Underwhelmed by FCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, that sounds like weak, maybe, teachers. Oh, textbooks are online, computer skills trumps handwriting, grammar is taught. teachers are responsive, comments are as needed, ...

But you sound mad. Perhaps a Xanax with a shot of tequila will help?

+10000

A little mad. Yes. I haven't posted here though and many other people feel the same way. http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/611634.page

[Anonymous]

The best you can do is a thread on textbooks to back up your anger? Wow! Textbooks are archaic. Kids have access to online textbooks and Google and a host of other online help. Check the teacher blackboard or google site and look for yourself. The classroom is changing-finally! It's catching up to this century!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best you can do is a thread on textbooks to back up your anger? Wow! Textbooks are archaic. Kids have access to online textbooks and Google and a host of other online help. Check the teacher blackboard or google site and look for yourself. The classroom is changing-finally! It's catching up to this century!

Don't know what to tell you, but a lot of parents and kids aren't on board with all the changes.

[Anonymous]

Also computer skills are not taught in FCPS. I would agree on the computer skills verses handwriting if one of those were being taught, but neither are.

[Anonymous]

Frankly, we have had a different experience than the Mosby Woods/Jackson/Oakton cheerleader at all levels, but especially disappointed with Jackson. Students who do well at these schools are generally those with very solid home environments where education is valued. These students are capable of much more than what is offered and some slide downwards academically over the years. Parents, extracurriculars and tutors are what keep the success rate high in this area, while FCPS takes the credit. Teacher quality is mixed, and it often seems like the curriculum and grading practices vary widely from teacher to teacher. Admins are not particularly responsive or effective at problem solving, nor do they have much relationship with the students. Both Mosby Woods and Jackson catered to high-need students with regard to resources, but did not enforce consistent standards of behavior. Neither school did a great job preparing students for the next level, especially Jackson. We've been disappointed with some of the special programs at Oakton including English 9 Honors for all and the Alg II Honors pilot. There are positives at all three schools as well, including community events, some music and athletic programs and a few outstanding teachers.

[Anonymous]

Never needed a tutor for any of our kids. Teachers have been exceptional. But we do have a strong family unit and value education. So that is true! I take that credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best you can do is a thread on textbooks to back up your anger? Wow! Textbooks are archaic. Kids have access to online textbooks and Google and a host of other online help. Check the teacher blackboard or google site and look for yourself. The classroom is changing-finally! It's catching up to this century!

Don't know what to tell you, but a lot of parents and kids aren't on board with all the changes.

My third grader completes assignments regularly through Google Classroom. I can see the work they have turned in through Classroom and writing that has been done through Docs is in Google Drive. Even reading logs are turned in through Classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, we have had a different experience than the Mosby Woods/Jackson/Oakton cheerleader at all levels, but especially disappointed with Jackson. Students who do well at these schools are generally those with very solid home environments where education is valued. These students are capable of much more than what is offered and some slide downwards academically over the years. Parents, extracurriculars and tutors are what keep the success rate high in this area, while FCPS takes the credit. Teacher quality is mixed, and it often seems like the curriculum and grading practices vary widely from teacher to teacher. Admins are not particularly responsive or effective at problem solving, nor do they have much relationship with the students. Both Mosby Woods and Jackson catered to high-need students with regard to resources, but did not enforce consistent standards of behavior. Neither school did a great job preparing students for the next level, especially Jackson. We've been disappointed with some of the special programs at Oakton including English 9 Honors for all and the Alg II Honors pilot. There are positives at all three schools as well, including community events, some music and athletic programs and a few outstanding teachers.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, we have had a different experience than the Mosby Woods/Jackson/Oakton cheerleader at all levels, but especially disappointed with Jackson. Students who do well at these schools are generally those with very solid home environments where education is valued. These students are capable of much more than what is offered and some slide downwards academically over the years. Parents, extracurriculars and tutors are what keep the success rate high in this area, while FCPS takes the credit. Teacher quality is mixed, and it often seems like the curriculum and grading practices vary widely from teacher to teacher. Admins are not particularly responsive or effective at problem solving, nor do they have much relationship with the students. Both Mosby Woods and Jackson catered to high-need students with regard to resources, but did not enforce consistent standards of behavior. Neither school did a great job preparing students for the next level, especially Jackson. We've been disappointed with some of the special programs at Oakton including English 9 Honors for all and the Alg II Honors pilot. There are positives at all three schools as well, including community events, some music and athletic programs and a few outstanding teachers.

+100

Mature adults would recognize that such "credit" is shared, but lies primarily with the students themselves.

[Anonymous]

It's all the fault of the FARM students themselves that they aren't achieving so high? Ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm unaware of any weak school in the OHS pyramid.

FWIW, the MW aap center pulls from Fairfax city schools-so zero effect on OHS pyramid, in fact.

AAP at MWES also comes from Vienna (Marshall Rd) and the Vienna kids in the base school zone for MW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's all the fault of the FARM students themselves that they aren't achieving so high? Ok.

No, it's more the fault of others who declare schools "failures" without making any serious attempt to understand the progress that the ESOL/FARMS students may have made, or the challenges they face.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's all the fault of the FARM students themselves that they aren't achieving so high? Ok.

No, it's more the fault of others who declare schools "failures" without making any serious attempt to understand the progress that the ESOL/FARMS students may have made, or the challenges they face.

So can we start celebrating their successes then? How is fcps catering to their needs adequately?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's all the fault of the FARM students themselves that they aren't achieving so high? Ok.

No, it's more the fault of others who declare schools "failures" without making any serious attempt to understand the progress that the ESOL/FARMS students may have made, or the challenges they face.

So can we start celebrating their successes then? How is fcps catering to their needs adequately?

Under Karen Garza, at least, there was a concerted estimate to move well-regarded administrators from schools like TJ, McLean, Westfield and Rocky Run to poorer schools like Annandale, Falls Church, Mount Vernon and Stuart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best you can do is a thread on textbooks to back up your anger? Wow! Textbooks are archaic. Kids have access to online textbooks and Google and a host of other online help. Check the teacher blackboard or google site and look for yourself. The classroom is changing-finally! It's catching up to this century!

Don't know what to tell you, but a lot of parents and kids aren't on board with all the changes.

+100
My husband and I, as well as plenty of our neighbors and friends, see online textbooks as just one more nail in the coffin of FCPS. Sure, it's nice to have the *option* of an online textbook, but every child deserves a hard copy to keep at home. They are far easier to refer to, you don't have to have an internet connection, and there are no "glitches" with a real book. Our kids invariably have the online version freeze up on them in the middle of studying, and then we're left with nothing. We would request (and often have to demand) a real textbook for every class at the beginning of the year. It's ridiculous.