Why are there no textbooks in FCPS elementary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some parents like text books so that they can “pre-teach” their kids the lessons. The. Hold then appears to be much smarter to the teacher.

I liked them because I could read ahead because of her slow pace of classes.

Well since there are no grades in elementary, I don't see the harm. God forbid Americans actually learn in school and appear smart. The horror.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some parents like text books so that they can “pre-teach” their kids the lessons. The. Hold then appears to be much smarter to the teacher.

I liked them because I could read ahead because of her slow pace of classes.

Well since there are no grades in elementary, I don't see the harm. God forbid Americans actually learn in school and appear smart. The horror.

So, you can’t learn without receiving a letter grade?

[Anonymous]

That there are no textbooks is a huge factor in disorganized ES level education, resulting in us falling behind other countries that lead world ratings in educational achievement. It is too sad.

I asked my school for weekly teaching plan for just math - they could not provide it. They shape it as they go it turns out...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That there are no textbooks is a huge factor in disorganized ES level education, resulting in us falling behind other countries that lead world ratings in educational achievement. It is too sad.

I asked my school for weekly teaching plan for just math - they could not provide it. They shape it as they go it turns out...

Do you have a source that shows the correlation between the use of/absence of textbooks and achievement rankings?

[Anonymous]

This is my observation of two systems after experiencing then hands on ( the second one through my child) and the conclusion. Education specialists may pick up and test this hypothesis with data if they’d like even as it is as obvious as saying ‘if you exercise you will be healthier.’
The lack of textbooks is a huge handicap.
There is nothing more satisfying than look back at the material you learned at the end of the year, all in one place, and not a pile of disconnected and mixed up worksheets.
I actually now wonder if the lack of textbooks creates harder environment for ADHDs.

[Anonymous]

Checkout Singapore min ed website for their textbooks, and make a connection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure about the middle and high schools, but the elementary school my dd attends does not use any textbooks. Does anyone know why this is?

It's like this everywhere. I think it's because the curriculum changes so much, the textbooks quickly become outdated.

Ok. But how about math??? Why not at least have a core textbook in math?
2+2 will remain 4 in 100 years. Right?

[Anonymous]

Is anyone aware of a more formalized group of parents advocating for textbooks use, even as it may be for select subjects, in Fcps schools?
I would join them in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is my observation of two systems after experiencing then hands on ( the second one through my child) and the conclusion. Education specialists may pick up and test this hypothesis with data if they’d like even as it is as obvious as saying ‘if you exercise you will be healthier.’
The lack of textbooks is a huge handicap.
There is nothing more satisfying than look back at the material you learned at the end of the year, all in one place, and not a pile of disconnected and mixed up worksheets.
I actually now wonder if the lack of textbooks creates harder environment for ADHDs.

I agree. But the "textbook" does not have to be a bound book like in the old days. Why can't they use what worked the prior year? Start with that. Gather the material and store it electronically. It just need to be organized in one place at the beginning of the year. Both the students and parents can view them and know what the expectation will be at the start of the year.

Without the "textbooks", it lacks the transparency of what is being taught. PP thinks that the textbooks make the teachers lazy. But I would argue that it makes it easier to hide what's NOT being taught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone aware of a more formalized group of parents advocating for textbooks use, even as it may be for select subjects, in Fcps schools?
I would join them in a heartbeat.

+1
Probably the PTA for starters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:schools with no books... is that funny or sad??

Both.

I really wish they had math textbooks in elementary schools.

On a side note, my high school student has had a fair share of textbooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is my observation of two systems after experiencing then hands on ( the second one through my child) and the conclusion. Education specialists may pick up and test this hypothesis with data if they’d like even as it is as obvious as saying ‘if you exercise you will be healthier.’
The lack of textbooks is a huge handicap.
There is nothing more satisfying than look back at the material you learned at the end of the year, all in one place, and not a pile of disconnected and mixed up worksheets.
I actually now wonder if the lack of textbooks creates harder environment for ADHDs.

I agree. But the "textbook" does not have to be a bound book like in the old days. Why can't they use what worked the prior year? Start with that. Gather the material and store it electronically. It just need to be organized in one place at the beginning of the year. Both the students and parents can view them and know what the expectation will be at the start of the year.

Without the "textbooks", it lacks the transparency of what is being taught. PP thinks that the textbooks make the teachers lazy. But I would argue that it makes it easier to hide what's NOT being taught.

So...basically our textbooks would come from Teachers Pay Teachers under this scheme. Or at least that's what my DC brings home - worksheets printed off TPT.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the earlier poster who said that teachers create their own versions of textbooks, but they are crappier because they consist of glued in pages. That's what I have to do. I recreate the wheel and create pages with examples that kids glue in. I used to have kids take notes but some kids don't take notes well. So I am creating step by step examples and running them off on the copier for students to glue in. (Twice as much paper used - the notebook paper and the copier paper) The advantage is that students and parents have something solid to refer to. The disadvantage (besides the huge amount of time it takes me) is that students don't get needed practice taking notes.

I guess ideally I would like for students to take notes but also have a well-written textbook to refer to if they still struggled. (I'm talking math.)

[Anonymous]

They are all online now. Google Classroom/Blackboard.

[Anonymous]

Right and then buy one from Amazon or ask the teacher for a hard copy. Also, google the pacing guide and you're pretty much set. It depends on the school, though. Our old school sent nothing home so you never knew what they were doing. I think that was on purpose. However, our new school, sent things home daily or at least when the weekly folder went home.