4th grade "too easy"

[Anonymous]

We moved over the summer from Southern VA where DD9 had been in private school since K. We were excited to be able to put her in public schools considering all the great things we've heard about MCPS. Well, here we are >1 month in and I'm perplexed by what she is bringing home from 4th grade. Most of what she is doing is review (I know that's typical in the start of a school year) but some is downright ridiculous. Her spelling words this week include came, some and page. These words are on the Dolch Pre-K list! Is there something I'm missing here or is MCPS just doing great on tests because the bar is set low? She never got tested for HGT since we were in a non-testing school. Is this something I need to ask for now? For a child that is reading 1-2 chapter books a week, I worry about the dumbing down of her education.

[Anonymous]

In general even grade s are review years and odd grades are learning years. Couple that with it being the start of the year. Talk to the teacher about differentiation options.

[Anonymous]

The teachers just did progress reports. Did you get one?

If you did, I would e-mail the teacher and ask for a short meeting, explaining that you just want to make sure that your daughter is on track, since it's a new school for her and a new school system for you. At the meeting, listen to what the teacher has to say, and then raise your concerns.

If you didn't, I would e-mail the teacher and ask for the progress report and a short meeting, with the same explanation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved over the summer from Southern VA where DD9 had been in private school since K. We were excited to be able to put her in public schools considering all the great things we've heard about MCPS. Well, here we are >1 month in and I'm perplexed by what she is bringing home from 4th grade. Most of what she is doing is review (I know that's typical in the start of a school year) but some is downright ridiculous. Her spelling words this week include came, some and page. These words are on the Dolch Pre-K list! Is there something I'm missing here or is MCPS just doing great on tests because the bar is set low? She never got tested for HGT since we were in a non-testing school. Is this something I need to ask for now? For a child that is reading 1-2 chapter books a week, I worry about the dumbing down of her education.

Honestly, yes the curriculum is ridiculously easy. They also won't teach vocabulary or grammar. Just basic easy spelling tests every 2 weeks. I have complained countless times to teachers in 4/5th grades. It will get better in 6th grade but from 2 different public schools, areas of 3-5th grade are very very weak. If you came from a good private school, your child will be bored to tears. They barely do any Science and History either. Maybe twice a week. Nothing outside of the box. Just push math for test scores and now that 2.0 is in place, the math is boring too. Sorry

[Anonymous]

That sucks.
HGC instruction is much more rigorous. Ours is using Wordly Wise Book 6. One chapter each week and spelling and definition test on Fridays. Maybe you can do that at home as well.

http://www.wordlywise3000.com/

[Anonymous]

I don't know. My kid is in third grade and this weeks' spelling list includes the words mischief, insincere and mischievous. He has to write an essay every week about a book he's reading. They have substantial math homework every night, plus cursive 2x each week. Interesting work on the constitution and the bill of rights seems to be happening in social studies. They just did two science experiments on gravity. The coursework seems appropriately challenging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. My kid is in third grade and this weeks' spelling list includes the words mischief, insincere and mischievous. He has to write an essay every week about a book he's reading. They have substantial math homework every night, plus cursive 2x each week. Interesting work on the constitution and the bill of rights seems to be happening in social studies. They just did two science experiments on gravity. The coursework seems appropriately challenging.

I find it interesting how amount and level of home work differ from school to school within MCPS. I have made my peace with the quality and quantity of "after-school clubs" that schools offer because the parents pay for it (example - the insane variety and choices that is available in Chevy Chase ES) but what MCPS itself provides should be uniform don't you think?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. My kid is in third grade and this weeks' spelling list includes the words mischief, insincere and mischievous. He has to write an essay every week about a book he's reading. They have substantial math homework every night, plus cursive 2x each week. Interesting work on the constitution and the bill of rights seems to be happening in social studies. They just did two science experiments on gravity. The coursework seems appropriately challenging.

I find it interesting how amount and level of home work differ from school to school within MCPS. I have made my peace with the quality and quantity of "after-school clubs" that schools offer because the parents pay for it (example - the insane variety and choices that is available in Chevy Chase ES) but what MCPS itself provides should be uniform don't you think?

What do you mean, make your peace with quality and quantity of after school clubs? Aren't you glad your school has lots of options? Sounds good to me, my kids don't have those options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In general even grade s are review years and odd grades are learning years. Couple that with it being the start of the year. Talk to the teacher about differentiation options.

According to who? I understand spiraling curriculum, but no new material for a whole grade. That's ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general even grade s are review years and odd grades are learning years. Couple that with it being the start of the year. Talk to the teacher about differentiation options.

According to who? I understand spiraling curriculum, but no new material for a whole grade. That's ridiculous.

According to whom

[Anonymous]

According to who? I understand spiraling curriculum, but no new material for a whole grade. That's ridiculous.

Spiraling curriculum is the stupidest thing ever and MCPS has taken it to an entirely different level. There is no research or studies that show simple repetition again and again actually helps students who didn't catch on quickly the first time around. It doesn't work but its cheap. It would require actual rigorous assessment (not everyone is always at a P and we don't have to do grading more mentality) to identify which students are ready to move on and which students need more help. Students who need more help would need actual help not just being thrown the same worksheet 50 times. The system would have to give a damn about actual student improvement not just making a bar so that the principal gets her merit reward.

[Anonymous]

Hmm, I have a 4th grader in MCPS and he has weekly spelling tests, not biweekly. This week's list includes "tayac," "sinew," "dogbane" and "excavate." I believe about half the words correspond to work they are doing in social studies. I'm sure my child could be challenged more, but I think the OP's complaints sound outside the norm for MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. My kid is in third grade and this weeks' spelling list includes the words mischief, insincere and mischievous. He has to write an essay every week about a book he's reading. They have substantial math homework every night, plus cursive 2x each week. Interesting work on the constitution and the bill of rights seems to be happening in social studies. They just did two science experiments on gravity. The coursework seems appropriately challenging.

I find it interesting how amount and level of home work differ from school to school within MCPS. I have made my peace with the quality and quantity of "after-school clubs" that schools offer because the parents pay for it (example - the insane variety and choices that is available in Chevy Chase ES) but what MCPS itself provides should be uniform don't you think?

What do you mean, make your peace with quality and quantity of after school clubs? Aren't you glad your school has lots of options? Sounds good to me, my kids don't have those options.

No. You misunderstand. Our ES does not have lots of after-school clubs like Chevy Chase ES does. I understand that this is PTA sponsored and paid by parents - so CCES PTA and parents can afford these clubs.

I have some envy of course, but I also know that I can do some legwork and see if other parents are interested and work to get a after-school club started at my ES as well. So - this falls on parents to make it happen, not MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, my second grader's weekly spelling words are a lot harder than those, and we are in MCPS too. You should set up a meeting with the teacher and see what's up. Please don't just accept the angry answers on here that MCPS just sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know. My kid is in third grade and this weeks' spelling list includes the words mischief, insincere and mischievous. He has to write an essay every week about a book he's reading. They have substantial math homework every night, plus cursive 2x each week. Interesting work on the constitution and the bill of rights seems to be happening in social studies. They just did two science experiments on gravity. The coursework seems appropriately challenging.

Something tells me our 3rd graders are in the same school...cause that almost totally summarizes what my 3rd grader is doing.
Maybe's OP's family got a lemon of a school.