What the heck is happening to DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 2nd grader at a charter school just learned a song that helps them to ask people for their pronouns which is great. They've also learned the phonics, continents, multiplication and the basics of plate tectonics (when they learned about the continents, they learned how the continents got their shape - it was apparently a very exciting lesson because they came home and showed me how various mountain ranges around the world were formed).

We are not at the same charter but my 2nd grader, at an immersion charter, last year spent time in similar topic in science where they learned about earth plates, volcanoes, tsunami, etc…and they built some cool volcanoes using paper and clay and wrote stories about above in both English and Spanish. The kids loved it.

DCPS science curriculum is very strong. The problem here is that science and social studies are not tested subjects (except for a couple of times throughout their 13 years, OSSE tests science knowledge). When the testing stakes are high in terms of bonuses for principals and school rankings and federal funding, of course the no -tested subjects are allotted VERY little time. Many elementary teachers can only teach these subjects when time allows as the focus on math and ELA is relentless. The math curriculum is actually quite good, even if unfamiliar to parents. The steady focus on number sense and flexible operations will pay off! But there is also a time for memorizing basic math facts too. I suggest making some simple multiplication flash cards and doing them at dinner each night If your kid isn’t fluent by the end of third grade.

This matches my experience so well. When the teachers have the opportunity to actually spend time on social studies and science, the kids learn incredibly well and the way it is structured builds upon prior units in past years in a really smart way. I don't know what curriculum they use but I have seen how, for instance, PK units on types of buildings have led to elementary units on architecture, engineering, and government studies. My kid will remember what the learned in prior years and build on that. It works well together.

However, the focus on testing and the pressure on DCPS schools, in particular, to "prove" their worth (as compared to charters) with high test scores really makes it hard for teachers to actually do this. I think this is the worst year I've seen, and I think it's due to the freak out over 2022 test scores and pandemic learning loss. The schedule that my K and 2nd grader are doing this year is bananas. My Ker's day is packed full of ELA and math to a degree that is not realistic, science/social studies get shoehorned into the period of lunch/recess, and it's the first thing to go when schedule disruptions limit available time because the pressure on teachers to get students at or above grade level in tested subjects is so intense. Right now my kids are both technically supposed to get a 20 minute recess daily but it winds up being like 8 minutes because once you've wrangled these kids from their special back to the classroom and to the lunchroom and then tried to get them to eat on a tight schedule, you are out of time and you have to get them back inside for afternoon curriculum. It's awful for the kids and the teachers and it's just not a good learning environment. I am frustrated with the school and with DCPS because it's way more intense than previous years, but when I've raised it, there's a lot of buck passing and then I get told that they have to worry about making sure the kids most impacted by learning loss (FARMS and SpeD kids) "catch up" but I know this isn't serving those kids either.

For these reasons, we're looking at charters and all-city schools for next year. We love our teachers and know what they are capable of, but DCPS is having some kind of melt-down over test scores right now and they've decided the key is to just try to cram all these kids with as much math and phonics as possible before 3rd grade. I know it's a complex problem but it's just not at all what I want for my kids. I am fortunate to have kids who are already at or above grade level in all subjects and I just don't stress about PARCC scores. We're looking for a school where my kids might actually spend some time outside, get more than 8 minutes of free play time during the day, and where there is better balance between tested academics and other subjects so that they get a well rounded education. I wish the teachers were in charge of the curriculum and schedule because I know for a fact they'd make better choices than this. But they aren't.

Wow, this sounds awful PP. it’s not developmental appropriate and will just kill the love of learning.

Definitely play the lottery. There is so much better options out there. Best of luck.

Thank you, but to be honest I'm sad about it. We like our school and we especially like going to the neighborhood school and having school friends nearby and feeling like we are part of a local school community. I'm not actually that enthusiastic about having to commute to a charter instead of walking a few blocks to our current school, and also having to work harder to make school friends and deal with having school friends living in other parts of the city. But I also don't want my kids to spend 7+ hours a day indoors with an intense focus on math/reading (that they don't really need because they were doing fine in these areas before with less intense academics) and less time for specials and other academics, or just socialization and play. I'm pretty frustrated to be in this situation.

Sounds like you are at a title 1 or low performing school. Sorry but what you don’t know, you don’t know.

Sure being able to walk to school is great but that benefit doesn’t outweigh all the many numerous other benefits, of which there are many. BTW the school community at our charter was way better and tighter than our title 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids didn’t have math or reading today due to delay but they engaged in some sort of activity to talk about their emotions which led my DC to be in tears the rest of the day.

Report cards were super generic and said nothing of value.

My kid seems to know what every letter of LGBTQ stands for and what it means (which is fine) but could not name the seven continents and doesn’t know what continent we live in (which is not fine imho)

Teachers seem checked out. I guess I don’t blame them really.

Sigh. It seems like things are falling off a cliff. Just me? Hopefully, it’s just me.

Former DCPS teacher: I had 6th graders who couldn't identify 7 continents or 4 oceans. It's a curriculum problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I distinctly remember a unit on continents and major bodies of water. Might have been 6th grade? I'm sure you can find it in the curriculum if you care to look.

6th grade is really late in the game to teach the continents and bodies of water. Should be introduced in kindergarten and mastered by grade 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids didn’t have math or reading today due to delay but they engaged in some sort of activity to talk about their emotions which led my DC to be in tears the rest of the day.

Report cards were super generic and said nothing of value.

My kid seems to know what every letter of LGBTQ stands for and what it means (which is fine) but could not name the seven continents and doesn’t know what continent we live in (which is not fine imho)

Teachers seem checked out. I guess I don’t blame them really.

Sigh. It seems like things are falling off a cliff. Just me? Hopefully, it’s just me.

You haven't taught that to your kid on your own? Do you not travel? Talk about international news? A globe is relatively inexpensive and makes a fun gift / focal point.

"Do you not travel?" Wow. News Alert. Not everyone has the means. That doesn't mean their children should be shortchanged.

No need to insult. OP was just asking a question. Depending on the grade level it's a reasonable ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 2nd grader at a charter school just learned a song that helps them to ask people for their pronouns which is great. They've also learned the phonics, continents, multiplication and the basics of plate tectonics (when they learned about the continents, they learned how the continents got their shape - it was apparently a very exciting lesson because they came home and showed me how various mountain ranges around the world were formed).

We are not at the same charter but my 2nd grader, at an immersion charter, last year spent time in similar topic in science where they learned about earth plates, volcanoes, tsunami, etc…and they built some cool volcanoes using paper and clay and wrote stories about above in both English and Spanish. The kids loved it.

DCPS science curriculum is very strong. The problem here is that science and social studies are not tested subjects (except for a couple of times throughout their 13 years, OSSE tests science knowledge). When the testing stakes are high in terms of bonuses for principals and school rankings and federal funding, of course the no -tested subjects are allotted VERY little time. Many elementary teachers can only teach these subjects when time allows as the focus on math and ELA is relentless. The math curriculum is actually quite good, even if unfamiliar to parents. The steady focus on number sense and flexible operations will pay off! But there is also a time for memorizing basic math facts too. I suggest making some simple multiplication flash cards and doing them at dinner each night If your kid isn’t fluent by the end of third grade.

Testing without a strong curriculum is pointless.

[Anonymous]

I was in a private school until second grade. I didn’t see a strong curriculum there either.. more like jumping around from a theme to another.

Also, as far as I could tell, only underrepresented minorities or cultures were the subjects of these themes. For instance there was a long unit on Ghana in first grade. Another long unit on a black illustrator.. God forbid kids learn about the Ancient Greek or Romans!

I resent this way of jumping from a topic to another without providing first a basic cultural framework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 2nd grader at a charter school just learned a song that helps them to ask people for their pronouns which is great. They've also learned the phonics, continents, multiplication and the basics of plate tectonics (when they learned about the continents, they learned how the continents got their shape - it was apparently a very exciting lesson because they came home and showed me how various mountain ranges around the world were formed).

We are not at the same charter but my 2nd grader, at an immersion charter, last year spent time in similar topic in science where they learned about earth plates, volcanoes, tsunami, etc…and they built some cool volcanoes using paper and clay and wrote stories about above in both English and Spanish. The kids loved it.

DCPS science curriculum is very strong. The problem here is that science and social studies are not tested subjects (except for a couple of times throughout their 13 years, OSSE tests science knowledge). When the testing stakes are high in terms of bonuses for principals and school rankings and federal funding, of course the no -tested subjects are allotted VERY little time. Many elementary teachers can only teach these subjects when time allows as the focus on math and ELA is relentless. The math curriculum is actually quite good, even if unfamiliar to parents. The steady focus on number sense and flexible operations will pay off! But there is also a time for memorizing basic math facts too. I suggest making some simple multiplication flash cards and doing them at dinner each night If your kid isn’t fluent by the end of third grade.

PARCC numbers don’t support your premise above. The overwhelming majority of kids are way below grade level in math, as in 1 or 2. Look at the science scores, also abysmal.

If the curriculum was strong in content, above would not be so bad.

I think PP is trying to say the content is good, but DCPS teachers cannot spend enough time on it because they have to focus on math & ELA PARCC scores.

NP. I think you miss their point. They are saying that the data doesn't support your position. If what you said was accurate then the Math and ELA scores should be excellent at the expense of science. But those scores suck.

Scores are very dependent upon the socio-economics of particular schools, unfortunately. Math and ELA scores are high where incomes and opportunity are high in DCPS. Emphasis on science is slowly growing and DCPS now has an excellent science curriculum. But there is still not much time left for science and social studies. In schools where these subjects are given more emphasis the students come away with a very strong foundation and are often really excited about what they’re learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids didn’t have math or reading today due to delay but they engaged in some sort of activity to talk about their emotions which led my DC to be in tears the rest of the day.

Report cards were super generic and said nothing of value.

My kid seems to know what every letter of LGBTQ stands for and what it means (which is fine) but could not name the seven continents and doesn’t know what continent we live in (which is not fine imho)

Teachers seem checked out. I guess I don’t blame them really.

Sigh. It seems like things are falling off a cliff. Just me? Hopefully, it’s just me.

If your child doesn’t know what continent we live on, that sounds like a home issue. You could have taught that in the time you wrote your DCUM rant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 2nd grader at a charter school just learned a song that helps them to ask people for their pronouns which is great. They've also learned the phonics, continents, multiplication and the basics of plate tectonics (when they learned about the continents, they learned how the continents got their shape - it was apparently a very exciting lesson because they came home and showed me how various mountain ranges around the world were formed).

We are not at the same charter but my 2nd grader, at an immersion charter, last year spent time in similar topic in science where they learned about earth plates, volcanoes, tsunami, etc…and they built some cool volcanoes using paper and clay and wrote stories about above in both English and Spanish. The kids loved it.

DCPS science curriculum is very strong. The problem here is that science and social studies are not tested subjects (except for a couple of times throughout their 13 years, OSSE tests science knowledge). When the testing stakes are high in terms of bonuses for principals and school rankings and federal funding, of course the no -tested subjects are allotted VERY little time. Many elementary teachers can only teach these subjects when time allows as the focus on math and ELA is relentless. The math curriculum is actually quite good, even if unfamiliar to parents. The steady focus on number sense and flexible operations will pay off! But there is also a time for memorizing basic math facts too. I suggest making some simple multiplication flash cards and doing them at dinner each night If your kid isn’t fluent by the end of third grade.

PARCC numbers don’t support your premise above. The overwhelming majority of kids are way below grade level in math, as in 1 or 2. Look at the science scores, also abysmal.

If the curriculum was strong in content, above would not be so bad.

I think PP is trying to say the content is good, but DCPS teachers cannot spend enough time on it because they have to focus on math & ELA PARCC scores.

NP. I think you miss their point. They are saying that the data doesn't support your position. If what you said was accurate then the Math and ELA scores should be excellent at the expense of science. But those scores suck.

Scores are very dependent upon the socio-economics of particular schools, unfortunately. Math and ELA scores are high where incomes and opportunity are high in DCPS. Emphasis on science is slowly growing and DCPS now has an excellent science curriculum. But there is still not much time left for science and social studies. In schools where these subjects are given more emphasis the students come away with a very strong foundation and are often really excited about what they’re learning.

I hope the science curriculum is excellent at the elementary level. However, as a middle school science teacher I find what downtown provides us to be laughably bad. I write all my own stuff. Kids need to learn science by doing experiments not by watching a screen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids didn’t have math or reading today due to delay but they engaged in some sort of activity to talk about their emotions which led my DC to be in tears the rest of the day.

Report cards were super generic and said nothing of value.

My kid seems to know what every letter of LGBTQ stands for and what it means (which is fine) but could not name the seven continents and doesn’t know what continent we live in (which is not fine imho)

Teachers seem checked out. I guess I don’t blame them really.

Sigh. It seems like things are falling off a cliff. Just me? Hopefully, it’s just me.

If your child doesn’t know what continent we live on, that sounds like a home issue. You could have taught that in the time you wrote your DCUM rant.

way to miss the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. What school?

+1 what school and grade?

Sounds like Deal Middle School

[Anonymous]

Op name the school please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 2nd grader at a charter school just learned a song that helps them to ask people for their pronouns which is great. They've also learned the phonics, continents, multiplication and the basics of plate tectonics (when they learned about the continents, they learned how the continents got their shape - it was apparently a very exciting lesson because they came home and showed me how various mountain ranges around the world were formed).

We are not at the same charter but my 2nd grader, at an immersion charter, last year spent time in similar topic in science where they learned about earth plates, volcanoes, tsunami, etc…and they built some cool volcanoes using paper and clay and wrote stories about above in both English and Spanish. The kids loved it.

DCPS science curriculum is very strong. The problem here is that science and social studies are not tested subjects (except for a couple of times throughout their 13 years, OSSE tests science knowledge). When the testing stakes are high in terms of bonuses for principals and school rankings and federal funding, of course the no -tested subjects are allotted VERY little time. Many elementary teachers can only teach these subjects when time allows as the focus on math and ELA is relentless. The math curriculum is actually quite good, even if unfamiliar to parents. The steady focus on number sense and flexible operations will pay off! But there is also a time for memorizing basic math facts too. I suggest making some simple multiplication flash cards and doing them at dinner each night If your kid isn’t fluent by the end of third grade.

PARCC numbers don’t support your premise above. The overwhelming majority of kids are way below grade level in math, as in 1 or 2. Look at the science scores, also abysmal.

If the curriculum was strong in content, above would not be so bad.

I think PP is trying to say the content is good, but DCPS teachers cannot spend enough time on it because they have to focus on math & ELA PARCC scores.

NP. I think you miss their point. They are saying that the data doesn't support your position. If what you said was accurate then the Math and ELA scores should be excellent at the expense of science. But those scores suck.

Scores are very dependent upon the socio-economics of particular schools, unfortunately. Math and ELA scores are high where incomes and opportunity are high in DCPS. Emphasis on science is slowly growing and DCPS now has an excellent science curriculum. But there is still not much time left for science and social studies. In schools where these subjects are given more emphasis the students come away with a very strong foundation and are often really excited about what they’re learning.

People like above is exactly why DCPS curriculum and schools don’t improve. Use socio-economic status as the out without looking closely at what is happening and demanding accountability from DCP perpetuates the cycle of low expectations.

There are school districts where overall low socioeconomic kids do well. The areas where income and opportunity is high in DC, the math and ELA scores are not high, basically mediocre at best, when compared to similar places in the burbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 2nd grader at a charter school just learned a song that helps them to ask people for their pronouns which is great. They've also learned the phonics, continents, multiplication and the basics of plate tectonics (when they learned about the continents, they learned how the continents got their shape - it was apparently a very exciting lesson because they came home and showed me how various mountain ranges around the world were formed).

We are not at the same charter but my 2nd grader, at an immersion charter, last year spent time in similar topic in science where they learned about earth plates, volcanoes, tsunami, etc…and they built some cool volcanoes using paper and clay and wrote stories about above in both English and Spanish. The kids loved it.

DCPS science curriculum is very strong. The problem here is that science and social studies are not tested subjects (except for a couple of times throughout their 13 years, OSSE tests science knowledge). When the testing stakes are high in terms of bonuses for principals and school rankings and federal funding, of course the no -tested subjects are allotted VERY little time. Many elementary teachers can only teach these subjects when time allows as the focus on math and ELA is relentless. The math curriculum is actually quite good, even if unfamiliar to parents. The steady focus on number sense and flexible operations will pay off! But there is also a time for memorizing basic math facts too. I suggest making some simple multiplication flash cards and doing them at dinner each night If your kid isn’t fluent by the end of third grade.

PARCC numbers don’t support your premise above. The overwhelming majority of kids are way below grade level in math, as in 1 or 2. Look at the science scores, also abysmal.

If the curriculum was strong in content, above would not be so bad.

I think PP is trying to say the content is good, but DCPS teachers cannot spend enough time on it because they have to focus on math & ELA PARCC scores.

NP. I think you miss their point. They are saying that the data doesn't support your position. If what you said was accurate then the Math and ELA scores should be excellent at the expense of science. But those scores suck.

Scores are very dependent upon the socio-economics of particular schools, unfortunately. Math and ELA scores are high where incomes and opportunity are high in DCPS. Emphasis on science is slowly growing and DCPS now has an excellent science curriculum. But there is still not much time left for science and social studies. In schools where these subjects are given more emphasis the students come away with a very strong foundation and are often really excited about what they’re learning.

I hope the science curriculum is excellent at the elementary level. However, as a middle school science teacher I find what downtown provides us to be laughably bad. I write all my own stuff. Kids need to learn science by doing experiments not by watching a screen.

No it’s not good at the elementary level either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 2nd grader at a charter school just learned a song that helps them to ask people for their pronouns which is great. They've also learned the phonics, continents, multiplication and the basics of plate tectonics (when they learned about the continents, they learned how the continents got their shape - it was apparently a very exciting lesson because they came home and showed me how various mountain ranges around the world were formed).

We are not at the same charter but my 2nd grader, at an immersion charter, last year spent time in similar topic in science where they learned about earth plates, volcanoes, tsunami, etc…and they built some cool volcanoes using paper and clay and wrote stories about above in both English and Spanish. The kids loved it.

DCPS science curriculum is very strong. The problem here is that science and social studies are not tested subjects (except for a couple of times throughout their 13 years, OSSE tests science knowledge). When the testing stakes are high in terms of bonuses for principals and school rankings and federal funding, of course the no -tested subjects are allotted VERY little time. Many elementary teachers can only teach these subjects when time allows as the focus on math and ELA is relentless. The math curriculum is actually quite good, even if unfamiliar to parents. The steady focus on number sense and flexible operations will pay off! But there is also a time for memorizing basic math facts too. I suggest making some simple multiplication flash cards and doing them at dinner each night If your kid isn’t fluent by the end of third grade.

PARCC numbers don’t support your premise above. The overwhelming majority of kids are way below grade level in math, as in 1 or 2. Look at the science scores, also abysmal.

If the curriculum was strong in content, above would not be so bad.

I think PP is trying to say the content is good, but DCPS teachers cannot spend enough time on it because they have to focus on math & ELA PARCC scores.

NP. I think you miss their point. They are saying that the data doesn't support your position. If what you said was accurate then the Math and ELA scores should be excellent at the expense of science. But those scores suck.

Scores are very dependent upon the socio-economics of particular schools, unfortunately. Math and ELA scores are high where incomes and opportunity are high in DCPS. Emphasis on science is slowly growing and DCPS now has an excellent science curriculum. But there is still not much time left for science and social studies. In schools where these subjects are given more emphasis the students come away with a very strong foundation and are often really excited about what they’re learning.

I hope the science curriculum is excellent at the elementary level. However, as a middle school science teacher I find what downtown provides us to be laughably bad. I write all my own stuff. Kids need to learn science by doing experiments not by watching a screen.

I agree. Another middle school teacher here.
The middle school curriculum in different subjects provided by DCPS is way too easy.
DCPS does not like challenging students for some reason. True rigor only comes in at the HS level in AP courses because DCPS cannot mess with that curriculum. It is a shock to many kids when they get to AP classes because they have not been progressively challenged