FCPS- middle school Strategies for success

[Anonymous]

Brought this over from AAP thread-
If your child has taken the middle school class, Strategies for success, was it helpful? If so, at which school.
A few posters said it was a beneficial class, others have indicated it was more like study hall with no benefit

I have a DC starting middle school next year, with the limited number of electives, just trying to sort through the options.
Thanks

[Anonymous]

DD took it at Lanier.

I had high hopes for the class but it just wasn't great.
I didn't see much improvement in my kid.

[Anonymous]

DS did not want to give up an elective slot do we did part-time coaching after school instead.

[Anonymous]

Great experience at Carson. Very worth the time — IF your kid has ADHD. Also, if they are not able to resolve minor issues with teachers themselves (like missing homework). If their backpack or workspace is a mess. If they get overwhelmed when they have a lot to do. If they forget to turn in homework. If they keep everything in their mind and do not use some form of DAB and calendaring system. If they tend to be anxious/perfectioninst.

There are some kids who real,y have it all together starting MS. For most kids, this teaches skills they need. Ask the 6th grade teacher, and she should be able to tell you if you are on the fence. I believe she needs to sign off that it will benefit your kid anyway.

Antidotal, but I have a friend whose DC took the class at Thoreau, and did not get much out of it. Carson’s version had a workbook, assignments, grades and the teacher worked with the kids on individual issues. Like how to approach the teacher when they lost work.

[Anonymous]

Your child has to be recommended for this class. It’s not open to the general population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great experience at Carson. Very worth the time — IF your kid has ADHD. Also, if they are not able to resolve minor issues with teachers themselves (like missing homework). If their backpack or workspace is a mess. If they get overwhelmed when they have a lot to do. If they forget to turn in homework. If they keep everything in their mind and do not use some form of DAB and calendaring system. If they tend to be anxious/perfectioninst.

There are some kids who real,y have it all together starting MS. For most kids, this teaches skills they need. Ask the 6th grade teacher, and she should be able to tell you if you are on the fence. I believe she needs to sign off that it will benefit your kid anyway.

Antidotal, but I have a friend whose DC took the class at Thoreau, and did not get much out of it. Carson’s version had a workbook, assignments, grades and the teacher worked with the kids on individual issues. Like how to approach the teacher when they lost work.

I have a kid with ADHD at Thoreau. We were thinking about this class but didn't do it this year. Was thinking about it for next year.

Anyone here with more thoughts on how this class runs at Thoreau? I don't want to take away an elective for this if it's not going to be worth it.

[Anonymous]

Why can't these FCPS teachers get it together and have a class that is taught similarly from school to school?

[Anonymous]

Any thoughts on the one in Twain?

[Anonymous]

How about Kilmer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great experience at Carson. Very worth the time — IF your kid has ADHD. Also, if they are not able to resolve minor issues with teachers themselves (like missing homework). If their backpack or workspace is a mess. If they get overwhelmed when they have a lot to do. If they forget to turn in homework. If they keep everything in their mind and do not use some form of DAB and calendaring system. If they tend to be anxious/perfectioninst.

There are some kids who real,y have it all together starting MS. For most kids, this teaches skills they need. Ask the 6th grade teacher, and she should be able to tell you if you are on the fence. I believe she needs to sign off that it will benefit your kid anyway.

Antidotal, but I have a friend whose DC took the class at Thoreau, and did not get much out of it. Carson’s version had a workbook, assignments, grades and the teacher worked with the kids on individual issues. Like how to approach the teacher when they lost work.

ALL middle schools should be teaching it this way. It's a set curriculum that teachers are supposed to be following. If any of you have kids in the Strategies for Success class and they are NOT using this workbook and following the curriculum, speak up. Talk to the administration and ask that the curriculum be taught as written out in the course catalog.

Additionally, responding to a comment a PP made...you don't HAVE to be recommended for Strategies to take the class. There are both special education and general education sections. The general education Strategies class is open to anyone who wants to take it as an elective provided there is space.

[Anonymous]

From the FCPS course catalog:

This elective course is designed to provide support to a student in core curricular areas and to provide direct instruction in specific learning strategies, study skills, time management, organization, and self-advocacy skills. While students may receive assistance on core curricular assignments, the course is not designed to serve as a study hall and is meant to support the development of academic habits necessary for academic success. Students may enroll in this course multiple years as appropriate."

This refers to the workbook that someone mentioned.

[Anonymous]

Adore it at Lake Braddock!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD took it at Lanier.

I had high hopes for the class but it just wasn't great.
I didn't see much improvement in my kid.

Why wasn't it very good?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on the one in Twain?

My DS took it at Twain and I highly recommend it if your child has organizational/self-advocacy challenges. I agree with 12:50 that there is a curricula and it appears well designed. As an elective, your DC can get out of it at the end of a quarter if you/teacher believe your child can operate more independently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on the one in Twain?

My DS took it at Twain and I highly recommend it if your child has organizational/self-advocacy challenges. I agree with 12:50 that there is a curricula and it appears well designed. As an elective, your DC can get out of it at the end of a quarter if you/teacher believe your child can operate more independently.

Thank you! I asked about Twain. Does my child have to be recommended for it or can he just elect it. He has no 504 or IEP but needs one. The school keeps denying it despite his executive function deficits. They claim not to see an educational impact. I guess since homework isn't counted in elementary school, forgetting homework and to bring books and study guides home = no educational impact.