Resource class- middle school MCPS

[Anonymous]

We are having trouble deciding whether to have our 8th grader take a resource class this coming year. He has not been in one previously but the school suggested that he might benefit. It is up to us whether he participates.

Any positive or negative experiences with this class? We are going to speak with the teacher but would love feedback.

[Anonymous]

What were the reasons for the recommendation? Does your child struggle to complete homework or with certain subjects?

[Anonymous]

What happens in resource can vary greatly among schools and programs within schools.

For my two youngest siblings, it was a huge waste of time. It was only a study hall. No actual assistance from an adult.

I used to teach at a school that scheduled all of the Resource classes seventh perid and then divvied up the classrooms by subject. Kids could roam from class to class and get the help they needed.

At my current school, it can be highly structured or not depending on the teacher. One teacher is awesome and does study skills as well as helping with specific assignments. Last year, one teacher repeatedly gave her students passes to come to my classroom to ask me questions. I was teaching at the time and the students I had to turn away were very upset. The students whose class was interrupted were also upset. I asked her to stop, but she said that she was overwhelmed by the number and needs of that Resource class. I had to get an administrator to intervene.

[Anonymous]

My daughter took a class (can't remember the name) in 7th and 8th. It was extremely helpful. Prior to that, she had poor organization and was shy and hesitant to approach her teachers for help. The class taught organizational and test taking skills and the teacher served as a liaison between my daughter and her classroom teachers. Thanks to the class, she became a better self advocate. I'm confident the class made a huge difference.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback. I have heard that the teacher he would have is fantastic. The purpose would be to help him become better organized and to intervene to make sure he is turning in assignments, etc. and would serve as a liaison to the teachers.

[Anonymous]

My friend has a son in several resource classes at Westland and is very happy and really think it helps - i would do it so he is ready for high school.

[Anonymous]

My child did a Resource class at Takoma Park. It was not useful. The teacher was not able to "reteach" any substantive information because he didn't have the skills to do so. The kids were from many different classes inside and outside the magnet program, so they were all working on different skills or assignments. Much of the time that could have been used for "study" was wasted on additional assignments like word finds and crosswords that were unrelated to work in other classes. The teacher actively discouraged kids from self-advocating for accommodations with other teachers. The resource teacher used shaming as a motivational method by posting all the missed or late assignments in all other classes by student name in the resource room (illegal violation of FERPA) and giving them frowny or happy faces. No specialized instruction was provided, because the teacher did not have the skills to provide specialized instruction, neither in academic subjects nor in organizational areas.

The only value to resource was, IMO, the fact that it meant my DC took one less class in the transition in 6th grade from ES to MS, which somewhat took off the pressure. But, the next year we pulled DC from the Resource class and signed DC up for an additional academic class and DC did fine.

It's not clear to me whether our experience with TPMS resource class was due to the individual teacher or reflective of a more systemic problem at TPMS. I do know that that teacher no longer appears to be at TPMS, so YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Op here. He is not at TPMS but that is part of what I am concerned about. Also, I think that his needs might be pretty different from the other students in the class (based on what the teacher said, though the teacher did say he would adjust to meet his needs).