orders. New sixth grade parents are probably the least likely to agitate, and teachers didn’t have much time to implement, and so they’re probably just staying the course and hoping no one really notices.

[Anonymous]

Anecdotally - and backed up by the PP upthread whose child is at Rosa - the enrichment seems to be better implemented in heterogenous schools.

This makes some sense, because predominantly UMC, predominantly white/Asian schools are going to have a sh*tshow on their hands if they try to tell some of these parents that their kids didn't make the cut for the "advanced" classes.

It's probably easier just not to implement than to deal with hundreds of angry parents who were top of their class back in Boise and can't understand why little Sofia isn't also top of her class in one of the best educated and richest counties in the nation.


I wouldn't want that headache either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone provide any details on the actual differences between the new classes and the existing classes? Anyone?

+1

Deafening silence.

I responded earlier and I’m not sure what you are looking for. No, I haven’t compared the curriculum nor am I planning to (not sure why I would?).

The social studies class was the same because the teacher told us that at parent’s night. My DC has 100 so she can’t be too challenged, but she really enjoys the class and is discussing the material at home. The math class is much more challenging than the 4th and 5th grade advanced class but the teacher is weak so that could be the issue. I will say it appears the magnet students were better prepared. That said, she’s a strong math student so is still doing well, it’s just not straight 100s like in 3rd and 4th.

All that said, we are comfortable with the level of challenge DC is receiving. Middle school is a time of huge biological change and as long as they get through it mentally healthy i’m not worried about the academics.

I wonder if you didn't hear the teacher correctly?

My child is a 6th grader at Rosa. The Global Humanities teacher (who is excellent BTW) told us that he would cover the same curriculum as the other class--but far more in depth, and with added enrichment and activities. The class is truly interesting and my son enjoys it tremendously.

How do you know it's far more in depth compared to the other classes? Because the teacher said so? Have you actually compared the enrichment/activities with the other classes? If not, then how do you actually know what the differences are?

I say this because we were told something very similar when DC was going into 6th grade home MS from HGC. The teachers said that these kids coming from HGC would be more challenged. Sounded great. Turns out, it was just an extra worksheet or two. I was extremely disappointed.

[Anonymous]

At our school, the new enriched classes are just wonderful. It's like being at a magnet minus the lengthy bus ride.

[Anonymous]

Can you provide helpful details? I think everyone is frustrated when people post empty platitudes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you provide helpful details? I think everyone is frustrated when people post empty platitudes.

Yes, the academics are more rigorous than the regular classes. DC stays with their friends, and there's no lengthy bus ride to the magnet. We couldn't be happier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you provide helpful details? I think everyone is frustrated when people post empty platitudes.

Yes, the academics are more rigorous than the regular classes. DC stays with their friends, and there's no lengthy bus ride to the magnet. We couldn't be happier.

People, this PP is a troll, clearly, since the PP can't provide any evidence. The PP is just winding you up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At pyle the two classes are exactly the same. Admin and teachers resented the whole business to begin with. Are you really surprised this is how it turned out?

I guess that Pyle isn't a good MS? Have you considered moving to Silver Spring for the schools?

[Anonymous]

Bad and substandard. They are not enriched at all.

The middle school years in MCPS suck. I am surprised that MCPS does not do more to fix it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone provide any details on the actual differences between the new classes and the existing classes? Anyone?

+1

Deafening silence.

I responded earlier and I’m not sure what you are looking for. No, I haven’t compared the curriculum nor am I planning to (not sure why I would?).

The social studies class was the same because the teacher told us that at parent’s night. My DC has 100 so she can’t be too challenged, but she really enjoys the class and is discussing the material at home. The math class is much more challenging than the 4th and 5th grade advanced class but the teacher is weak so that could be the issue. I will say it appears the magnet students were better prepared. That said, she’s a strong math student so is still doing well, it’s just not straight 100s like in 3rd and 4th.

All that said, we are comfortable with the level of challenge DC is receiving. Middle school is a time of huge biological change and as long as they get through it mentally healthy i’m not worried about the academics.

I wonder if you didn't hear the teacher correctly?

My child is a 6th grader at Rosa. The Global Humanities teacher (who is excellent BTW) told us that he would cover the same curriculum as the other class--but far more in depth, and with added enrichment and activities. The class is truly interesting and my son enjoys it tremendously.

How do you know it's far more in depth compared to the other classes? Because the teacher said so? Have you actually compared the enrichment/activities with the other classes? If not, then how do you actually know what the differences are?

I say this because we were told something very similar when DC was going into 6th grade home MS from HGC. The teachers said that these kids coming from HGC would be more challenged. Sounded great. Turns out, it was just an extra worksheet or two. I was extremely disappointed.

Rosa poster again. The teacher explained the enrichment.

They are reading novels that the regular history students aren't.

They complete DBQs (6 paragraph essays) regularly in response to deeper questions which the regular history students are not.

They're doing Model UN (regular class isn't).

I don't want to go into all the details, but my sense is that we have a truly excellent teacher at Rosa. They are having deep discussions about race, religion, politics and culture as it relates to historical fact and drawing parallels to modern times. My kid loves it.

But honestly, I wish all students had the same excellent teachers and stimulating enrichment. Learning should be fun and interesting...not "faster" or higher volume like some ridiculous posters seemingly believe.