How is your 4th grader at CES doing so far?

[Anonymous]

My son switched schools for the CES and so far things have been smooth. A little anxiety over homework, but otherwise feels like the workload in class is doable. Socially he’s fine because a good friend also switched and is in class with him.

How did your child handle the transition?

[Anonymous]

My kid is in 5th but last year she was exhausted after school for the first couple months. Like kindergarten all over again. But the workload was totally manageable and she loved the teachers and integrated well socially. Overall she loves it, but she was exhausted those first couple of months. And she didn’t like the long bus ride.

[Anonymous]

We're at Chevy Chase CES, and there is no homework. They will have Wordly Wise every two weeks starting at some point, and projects to finish at home every once in a while, but that's it. My DD claims she's bored, but I think it's just that she's missing her old school friends.

[Anonymous]

We are at Lucy Barnsley CES. So far it has been a great experience. The homework has been light but much more interesting to my kid than the busy work from last year. My kid is actually enjoying the homework and just started the first project which she is interested in. It is very early but a great start. My kid was really bored last year and homework was always a battle. I wish we had a no homework policy and just worked on projects at home.

[Anonymous]

DS has about an hour of daily homework, the language arts is definitely more challenging, but doable so far. Math has been just an easy worksheet daily. Socially there is no one from his old school but DS makes friends easily enough.
One thing I find interesting is that CES is really only designed for kids who are advanced in reading and writing. It’s not really an overall gifted program. Case in point, many of DS classmates are not taking compacted math. I feel like if I had known that, I may have kept DS at his home school, as the bus ride is long and I have other kids to balance. DS, while an advanced reader, prefers comic books

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS has about an hour of daily homework, the language arts is definitely more challenging, but doable so far. Math has been just an easy worksheet daily. Socially there is no one from his old school but DS makes friends easily enough.
One thing I find interesting is that CES is really only designed for kids who are advanced in reading and writing. It’s not really an overall gifted program. Case in point, many of DS classmates are not taking compacted math. I feel like if I had known that, I may have kept DS at his home school, as the bus ride is long and I have other kids to balance. DS, while an advanced reader, prefers comic books

Really? That is super interesting. My child is at 5th in one of the regional CES programs that I think draws from the most diverse swathe of the DCC and everyone in last year's 4th grade was in compacted math. I wonder if MCPS is pivoting again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS has about an hour of daily homework, the language arts is definitely more challenging, but doable so far. Math has been just an easy worksheet daily. Socially there is no one from his old school but DS makes friends easily enough.
One thing I find interesting is that CES is really only designed for kids who are advanced in reading and writing. It’s not really an overall gifted program. Case in point, many of DS classmates are not taking compacted math. I feel like if I had known that, I may have kept DS at his home school, as the bus ride is long and I have other kids to balance. DS, while an advanced reader, prefers comic books

That's terrible they would assign so much homework. The whole class at our CES is in compacted math.

Which school is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS has about an hour of daily homework, the language arts is definitely more challenging, but doable so far. Math has been just an easy worksheet daily. Socially there is no one from his old school but DS makes friends easily enough.
One thing I find interesting is that CES is really only designed for kids who are advanced in reading and writing. It’s not really an overall gifted program. Case in point, many of DS classmates are not taking compacted math. I feel like if I had known that, I may have kept DS at his home school, as the bus ride is long and I have other kids to balance. DS, while an advanced reader, prefers comic books

The CES (previously HGC) has always been a humanities and writing-heavy program. This has been explained in informational meetings.

Just so you know, American children aren't taught to write as well as their European peers. You should be thrilled that your child is getting a semblance of rigorous training in writing. However, if at any point this is not satisfactory, your home school is obligated to find your child a seat. I agree that some CES bus rides are scandalously long!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS has about an hour of daily homework, the language arts is definitely more challenging, but doable so far. Math has been just an easy worksheet daily. Socially there is no one from his old school but DS makes friends easily enough.
One thing I find interesting is that CES is really only designed for kids who are advanced in reading and writing. It’s not really an overall gifted program. Case in point, many of DS classmates are not taking compacted math. I feel like if I had known that, I may have kept DS at his home school, as the bus ride is long and I have other kids to balance. DS, while an advanced reader, prefers comic books

The CES (previously HGC) has always been a humanities and writing-heavy program. This has been explained in informational meetings.

Just so you know, American children aren't taught to write as well as their European peers. You should be thrilled that your child is getting a semblance of rigorous training in writing. However, if at any point this is not satisfactory, your home school is obligated to find your child a seat. I agree that some CES bus rides are scandalously long!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled he’s getting the higher level writing assignments and I think it’s a very important skill to learn. I couldn’t go to any of the informational meetings because of work but I misunderstood that it was more writing heavy. DS will probably be fine, it’s just that he dislikes it so much but maybe it’s a good thing bc now he’ll be forced to write better. And I don’t know exactly how many are not in compacted math, I’m just going by what DS said that there is a small group that doesn’t go, I just found that odd. Overall, I’m happy with the program as I think most parents at our school are. As for the homework, I’d break it down to about 15 minutes to read then 20 to 30 minutes to write, and about 10 min for math. And the writing may take him longer bc he writes very slowly (don’t get me started on not learning cursive).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS has about an hour of daily homework, the language arts is definitely more challenging, but doable so far. Math has been just an easy worksheet daily. Socially there is no one from his old school but DS makes friends easily enough.
One thing I find interesting is that CES is really only designed for kids who are advanced in reading and writing. It’s not really an overall gifted program. Case in point, many of DS classmates are not taking compacted math. I feel like if I had known that, I may have kept DS at his home school, as the bus ride is long and I have other kids to balance. DS, while an advanced reader, prefers comic books

The CES (previously HGC) has always been a humanities and writing-heavy program. This has been explained in informational meetings.

Just so you know, American children aren't taught to write as well as their European peers. You should be thrilled that your child is getting a semblance of rigorous training in writing. However, if at any point this is not satisfactory, your home school is obligated to find your child a seat. I agree that some CES bus rides are scandalously long!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled he’s getting the higher level writing assignments and I think it’s a very important skill to learn. I couldn’t go to any of the informational meetings because of work but I misunderstood that it was more writing heavy. DS will probably be fine, it’s just that he dislikes it so much but maybe it’s a good thing bc now he’ll be forced to write better. And I don’t know exactly how many are not in compacted math, I’m just going by what DS said that there is a small group that doesn’t go, I just found that odd. Overall, I’m happy with the program as I think most parents at our school are. As for the homework, I’d break it down to about 15 minutes to read then 20 to 30 minutes to write, and about 10 min for math. And the writing may take him longer bc he writes very slowly (don’t get me started on not learning cursive).

Does he have ADHD? Those kids need particular emphasis on writing skills, because it's much harder for them to gather their thoughts and put them on paper.

[Anonymous]

We were told at Barnsley’s open house that all kids in CES do compacted math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS has about an hour of daily homework, the language arts is definitely more challenging, but doable so far. Math has been just an easy worksheet daily. Socially there is no one from his old school but DS makes friends easily enough.
One thing I find interesting is that CES is really only designed for kids who are advanced in reading and writing. It’s not really an overall gifted program. Case in point, many of DS classmates are not taking compacted math. I feel like if I had known that, I may have kept DS at his home school, as the bus ride is long and I have other kids to balance. DS, while an advanced reader, prefers comic books

The CES (previously HGC) has always been a humanities and writing-heavy program. This has been explained in informational meetings.

Just so you know, American children aren't taught to write as well as their European peers. You should be thrilled that your child is getting a semblance of rigorous training in writing. However, if at any point this is not satisfactory, your home school is obligated to find your child a seat. I agree that some CES bus rides are scandalously long!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled he’s getting the higher level writing assignments and I think it’s a very important skill to learn. I couldn’t go to any of the informational meetings because of work but I misunderstood that it was more writing heavy. DS will probably be fine, it’s just that he dislikes it so much but maybe it’s a good thing bc now he’ll be forced to write better. And I don’t know exactly how many are not in compacted math, I’m just going by what DS said that there is a small group that doesn’t go, I just found that odd. Overall, I’m happy with the program as I think most parents at our school are. As for the homework, I’d break it down to about 15 minutes to read then 20 to 30 minutes to write, and about 10 min for math. And the writing may take him longer bc he writes very slowly (don’t get me started on not learning cursive).

Does he have ADHD? Those kids need particular emphasis on writing skills, because it's much harder for them to gather their thoughts and put them on paper.

I don’t think so but never had him tested. His kindergarten teacher said his writing difficulties was a sign of giftedness, especially for boys. He has a lot of trouble with his thoughts because his mind is racing but once in awhile he’ll write something so provocative. Is that the same with all of you other 4th grade CESers?

[Anonymous]

My kid has had a tough time because she misses her friends from her old school. I think she’ll be fine in the long run, but it’s going to take a little while.

As far as the work, there’s definitely more homework, between 30-60 minutes each day. It’s manageable, and definitely more interesting than what she was doing last year, but it’s a noticeable increase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS has about an hour of daily homework, the language arts is definitely more challenging, but doable so far. Math has been just an easy worksheet daily. Socially there is no one from his old school but DS makes friends easily enough.
One thing I find interesting is that CES is really only designed for kids who are advanced in reading and writing. It’s not really an overall gifted program. Case in point, many of DS classmates are not taking compacted math. I feel like if I had known that, I may have kept DS at his home school, as the bus ride is long and I have other kids to balance. DS, while an advanced reader, prefers comic books

The CES (previously HGC) has always been a humanities and writing-heavy program. This has been explained in informational meetings.

Just so you know, American children aren't taught to write as well as their European peers. You should be thrilled that your child is getting a semblance of rigorous training in writing. However, if at any point this is not satisfactory, your home school is obligated to find your child a seat. I agree that some CES bus rides are scandalously long!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled he’s getting the higher level writing assignments and I think it’s a very important skill to learn. I couldn’t go to any of the informational meetings because of work but I misunderstood that it was more writing heavy. DS will probably be fine, it’s just that he dislikes it so much but maybe it’s a good thing bc now he’ll be forced to write better. And I don’t know exactly how many are not in compacted math, I’m just going by what DS said that there is a small group that doesn’t go, I just found that odd. Overall, I’m happy with the program as I think most parents at our school are. As for the homework, I’d break it down to about 15 minutes to read then 20 to 30 minutes to write, and about 10 min for math. And the writing may take him longer bc he writes very slowly (don’t get me started on not learning cursive).

Does he have ADHD? Those kids need particular emphasis on writing skills, because it's much harder for them to gather their thoughts and put them on paper.

I don’t think so but never had him tested. His kindergarten teacher said his writing difficulties was a sign of giftedness, especially for boys. He has a lot of trouble with his thoughts because his mind is racing but once in awhile he’ll write something so provocative. Is that the same with all of you other 4th grade CESers?

And you believe that crap? Come on, OP. A high IQ and writing difficulties are generally not correlated.
"Mind-racing" is a red flag for ADHD, though.

[Anonymous]

OP here, by writing difficulties I mean a hard time making letters. He was writing 5 sentences at a time, usually “book reports”. The content was just fine but he struggled with actual letters. And quite frankly I didn’t quite believe her but she had been teaching for 30+ years and he was my first, and in KG so what did I know. And by mind racing, I think she meant there was a lot going on in his head but by no means ADHD. He would sometimes walk away from an assignment because he found another activity more interesting. In my opinion, he’s just a normal kid.