Blair

[Anonymous]

I realize it is unusual, just wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation and it worked out ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone’s DC at Blair come from TPMS magnet and not doing SMCS/Cap? Did they find their place ok? Find challenging courses? DC is very disappointed not being accepted and hoping things will be ok. Thanks in advance.

My oldest had a couple friends from TPMS mag in regular Blair, but both chose not to apply to any programs. They seem fine. My youngest may be in the same boat as yours. Currently waitlisted.

[Anonymous]

Only about 1/2 the magnets from tpms get chosen for Blair

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"What is the average homework load?" It really depends on the student and if they want straight As.

If you are coming from TP magnet or even Eastern magnet, you will do less homework as a freshman.

If you are from one of the other schools and took H Alg II in the 8th grade your work load will "double" but still not really be too bad.

If you are from one of the other schools and were in H Geometry in the 8th grade, your work will "triple". In some ways, this is the best group to be in because it gets you ready to be a sophomore.

I think it is safe to say that as a sophomore you will be doing 4 hours of homework every day including weekends, but the hours aren't very intense.

Now some students figure things out as freshmen and learn to study early and often and can get it done in 2 intense hours but they are walking a tight rope.

The tight rope is that part of the magnet cohort idea is that they communicate constantly and help each other build study sheets and do projects. If you are only there for 2 hours you are likely to miss something.

It is also possible to take study hall instead of PE or health or arts. Then make up those requirements either over the summer or as a senior when taking PE and chorus would give you lots of time to finish your Research Project and write college apps.

If you haven't taken H Alg II, make sure you look for the "factoring camp" week of classes offered to help get Functions and Magnet Precalc A students up to speed.

It is usually a couple weeks after 8th grade ends in the summer and there should be information about it at mbhs.edu in April.

If it's 4 hours in 10th grade, what is it in 11th and 12th?

This is not true. My organized (Straight A) magnet 10th grader has maybe 2hrs of homework per night. There are times where it's more but typically 2hrs. She often doubles up so she will have one day homework free. For instance, she will do 4-5 hours of homework on Sunday night that knocks out Monday and Tuesday. She can then have little to no homework on one of those two days. This is possible because of the Odd/Even days. Also, she will usually take Saturday off from homework as well. The bottom line is that unless your child is a very slow reader, is being forced to do extra work by a parent, or is very disorganized, he/she shouldn't be doing 4 hours of homework 7 days per week.

[Anonymous]

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only about 1/2 the magnets from tpms get chosen for Blair

true, but most of those not chosen for Blair (magnet), do not go to Blair HS. They go to their home HS instead.

[Anonymous]

This may sound harsh but I believe that the smarter the kid, the less HW each night because they more quickly understand the topic and material. The rigor of the curriculum is more of a struggle for the less naturally bright students who prep'ed and prep'ed and prep'ed for the admissions test and had help with their essay (you know who you are). It will be even more of a struggle for those students who get in based more on the "peer group" criteria than aptitude. If the county implements the "peer group" criteria for Blair SMES, the entire program will change for the worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This may sound harsh but I believe that the smarter the kid, the less HW each night because they more quickly understand the topic and material. The rigor of the curriculum is more of a struggle for the less naturally bright students who prep'ed and prep'ed and prep'ed for the admissions test and had help with their essay (you know who you are). It will be even more of a struggle for those students who get in based more on the "peer group" criteria than aptitude. If the county implements the "peer group" criteria for Blair SMES, the entire program will change for the worse.

No evidence of peer group used as a factor for admission this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only about 1/2 the magnets from tpms get chosen for Blair

true, but most of those not chosen for Blair (magnet), do not go to Blair HS. They go to their home HS instead.

And they join the other 250+ 9th grade students that went to TPMS that are zoned for Blair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This may sound harsh but I believe that the smarter the kid, the less HW each night because they more quickly understand the topic and material. The rigor of the curriculum is more of a struggle for the less naturally bright students who prep'ed and prep'ed and prep'ed for the admissions test and had help with their essay (you know who you are). It will be even more of a struggle for those students who get in based more on the "peer group" criteria than aptitude. If the county implements the "peer group" criteria for Blair SMES, the entire program will change for the worse.

It sounds both harsh and inaccurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may sound harsh but I believe that the smarter the kid, the less HW each night because they more quickly understand the topic and material. The rigor of the curriculum is more of a struggle for the less naturally bright students who prep'ed and prep'ed and prep'ed for the admissions test and had help with their essay (you know who you are). It will be even more of a struggle for those students who get in based more on the "peer group" criteria than aptitude. If the county implements the "peer group" criteria for Blair SMES, the entire program will change for the worse.

It sounds both harsh and inaccurate.

From my anecdotal observations - in HS - this is both harsh and inaccurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may sound harsh but I believe that the smarter the kid, the less HW each night because they more quickly understand the topic and material. The rigor of the curriculum is more of a struggle for the less naturally bright students who prep'ed and prep'ed and prep'ed for the admissions test and had help with their essay (you know who you are). It will be even more of a struggle for those students who get in based more on the "peer group" criteria than aptitude. If the county implements the "peer group" criteria for Blair SMES, the entire program will change for the worse.

It sounds both harsh and inaccurate.

From my anecdotal observations - in HS - this is both harsh and inaccurate.

Sounds logical to me..... Since homework assigned is a constant - The smarter the kid, the easier the homework. The dumber the kid, the harder the homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may sound harsh but I believe that the smarter the kid, the less HW each night because they more quickly understand the topic and material. The rigor of the curriculum is more of a struggle for the less naturally bright students who prep'ed and prep'ed and prep'ed for the admissions test and had help with their essay (you know who you are). It will be even more of a struggle for those students who get in based more on the "peer group" criteria than aptitude. If the county implements the "peer group" criteria for Blair SMES, the entire program will change for the worse.

It sounds both harsh and inaccurate.

From my anecdotal observations - in HS - this is both harsh and inaccurate.

Sounds logical to me..... Since homework assigned is a constant - The smarter the kid, the easier the homework. The dumber the kid, the harder the homework.

My guess is that the PP's who say "inaccurate" probably spent a shmit-ton of cash on the magnet prep courses and think this made their kid amazingly gifted. I guess it made their kids used to doing 4hrs of homework a night while others spend 2hrs a night.

[Anonymous]

"This may sound harsh but I believe that the smarter the kid, the less HW each night because they more quickly understand the topic and material. The rigor of the curriculum is more of a struggle for the less naturally bright students who prep'ed and prep'ed and prep'ed for the admissions test and had help with their essay (you know who you are). It will be even more of a struggle for those students who get in based more on the "peer group" criteria than aptitude. If the county implements the "peer group" criteria for Blair SMES, the entire program will change for the worse.

It sounds both harsh and inaccurate.

From my anecdotal observations - in HS - this is both harsh and inaccurate.

Sounds logical to me..... Since homework assigned is a constant - The smarter the kid, the easier the homework. The dumber the kid, the harder the homework.

My guess is that the PP's who say "inaccurate" probably spent a shmit-ton of cash on the magnet prep courses and think this made their kid amazingly gifted. I guess it made their kids used to doing 4hrs of homework a night while others spend 2hrs a night."

Often for students that get into Blair SMAC, the amount of homework has NOTHING to do with intelligence and lots to do with Parkinson's law. The work expands to fill the available time.

If they have 4 hours per day to devote to HW then it takes 4 hours. If they have 2 hours, it takes 2 hours.

I'm not the poster from above, but my DC certainly had periods in 9, 10 and 11 where they did 4 hours of HW per day for weeks on end.

Then they would get sick of it or a sport season would start or maybe most importantly during 2nd and 4th quarter, they only needed a B to match up with their A from 1st or 3rd quarter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may sound harsh but I believe that the smarter the kid, the less HW each night because they more quickly understand the topic and material. The rigor of the curriculum is more of a struggle for the less naturally bright students who prep'ed and prep'ed and prep'ed for the admissions test and had help with their essay (you know who you are). It will be even more of a struggle for those students who get in based more on the "peer group" criteria than aptitude. If the county implements the "peer group" criteria for Blair SMES, the entire program will change for the worse.

It sounds both harsh and inaccurate.

From my anecdotal observations - in HS - this is both harsh and inaccurate.

Sounds logical to me..... Since homework assigned is a constant - The smarter the kid, the easier the homework. The dumber the kid, the harder the homework.

My guess is that the PP's who say "inaccurate" probably spent a shmit-ton of cash on the magnet prep courses and think this made their kid amazingly gifted. I guess it made their kids used to doing 4hrs of homework a night while others spend 2hrs a night.

I am one of those PPs and didn't spend a dime. Kid currently in Blair magnet w/ like a 4.9GPA. You make no sense. Some kids just invest more. Mine spends more than I think she needs to on Eng. She's just a deep kid. Or, in math, if she doesn't get something, she will wrestle w/ it on her own longer than the others who run to the group chat right away. You have a funny way of simplifying people and shoehorning them into your small minded biased notions.