my sixth grader has not learned to write in MCPS

[Anonymous]

My kids began to work on essays in middle school, but in tenth and eleventh grade, it seems as if it's all they did. By senior year, they could pull an essay together without any issues.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all of the replies. I've been asking other parents in our middle school, and it seems that this middles school does not teach the five paragraph essay until eighth grade (interesting that some posters replied that their kids learned that method in mcps in earlier grades, i think one poster even said fifth grade). Anyway, after reading these responses and from what I've gathered talking to other parents, I think what is going on for my DD is a combo of lack of strong writing instruction in my child's schools, my expectations being not age appropriate, and that writing is not DD's personal strength. I am very frustrated that there is a lack of emphasis on essay organization, not to mention spelling and grammar, but I am going to work on that with DD outside of school.

[Anonymous]

I remember working with a textbook "Writers INC" which helpful through high school. I remember doing a few brain storming/organization exercises from it.
https://www.amazon.com/Writers-INC-Student-Handbook-Learning/dp/0669529958

good luck!

[Anonymous]

Kids really learn to write essays in middle and high school. But effective teaching of writing requires small class size. It's just very hard to do a good job with 25-30 kids in the class. 12-15 is ideal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all of the replies. I've been asking other parents in our middle school, and it seems that this middles school does not teach the five paragraph essay until eighth grade (interesting that some posters replied that their kids learned that method in mcps in earlier grades, i think one poster even said fifth grade). Anyway, after reading these responses and from what I've gathered talking to other parents, I think what is going on for my DD is a combo of lack of strong writing instruction in my child's schools, my expectations being not age appropriate, and that writing is not DD's personal strength. I am very frustrated that there is a lack of emphasis on essay organization, not to mention spelling and grammar, but I am going to work on that with DD outside of school.

Then their high school and college teachers need to unteach this formulaic writing. Knowing the five-paragraph formula is not a skill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Then their high school and college teachers need to unteach this formulaic writing. Knowing the five-paragraph formula is not a skill.

Really? It got me through high school, college applications, and even most of my college classes. Most academic papers I've ever written were, if not exactly a five paragraph essay, organized according to the basic principles of introduction, carefully chosen focused paragraphs thoroughly but succinctly covering one key point each, and a brief but tight conclusion. Having a template to follow seems like a reasonable idea to me...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is at a small private. They use Shurley English. In third grade she learned to write an essay. They started with a 3 point paragraph the 3 paragraph essay and after that 5 paragraph essay. It was a very good way to ease her in. They have free resources so maybe you can have her read through those to get her started. Good luck.

They do the same in MCPS. It just appears that OP didn't give a damn about her child's education until MS.

That really isn't fair to OP. Given her daighter's ES grades, she had every reason to believe things were fine. Ow she knows different and she's trying to figure out how to help get her daughter on track.

I'm not the pp, but I did respond about not keeping up with the kid's work. I do think OP gives a damn, but you have to dig deeper than just looking at the grades on a report card. That goes for everyone, not just OP.

Somewhat OT, but this is exactly why the Achievement Gap won't close. If parents are expected to fill in the gaps of a public school education, then it ends up that more educated and higher SES parents will be able to do do that 'better' (either on their own or with tutors).

True that.