Trying to stay positive and be patient with DCPS - but I'm worried

[Anonymous]

I think parents expect more out of DL because they are unaware of the poor quality of learning when school is in person. Spring DL wasn’t great, but I know that my child actually learned more in the few months of DL than he had learned all year— partly because I was making sure he actually learned and covered all the material. I have volunteered enough to know how much time is wasted every day in school getting in line, settling down, disruptions, etc. The huge bonus of DL is none of that will be happening. Teachers can actually meet with all the small groups, instead of only those in need because they keep running out of time.

[Anonymous]

My child is doing the 3rd grade bridge program at Janney and it’s going better than I expected. The teachers and admin are putting in a lot of effort to figure out best practices for distance learning. The teachers have also spent the week so far reviewing math skills that weren’t fully covered last spring. It’s not going to ever replicate live school at the elementary level but it’s a big improvement over the distance learning we had last spring, especially regarding more live instruction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think parents expect more out of DL because they are unaware of the poor quality of learning when school is in person. Spring DL wasn’t great, but I know that my child actually learned more in the few months of DL than he had learned all year— partly because I was making sure he actually learned and covered all the material. I have volunteered enough to know how much time is wasted every day in school getting in line, settling down, disruptions, etc. The huge bonus of DL is none of that will be happening. Teachers can actually meet with all the small groups, instead of only those in need because they keep running out of time.

You get it!
Very little learning takes place during a physical school day. DL is actually more than kids normally get

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think parents expect more out of DL because they are unaware of the poor quality of learning when school is in person. Spring DL wasn’t great, but I know that my child actually learned more in the few months of DL than he had learned all year— partly because I was making sure he actually learned and covered all the material. I have volunteered enough to know how much time is wasted every day in school getting in line, settling down, disruptions, etc. The huge bonus of DL is none of that will be happening. Teachers can actually meet with all the small groups, instead of only those in need because they keep running out of time.

You get it!
Very little learning takes place during a physical school day. DL is actually more than kids normally get

And what? You observe every school day? I swear some people are just deluded. If you actually spoke in hard facts like data that would be fine. But my kid is advanced for his grade and still continues to meet those expectations, he goes to a title 1 school. You guys just have crappy teachers and possibly a crappy school, just admit that. Instead of trying to group schools and teachers as a whole.

[Anonymous]

I know a lot of kids want to be in school. Also, more kids/teens are doing better than the parents. Parent need to let go of the old ideas about all these things kids "should" experience. Kindergarten, middle school graduation, frost year in highschool last year in highschool... It is what you make it and social norms change. There is a pandemic.. so things change. Most of the kids and teens get that.. they get life isn't the same as it was a few months ago. And they are probably much better than their parents at moving on and creating a new normal.
Now dcps and dcpcs are not helping by trying to pretend it is school as usual just on a computer at home. The lack of freedom for teachers to have a creative curriculum incorporating home life, currently events and such is sad. But, parents can do this if they just focus all that is and not all that is no longer. And depending on how things go with vaccines and God forbid we don't get some actual leadership it could be this way for a long while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of kids want to be in school. Also, more kids/teens are doing better than the parents. Parent need to let go of the old ideas about all these things kids "should" experience. Kindergarten, middle school graduation, frost year in highschool last year in highschool... It is what you make it and social norms change. There is a pandemic.. so things change. Most of the kids and teens get that.. they get life isn't the same as it was a few months ago. And they are probably much better than their parents at moving on and creating a new normal.
Now dcps and dcpcs are not helping by trying to pretend it is school as usual just on a computer at home. The lack of freedom for teachers to have a creative curriculum incorporating home life, currently events and such is sad. But, parents can do this if they just focus all that is and not all that is no longer. And depending on how things go with vaccines and God forbid we don't get some actual leadership it could be this way for a long while.

On “social norms” during COVID: When OP suggested “first year in high school” should be marked by more “rah rah”, that was a revelation to me! A key challenge for teen distance learner is motivation. even for students who normally do well in school. I think OP was trying to address that in advocating some “rah rah”.

When kids are actually going to school, they are motivated to go to class, participate in class, be proactive in managing schedules by other students and by teachers who have that special touch. Under distance learning, it’s for parents to motivate them to 1. Keep track of their schedule and 2, get out of bed and get dressed, eat breakfast and 3. log on to whichever platform. 4. Plus homework/tests. If possible, it would be great if teachers and educational leaders could somehow work their magic through a distance, and instill a sense of team/teen spirit to motivate students.

On curriculum during COVID: I totally agree that it should *not* be/cannot be school as usual on a computer. I think this is also part of the motivation challenge. Wouldn’t science be more interesting if public health/pandemics were woven into the curriculum? If ELA incorporated study of pandemic journals or the Depression lit? Or student reflections on “getting centered” during isolation? Or figuring out what really matters? Maybe, maybe not. I think the individual teacher is best placed to decide. I really do agree that allowing a teacher to exercise creativity and even improvise a bit is key. If a teacher is really interested in what s/he’s teaching, and is actively seeking to engage students as individuals, that’s sure to get my teen out of bed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of kids want to be in school. Also, more kids/teens are doing better than the parents. Parent need to let go of the old ideas about all these things kids "should" experience. Kindergarten, middle school graduation, frost year in highschool last year in highschool... It is what you make it and social norms change. There is a pandemic.. so things change. Most of the kids and teens get that.. they get life isn't the same as it was a few months ago. And they are probably much better than their parents at moving on and creating a new normal.
Now dcps and dcpcs are not helping by trying to pretend it is school as usual just on a computer at home. The lack of freedom for teachers to have a creative curriculum incorporating home life, currently events and such is sad. But, parents can do this if they just focus all that is and not all that is no longer. And depending on how things go with vaccines and God forbid we don't get some actual leadership it could be this way for a long while.

Yes - so true! I was definitely feeling bummed about my rising senior's year (and my freshman's too), but he is not that bothered. Though, I'm sure it will become more of a reality come September. Finally, I had to tell myself that's just the life of everyone born in 2002-3. He won't be stuck in HS - that's for sure. It may even make college more special - who knows. My youngest declared that he will wear a mask all the time now (even outside!) because he wants to go back.

A couple of other things...

Wilson isn't that rah-rah normally. Again, that's something we bring from our HS experience. I asked my colleague about this and she said her kids' Montgomery Co HS is the same. That doesn't mean the kids don't like it. The majority of overall experiences are positive.

I agree with the poster on page 1 - I thought the teachers, by and large, did a great job with DL AND schedules are always crazy for some unknown reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of kids want to be in school. Also, more kids/teens are doing better than the parents. Parent need to let go of the old ideas about all these things kids "should" experience. Kindergarten, middle school graduation, frost year in highschool last year in highschool... It is what you make it and social norms change. There is a pandemic.. so things change. Most of the kids and teens get that.. they get life isn't the same as it was a few months ago. And they are probably much better than their parents at moving on and creating a new normal.
Now dcps and dcpcs are not helping by trying to pretend it is school as usual just on a computer at home. The lack of freedom for teachers to have a creative curriculum incorporating home life, currently events and such is sad. But, parents can do this if they just focus all that is and not all that is no longer. And depending on how things go with vaccines and God forbid we don't get some actual leadership it could be this way for a long while.

Yes - so true! I was definitely feeling bummed about my rising senior's year (and my freshman's too), but he is not that bothered. Though, I'm sure it will become more of a reality come September. Finally, I had to tell myself that's just the life of everyone born in 2002-3. He won't be stuck in HS - that's for sure. It may even make college more special - who knows. My youngest declared that he will wear a mask all the time now (even outside!) because he wants to go back.

A couple of other things...

Wilson isn't that rah-rah normally. Again, that's something we bring from our HS experience. I asked my colleague about this and she said her kids' Montgomery Co HS is the same. That doesn't mean the kids don't like it. The majority of overall experiences are positive.

I agree with the poster on page 1 - I thought the teachers, by and large, did a great job with DL AND schedules are always crazy for some unknown reason.

Wilson may not be “rah rah” normally. (Neither was my HS by the way. Quite the opposite.). I would say “rah rah” is a relative term. To me, any school with sports teams, a mascot, and sweatshirts attempts to foster team spirit. Seeing thousands of classmates arriving at school in the am also fosters team spirit. As does finding a favorite teacher,

But in any case, these are not normal times.

Given these distance learning challenges, a bit of external, positive motivation may help. Many teens are motivated by group dynamics.

Your own rising ninth grade is pumped bc he’s seen his elder sibling thrive at Wilson.

Anyway, my DC didn’t attend Deal last year, but I got the weekly email updates. I really liked how Ms. Neal tried to foster community virtually after schools closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think parents expect more out of DL because they are unaware of the poor quality of learning when school is in person. Spring DL wasn’t great, but I know that my child actually learned more in the few months of DL than he had learned all year— partly because I was making sure he actually learned and covered all the material. I have volunteered enough to know how much time is wasted every day in school getting in line, settling down, disruptions, etc. The huge bonus of DL is none of that will be happening. Teachers can actually meet with all the small groups, instead of only those in need because they keep running out of time.

You get it!
Very little learning takes place during a physical school day. DL is actually more than kids normally get

And what? You observe every school day? I swear some people are just deluded. If you actually spoke in hard facts like data that would be fine. But my kid is advanced for his grade and still continues to meet those expectations, he goes to a title 1 school. You guys just have crappy teachers and possibly a crappy school, just admit that. Instead of trying to group schools and teachers as a whole.

I'm the one who wrote the original post, and going by data, my kid goes to one of the DCPS schools. Data shows bare minimum achievement. Most kids should be achieving "4" on these standardized tests. The fact that that they don't is shocking. Until you actually spend time in the school regularly and see what happens everyday. And yes, last year, I went to my kid's school once a week because I was involved in a school program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think parents expect more out of DL because they are unaware of the poor quality of learning when school is in person. Spring DL wasn’t great, but I know that my child actually learned more in the few months of DL than he had learned all year— partly because I was making sure he actually learned and covered all the material. I have volunteered enough to know how much time is wasted every day in school getting in line, settling down, disruptions, etc. The huge bonus of DL is none of that will be happening. Teachers can actually meet with all the small groups, instead of only those in need because they keep running out of time.

You get it!
Very little learning takes place during a physical school day. DL is actually more than kids normally get

And what? You observe every school day? I swear some people are just deluded. If you actually spoke in hard facts like data that would be fine. But my kid is advanced for his grade and still continues to meet those expectations, he goes to a title 1 school. You guys just have crappy teachers and possibly a crappy school, just admit that. Instead of trying to group schools and teachers as a whole.

I'm the one who wrote the original post, and going by data, my kid goes to one of the DCPS schools. Data shows bare minimum achievement. Most kids should be achieving "4" on these standardized tests. The fact that that they don't is shocking. Until you actually spend time in the school regularly and see what happens everyday. And yes, last year, I went to my kid's school once a week because I was involved in a school program.

"I went to my kid's school once a week, every week school was in session"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think parents expect more out of DL because they are unaware of the poor quality of learning when school is in person. Spring DL wasn’t great, but I know that my child actually learned more in the few months of DL than he had learned all year— partly because I was making sure he actually learned and covered all the material. I have volunteered enough to know how much time is wasted every day in school getting in line, settling down, disruptions, etc. The huge bonus of DL is none of that will be happening. Teachers can actually meet with all the small groups, instead of only those in need because they keep running out of time.

You get it!
Very little learning takes place during a physical school day. DL is actually more than kids normally get

And what? You observe every school day? I swear some people are just deluded. If you actually spoke in hard facts like data that would be fine. But my kid is advanced for his grade and still continues to meet those expectations, he goes to a title 1 school. You guys just have crappy teachers and possibly a crappy school, just admit that. Instead of trying to group schools and teachers as a whole.

I'm the one who wrote the original post, and going by data, my kid goes to one of the DCPS schools. Data shows bare minimum achievement. Most kids should be achieving "4" on these standardized tests. The fact that that they don't is shocking. Until you actually spend time in the school regularly and see what happens everyday. And yes, last year, I went to my kid's school once a week because I was involved in a school program.

"I went to my kid's school once a week, every week school was in session"

I know, total BS. DCPS allows parents to come whenever but only for 15 minute intervals. This person must think we are all really dumb. Just admit your school or teacher was poor, or perhaps your child needed extra support(s).

[Anonymous]

To 13:45, We are in the middle of a pandemic where some admins have been sick, had sick family, have a child out of work, are also stressed out themselves by the BLM momentum, so try to give them a break. Kids can get rah-rah from parents who are positive and encouraging, and don’t automatically dis or complain about DL. Again, I think that’s something you want over your kid. And, it’s on you that your kid didn’t go to Deal and have a built in community, so you can’t ask for more your fairly unique situation.

Ms. Neal is incredible. She responds with grace in every situation, including zoom meetings where parents grotesquely attack her. However, she does not have nearly the same scheduling challenges that Ms. (Is she dr. now?) Martin does. Not only does every kid have an individual schedule, she is going down to 4 classes. She is definitely more serious, which is fine. Give her and the school a chance.

[Anonymous]

*That’s something you want, more than your kid does

[Anonymous]

An additional concern is just how much more time will be devoted to social justice studies at the expense of core subjects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To 13:45, We are in the middle of a pandemic where some admins have been sick, had sick family, have a child out of work, are also stressed out themselves by the BLM momentum, so try to give them a break. Kids can get rah-rah from parents who are positive and encouraging, and don’t automatically dis or complain about DL. Again, I think that’s something you want over your kid. And, it’s on you that your kid didn’t go to Deal and have a built in community, so you can’t ask for more your fairly unique situation.

Ms. Neal is incredible. She responds with grace in every situation, including zoom meetings where parents grotesquely attack her. However, she does not have nearly the same scheduling challenges that Ms. (Is she dr. now?) Martin does. Not only does every kid have an individual schedule, she is going down to 4 classes. She is definitely more serious, which is fine. Give her and the school a chance.

Please, I’m not criticizing anyone. I’m trying to make a constructive suggestion going forward. I never “dis or complain” about DL to my child or anyone else. We are in a pandemic, and the lives of teachers and students are sacred. Also, education - in whatever form it takes — is sacred.

To be honest, thiis idea that “team spirit” is a key component of academic success is new to me. If I were a teen doing DL, I would be very happy to stay in my corner, and focus on Zoom sessions and homework. In terms of what I want for my child, I would actually prefer limited social interaction, so as not to be distracted. To my mind, “rah rah” is extraneous at best, a dangerous distraction at worst.

But these days, DC and many/most teens rely on a group dynamic to feel engaged in any effort. DC actually knows most of the incoming ninth graders from Deal (yes, hundreds, long story). DC is “popular”. But still, I suspect that once school gets started, anything the school can do to instill a sense of team motivation will help in motivating academic participation.

I have met Dr. Martin briefly and was very impressed by her. So full of life. We participated in the June or July meeting via Zoom with Assistant Pirncipals and we were similarly impressed. Very thoughtful. One thing they stressed again and again is that getting involved in a sport or extracurricular activity is key to success. They said that, not me.

Obviously, it may not be possible for the school to foster a “rah rah” group dynamic via distance learning. That’s okay. As a parent, if my student is not motivated, I can if need be: email school to get onto Aspen, get schedule and assignments from Aspen, remind child of Zoom sessions/assignments, urge student one more time to get out of bed to do Zoom session (and dress to show respect for teacher), be on the look out for inevitable teaching gaps, encourage child to contact teachers for help, hire tutors.

But I can’t instill an instrinsic sense of enthusiasm for DL school assignments, Khan Academy, self-teaching, and independent study because that needs to come from teachers and fellow students. It can’t come from parents.

If that’s simply not possible during this pandemic periodic, that’s perfectly understandable. I’m SAHM, and DH works from from home. We will certainly get by.

And when people complain in x weeks that disadvantaged students are not engaged in DL, so we should return to school ASAP, I will post again and again as I did this summer that we should prioritze public health. I truly believe that teachers’ lives matter.