Everyone hates Benchmark. FCPS do better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Upper ES teacher here. While I don’t like benchmark, this year is way better. I am able to differentiate for my AAP kids. My students have an assigned novel for each fiction unit and I am using small group to select stronger articles about thematic topics. Vocabulary instruction is actually happening this year. No one is policing like last year. It also helps we are cutting down on the unit tests.

I still hate the writing. But things have improved now that we have flexibility To adapt.

I have a 4th grader (not in AAP) whose teacher encouraged the class to, for example, check out Because of Winn Dixie from the library after they read that excerpt. My daughter looked through it in the classroom library and then asked me if we could check it out from the public library, which we did, and now she has a book to read tomorrow. So I don't see how, as a PP earlier suggested, a child could totally lose all interest in reading anything because of Benchmark.

Seriously? Your experience is not universal. The 6th grade Benchmark curriculum was god awful last year. All the excerpts were non fiction and boring. There was one on Queen Elizabeth 1 and one on archaeology technology and they were painfully boring. On top of that maybe we just had a crappy LA teacher. Her classroom library sucked (think lots of anime) and she complained all year to the kids about Benchmark.

Jokes on you, PP because I HAD a 6th grader last year. She READ A LOT OF BOOKS because I found her a lot of books that were interesting and at an appropriate reading level for her, so nope, sorry, this is on you. You cannot blame your child not reading any books last year on Benchmark.

I said she lost interest, not that she didn’t read any. It was difficult to get her interested in any of the books I suggested. It’s wonderful that your DD continued to be engaged and accepted the books you found for her. My DD would not. Whatever I suggested was rejected. Perhaps my child is more independent than yours. By 6th grade, Mommy should not be picking out their books. Parenting fail. And yes, Benchmark still sucks.

LOL!! Nice try, but that was really weak. You're blaming a school curriculum for your child not being interested in books you suggested, but then you are attempting to insult me for helping my daughter pick out books. What a joke! I will never stop encouraging my child to read books and helping her find books that I think she'll enjoy. Not even when she's an adult. It's sad that you think that's a bad thing!

You’re going to pick out books to read for your adult child too? Are you still going to cut her meat for her too? 🤣

Oooh sick burn! Just stop, you're embarrassing yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Upper ES teacher here. While I don’t like benchmark, this year is way better. I am able to differentiate for my AAP kids. My students have an assigned novel for each fiction unit and I am using small group to select stronger articles about thematic topics. Vocabulary instruction is actually happening this year. No one is policing like last year. It also helps we are cutting down on the unit tests.

I still hate the writing. But things have improved now that we have flexibility To adapt.

I have a 4th grader (not in AAP) whose teacher encouraged the class to, for example, check out Because of Winn Dixie from the library after they read that excerpt. My daughter looked through it in the classroom library and then asked me if we could check it out from the public library, which we did, and now she has a book to read tomorrow. So I don't see how, as a PP earlier suggested, a child could totally lose all interest in reading anything because of Benchmark.

Seriously? Your experience is not universal. The 6th grade Benchmark curriculum was god awful last year. All the excerpts were non fiction and boring. There was one on Queen Elizabeth 1 and one on archaeology technology and they were painfully boring. On top of that maybe we just had a crappy LA teacher. Her classroom library sucked (think lots of anime) and she complained all year to the kids about Benchmark.

Jokes on you, PP because I HAD a 6th grader last year. She READ A LOT OF BOOKS because I found her a lot of books that were interesting and at an appropriate reading level for her, so nope, sorry, this is on you. You cannot blame your child not reading any books last year on Benchmark.

I said she lost interest, not that she didn’t read any. It was difficult to get her interested in any of the books I suggested. It’s wonderful that your DD continued to be engaged and accepted the books you found for her. My DD would not. Whatever I suggested was rejected. Perhaps my child is more independent than yours. By 6th grade, Mommy should not be picking out their books. Parenting fail. And yes, Benchmark still sucks.

LOL!! Nice try, but that was really weak. You're blaming a school curriculum for your child not being interested in books you suggested, but then you are attempting to insult me for helping my daughter pick out books. What a joke! I will never stop encouraging my child to read books and helping her find books that I think she'll enjoy. Not even when she's an adult. It's sad that you think that's a bad thing!

Let’s not forget who started with the insults. You insulted me first by saying I wasn’t doing anything to try to help my daughter find any books. Your words: Parenting FAIL. And then you were condescending with “I’m sorry your daughter doesn’t like history.” So STFU. And while you are at it, touch grass.

Sounds like you are replying to multiple people. I never said anything about your daughter not liking history. I'm done arguing with you, you are out of control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Benchmark is good for those who are below grade level.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Upper ES teacher here. While I don’t like benchmark, this year is way better. I am able to differentiate for my AAP kids. My students have an assigned novel for each fiction unit and I am using small group to select stronger articles about thematic topics. Vocabulary instruction is actually happening this year. No one is policing like last year. It also helps we are cutting down on the unit tests.

I still hate the writing. But things have improved now that we have flexibility To adapt.

I have a 4th grader (not in AAP) whose teacher encouraged the class to, for example, check out Because of Winn Dixie from the library after they read that excerpt. My daughter looked through it in the classroom library and then asked me if we could check it out from the public library, which we did, and now she has a book to read tomorrow. So I don't see how, as a PP earlier suggested, a child could totally lose all interest in reading anything because of Benchmark.

Seriously? Your experience is not universal. The 6th grade Benchmark curriculum was god awful last year. All the excerpts were non fiction and boring. There was one on Queen Elizabeth 1 and one on archaeology technology and they were painfully boring. On top of that maybe we just had a crappy LA teacher. Her classroom library sucked (think lots of anime) and she complained all year to the kids about Benchmark.

Jokes on you, PP because I HAD a 6th grader last year. She READ A LOT OF BOOKS because I found her a lot of books that were interesting and at an appropriate reading level for her, so nope, sorry, this is on you. You cannot blame your child not reading any books last year on Benchmark.

I said she lost interest, not that she didn’t read any. It was difficult to get her interested in any of the books I suggested. It’s wonderful that your DD continued to be engaged and accepted the books you found for her. My DD would not. Whatever I suggested was rejected. Perhaps my child is more independent than yours. By 6th grade, Mommy should not be picking out their books. Parenting fail. And yes, Benchmark still sucks.

LOL!! Nice try, but that was really weak. You're blaming a school curriculum for your child not being interested in books you suggested, but then you are attempting to insult me for helping my daughter pick out books. What a joke! I will never stop encouraging my child to read books and helping her find books that I think she'll enjoy. Not even when she's an adult. It's sad that you think that's a bad thing!

You’re going to pick out books to read for your adult child too? Are you still going to cut her meat for her too? 🤣

Oooh sick burn! Just stop, you're embarrassing yourself.

The only one who should be embarassed is the initial poster who jumped down my back and said I wasn’t doing anything to help my daughter read and was a failed parent all because I disliked Benchmark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Upper ES teacher here. While I don’t like benchmark, this year is way better. I am able to differentiate for my AAP kids. My students have an assigned novel for each fiction unit and I am using small group to select stronger articles about thematic topics. Vocabulary instruction is actually happening this year. No one is policing like last year. It also helps we are cutting down on the unit tests.

I still hate the writing. But things have improved now that we have flexibility To adapt.

I have a 4th grader (not in AAP) whose teacher encouraged the class to, for example, check out Because of Winn Dixie from the library after they read that excerpt. My daughter looked through it in the classroom library and then asked me if we could check it out from the public library, which we did, and now she has a book to read tomorrow. So I don't see how, as a PP earlier suggested, a child could totally lose all interest in reading anything because of Benchmark.

Seriously? Your experience is not universal. The 6th grade Benchmark curriculum was god awful last year. All the excerpts were non fiction and boring. There was one on Queen Elizabeth 1 and one on archaeology technology and they were painfully boring. On top of that maybe we just had a crappy LA teacher. Her classroom library sucked (think lots of anime) and she complained all year to the kids about Benchmark.

Jokes on you, PP because I HAD a 6th grader last year. She READ A LOT OF BOOKS because I found her a lot of books that were interesting and at an appropriate reading level for her, so nope, sorry, this is on you. You cannot blame your child not reading any books last year on Benchmark.

Yes I absolutely can, despite your little rant about how much your 6th grader read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Upper ES teacher here. While I don’t like benchmark, this year is way better. I am able to differentiate for my AAP kids. My students have an assigned novel for each fiction unit and I am using small group to select stronger articles about thematic topics. Vocabulary instruction is actually happening this year. No one is policing like last year. It also helps we are cutting down on the unit tests.

I still hate the writing. But things have improved now that we have flexibility To adapt.

I have a 4th grader (not in AAP) whose teacher encouraged the class to, for example, check out Because of Winn Dixie from the library after they read that excerpt. My daughter looked through it in the classroom library and then asked me if we could check it out from the public library, which we did, and now she has a book to read tomorrow. So I don't see how, as a PP earlier suggested, a child could totally lose all interest in reading anything because of Benchmark.

Seriously? Your experience is not universal. The 6th grade Benchmark curriculum was god awful last year. All the excerpts were non fiction and boring. There was one on Queen Elizabeth 1 and one on archaeology technology and they were painfully boring. On top of that maybe we just had a crappy LA teacher. Her classroom library sucked (think lots of anime) and she complained all year to the kids about Benchmark.

Jokes on you, PP because I HAD a 6th grader last year. She READ A LOT OF BOOKS because I found her a lot of books that were interesting and at an appropriate reading level for her, so nope, sorry, this is on you. You cannot blame your child not reading any books last year on Benchmark.

I said she lost interest, not that she didn’t read any. It was difficult to get her interested in any of the books I suggested. It’s wonderful that your DD continued to be engaged and accepted the books you found for her. My DD would not. Whatever I suggested was rejected. Perhaps my child is more independent than yours. By 6th grade, Mommy should not be picking out their books. Parenting fail. And yes, Benchmark still sucks.

LOL!! Nice try, but that was really weak. You're blaming a school curriculum for your child not being interested in books you suggested, but then you are attempting to insult me for helping my daughter pick out books. What a joke! I will never stop encouraging my child to read books and helping her find books that I think she'll enjoy. Not even when she's an adult. It's sad that you think that's a bad thing!

Let’s not forget who started with the insults. You insulted me first by saying I wasn’t doing anything to try to help my daughter find any books. Your words: Parenting FAIL. And then you were condescending with “I’m sorry your daughter doesn’t like history.” So STFU. And while you are at it, touch grass.

Sounds like you are replying to multiple people. I never said anything about your daughter not liking history. I'm done arguing with you, you are out of control.

But you certainly made a big point to say I was a failed parent who did nothing to help my child read which was false. So eff off.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, thanks entirely to Youngkin's education department, Fairfax had to choose from a very limited number of providers, and they were not given enough time to research the providers before having to choose one. Unfortunately, they had to sign a multiyear contract, so we are now stuck with Benchmark for at least the next few years. If you want to blame anyone, blame Richmond. Specifically, Youngkin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Benchmark is good for those who are below grade level.

The reading selections can be difficult.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand the criticism that all the reading selections were nonfiction. I am very happy that more of my children's ELA instruction is based in nonfiction. My older children didn't actually start learning anything meaningful during ELA until they got to middle school because way too much of ELA was focused on independent reading of novels and creative or narrative writing. There was no substantial instruction.

At home, our children read fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry, and there was rich discussion of their reading, which was quite clearly not happening in school. We also taught them grammar since that too was not happening in school.

My sister-in-law teaches middle school ELA, and she has told us for the past 15 years, it has been obvious that the ELA instruction in elementary school has been extremely poor. She has had to,teach seventh grade children basics, such as the parts of speech, paragraph structure, how to use commas, etc.

Benchmark might not be perfect, but it is at least teaching something, unlike the previous approach many teachers took.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the criticism that all the reading selections were nonfiction. I am very happy that more of my children's ELA instruction is based in nonfiction. My older children didn't actually start learning anything meaningful during ELA until they got to middle school because way too much of ELA was focused on independent reading of novels and creative or narrative writing. There was no substantial instruction.

At home, our children read fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry, and there was rich discussion of their reading, which was quite clearly not happening in school. We also taught them grammar since that too was not happening in school.

My sister-in-law teaches middle school ELA, and she has told us for the past 15 years, it has been obvious that the ELA instruction in elementary school has been extremely poor. She has had to,teach seventh grade children basics, such as the parts of speech, paragraph structure, how to use commas, etc.

Benchmark might not be perfect, but it is at least teaching something, unlike the previous approach many teachers took.

+1 Although I’m not blaming teachers at all. My fifth grader is writing more now than my 9th grader ever has. The 9th grader has never had to compose a proper essay and isn’t an intuitive speller and it’s a struggle with all the writing that comes with high school. My 5th grader is learning to write essays now and actively works on spelling. She doesn’t love benchmark lol but I feel she will be more prepared for high school. I always found it so odd how little writing my older child had to do for ES in MS relative to my own academic experience. (Again, not blaming teachers and yes, I could have supplemented at home.)

[Anonymous]

100% agree. I think we'll see the biggest difference when current K-2 are in middle school. My middle schooler is a terrible writer and not the greatest at thinking critically. We're working on grammar and essay writing outside of school because I feel these are areas FCPS completely skipped over the past 10 years.