Bad review about FCPS first grade

[Anonymous]

I agree with the Montessori poster, next to zero screens. My kids did pre-k through 6th at a Montessori and the only screen they ever used was a desktop in 5th/6th to look up current events once a week for announcements. 5-10 min total.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember being super disappointed in first grade- we had switched from private to FCPS and it was like you describe. It has only gotten worse so maybe first grade was one of the better years

this was us too. Still disappointed and youngest is 10th grade

[Anonymous]

My first grader learned a lot in FCPS last year because he had a good and experienced teacher. There was tech use but also plenty of paper and pencil work that came home. This year his teacher is not good, from what I have heard from others and seen so far. Hardly anything has come home and there seems to be a lot more tech use. The other second grade classes are already ahead of my sons’s class, and I fear the gap will widen over the year.

The availability of tech doesn’t inherently make teaching bad, but it seems to enable bad and lazy teaching for those already inclined to be this way. The teacher shortage will make things worse. It’s hard to be a great teacher, but not that hard to be a mediocre to bad one now that there are videos and slides and apps for everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are zoned for a Greatschools 10/10 elementary school in the Langley pyramid. We have not talked to anyone about the schools yet as our kids are young. A neighbor of mine who has a DD in first grade was saying most of the teaching is on screens and the homework is on screens as well. She said it kind of matter-of-factly, not happily. That is not what I want for my child. Do we need to shell out a ton of money we don’t have for private?! Does it vary in other elementary schools.

Great Schools reviews are complete garbage. Avoid them at all cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My first grader learned a lot in FCPS last year because he had a good and experienced teacher. There was tech use but also plenty of paper and pencil work that came home. This year his teacher is not good, from what I have heard from others and seen so far. Hardly anything has come home and there seems to be a lot more tech use. The other second grade classes are already ahead of my sons’s class, and I fear the gap will widen over the year.

The availability of tech doesn’t inherently make teaching bad, but it seems to enable bad and lazy teaching for those already inclined to be this way. The teacher shortage will make things worse. It’s hard to be a great teacher, but not that hard to be a mediocre to bad one now that there are videos and slides and apps for everything.

The reason “hardly anything has come home,” is FCPS is discouraging homework, in pursuit FCPS’ equity goals. It’s not a complete ban, but many bad\ lazy teachers are abiding by it.

[Anonymous]

My first grader learned a lot in FCPS last year because he had a good and experienced teacher. There was tech use but also plenty of paper and pencil work that came home. This year his teacher is not good, from what I have heard from others and seen so far. Hardly anything has come home and there seems to be a lot more tech use. The other second grade classes are already ahead of my sons’s class, and I fear the gap will widen over the year.

The availability of tech doesn’t inherently make teaching bad, but it seems to enable bad and lazy teaching for those already inclined to be this way. The teacher shortage will make things worse. It’s hard to be a great teacher, but not that hard to be a mediocre to bad one now that there are videos and slides and apps for everything.

This was written in September--three weeks into school.
She's relying on what others have said and thinks other classes are way ahead? And, is the child currently in first grade or second grade? Either way, there is generally very little homework in those grades.

"hardly anything has come home"

[Anonymous]

FCPS is like any workplace and has good, mediocre and bad employees. It is the luck of the draw. You hope you get a few really good teachers at the right time in your kids education and supplement through tutors or parental assistance during the not so great years.

Other alternative is private. All comes down to financial resources and the environment you want for your child’s education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS is like any workplace and has good, mediocre and bad employees. It is the luck of the draw. You hope you get a few really good teachers at the right time in your kids education and supplement through tutors or parental assistance during the not so great years.

Other alternative is private. All comes down to financial resources and the environment you want for your child’s education.

To be fair private also has good, mediocre, and bad employees. Some private teachers will be fantastic (yes, despite the fact that they don't have the same vetting requirements public districts do) and some will be bad (yes, the pay is lower but then again there are other benefits, but the pay is lower).

In our experience what private has is more resources to handle a situation when a teacher is bad. So when our kid's new teacher didn't get the math curriculum, the math specialist literally taught math for a quarter to the whole class. In our local public the math resource teacher was often overwhelmed and unable to help out.

- someone who has seen good and bad teachers in both public & private

[Anonymous]

Benchmark made things a lot less computer dependent for language arts. They do a tiny bit of work on the computer but it is very limited. Younger grades still do Lexia but older ones don’t unless remediation is required. My children barely use their computers, they don’t even bring them home to charge. I get the screen time reports so I know how much they’re online. Very pleased with this aspect of FCPS.

[Anonymous]

FCPS is bad across the board. First grade is bad and so is 9th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Benchmark made things a lot less computer dependent for language arts. They do a tiny bit of work on the computer but it is very limited. Younger grades still do Lexia but older ones don’t unless remediation is required. My children barely use their computers, they don’t even bring them home to charge. I get the screen time reports so I know how much they’re online. Very pleased with this aspect of FCPS.

Not our school. Our teacher has converted the Benchmark questions to a document which she posts on schoology. Kids type their answers.

[Anonymous]

Our DC uses laptop in all subjects. They have done this all through elementary and middle. They are suppose to carry it home nightly and charge it at home. Most assignments are on Schoology.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Benchmark made things a lot less computer dependent for language arts. They do a tiny bit of work on the computer but it is very limited. Younger grades still do Lexia but older ones don’t unless remediation is required. My children barely use their computers, they don’t even bring them home to charge. I get the screen time reports so I know how much they’re online. Very pleased with this aspect of FCPS.

Not our school. Our teacher has converted the Benchmark questions to a document which she posts on schoology. Kids type their answers.

I would complain to the principal about this. This is NOT what they are supposed to do. They are supposed to be actually writing in their notebooks and the provided worksheets. How have you not complained yet????

[Anonymous]

The science is so clear about how handwriting helps the brain learn. Typing does not have anywhere near the same effect. I'm very unhappy with how little my kids are writing by hand. My 4th grader brings home worksheets but they are all just multiple choice questions. I guess they are easier to grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The science is so clear about how handwriting helps the brain learn. Typing does not have anywhere near the same effect. I'm very unhappy with how little my kids are writing by hand. My 4th grader brings home worksheets but they are all just multiple choice questions. I guess they are easier to grade?

Sooner or later parents will understand that by and large, government school is government school.

If you want handwriting for helping the brain, crafts that help fine motor schools, lots of outside time and physical activity (important for all but especially boys), fresh food, and so on and so forth-- research and pony up for a good private or homeschool.

It's especially important at the elementary ages.