New middle school enriched and accelerated classes

[Anonymous]

New course description:

This course is built around the core Grade 6 social studies curriculum that includes historical content from early civilizations, the empires of Greece and Rome, the dynasties of China, and civilizations of the first millennium. Cohort students will go beyond this core however as they learn additional content, explore deeper connections to today, engage in investigative inquiry to strengthen their writing through Document Based Questions, and enhance their learning through relevant literature connections.


Existing course description in some of the MS - 2016-17 Advanced World Studies 6 (7897)

This course provides enriched opportunities for learning about ancient world history. Building on the current four units of Grade 6 world studies [Greece, Rome, China, etc..], students will deepen their understanding of the rich cultures and history from the earliest human settlements to great civilizations of the year 1000 CE. Students are challenged to analyze archaeological evidence, ask questions to further their knowledge, and understand history as an ongoing investigation. These historical thinking, reading, and writing skills support success in future Advanced Placement and honors social studies courses.


I don't see all that much difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure Pyle admin is resisting this as much as they possibly can--the school believes that anyone who wants extra rigor should go to a magnet, as if you can snap your fingers and go, particularly now.

Seems to me that Pyle feels they already provide a superior level of teaching to their students compared to other mcps schools. We always read that Pyle kids don't bother with magnets because they already have wonderful schools.

MS taught all student bodies well back when it could do tracking in all subject matter. Curriculum 2.0 dropped differentiation for ES and MS and many students became bored beyond belief, especially after coming from the highly engaged HGC student body, class and curriculum.
Pyle has gotten an earful and now MCPS may bring back more challenging ability tracking and classes to home MS's.

MCPS MS and HS magnets are a pretty moot offering if you live that far away from where it's stationed.

Good! Bring it back for ES too!

Yes, it is beyond time to fix MCPS MS and ES.
Barbell approach: Fix for the ELLs, FIx for the highly capable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New course description:

This course is built around the core Grade 6 social studies curriculum that includes historical content from early civilizations, the empires of Greece and Rome, the dynasties of China, and civilizations of the first millennium. Cohort students will go beyond this core however as they learn additional content, explore deeper connections to today, engage in investigative inquiry to strengthen their writing through Document Based Questions, and enhance their learning through relevant literature connections.


Existing course description in some of the MS - 2016-17 Advanced World Studies 6 (7897)

This course provides enriched opportunities for learning about ancient world history. Building on the current four units of Grade 6 world studies [Greece, Rome, China, etc..], students will deepen their understanding of the rich cultures and history from the earliest human settlements to great civilizations of the year 1000 CE. Students are challenged to analyze archaeological evidence, ask questions to further their knowledge, and understand history as an ongoing investigation. These historical thinking, reading, and writing skills support success in future Advanced Placement and honors social studies courses.


I don't see all that much difference.

Sounds much better to me, especially surrounded by peer students who do their homework, pay attention and speak up in class, and are aiming for better than MoC Community College (which is a WRITTEN goal of C2.0: be able to get in to that community college. they also have a fast track degree for MCPS students who want to be eSOl teachers with MCPS).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So are they not going to do anything for the upcounty students? Does anyone know?

Presumably they will wait to see how the downcounty pilot program goes this year before expanding to upcounty. That's how the changes to the CES worked -- pilot area last year, all schools this year.

Once again, Northern Hinterlands gets screwed. Never anything for our kids.

Upcounty has the same magnet process as before, which many parents preferred.

Really? I'm in upcounty and would love to see enriched classes in MS for my kids. How do you know what the upcounty parents preference is? 7 in

Well, have you followed the uproar over the changes to the magnet process downcounty? People have been livid over it.

They were livid about not getting in to the magnet programs, before the new enriched classes at other middle schools were announced. Many people are now pleased with these upcoming opportunities at their home schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pyle teachers hate the one third top/middle/bottom student classes. Everyone just sits there!
The pod system is too big to form a sense of community, with no ability tracking there is a different set of 30 kids in each of your 7 classes.

I agree that the Pyle teachers probably didn't have any say in moving from leveled classes to mixed classes. The benefits of mixed ability level classes are all around scheduling when it comes down to it. Mixed classes make sense for administrators, not educators.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New course description:

This course is built around the core Grade 6 social studies curriculum that includes historical content from early civilizations, the empires of Greece and Rome, the dynasties of China, and civilizations of the first millennium. Cohort students will go beyond this core however as they learn additional content, explore deeper connections to today, engage in investigative inquiry to strengthen their writing through Document Based Questions, and enhance their learning through relevant literature connections.


Existing course description in some of the MS - 2016-17 Advanced World Studies 6 (7897)

This course provides enriched opportunities for learning about ancient world history. Building on the current four units of Grade 6 world studies [Greece, Rome, China, etc..], students will deepen their understanding of the rich cultures and history from the earliest human settlements to great civilizations of the year 1000 CE. Students are challenged to analyze archaeological evidence, ask questions to further their knowledge, and understand history as an ongoing investigation. These historical thinking, reading, and writing skills support success in future Advanced Placement and honors social studies courses.


I don't see all that much difference.

Sounds much better to me, especially surrounded by peer students who do their homework, pay attention and speak up in class, and are aiming for better than MoC Community College (which is a WRITTEN goal of C2.0: be able to get in to that community college. they also have a fast track degree for MCPS students who want to be eSOl teachers with MCPS).

That would happen regardless of the change in curriculum. Even without this "new" change, those same 5th graders going into 6th would've been assigned to take this existing Advanced World Studies class. All of DC's HGC friends had this same Advanced class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pyle teachers hate the one third top/middle/bottom student classes. Everyone just sits there!
The pod system is too big to form a sense of community, with no ability tracking there is a different set of 30 kids in each of your 7 classes.

I agree that the Pyle teachers probably didn't have any say in moving from leveled classes to mixed classes. The benefits of mixed ability level classes are all around scheduling when it comes down to it. Mixed classes make sense for administrators, not educators.

Pyle leadership does not understand the Pyle community. And before anyone jumps to the conclusion that I'm just another helicopter parent, my kid won't get to take those advanced classes. There's a glaring tone deafness around parents' priorities. The change coming now is in response to a directive from above, not because they're finally taking parents concerns seriously. I guess that's what it takes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So are they not going to do anything for the upcounty students? Does anyone know?

Presumably they will wait to see how the downcounty pilot program goes this year before expanding to upcounty. That's how the changes to the CES worked -- pilot area last year, all schools this year.

Once again, Northern Hinterlands gets screwed. Never anything for our kids.

Upcounty has the same magnet process as before, which many parents preferred.

So all downcounty kids who are judged able are going to get enriched MS classes this year, either in magnet or home school, while just the ones who get into upcounty magnets will get enriched classes? There are plenty of able upcounty kids who would benefit from these enriched classes, too! And we would love it if we don’t have to wait another year or three to get them, if we get them at all.

Probably the upcounty MS magnets will have the same application process as the downcounty MS magnets, next year. At which point the upcounty non-magnet MSs (i.e., all of the schools except MLK and Clemente) ought to get the same enriched classes as the downcounty non-magnet MSs. If they don't, the upcounty parents should make a giant fuss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New course description:

This course is built around the core Grade 6 social studies curriculum that includes historical content from early civilizations, the empires of Greece and Rome, the dynasties of China, and civilizations of the first millennium. Cohort students will go beyond this core however as they learn additional content, explore deeper connections to today, engage in investigative inquiry to strengthen their writing through Document Based Questions, and enhance their learning through relevant literature connections.


Existing course description in some of the MS - 2016-17 Advanced World Studies 6 (7897)

This course provides enriched opportunities for learning about ancient world history. Building on the current four units of Grade 6 world studies [Greece, Rome, China, etc..], students will deepen their understanding of the rich cultures and history from the earliest human settlements to great civilizations of the year 1000 CE. Students are challenged to analyze archaeological evidence, ask questions to further their knowledge, and understand history as an ongoing investigation. These historical thinking, reading, and writing skills support success in future Advanced Placement and honors social studies courses.


I don't see all that much difference.

Note the bolded text, that is the difference. The new course is a combination of the Reading (old course description) and World Studies courses from Eastern magnet.

Eastern Magnet: WORLD STUDIES
The Humanities program infuses the MCPS world studies
curriculum with additional depth and rigor. Students engage
in reflective thinking and decision-making as they participate
in experiential activities such as historical simulations and debates.
These activities and the research required of students in
their preparation provide a rich foundation for further study
in the social sciences and the humanities.

While studying these individual disciplines, the students
examine several thematic strands that run through all their
courses: the history of communication, the communication
of history, and the role of the storyteller/historian. Major
interdisciplinary units focus on in-depth studies of the historical,
literary, and cultural heritage of Greece, Rome, and
Asia, as well as utopian literature and societies. The Utopian
unit examines works such as The Giver, by Lois Lowry, and a
comparison of leadership roles in various societies in Watership
Down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New course description:

This course is built around the core Grade 6 social studies curriculum that includes historical content from early civilizations, the empires of Greece and Rome, the dynasties of China, and civilizations of the first millennium. Cohort students will go beyond this core however as they learn additional content, explore deeper connections to today, engage in investigative inquiry to strengthen their writing through Document Based Questions, and enhance their learning through relevant literature connections.


Existing course description in some of the MS - 2016-17 Advanced World Studies 6 (7897)

This course provides enriched opportunities for learning about ancient world history. Building on the current four units of Grade 6 world studies [Greece, Rome, China, etc..], students will deepen their understanding of the rich cultures and history from the earliest human settlements to great civilizations of the year 1000 CE. Students are challenged to analyze archaeological evidence, ask questions to further their knowledge, and understand history as an ongoing investigation. These historical thinking, reading, and writing skills support success in future Advanced Placement and honors social studies courses.


I don't see all that much difference.

Note the bolded text, that is the difference. The new course is a combination of the Reading (old course description) and World Studies courses from Eastern magnet.

Eastern Magnet: WORLD STUDIES
The Humanities program infuses the MCPS world studies
curriculum with additional depth and rigor. Students engage
in reflective thinking and decision-making as they participate
in experiential activities such as historical simulations and debates.
These activities and the research required of students in
their preparation provide a rich foundation for further study
in the social sciences and the humanities.

While studying these individual disciplines, the students
examine several thematic strands that run through all their
courses: the history of communication, the communication
of history, and the role of the storyteller/historian. Major
interdisciplinary units focus on in-depth studies of the historical,
literary, and cultural heritage of Greece, Rome, and
Asia, as well as utopian literature and societies. The Utopian
unit examines works such as The Giver, by Lois Lowry, and a
comparison of leadership roles in various societies in Watership
Down.

" Document Based Questions" - my DC does this at a non magnet MS. I really don't see that much difference.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/curriculum/socialstudies/middle/grade6/Advanced%206.1%20Overview(3).pdf

"The skills of historical thinking that form the backbone of this course are part of
a grade six to eight continuum of skill development. Skills are built through the
use of Document Based Inquiry (DBI) tasks. In grade six, advanced students are
introduced to basic skills of historical thinking. This includes the ability to critically
read and write in response to primary and secondary historical sources. Many of
these skills are included in the on-level
curriculum. The advanced curriculum,
however, provides additional skills,
more rigorous writing expectations,
and more challenging sources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New course description:

This course is built around the core Grade 6 social studies curriculum that includes historical content from early civilizations, the empires of Greece and Rome, the dynasties of China, and civilizations of the first millennium. Cohort students will go beyond this core however as they learn additional content, explore deeper connections to today, engage in investigative inquiry to strengthen their writing through Document Based Questions, and enhance their learning through relevant literature connections.


Existing course description in some of the MS - 2016-17 Advanced World Studies 6 (7897)

This course provides enriched opportunities for learning about ancient world history. Building on the current four units of Grade 6 world studies [Greece, Rome, China, etc..], students will deepen their understanding of the rich cultures and history from the earliest human settlements to great civilizations of the year 1000 CE. Students are challenged to analyze archaeological evidence, ask questions to further their knowledge, and understand history as an ongoing investigation. These historical thinking, reading, and writing skills support success in future Advanced Placement and honors social studies courses.


I don't see all that much difference.

Note the bolded text, that is the difference. The new course is a combination of the Reading (old course description) and World Studies courses from Eastern magnet.

Eastern Magnet: WORLD STUDIES
The Humanities program infuses the MCPS world studies
curriculum with additional depth and rigor. Students engage
in reflective thinking and decision-making as they participate
in experiential activities such as historical simulations and debates.
These activities and the research required of students in
their preparation provide a rich foundation for further study
in the social sciences and the humanities.

While studying these individual disciplines, the students
examine several thematic strands that run through all their
courses: the history of communication, the communication
of history, and the role of the storyteller/historian. Major
interdisciplinary units focus on in-depth studies of the historical,
literary, and cultural heritage of Greece, Rome, and
Asia, as well as utopian literature and societies. The Utopian
unit examines works such as The Giver, by Lois Lowry, and a
comparison of leadership roles in various societies in Watership
Down.

" Document Based Questions" - my DC does this at a non magnet MS. I really don't see that much difference.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/curriculum/socialstudies/middle/grade6/Advanced%206.1%20Overview(3).pdf

"The skills of historical thinking that form the backbone of this course are part of
a grade six to eight continuum of skill development. Skills are built through the
use of Document Based Inquiry (DBI) tasks. In grade six, advanced students are
introduced to basic skills of historical thinking. This includes the ability to critically
read and write in response to primary and secondary historical sources. Many of
these skills are included in the on-level
curriculum. The advanced curriculum,
however, provides additional skills,
more rigorous writing expectations,
and more challenging sources.

Well, looking at the Eastern magnet description, it wouldn't matter if your child was in that class either based on the course description you posted--same thing, right? Not sure what you expect the course description for a Humanities/World Studies course should include. It is amazing how much people love to complain on this forum. Nothing is good enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New course description:

This course is built around the core Grade 6 social studies curriculum that includes historical content from early civilizations, the empires of Greece and Rome, the dynasties of China, and civilizations of the first millennium. Cohort students will go beyond this core however as they learn additional content, explore deeper connections to today, engage in investigative inquiry to strengthen their writing through Document Based Questions, and enhance their learning through relevant literature connections.


Existing course description in some of the MS - 2016-17 Advanced World Studies 6 (7897)

This course provides enriched opportunities for learning about ancient world history. Building on the current four units of Grade 6 world studies [Greece, Rome, China, etc..], students will deepen their understanding of the rich cultures and history from the earliest human settlements to great civilizations of the year 1000 CE. Students are challenged to analyze archaeological evidence, ask questions to further their knowledge, and understand history as an ongoing investigation. These historical thinking, reading, and writing skills support success in future Advanced Placement and honors social studies courses.


I don't see all that much difference.

Sounds much better to me, especially surrounded by peer students who do their homework, pay attention and speak up in class, and are aiming for better than MoC Community College (which is a WRITTEN goal of C2.0: be able to get in to that community college. they also have a fast track degree for MCPS students who want to be eSOl teachers with MCPS).

That would happen regardless of the change in curriculum. Even without this "new" change, those same 5th graders going into 6th would've been assigned to take this existing Advanced World Studies class. All of DC's HGC friends had this same Advanced class.

You think all 500 6th graders at Pyle are the same ability level, effort level, and engagement level? thus make it easier to run the school by mashing them all together in generic offerings for three years?

I swear, if it wasn’t for my kids’ travel sports and best friends, the 6-8 grades were a big disappointment. We stood ready to put them at Norwood School up the road for 6-8. Bringing back ability tracking classes will definitely increase classroom engagement for the kids who have the talent and don’t just want to “check the box” on their education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Well, looking at the Eastern magnet description, it wouldn't matter if your child was in that class either based on the course description you posted--same thing, right? Not sure what you expect the course description for a Humanities/World Studies course should include. It is amazing how much people love to complain on this forum. Nothing is good enough.

Yup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New course description:

This course is built around the core Grade 6 social studies curriculum that includes historical content from early civilizations, the empires of Greece and Rome, the dynasties of China, and civilizations of the first millennium. Cohort students will go beyond this core however as they learn additional content, explore deeper connections to today, engage in investigative inquiry to strengthen their writing through Document Based Questions, and enhance their learning through relevant literature connections.


Existing course description in some of the MS - 2016-17 Advanced World Studies 6 (7897)

This course provides enriched opportunities for learning about ancient world history. Building on the current four units of Grade 6 world studies [Greece, Rome, China, etc..], students will deepen their understanding of the rich cultures and history from the earliest human settlements to great civilizations of the year 1000 CE. Students are challenged to analyze archaeological evidence, ask questions to further their knowledge, and understand history as an ongoing investigation. These historical thinking, reading, and writing skills support success in future Advanced Placement and honors social studies courses.


I don't see all that much difference.

Sounds much better to me, especially surrounded by peer students who do their homework, pay attention and speak up in class, and are aiming for better than MoC Community College (which is a WRITTEN goal of C2.0: be able to get in to that community college. they also have a fast track degree for MCPS students who want to be eSOl teachers with MCPS).

That would happen regardless of the change in curriculum. Even without this "new" change, those same 5th graders going into 6th would've been assigned to take this existing Advanced World Studies class. All of DC's HGC friends had this same Advanced class.

Are your kids at Pyle? Ours are and their 4&5th grade HGC pulled from 8-10 ES’ most of which do not roll up to Pyle. So he did not have “all his HGC friends” in his MS classes. That would have been great, since those are some good buddies now all over the county but not the case for Pyle students.

I’m talking about level setting peers within each classroom in order to challenge and teach to ability. Not attempt to teach to 3-6 abilities in the same classroom. I am not talking about “my kid took the same class as everyone,” I am talking about who is sitting in the classroom.. mS needs differentiation. Badly.

[Anonymous]

wait till more upcounty parents hear about this. If they find out their kids are missing out on enriched classes at the home school, they are going to be pissed. My kids aren't in MS yet but by the time they get there i for sure would want this at their school.