Adding a year in elementary school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It’s more wishful thinking on my part. We love our elementary school and wish that both kids have an extra year in it. But yes I recognize that 6-8 makes more sense.

Kids start taking highschool classes in seventh grade. It’s good to have a year prior to that where they can get used to being in middle school without it tanking their highschool transcript. Especially since they got rid of grades in elementary school. Also moving sixth grade to elementary school would limit the advanced math track since you couldn’t have pre algebra in sixth grade then.

I think that this a problem, high school type classes jn middle school. It's way too much work and homework.

I am assuming you don’t have kids in middle school or highschool. The highschool classes aren’t any more work than their other classes. They just are considered highschool classes and your grade matters a little more since it sticks around. Kids don’t have to take highschool classes in middle school, but it’s a pre-req for things like going to tj or doing the in program. You can’t take ap calculus as a senior in highschool if you don’t take algebra as an 8th grader. That’s a high school class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It’s more wishful thinking on my part. We love our elementary school and wish that both kids have an extra year in it. But yes I recognize that 6-8 makes more sense.

Kids start taking highschool classes in seventh grade. It’s good to have a year prior to that where they can get used to being in middle school without it tanking their highschool transcript. Especially since they got rid of grades in elementary school. Also moving sixth grade to elementary school would limit the advanced math track since you couldn’t have pre algebra in sixth grade then.

I think that this a problem, high school type classes jn middle school. It's way too much work and homework.

I am assuming you don’t have kids in middle school or highschool. The highschool classes aren’t any more work than their other classes. They just are considered highschool classes and your grade matters a little more since it sticks around. Kids don’t have to take highschool classes in middle school, but it’s a pre-req for things like going to tj or doing the in program. You can’t take ap calculus as a senior in highschool if you don’t take algebra as an 8th grader. That’s a high school class.

Not the immediate PPP. I don't think the issue is too much work and homework; but I don't think it's sound educational policy to push such advanced (two grade levels up) math in middle school. The issue isn't the amount of work, it is an issue of the students not being sufficiently grounded in/mastering the fundamentals. Yes, they can "do" the work and get decent grades; but the lack of true understanding of the concepts is showing up at the higher levels (high school and college - many who took Calculus in high school are being required to retake it in college because of this.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an FCPS parent, I hated having 6th grade in ES. 7 years with the same kids was too much, the kids had physically outgrown the school, and the staff was not at all equipped to deal with the issues and drama of 6th graders.

I was in an elementary school that had K-6 and my kids did K-5. While I did have initial apprehension about my 11 year olds going to middle school for 6th, after seeing it both ways, I vastly prefer 6th in middle school.

The comment above about ES not being able to deal with social drama of 6th is spot on. 6th grade was my worst year of school. I did much better with a brand new group of kids and kids in different classes when I finally got to middle school in 7th.

Don't you feel like 6th grade in middle makes the kids grow up a little bit faster than they have to though?

No, I don't, especially if the schools do a good job supporting them.

Really, how so?

what's your question?

Why you don't think that MS starting in 6th or MS in general doesn't male the kids grow up quicker than they have to.

Perhaps it would be helpful if you explained why 6th grade in a building with 7th and 8th forces them to grow up faster than being in a building with K-5th graders. What is it specifically that is done differently in the different building scenarios that forces such tremendous maturation in one year?

Well, first of all they seemingly take all the fun out of school. When I got to 6th grade, no more recess. I was 11 years old of course I still needed and wanted recess. Kids maybe able to do without class parties, but still it would be nice for kids to have one last year of school being fun. Also, once in MS adults start telling you that you are "too old" for kid stuff. MS also has way more homework and extracurriculars are pushed, kids are meant to keep busy, not alot of time to go home and play/ hang out with friends anymore. I loved my k-6 I didn't feel pressured by anyone to give up being a kid.

There is always going to be "one last year would be nice" no matter when you break the grades.
Middle schoolers are still able to go outside (theoretically and if it's not under 60 degrees ) and run around/play during lunch. They aren't using slides and monkey bars anymore; but they toss footballs around, kick soccer balls, just walk around, etc.
Rest assured, APS is not stealing any childhood away from 6th graders with homework - or 7th or 8th graders, for that matter. And extracurriculars are meant to be fun, to be a time to hang out with friends and make new friends. And as kids reach these ages, it is good to keep them busy and help them begin to find activities of interest. Look what happens when kids are bored: they fill their time finding other kids with nothing to do and experiment with vaping and drugs, stealing Ronald McDonald, breaking into and burglarizing schools, having sex, getting pregnant. Even 6th graders.

I mean I guess that some middle schoolers are doing those things. My friends and I never did. I think if they are, it has to be something bigger than boredom. Because if you're a kid out playing with your friends, which I think they should be, presumably you wouldn't be bored.

Some of that can be chalked up to the fact that being a “kid out playing with your friends” is what we all did growing up, but this generation of kids have really not experienced that in the same way. There are lots of reasons for that, but you do not have the same “neighborhood kids roaming in packs playing until dark” thing that many of us had back in the day. Extracurriculars and club sports fill those gaps now.

Regardless of it being elementary or middle, it's really sad to me that this is no longer a thing for most kids. I think that they are really missing out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an FCPS parent, I hated having 6th grade in ES. 7 years with the same kids was too much, the kids had physically outgrown the school, and the staff was not at all equipped to deal with the issues and drama of 6th graders.

I was in an elementary school that had K-6 and my kids did K-5. While I did have initial apprehension about my 11 year olds going to middle school for 6th, after seeing it both ways, I vastly prefer 6th in middle school.

The comment above about ES not being able to deal with social drama of 6th is spot on. 6th grade was my worst year of school. I did much better with a brand new group of kids and kids in different classes when I finally got to middle school in 7th.

Don't you feel like 6th grade in middle makes the kids grow up a little bit faster than they have to though?

No, I don't, especially if the schools do a good job supporting them.

Really, how so?

what's your question?

Why you don't think that MS starting in 6th or MS in general doesn't male the kids grow up quicker than they have to.

Perhaps it would be helpful if you explained why 6th grade in a building with 7th and 8th forces them to grow up faster than being in a building with K-5th graders. What is it specifically that is done differently in the different building scenarios that forces such tremendous maturation in one year?

Well, first of all they seemingly take all the fun out of school. When I got to 6th grade, no more recess. I was 11 years old of course I still needed and wanted recess. Kids maybe able to do without class parties, but still it would be nice for kids to have one last year of school being fun. Also, once in MS adults start telling you that you are "too old" for kid stuff. MS also has way more homework and extracurriculars are pushed, kids are meant to keep busy, not alot of time to go home and play/ hang out with friends anymore. I loved my k-6 I didn't feel pressured by anyone to give up being a kid.

There is always going to be "one last year would be nice" no matter when you break the grades.
Middle schoolers are still able to go outside (theoretically and if it's not under 60 degrees ) and run around/play during lunch. They aren't using slides and monkey bars anymore; but they toss footballs around, kick soccer balls, just walk around, etc.
Rest assured, APS is not stealing any childhood away from 6th graders with homework - or 7th or 8th graders, for that matter. And extracurriculars are meant to be fun, to be a time to hang out with friends and make new friends. And as kids reach these ages, it is good to keep them busy and help them begin to find activities of interest. Look what happens when kids are bored: they fill their time finding other kids with nothing to do and experiment with vaping and drugs, stealing Ronald McDonald, breaking into and burglarizing schools, having sex, getting pregnant. Even 6th graders.

I mean I guess that some middle schoolers are doing those things. My friends and I never did. I think if they are, it has to be something bigger than boredom. Because if you're a kid out playing with your friends, which I think they should be, presumably you wouldn't be bored.

I didn't do any of them, either. And I can say the same for high school. Some do/will regardless. But I also think there are those at-risk of falling prey if they're just left to their own devices or have one rebellious friend influencing them. Perhaps being kept busy via school "saves" them.

Absolutely, I know that there are at risk kids due to home life, environment, mental illness ect that will lead them to do these things, no question. That's not the same thing, at least in my mind, as being bored. Maybe I'm missing something though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an FCPS parent, I hated having 6th grade in ES. 7 years with the same kids was too much, the kids had physically outgrown the school, and the staff was not at all equipped to deal with the issues and drama of 6th graders.

I was in an elementary school that had K-6 and my kids did K-5. While I did have initial apprehension about my 11 year olds going to middle school for 6th, after seeing it both ways, I vastly prefer 6th in middle school.

The comment above about ES not being able to deal with social drama of 6th is spot on. 6th grade was my worst year of school. I did much better with a brand new group of kids and kids in different classes when I finally got to middle school in 7th.

Don't you feel like 6th grade in middle makes the kids grow up a little bit faster than they have to though?

No, I don't, especially if the schools do a good job supporting them.

Really, how so?

what's your question?

Why you don't think that MS starting in 6th or MS in general doesn't male the kids grow up quicker than they have to.

Perhaps it would be helpful if you explained why 6th grade in a building with 7th and 8th forces them to grow up faster than being in a building with K-5th graders. What is it specifically that is done differently in the different building scenarios that forces such tremendous maturation in one year?

Well, first of all they seemingly take all the fun out of school. When I got to 6th grade, no more recess. I was 11 years old of course I still needed and wanted recess. Kids maybe able to do without class parties, but still it would be nice for kids to have one last year of school being fun. Also, once in MS adults start telling you that you are "too old" for kid stuff. MS also has way more homework and extracurriculars are pushed, kids are meant to keep busy, not alot of time to go home and play/ hang out with friends anymore. I loved my k-6 I didn't feel pressured by anyone to give up being a kid.

There is always going to be "one last year would be nice" no matter when you break the grades.
Middle schoolers are still able to go outside (theoretically and if it's not under 60 degrees ) and run around/play during lunch. They aren't using slides and monkey bars anymore; but they toss footballs around, kick soccer balls, just walk around, etc.
Rest assured, APS is not stealing any childhood away from 6th graders with homework - or 7th or 8th graders, for that matter. And extracurriculars are meant to be fun, to be a time to hang out with friends and make new friends. And as kids reach these ages, it is good to keep them busy and help them begin to find activities of interest. Look what happens when kids are bored: they fill their time finding other kids with nothing to do and experiment with vaping and drugs, stealing Ronald McDonald, breaking into and burglarizing schools, having sex, getting pregnant. Even 6th graders.

I mean I guess that some middle schoolers are doing those things. My friends and I never did. I think if they are, it has to be something bigger than boredom. Because if you're a kid out playing with your friends, which I think they should be, presumably you wouldn't be bored.

I didn't do any of them, either. And I can say the same for high school. Some do/will regardless. But I also think there are those at-risk of falling prey if they're just left to their own devices or have one rebellious friend influencing them. Perhaps being kept busy via school "saves" them.

Absolutely, I know that there are at risk kids due to home life, environment, mental illness ect that will lead them to do these things, no question. That's not the same thing, at least in my mind, as being bored. Maybe I'm missing something though.

I wasn't referring to "at risk" kids in terms of economic status. I just meant kids who may have tendencies due to the nature of their character to experiment or to be influenced by others or to not independently fill their time with positive activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an FCPS parent, I hated having 6th grade in ES. 7 years with the same kids was too much, the kids had physically outgrown the school, and the staff was not at all equipped to deal with the issues and drama of 6th graders.

I was in an elementary school that had K-6 and my kids did K-5. While I did have initial apprehension about my 11 year olds going to middle school for 6th, after seeing it both ways, I vastly prefer 6th in middle school.

The comment above about ES not being able to deal with social drama of 6th is spot on. 6th grade was my worst year of school. I did much better with a brand new group of kids and kids in different classes when I finally got to middle school in 7th.

Don't you feel like 6th grade in middle makes the kids grow up a little bit faster than they have to though?

No, I don't, especially if the schools do a good job supporting them.

Really, how so?

what's your question?

Why you don't think that MS starting in 6th or MS in general doesn't male the kids grow up quicker than they have to.

Perhaps it would be helpful if you explained why 6th grade in a building with 7th and 8th forces them to grow up faster than being in a building with K-5th graders. What is it specifically that is done differently in the different building scenarios that forces such tremendous maturation in one year?

Well, first of all they seemingly take all the fun out of school. When I got to 6th grade, no more recess. I was 11 years old of course I still needed and wanted recess. Kids maybe able to do without class parties, but still it would be nice for kids to have one last year of school being fun. Also, once in MS adults start telling you that you are "too old" for kid stuff. MS also has way more homework and extracurriculars are pushed, kids are meant to keep busy, not alot of time to go home and play/ hang out with friends anymore. I loved my k-6 I didn't feel pressured by anyone to give up being a kid.

There is always going to be "one last year would be nice" no matter when you break the grades.
Middle schoolers are still able to go outside (theoretically and if it's not under 60 degrees ) and run around/play during lunch. They aren't using slides and monkey bars anymore; but they toss footballs around, kick soccer balls, just walk around, etc.
Rest assured, APS is not stealing any childhood away from 6th graders with homework - or 7th or 8th graders, for that matter. And extracurriculars are meant to be fun, to be a time to hang out with friends and make new friends. And as kids reach these ages, it is good to keep them busy and help them begin to find activities of interest. Look what happens when kids are bored: they fill their time finding other kids with nothing to do and experiment with vaping and drugs, stealing Ronald McDonald, breaking into and burglarizing schools, having sex, getting pregnant. Even 6th graders.

I mean I guess that some middle schoolers are doing those things. My friends and I never did. I think if they are, it has to be something bigger than boredom. Because if you're a kid out playing with your friends, which I think they should be, presumably you wouldn't be bored.

I didn't do any of them, either. And I can say the same for high school. Some do/will regardless. But I also think there are those at-risk of falling prey if they're just left to their own devices or have one rebellious friend influencing them. Perhaps being kept busy via school "saves" them.

Absolutely, I know that there are at risk kids due to home life, environment, mental illness ect that will lead them to do these things, no question. That's not the same thing, at least in my mind, as being bored. Maybe I'm missing something though.

I wasn't referring to "at risk" kids in terms of economic status. I just meant kids who may have tendencies due to the nature of their character to experiment or to be influenced by others or to not independently fill their time with positive activities.

I know, I was just saying that there are different reasons kids could be at risk.

[Anonymous]

This is an interesting debate of sorts. Personally, I think 6th should be in elementary. But, I do think maybe it's a kid to kid basis. Some would like it and do well, others not so much. Although, I think the kids that might not want it would appreciate it later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It’s more wishful thinking on my part. We love our elementary school and wish that both kids have an extra year in it. But yes I recognize that 6-8 makes more sense.

Kids start taking highschool classes in seventh grade. It’s good to have a year prior to that where they can get used to being in middle school without it tanking their highschool transcript. Especially since they got rid of grades in elementary school. Also moving sixth grade to elementary school would limit the advanced math track since you couldn’t have pre algebra in sixth grade then.

I think that this a problem, high school type classes jn middle school. It's way too much work and homework.

I am assuming you don’t have kids in middle school or highschool. The highschool classes aren’t any more work than their other classes. They just are considered highschool classes and your grade matters a little more since it sticks around. Kids don’t have to take highschool classes in middle school, but it’s a pre-req for things like going to tj or doing the in program. You can’t take ap calculus as a senior in highschool if you don’t take algebra as an 8th grader. That’s a high school class.

Not the immediate PPP. I don't think the issue is too much work and homework; but I don't think it's sound educational policy to push such advanced (two grade levels up) math in middle school. The issue isn't the amount of work, it is an issue of the students not being sufficiently grounded in/mastering the fundamentals. Yes, they can "do" the work and get decent grades; but the lack of true understanding of the concepts is showing up at the higher levels (high school and college - many who took Calculus in high school are being required to retake it in college because of this.)

Besides math, the two other highschool classes kids taken in middle school is language (pre-req to do the ib program at w-l) and geography as an 8th grader. Isn’t it supposed to be easier to acquire a language the younger you are (wasn’t that the argument for fles)? I personally agree that taking algebra as a 6th grader (which is allowed in Loudoun/fcps) or a seventh grader should be reserved for truly advanced kids. But taking algebra as an eighth grader was the norm when I was in school over thirty years ago!
I really think kids would be at a disadvantage with peers from other counties/states if they don’t have the opportunity to take highschool classes in middle school. Since language at least is a pre-req for the in program, having sixth grade in middle school is a very nice transition year before grades “really count”. If they still had grades in elementary school, I would agree it doesn’t matter.

[Anonymous]

The thing I appreciate about 6th grade being in middle school is the afterschool activities that kids actually want to do. By 4-5th grade very few kids use extended day and it’s not very fun for the kids who are there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It’s more wishful thinking on my part. We love our elementary school and wish that both kids have an extra year in it. But yes I recognize that 6-8 makes more sense.

Kids start taking highschool classes in seventh grade. It’s good to have a year prior to that where they can get used to being in middle school without it tanking their highschool transcript. Especially since they got rid of grades in elementary school. Also moving sixth grade to elementary school would limit the advanced math track since you couldn’t have pre algebra in sixth grade then.

I think that this a problem, high school type classes jn middle school. It's way too much work and homework.

I am assuming you don’t have kids in middle school or highschool. The highschool classes aren’t any more work than their other classes. They just are considered highschool classes and your grade matters a little more since it sticks around. Kids don’t have to take highschool classes in middle school, but it’s a pre-req for things like going to tj or doing the in program. You can’t take ap calculus as a senior in highschool if you don’t take algebra as an 8th grader. That’s a high school class.

Not the immediate PPP. I don't think the issue is too much work and homework; but I don't think it's sound educational policy to push such advanced (two grade levels up) math in middle school. The issue isn't the amount of work, it is an issue of the students not being sufficiently grounded in/mastering the fundamentals. Yes, they can "do" the work and get decent grades; but the lack of true understanding of the concepts is showing up at the higher levels (high school and college - many who took Calculus in high school are being required to retake it in college because of this.)

Besides math, the two other highschool classes kids taken in middle school is language (pre-req to do the ib program at w-l) and geography as an 8th grader. Isn’t it supposed to be easier to acquire a language the younger you are (wasn’t that the argument for fles)? I personally agree that taking algebra as a 6th grader (which is allowed in Loudoun/fcps) or a seventh grader should be reserved for truly advanced kids. But taking algebra as an eighth grader was the norm when I was in school over thirty years ago!
I really think kids would be at a disadvantage with peers from other counties/states if they don’t have the opportunity to take highschool classes in middle school. Since language at least is a pre-req for the in program, having sixth grade in middle school is a very nice transition year before grades “really count”. If they still had grades in elementary school, I would agree it doesn’t matter.

Yes, I agree with this part. I don't see language or even geography as a problem in middle school. Math is unique and I believe it is very different to keep pushing advanced mathematics younger and younger when it's showing up as a problem later (kids dropping out of advanced math pathway in high school because it's too hard; having to repeat calculus in college because the aren't sufficiently grounded in the fundamentals, etc.) You don't put a 6th grader in Latin 3 without having mastered Latin 1 and 2. And that's one of the differences. We aren't skipping years of language; whereas we are jumping ahead/overly condensing the math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an FCPS parent, I hated having 6th grade in ES. 7 years with the same kids was too much, the kids had physically outgrown the school, and the staff was not at all equipped to deal with the issues and drama of 6th graders.

I was in an elementary school that had K-6 and my kids did K-5. While I did have initial apprehension about my 11 year olds going to middle school for 6th, after seeing it both ways, I vastly prefer 6th in middle school.

The comment above about ES not being able to deal with social drama of 6th is spot on. 6th grade was my worst year of school. I did much better with a brand new group of kids and kids in different classes when I finally got to middle school in 7th.

Don't you feel like 6th grade in middle makes the kids grow up a little bit faster than they have to though?

No, I don't, especially if the schools do a good job supporting them.

Really, how so?

what's your question?

Why you don't think that MS starting in 6th or MS in general doesn't male the kids grow up quicker than they have to.

Perhaps it would be helpful if you explained why 6th grade in a building with 7th and 8th forces them to grow up faster than being in a building with K-5th graders. What is it specifically that is done differently in the different building scenarios that forces such tremendous maturation in one year?

We’re in FCPS and a 6th grader gets to enjoy a stress free environment, a playground, field trips, and time with friends. In middle school there are fights in the hallways, vaping and smoking in bathrooms, classes full of kids they don’t know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an FCPS parent, I hated having 6th grade in ES. 7 years with the same kids was too much, the kids had physically outgrown the school, and the staff was not at all equipped to deal with the issues and drama of 6th graders.

I was in an elementary school that had K-6 and my kids did K-5. While I did have initial apprehension about my 11 year olds going to middle school for 6th, after seeing it both ways, I vastly prefer 6th in middle school.

The comment above about ES not being able to deal with social drama of 6th is spot on. 6th grade was my worst year of school. I did much better with a brand new group of kids and kids in different classes when I finally got to middle school in 7th.

Don't you feel like 6th grade in middle makes the kids grow up a little bit faster than they have to though?

No, I don't, especially if the schools do a good job supporting them.

Really, how so?

what's your question?

Why you don't think that MS starting in 6th or MS in general doesn't male the kids grow up quicker than they have to.

Perhaps it would be helpful if you explained why 6th grade in a building with 7th and 8th forces them to grow up faster than being in a building with K-5th graders. What is it specifically that is done differently in the different building scenarios that forces such tremendous maturation in one year?

We’re in FCPS and a 6th grader gets to enjoy a stress free environment, a playground, field trips, and time with friends. In middle school there are fights in the hallways, vaping and smoking in bathrooms, classes full of kids they don’t know.

We are at aps and last year in fifth grade there was blatant bullying during recess and many many fights. Kids started calling each other racist slurs in fourth grade. This is at a north Arlington school too so not like you can blame the demographic. It’s not that different from middle school socially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It’s more wishful thinking on my part. We love our elementary school and wish that both kids have an extra year in it. But yes I recognize that 6-8 makes more sense.

Kids start taking highschool classes in seventh grade. It’s good to have a year prior to that where they can get used to being in middle school without it tanking their highschool transcript. Especially since they got rid of grades in elementary school. Also moving sixth grade to elementary school would limit the advanced math track since you couldn’t have pre algebra in sixth grade then.

I think that this a problem, high school type classes jn middle school. It's way too much work and homework.

I am assuming you don’t have kids in middle school or highschool. The highschool classes aren’t any more work than their other classes. They just are considered highschool classes and your grade matters a little more since it sticks around. Kids don’t have to take highschool classes in middle school, but it’s a pre-req for things like going to tj or doing the in program. You can’t take ap calculus as a senior in highschool if you don’t take algebra as an 8th grader. That’s a high school class.

Not the immediate PPP. I don't think the issue is too much work and homework; but I don't think it's sound educational policy to push such advanced (two grade levels up) math in middle school. The issue isn't the amount of work, it is an issue of the students not being sufficiently grounded in/mastering the fundamentals. Yes, they can "do" the work and get decent grades; but the lack of true understanding of the concepts is showing up at the higher levels (high school and college - many who took Calculus in high school are being required to retake it in college because of this.)

It isn't pushed. Very few kids qualify to take math two levels up. But those who do benefit from it. If your kids don't, that's fine. Why would you take away the opportunity for other kids to learn at their level?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an FCPS parent, I hated having 6th grade in ES. 7 years with the same kids was too much, the kids had physically outgrown the school, and the staff was not at all equipped to deal with the issues and drama of 6th graders.

I was in an elementary school that had K-6 and my kids did K-5. While I did have initial apprehension about my 11 year olds going to middle school for 6th, after seeing it both ways, I vastly prefer 6th in middle school.

The comment above about ES not being able to deal with social drama of 6th is spot on. 6th grade was my worst year of school. I did much better with a brand new group of kids and kids in different classes when I finally got to middle school in 7th.

Don't you feel like 6th grade in middle makes the kids grow up a little bit faster than they have to though?

No, I don't, especially if the schools do a good job supporting them.

Really, how so?

what's your question?

Why you don't think that MS starting in 6th or MS in general doesn't male the kids grow up quicker than they have to.

Perhaps it would be helpful if you explained why 6th grade in a building with 7th and 8th forces them to grow up faster than being in a building with K-5th graders. What is it specifically that is done differently in the different building scenarios that forces such tremendous maturation in one year?

We’re in FCPS and a 6th grader gets to enjoy a stress free environment, a playground, field trips, and time with friends. In middle school there are fights in the hallways, vaping and smoking in bathrooms, classes full of kids they don’t know.

We are at aps and last year in fifth grade there was blatant bullying during recess and many many fights. Kids started calling each other racist slurs in fourth grade. This is at a north Arlington school too so not like you can blame the demographic. It’s not that different from middle school socially.

I work in an elementary school and I agree this often starts in 4th and 5th grade. Sometimes kids also just get sick of each other after 5+ years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It’s more wishful thinking on my part. We love our elementary school and wish that both kids have an extra year in it. But yes I recognize that 6-8 makes more sense.

Kids start taking highschool classes in seventh grade. It’s good to have a year prior to that where they can get used to being in middle school without it tanking their highschool transcript. Especially since they got rid of grades in elementary school. Also moving sixth grade to elementary school would limit the advanced math track since you couldn’t have pre algebra in sixth grade then.

I think that this a problem, high school type classes jn middle school. It's way too much work and homework.

I am assuming you don’t have kids in middle school or highschool. The highschool classes aren’t any more work than their other classes. They just are considered highschool classes and your grade matters a little more since it sticks around. Kids don’t have to take highschool classes in middle school, but it’s a pre-req for things like going to tj or doing the in program. You can’t take ap calculus as a senior in highschool if you don’t take algebra as an 8th grader. That’s a high school class.

Not the immediate PPP. I don't think the issue is too much work and homework; but I don't think it's sound educational policy to push such advanced (two grade levels up) math in middle school. The issue isn't the amount of work, it is an issue of the students not being sufficiently grounded in/mastering the fundamentals. Yes, they can "do" the work and get decent grades; but the lack of true understanding of the concepts is showing up at the higher levels (high school and college - many who took Calculus in high school are being required to retake it in college because of this.)

It isn't pushed. Very few kids qualify to take math two levels up. But those who do benefit from it. If your kids don't, that's fine. Why would you take away the opportunity for other kids to learn at their level?

Some parents do push for it in situations that are inappropriate. There are kids who ace the SOL and Math inventory. Not many people would argue that those kids shouldn’t be in accelerated math