S/O MCPS HS "Honors" English 9/10 courses

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand why they introduced graphic novels. Often this is the key to encouraging some reluctant students to read. I used it on my 8 yr old son and he went from not being a reader to being a prolific one (actual chapter books). Sometimes you need these tools around for older kids who have not been encouraged.

It doesn't mean the smart kids can't read Dostoyevsky in their spare time.

So they can include graphic novels in lit circles for reluctant readers. It is not an appropriate anchor text for an honors English class.

Why not? You can't just say "its not an appropriate anchor text" without giving some reasoning. Go ahead.

DP. Because there is no textual complexity. Sentences that are short enough to fit in a comic bubble aren't complex enough to help a kid make the jump to reading at a 1200 college level lexile.

And I say that as a person who has the 3 volume set of "March!) on the shelf.

Honors English is about complex themes AND complex text (long, complex sentences and vocabulary). It's not a complete education without the latter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s like people wanted equity, but then aren’t happy when they get it?

Equity is not giving everyone the same thing. Equity is givings peopl what they need.

If the results show large gaps in achievement between demographics and SES levels then equity is not working and must be adjusted until the equity works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s like people wanted equity, but then aren’t happy when they get it?

Equity is not giving everyone the same thing. Equity is givings peopl what they need.

If the results show large gaps in achievement between demographics and SES levels then equity is not working and must be adjusted until the equity works.

Or, offering one level is not meeting anyone's needs, particularly those who are below grade level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s like people wanted equity, but then aren’t happy when they get it?

Equity is not giving everyone the same thing. Equity is givings peopl what they need.

If the results show large gaps in achievement between demographics and SES levels then equity is not working and must be adjusted until the equity works.

Or, offering one level is not meeting anyone's needs, particularly those who are below grade level.

Only when gaps are closed will equity be achieved. Baltimore did it; MCPS can too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can it be honors if they are reading grade level texts?

It is not. It is a name change and then dumbing down of the curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Can people whose kids are in honors English 9A list the school and the anchor text they are reading this term? Is anyone reading A Separate Peace, which as far as I can tell is the only option that is at grade level?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can people whose kids are in honors English 9A list the school and the anchor text they are reading this term? Is anyone reading A Separate Peace, which as far as I can tell is the only option that is at grade level?

It’s the 3rd week of school. Many may not even be to the anchor text yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can people whose kids are in honors English 9A list the school and the anchor text they are reading this term? Is anyone reading A Separate Peace, which as far as I can tell is the only option that is at grade level?

It’s the 3rd week of school. Many may not even be to the anchor text yet.

But parents may have attended BTSN and therefore know the syllabus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can people whose kids are in honors English 9A list the school and the anchor text they are reading this term? Is anyone reading A Separate Peace, which as far as I can tell is the only option that is at grade level?

My kid is at Blair, and we were told at Back to School Night last night that the anchor texts are All American Boys (this marking period) and Of Mice and Men (2nd marking period)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS English teacher here. There is no difference anymore. Honors is on-level. They got rid of true honors because of “equity” and now everyone is in honors. There is no option to choose a non-honors course. As a result, all students get a weighted GPA for doing grade-level expectations. It’s ridiculous—and frankly—embarrassing for MCPS. Students are frustrated when they are bored or can’t keep up, and teachers are beyond exhausted trying to teach to everyone from language learns to gifted students.

PARENTS… please appeal to Dr. Taylor. We as teachers have tried without results.

MCPS needs to quit pretending that teachers have the time to make four different tiered lesson plans for each level of student for each day. Grouping kids by ability is not discriminatory it’s actually helpful to be able to tailor the learning to meet all students needs.

YES YES YES... these "honors classes" that are really the same as what used to be called regular are an embarrassment. They make MCPS numbers look better in terms of % of students enrolled in honors classes but the are hurting a lot of students in the process. we came from outside the MCPS and did not know this about the lack of true honors classes until scheduling my child's classes and I was quite upset. i asked about the reasoning and expressed my concern that there would be such a heterogeneous group of learners that my student would not be challenged. I was assured by an administrator that the teachers were well trained to be able to hand this heterogeneity and teach each student at an appropriate level. I actually do not doubt the teachers' abilities, but I do doubt how reasonable it is that a teacher can teach such a large group, particularly where a lot of the students really do not care, and appropriately challenge each student. Not surprising, my student is bored and increasingly demotivated since the content is so watered down (their words not mine).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS English teacher here. There is no difference anymore. Honors is on-level. They got rid of true honors because of “equity” and now everyone is in honors. There is no option to choose a non-honors course. As a result, all students get a weighted GPA for doing grade-level expectations. It’s ridiculous—and frankly—embarrassing for MCPS. Students are frustrated when they are bored or can’t keep up, and teachers are beyond exhausted trying to teach to everyone from language learns to gifted students.

PARENTS… please appeal to Dr. Taylor. We as teachers have tried without results.

MCPS needs to quit pretending that teachers have the time to make four different tiered lesson plans for each level of student for each day. Grouping kids by ability is not discriminatory it’s actually helpful to be able to tailor the learning to meet all students needs.

YES YES YES... these "honors classes" that are really the same as what used to be called regular are an embarrassment. They make MCPS numbers look better in terms of % of students enrolled in honors classes but the are hurting a lot of students in the process. we came from outside the MCPS and did not know this about the lack of true honors classes until scheduling my child's classes and I was quite upset. i asked about the reasoning and expressed my concern that there would be such a heterogeneous group of learners that my student would not be challenged. I was assured by an administrator that the teachers were well trained to be able to hand this heterogeneity and teach each student at an appropriate level. I actually do not doubt the teachers' abilities, but I do doubt how reasonable it is that a teacher can teach such a large group, particularly where a lot of the students really do not care, and appropriately challenge each student. Not surprising, my student is bored and increasingly demotivated since the content is so watered down (their words not mine).

This is what MCPS tells parents to placate them. Class sizes are too large for teachers to effectively teach heterogeneous classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand why they introduced graphic novels. Often this is the key to encouraging some reluctant students to read. I used it on my 8 yr old son and he went from not being a reader to being a prolific one (actual chapter books). Sometimes you need these tools around for older kids who have not been encouraged.

It doesn't mean the smart kids can't read Dostoyevsky in their spare time.

So they can include graphic novels in lit circles for reluctant readers. It is not an appropriate anchor text for an honors English class.

Why not? You can't just say "its not an appropriate anchor text" without giving some reasoning. Go ahead.

I want my kid reading novels (not graphic novels) for vocabulary acquisition. Graphic novels do a huge disservice to low income and ESL students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS English teacher here. There is no difference anymore. Honors is on-level. They got rid of true honors because of “equity” and now everyone is in honors. There is no option to choose a non-honors course. As a result, all students get a weighted GPA for doing grade-level expectations. It’s ridiculous—and frankly—embarrassing for MCPS. Students are frustrated when they are bored or can’t keep up, and teachers are beyond exhausted trying to teach to everyone from language learns to gifted students.

PARENTS… please appeal to Dr. Taylor. We as teachers have tried without results.

MCPS needs to quit pretending that teachers have the time to make four different tiered lesson plans for each level of student for each day. Grouping kids by ability is not discriminatory it’s actually helpful to be able to tailor the learning to meet all students needs.

YES YES YES... these "honors classes" that are really the same as what used to be called regular are an embarrassment. They make MCPS numbers look better in terms of % of students enrolled in honors classes but the are hurting a lot of students in the process. we came from outside the MCPS and did not know this about the lack of true honors classes until scheduling my child's classes and I was quite upset. i asked about the reasoning and expressed my concern that there would be such a heterogeneous group of learners that my student would not be challenged. I was assured by an administrator that the teachers were well trained to be able to hand this heterogeneity and teach each student at an appropriate level. I actually do not doubt the teachers' abilities, but I do doubt how reasonable it is that a teacher can teach such a large group, particularly where a lot of the students really do not care, and appropriately challenge each student. Not surprising, my student is bored and increasingly demotivated since the content is so watered down (their words not mine).

Welcome to MCPS. Admin here love to lie and gaslight parents like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS English teacher here. There is no difference anymore. Honors is on-level. They got rid of true honors because of “equity” and now everyone is in honors. There is no option to choose a non-honors course. As a result, all students get a weighted GPA for doing grade-level expectations. It’s ridiculous—and frankly—embarrassing for MCPS. Students are frustrated when they are bored or can’t keep up, and teachers are beyond exhausted trying to teach to everyone from language learns to gifted students.

PARENTS… please appeal to Dr. Taylor. We as teachers have tried without results.

MCPS needs to quit pretending that teachers have the time to make four different tiered lesson plans for each level of student for each day. Grouping kids by ability is not discriminatory it’s actually helpful to be able to tailor the learning to meet all students needs.

YES YES YES... these "honors classes" that are really the same as what used to be called regular are an embarrassment. They make MCPS numbers look better in terms of % of students enrolled in honors classes but the are hurting a lot of students in the process. we came from outside the MCPS and did not know this about the lack of true honors classes until scheduling my child's classes and I was quite upset. i asked about the reasoning and expressed my concern that there would be such a heterogeneous group of learners that my student would not be challenged. I was assured by an administrator that the teachers were well trained to be able to hand this heterogeneity and teach each student at an appropriate level. I actually do not doubt the teachers' abilities, but I do doubt how reasonable it is that a teacher can teach such a large group, particularly where a lot of the students really do not care, and appropriately challenge each student. Not surprising, my student is bored and increasingly demotivated since the content is so watered down (their words not mine).

Even if they could differentiate — which I agree is very difficult — why should there be different standards in the class, either some kids getting harder work and some getting easier? They are all getting the honors GPA boost. It is kind of ridiculous that kids could both get the same grade doing different work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS English teacher here. There is no difference anymore. Honors is on-level. They got rid of true honors because of “equity” and now everyone is in honors. There is no option to choose a non-honors course. As a result, all students get a weighted GPA for doing grade-level expectations. It’s ridiculous—and frankly—embarrassing for MCPS. Students are frustrated when they are bored or can’t keep up, and teachers are beyond exhausted trying to teach to everyone from language learns to gifted students.

PARENTS… please appeal to Dr. Taylor. We as teachers have tried without results.

MCPS needs to quit pretending that teachers have the time to make four different tiered lesson plans for each level of student for each day. Grouping kids by ability is not discriminatory it’s actually helpful to be able to tailor the learning to meet all students needs.

YES YES YES... these "honors classes" that are really the same as what used to be called regular are an embarrassment. They make MCPS numbers look better in terms of % of students enrolled in honors classes but the are hurting a lot of students in the process. we came from outside the MCPS and did not know this about the lack of true honors classes until scheduling my child's classes and I was quite upset. i asked about the reasoning and expressed my concern that there would be such a heterogeneous group of learners that my student would not be challenged. I was assured by an administrator that the teachers were well trained to be able to hand this heterogeneity and teach each student at an appropriate level. I actually do not doubt the teachers' abilities, but I do doubt how reasonable it is that a teacher can teach such a large group, particularly where a lot of the students really do not care, and appropriately challenge each student. Not surprising, my student is bored and increasingly demotivated since the content is so watered down (their words not mine).

And welcome to mcps, the largest school district in MD.