Elementary class sizes

[Anonymous]

23 kids in the 3rd grade classes this year (Ashburton). Our class sizes have never been over 24 so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:23 kids in the 3rd grade classes this year (Ashburton). Our class sizes have never been over 24 so far.

Glad things have changed for the better! I remember reading about Ashburton kids sitting on trash cans because there weren’t enough chairs.
https://bethesdamagazine.com/2016/10/25/mcps-superintendents-plan-wont-eliminate-overcrowding-at-ashburton-elementary-school/

[Anonymous]

32 kids in compact math. So much for differentiation…

[Anonymous]

What do you expect? You are driving teachers away and there aren’t many new teachers who stick around long enough to replace them.

[Anonymous]

We have 14-15 students in our K, 1 and 2 classes — I am a teacher at a Title I school in Germantown. I would not send my child here because of the extreme behavior issues but would definitely consider sending to a focus school. Sidenote - I would be fine sending my kid to my school if the behaviors were not SO extreme. There are days when, as an adult, I haven’t felt safe. The small class sizes are nice because you can really get to know and develop a relationship with each student…just wish central office would take our data into account and move the students with extreme behavior issues to more supportive programs or provide a 1:1 aide for those students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:32 kids in compact math. So much for differentiation…

Ummm, compacted math is different from the core curriculum.... you are not getting a personal curriculum matched specifically to your student, but they are receiving something different to meet a need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:32 kids in compact math. So much for differentiation…

Ummm, compacted math is different from the core curriculum.... you are not getting a personal curriculum matched specifically to your student, but they are receiving something different to meet a need.

In our school, the compacted math class is much larger than the regular math class (partly, because it is rumored that the compacted math class will accept kids whose parents advocate for them to get in, even if their MAP scores are below the recommended threshold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why I don’t understand who the people are who buy into the “ good schools” crap that realtors put out.
The school might have high test scores so look better on paper. I guarantee my kid did better at her east county focus school with 14 kids in the class ( K-2nd) with more attention than she would have in a cohort of 25.
The only disruptive kids were kids with autism mainstreamed.

Lets see how she does when the batch sours when the kids get older

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Not PP but guessing they meant “top ES” as in one of the sought after clusters/wealthier areas. Our real estate agent definitely oversold on the quality of our zoned ES.

PP here. Thanks for help me clarify. Yes, I mean the top-performing ES in a high-SES area. I think the reason for that many kids stuffed in one room is the low-bar for accelerated math. About half is determined to go this path with only one teacher, and the rest spreading between two classrooms.

My kid told me they added extra stools, but about 1/3 needs to sit on the carpet. Principal has submitted the request for an additional part-time teacher. She is not sure when we'll get one.

What does it say to your kids when you tell them they go to a "top ES" - that most kids don't go to good schools? That your kids are smarter and better than Black and Brown students that because of government actions attend schools with high poverty rates?

Why so sensitive? My kid is proud to be in a top performing ES and acknowledges that we pay as much as we can to purchase a property in a good school district. Albeit this year's class size, my kid's experience with this ES is so far so good. They learn from their peers and from us parents that hard work gets paid off in general. That's called working morale. Now I should feel guilty for being able to afford a property in certain zip code because I study hard and work hard?

Do you think Black and Latino parents don't work hard enough and that's why most don't send their kids to a top ES? Because that is the message you are sending your kid when they notice who goes to which schools.

Hello, my name is not GOD!

You clearly think you are God's gift to humanity. Why can't you just do what normal people do which is to send their kids to school and tell them to work hard? Not that they have super special parents that are better than other parents and their school is better than other schools. Sounds like you are trying to justify overspending on your house.

Hey sour grape poster above: I consider myself as a role model for my kids to show the value and purpose to work and study hard - not only to pursue your full potential, but also to pursue a better living in any practical sense. I myself was first-generation college student, first-generation immigrant from another country where education is highly valued, and I didn't rely a penny on my parents ever since undergrad so really fought my a** off to achieve the social-economical status that I can have for now. There's no reason that I should hide that and tell my kids to work hard but don't tell them why.

Also, I just learnt today that one of my colleagues' kid had to sit in compact math class room without a teacher. They had to join a virtual classroom, and imagine the horrible pandemic years for ES students. MCPS is in such a deficit of teachers but they decide to totally ignore that and look for other high-visibility goals to achieve.

[Anonymous]

We’re still keeping our fingers crossed that a new teacher gets hired quickly for my kid’s grade which has a surge of last minute enrollment and now has multiple classes in that grade with over 32 kids. My kid is complaining about being bored and they never complained about that last year when they had 25 kids in the class so I am sure the big class size isn’t helping the poor teacher keep mids engaged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not PP but guessing they meant “top ES” as in one of the sought after clusters/wealthier areas. Our real estate agent definitely oversold on the quality of our zoned ES.

PP here. Thanks for help me clarify. Yes, I mean the top-performing ES in a high-SES area. I think the reason for that many kids stuffed in one room is the low-bar for accelerated math. About half is determined to go this path with only one teacher, and the rest spreading between two classrooms.

My kid told me they added extra stools, but about 1/3 needs to sit on the carpet. Principal has submitted the request for an additional part-time teacher. She is not sure when we'll get one.

What does it say to your kids when you tell them they go to a "top ES" - that most kids don't go to good schools? That your kids are smarter and better than Black and Brown students that because of government actions attend schools with high poverty rates?

Why so sensitive? My kid is proud to be in a top performing ES and acknowledges that we pay as much as we can to purchase a property in a good school district. Albeit this year's class size, my kid's experience with this ES is so far so good. They learn from their peers and from us parents that hard work gets paid off in general. That's called working morale. Now I should feel guilty for being able to afford a property in certain zip code because I study hard and work hard?

Do you think Black and Latino parents don't work hard enough and that's why most don't send their kids to a top ES? Because that is the message you are sending your kid when they notice who goes to which schools.

Hello, my name is not GOD!

You clearly think you are God's gift to humanity. Why can't you just do what normal people do which is to send their kids to school and tell them to work hard? Not that they have super special parents that are better than other parents and their school is better than other schools. Sounds like you are trying to justify overspending on your house.

Hey sour grape poster above: I consider myself as a role model for my kids to show the value and purpose to work and study hard - not only to pursue your full potential, but also to pursue a better living in any practical sense. I myself was first-generation college student, first-generation immigrant from another country where education is highly valued, and I didn't rely a penny on my parents ever since undergrad so really fought my a** off to achieve the social-economical status that I can have for now. There's no reason that I should hide that and tell my kids to work hard but don't tell them why.

Also, I just learnt today that one of my colleagues' kid had to sit in compact math class room without a teacher. They had to join a virtual classroom, and imagine the horrible pandemic years for ES students. MCPS is in such a deficit of teachers but they decide to totally ignore that and look for other high-visibility goals to achieve.

Lady financial support from parents through undergrad is a massive privilege and acting like you pulled yourself up by your bootstraps is preposterous
- another first gen immigrant

[Anonymous]

My 5th grade student has 34 students in their class. 34! My K student also has 32.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 5th grade student has 34 students in their class. 34! My K student also has 32.

That’s ridiculous for K. Has the school requested an additional teacher? Assuming your school has more than one K class, can’t they split them into 3 classes of 20 each?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not PP but guessing they meant “top ES” as in one of the sought after clusters/wealthier areas. Our real estate agent definitely oversold on the quality of our zoned ES.

PP here. Thanks for help me clarify. Yes, I mean the top-performing ES in a high-SES area. I think the reason for that many kids stuffed in one room is the low-bar for accelerated math. About half is determined to go this path with only one teacher, and the rest spreading between two classrooms.

My kid told me they added extra stools, but about 1/3 needs to sit on the carpet. Principal has submitted the request for an additional part-time teacher. She is not sure when we'll get one.

What does it say to your kids when you tell them they go to a "top ES" - that most kids don't go to good schools? That your kids are smarter and better than Black and Brown students that because of government actions attend schools with high poverty rates?

Why so sensitive? My kid is proud to be in a top performing ES and acknowledges that we pay as much as we can to purchase a property in a good school district. Albeit this year's class size, my kid's experience with this ES is so far so good. They learn from their peers and from us parents that hard work gets paid off in general. That's called working morale. Now I should feel guilty for being able to afford a property in certain zip code because I study hard and work hard?

Do you think Black and Latino parents don't work hard enough and that's why most don't send their kids to a top ES? Because that is the message you are sending your kid when they notice who goes to which schools.

Hello, my name is not GOD!

You clearly think you are God's gift to humanity. Why can't you just do what normal people do which is to send their kids to school and tell them to work hard? Not that they have super special parents that are better than other parents and their school is better than other schools. Sounds like you are trying to justify overspending on your house.

Hey sour grape poster above: I consider myself as a role model for my kids to show the value and purpose to work and study hard - not only to pursue your full potential, but also to pursue a better living in any practical sense. I myself was first-generation college student, first-generation immigrant from another country where education is highly valued, and I didn't rely a penny on my parents ever since undergrad so really fought my a** off to achieve the social-economical status that I can have for now. There's no reason that I should hide that and tell my kids to work hard but don't tell them why.

Also, I just learnt today that one of my colleagues' kid had to sit in compact math class room without a teacher. They had to join a virtual classroom, and imagine the horrible pandemic years for ES students. MCPS is in such a deficit of teachers but they decide to totally ignore that and look for other high-visibility goals to achieve.

Lady financial support from parents through undergrad is a massive privilege and acting like you pulled yourself up by your bootstraps is preposterous
- another first gen immigrant

I can understand but plz help improve your English. I didn’t have any financial support from my parents since 1st year in college. Luckily in my home country college tuition was tiny compared to US so I can survive with side jobs. Now I own enough to afford a house in a top school zone, which somehow irritates you so much that your attacks are completely derailed to the topic of this thread.

I live in a top school zone. My colleague not. Our kids face different scenarios of the same issue that MCPS needs to address immediately- lack of teachers. This has nothing to do with school zone and stop the bark!