Deal parent finding DCPS curriculum so uninspiring.

[Anonymous]

My 6th grader at Deal has read three books but also other connected stories, articles, etc. The ELA units are well organized and bring together different material in an effective way. They seem to spend a lot of time on each book and unit. My child reads other books at home for pleasure but I've been more than satisfied with the ELA curriculum at Deal so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a sixth grader at deal. We are seven months into
School and they've read exactly two
Books... And if your kids are readers they had already read those two books. I hear about constant behavioral disruptions in class where the teachers are given permission to call students parents on speaker phone to embarrass the unruly kids. Math is math... Seven seems not that far from six but with less problem children. Ugh... I'm depressed writing this. I know the smart kids get into big threes at the end of it all but it's not an inspiring curriculum ...

Same thing at Wilson with the books: 7 months in, 3 books read in English class (honors level). The academic level is nothing close to schools where we used to live (NYC suburb). I know that some kids come out of Deal and Wilson and go on to great success, but I am starting to think that it's despite Deal and Wilson, not because of them.

My oldest is at a big 3 and she has only read three books in English so far this year. It takes time to read, analyze, write and review.

+1. Maybe it would help if you could name the books the class has been reading. Is it The Odyssey or is it something much easier?

[Anonymous]

Who the heck is starting all of these Deal threads????!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who the heck is starting all of these Deal threads????!!!

People deciding whether or not to go through with private school for middle school???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who the heck is starting all of these Deal threads????!!!

People deciding whether or not to go through with private school for middle school???

Perhaps, but I have never seen this many threads at one time on any school let alone Deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a sixth grader at deal. We are seven months into
School and they've read exactly two
Books... And if your kids are readers they had already read those two books. I hear about constant behavioral disruptions in class where the teachers are given permission to call students parents on speaker phone to embarrass the unruly kids. Math is math... Seven seems not that far from six but with less problem children. Ugh... I'm depressed writing this. I know the smart kids get into big threes at the end of it all but it's not an inspiring curriculum ...

Same thing at Wilson with the books: 7 months in, 3 books read in English class (honors level). The academic level is nothing close to schools where we used to live (NYC suburb). I know that some kids come out of Deal and Wilson and go on to great success, but I am starting to think that it's despite Deal and Wilson, not because of them.

My oldest is at a big 3 and she has only read three books in English so far this year. It takes time to read, analyze, write and review.

+1. Maybe it would help if you could name the books the class has been reading. Is it The Odyssey or is it something much easier?

My Deal 6th grader read two versions of The Odyssey in the last unit (teacher recommendation; the standard version and one graphic novel version). Beowulf and The Jabberwocky were some of the official class texts for that unit. (Theme was Monsters) One of the writing assignments was to write an original derivative fiction from the POV of one of the monsters in Beowulf. They were also encouraged to take it a step further and some students recorded films of their stories, created video games based on their stories, etc. They had also done a Beowulf unit in 4th grade, but it was very different. I don't think this is uninspiring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a sixth grader at deal. We are seven months into
School and they've read exactly two
Books... And if your kids are readers they had already read those two books. I hear about constant behavioral disruptions in class where the teachers are given permission to call students parents on speaker phone to embarrass the unruly kids. Math is math... Seven seems not that far from six but with less problem children. Ugh... I'm depressed writing this. I know the smart kids get into big threes at the end of it all but it's not an inspiring curriculum ...

Same thing at Wilson with the books: 7 months in, 3 books read in English class (honors level). The academic level is nothing close to schools where we used to live (NYC suburb). I know that some kids come out of Deal and Wilson and go on to great success, but I am starting to think that it's despite Deal and Wilson, not because of them.

My oldest is at a big 3 and she has only read three books in English so far this year. It takes time to read, analyze, write and review.

Thanks to PP for some perspective!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a sixth grader at deal. We are seven months into
School and they've read exactly two
Books... And if your kids are readers they had already read those two books. I hear about constant behavioral disruptions in class where the teachers are given permission to call students parents on speaker phone to embarrass the unruly kids. Math is math... Seven seems not that far from six but with less problem children. Ugh... I'm depressed writing this. I know the smart kids get into big threes at the end of it all but it's not an inspiring curriculum ...

I am a PP who has been pleased with Deal. My kid reads a ton too and I don't expect his ELA class at Deal to blow through books since it isn't a reading class but an English class. I was able to look back at his team newsletter from 6th grade during this same week and his was the update: Last week in English, we continued our fourth Unit of study titled, “Finding Our Voice”, and we continued the drafting stages of the writing process of our persuasive essay, focusing on outlining our argument, writing a strong introduction and conclusion, and revising and editing.
This week we publish our One World Reflection Essay by typing in class on Monday and Tuesday. It is important that students come prepared with a flash drive. Students will still need an independent reading book in class all week, which should be a non­fiction book. A list of potential titles to choose from is listed on Edline.
It would be a good idea to have a mini “library in your locker”, so you have a variety to choose from, and a new book to read when finished.

All of this (I can share the other subjects if you want) is exactly what 6th grade ELA should be working on. Lots of analyzing and working through the writing process. If kids are below grade level in reading they have a specialized program for them (Reading 180 class) so most kids should be reading plenty on their own to use for the work they are doing in class. Clearly you are having issues. Ms. Neal is your go to person. She won't stand for disruptive kids. Have you met with her?

[Anonymous]

Thanks all, as a parent of a rising 6th grader headed to Deal next year this is very helpful.

[Anonymous]

OP, DCPS doesn't have a curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a sixth grader at deal. We are seven months into
School and they've read exactly two
Books... And if your kids are readers they had already read those two books. I hear about constant behavioral disruptions in class where the teachers are given permission to call students parents on speaker phone to embarrass the unruly kids. Math is math... Seven seems not that far from six but with less problem children. Ugh... I'm depressed writing this. I know the smart kids get into big threes at the end of it all but it's not an inspiring curriculum ...

I am a PP who has been pleased with Deal. My kid reads a ton too and I don't expect his ELA class at Deal to blow through books since it isn't a reading class but an English class. I was able to look back at his team newsletter from 6th grade during this same week and his was the update: Last week in English, we continued our fourth Unit of study titled, “Finding Our Voice”, and we continued the drafting stages of the writing process of our persuasive essay, focusing on outlining our argument, writing a strong introduction and conclusion, and revising and editing.
This week we publish our One World Reflection Essay by typing in class on Monday and Tuesday. It is important that students come prepared with a flash drive. Students will still need an independent reading book in class all week, which should be a non­fiction book. A list of potential titles to choose from is listed on Edline.
It would be a good idea to have a mini “library in your locker”, so you have a variety to choose from, and a new book to read when finished.

All of this (I can share the other subjects if you want) is exactly what 6th grade ELA should be working on. Lots of analyzing and working through the writing process. If kids are below grade level in reading they have a specialized program for them (Reading 180 class) so most kids should be reading plenty on their own to use for the work they are doing in class. Clearly you are having issues. Ms. Neal is your go to person. She won't stand for disruptive kids. Have you met with her?

I would not be happy to hear that my child was using class time to type up English papers. What a waste. Just be glad you aren't paying for this...

[Anonymous]

Yes most parents detest when their children work with teachers on their papers. It is horrible teaching to have a teacher sit and correct in real time or offer suggestions or review introductory paragraphs or proper conclusions for children. Most annoyingly is when the children can show their work to the teacher and ask questions then given corrections. I mean what is this? Teaching?!?!?

Oh wait....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a sixth grader at deal. We are seven months into
School and they've read exactly two
Books... And if your kids are readers they had already read those two books. I hear about constant behavioral disruptions in class where the teachers are given permission to call students parents on speaker phone to embarrass the unruly kids. Math is math... Seven seems not that far from six but with less problem children. Ugh... I'm depressed writing this. I know the smart kids get into big threes at the end of it all but it's not an inspiring curriculum ...

I am a PP who has been pleased with Deal. My kid reads a ton too and I don't expect his ELA class at Deal to blow through books since it isn't a reading class but an English class. I was able to look back at his team newsletter from 6th grade during this same week and his was the update: Last week in English, we continued our fourth Unit of study titled, “Finding Our Voice”, and we continued the drafting stages of the writing process of our persuasive essay, focusing on outlining our argument, writing a strong introduction and conclusion, and revising and editing.
This week we publish our One World Reflection Essay by typing in class on Monday and Tuesday. It is important that students come prepared with a flash drive. Students will still need an independent reading book in class all week, which should be a non­fiction book. A list of potential titles to choose from is listed on Edline.
It would be a good idea to have a mini “library in your locker”, so you have a variety to choose from, and a new book to read when finished.

All of this (I can share the other subjects if you want) is exactly what 6th grade ELA should be working on. Lots of analyzing and working through the writing process. If kids are below grade level in reading they have a specialized program for them (Reading 180 class) so most kids should be reading plenty on their own to use for the work they are doing in class. Clearly you are having issues. Ms. Neal is your go to person. She won't stand for disruptive kids. Have you met with her?

I would not be happy to hear that my child was using class time to type up English papers. What a waste. Just be glad you aren't paying for this...

I didn't quite understand that line either. Are students writing their paper in class or are they just literally typing something they've already handwritten (or does it mean something else entirely)??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes most parents detest when their children work with teachers on their papers. It is horrible teaching to have a teacher sit and correct in real time or offer suggestions or review introductory paragraphs or proper conclusions for children. Most annoyingly is when the children can show their work to the teacher and ask questions then given corrections. I mean what is this? Teaching?!?!?

Oh wait....

If that's what was happening, it would be called conferencing and the typing would already be done so the focus in class could be on the revision process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes most parents detest when their children work with teachers on their papers. It is horrible teaching to have a teacher sit and correct in real time or offer suggestions or review introductory paragraphs or proper conclusions for children. Most annoyingly is when the children can show their work to the teacher and ask questions then given corrections. I mean what is this? Teaching?!?!?

Oh wait....

If that's what was happening, it would be called conferencing and the typing would already be done so the focus in class could be on the revision process.

Yeah but then you have issues with the kids who won't have access to a computer at home (yes, it happens, even at Deal).