Advanced classes in Middle School?

[Anonymous]

How are advanced classes done in MCPS middle schools.

I read on another thread that advanced and regular students are in the same class, only the advanced students get a different test.

Is this right? It does not make sense to me.

Is this a change that Starr implemented or has it always been done this way?

[Anonymous]

There used to be true GT classes, but this change reflects concerns that some students were being tracked into lower-level classes and did not have a chance to advance and meet their potential. I'm not sure if this was Starr's doing, though I think he agrees philosophically with the movement away from tracking. This is a tricky issue, but I'm not sure that the current system is serving anyone very well.

[Anonymous]

It is not just a different test. It is different homework, projects, and books to read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are advanced classes done in MCPS middle schools.

I read on another thread that advanced and regular students are in the same class, only the advanced students get a different test.

Is this right? It does not make sense to me.

Is this a change that Starr implemented or has it always been done this way?

Good grief. Starr got here in July 2011. The devil himself couldn't have accomplished all of the evil doings that people like to ascribe to Starr.

[Anonymous]

Really? My child is in Takoma magnet, and I do not think there are different projects or tests on general subjects (English, Social Studies). According to my child everyone does the same thing.
Am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

The eighth grader I talked to was pretty adamant that maybe you had an extra question on homework but that it was the exact same teaching, she did not mention anything about books. She was also very critical of the class saying that it was not advanced.

How do you have two different sets of kids read different books and then have any meaningful class discussion?

This methodology is very confusing. We all had AP or Honors classes growing up, if you wanted to do the harder work you signed up for the honors class if you didn't, you didn't. What was wrong with the old way?

So this is just in middle school right? Are there true AP classes in high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The eighth grader I talked to was pretty adamant that maybe you had an extra question on homework but that it was the exact same teaching, she did not mention anything about books. She was also very critical of the class saying that it was not advanced.

How do you have two different sets of kids read different books and then have any meaningful class discussion?

This methodology is very confusing. We all had AP or Honors classes growing up, if you wanted to do the harder work you signed up for the honors class if you didn't, you didn't. What was wrong with the old way?

So this is just in middle school right? Are there true AP classes in high school?

Yes, there are true AP classes in HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The eighth grader I talked to was pretty adamant that maybe you had an extra question on homework but that it was the exact same teaching, she did not mention anything about books. She was also very critical of the class saying that it was not advanced.

How do you have two different sets of kids read different books and then have any meaningful class discussion?

This methodology is very confusing. We all had AP or Honors classes growing up, if you wanted to do the harder work you signed up for the honors class if you didn't, you didn't. What was wrong with the old way?

So this is just in middle school right? Are there true AP classes in high school?

No, we all didn't. Or, in any case, I didn't. Not until high school, and even then it was only a few classes.

[Anonymous]

In my child's middle school the kids designated as advanced read different books and have different homework. It is not wildly different but just some added complexity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are advanced classes done in MCPS middle schools.

I read on another thread that advanced and regular students are in the same class, only the advanced students get a different test.

Is this right? It does not make sense to me.

Is this a change that Starr implemented or has it always been done this way?

Good grief. Starr got here in July 2011. The devil himself couldn't have accomplished all of the evil doings that people like to ascribe to Starr.

Whether he did this or not, Starr is a proponent of reducing tracking in middle school. It was one of his major achievements in Stanford, CT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really? My child is in Takoma magnet, and I do not think there are different projects or tests on general subjects (English, Social Studies). According to my child everyone does the same thing.
Am I missing something?

No. My TPMS student is in the same situation: Same projects, tests, assignments for all students in the "advanced" class. Which is not advanced. It is one-size-fits-all.

[Anonymous]

The PP might be referring to the Advanced Reading class, not the Advanced English class. I am guessing your child at TPMS is only taking the Advanced English class.

[Anonymous]

It has often been noted that all schools do not handle it the same way,,,

[Anonymous]

In DDs Advanced English class about half the kids are on the advanced track and half are not. They have different homework and tests, and sometimes read different books. All kids learn the same concepts, but the kids on the advanced track are supposed to demonstrate higher level knowledge of those concepts. The kids not on the advanced track can do the more advanced work if they want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really? My child is in Takoma magnet, and I do not think there are different projects or tests on general subjects (English, Social Studies). According to my child everyone does the same thing.
Am I missing something?

Mine, too. All materials to all the kids are the same.