State set to keep MS math minutes requirement that will likely cut electives (but delaying it a year)

[Anonymous]

What is to prevent math teachers from filling in the extra minutes with IXL/edtech or “independent work” time (ie, noninstructional time to do classwork/homework)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is to prevent math teachers from filling in the extra minutes with IXL/edtech or “independent work” time (ie, noninstructional time to do classwork/homework)?

And of course, students are playing video games and whatnot instead of these things

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is wrong with 60 minutes of math? Good Idea.

Because the way that middle school schedules work, it would mean cutting a period out of the day for other subjects (probably electives)-- either going to a 6 period day or doing double-period math.

based on the published math policy there is zero need to cut out an elective

Go away. If your position is "it's not clear and no one knows for sure that this will be required," then fine, you can believe that. But don't go around correcting people who interpret it differently as if you have some source of higher knowledge.

The policy is written to require 300 weekly minutes of math per week. Or 60 cumulative minutes daily. If MSDE is propagating more stringent requirements, that is something tangible that could be advocated against.

I would do some soul-searching here if I were you. Why are you so obsessed with this? Leaving aside the fact that you keep ignoring the fact that the language in the policy requires that "math courses" be scheduled for 300 minutes per week, you apparently think that "being right on the internet" is worth trying to talk people out of fighting to preserve the middle school experience for their kids. In other words, your self-image is more important to you than the well-being of thousands of kids. Is that really who you want to be, or might you consider stepping away?

Your post is a crazy reaction to what I posted

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These naep proficiency percentages are unacceptable. Even 50% proficiency rate would be unacceptable.

We don't need foreign language to be taught in school. Families that want that can do it outside or school. We need much higher percentage of students proficient in math.

No. Students need a well-rounded education. Some kids just need a reason to go to school in the morning and math isn't usually the inspiration for that. It's classes that interest them which is why electives are so important including world languages. Parents need to do their part at home. I see so many complaints on this board like "school didn't teach my kids times tables, now they are failing. MCPS is the worst."

....when they could have easily helped by reinforcing and practicing at home. Parents USED to do this. Now they expect schools to do everything including raise them, feed them, deal with their social/emotional problems, etc.

No, they didn't.

I’ve been a teacher for 33 years. Yes, they absolutely did. Parents used to be much more involved in every aspect actually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These naep proficiency percentages are unacceptable. Even 50% proficiency rate would be unacceptable.

We don't need foreign language to be taught in school. Families that want that can do it outside or school. We need much higher percentage of students proficient in math.

No. Students need a well-rounded education. Some kids just need a reason to go to school in the morning and math isn't usually the inspiration for that. It's classes that interest them which is why electives are so important including world languages. Parents need to do their part at home. I see so many complaints on this board like "school didn't teach my kids times tables, now they are failing. MCPS is the worst."

....when they could have easily helped by reinforcing and practicing at home. Parents USED to do this. Now they expect schools to do everything including raise them, feed them, deal with their social/emotional problems, etc.

My kids are doing fine in math. But we need more kids to be proficient in math. The proficiency percentages are absolutely unacceptable. We are not talking about we need more kids scoring high in math. We are talking about the minimum level of proficient.

We also never used to test this much. Test fatigue is real-especially at the end of the year. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had students just skip through to the end because they simply don’t care. A better indicator of proficiency would be to see how they are actually doing in class, during independent work time, in small groups… people are way too hung up on testing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These naep proficiency percentages are unacceptable. Even 50% proficiency rate would be unacceptable.

We don't need foreign language to be taught in school. Families that want that can do it outside or school. We need much higher percentage of students proficient in math.

No. Students need a well-rounded education. Some kids just need a reason to go to school in the morning and math isn't usually the inspiration for that. It's classes that interest them which is why electives are so important including world languages. Parents need to do their part at home. I see so many complaints on this board like "school didn't teach my kids times tables, now they are failing. MCPS is the worst."

....when they could have easily helped by reinforcing and practicing at home. Parents USED to do this. Now they expect schools to do everything including raise them, feed them, deal with their social/emotional problems, etc.

No, they didn't.

I’ve been a teacher for 33 years. Yes, they absolutely did. Parents used to be much more involved in every aspect actually.

Teachers tend to assume anything about parents that will absolve them of any responsibility. Today's parents spend more time with their kids than their own parents did with them. What has happened is income inequality leading to more needs in the public school population and fewer middle and upper class kids.

https://news.uci.edu/2016/09/28/todays-parents-spend-more-time-with-their-kids-than-moms-and-dads-did-50-years-ago/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These naep proficiency percentages are unacceptable. Even 50% proficiency rate would be unacceptable.

We don't need foreign language to be taught in school. Families that want that can do it outside or school. We need much higher percentage of students proficient in math.

No. Students need a well-rounded education. Some kids just need a reason to go to school in the morning and math isn't usually the inspiration for that. It's classes that interest them which is why electives are so important including world languages. Parents need to do their part at home. I see so many complaints on this board like "school didn't teach my kids times tables, now they are failing. MCPS is the worst."

....when they could have easily helped by reinforcing and practicing at home. Parents USED to do this. Now they expect schools to do everything including raise them, feed them, deal with their social/emotional problems, etc.

No, they didn't.

I’ve been a teacher for 33 years. Yes, they absolutely did. Parents used to be much more involved in every aspect actually.

Teachers tend to assume anything about parents that will absolve them of any responsibility. Today's parents spend more time with their kids than their own parents did with them. What has happened is income inequality leading to more needs in the public school population and fewer middle and upper class kids.

https://news.uci.edu/2016/09/28/todays-parents-spend-more-time-with-their-kids-than-moms-and-dads-did-50-years-ago/

Textbooks would help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These naep proficiency percentages are unacceptable. Even 50% proficiency rate would be unacceptable.

We don't need foreign language to be taught in school. Families that want that can do it outside or school. We need much higher percentage of students proficient in math.

No. Students need a well-rounded education. Some kids just need a reason to go to school in the morning and math isn't usually the inspiration for that. It's classes that interest them which is why electives are so important including world languages. Parents need to do their part at home. I see so many complaints on this board like "school didn't teach my kids times tables, now they are failing. MCPS is the worst."

....when they could have easily helped by reinforcing and practicing at home. Parents USED to do this. Now they expect schools to do everything including raise them, feed them, deal with their social/emotional problems, etc.

No, they didn't.

I’ve been a teacher for 33 years. Yes, they absolutely did. Parents used to be much more involved in every aspect actually.

Teachers tend to assume anything about parents that will absolve them of any responsibility. Today's parents spend more time with their kids than their own parents did with them. What has happened is income inequality leading to more needs in the public school population and fewer middle and upper class kids.

https://news.uci.edu/2016/09/28/todays-parents-spend-more-time-with-their-kids-than-moms-and-dads-did-50-years-ago/

Textbooks would help.

True and preferably based on curricula that are easy to understand (e.g. not Eureka)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These naep proficiency percentages are unacceptable. Even 50% proficiency rate would be unacceptable.

We don't need foreign language to be taught in school. Families that want that can do it outside or school. We need much higher percentage of students proficient in math.

No. Students need a well-rounded education. Some kids just need a reason to go to school in the morning and math isn't usually the inspiration for that. It's classes that interest them which is why electives are so important including world languages. Parents need to do their part at home. I see so many complaints on this board like "school didn't teach my kids times tables, now they are failing. MCPS is the worst."

....when they could have easily helped by reinforcing and practicing at home. Parents USED to do this. Now they expect schools to do everything including raise them, feed them, deal with their social/emotional problems, etc.

No, they didn't.

I’ve been a teacher for 33 years. Yes, they absolutely did. Parents used to be much more involved in every aspect actually.

Teachers tend to assume anything about parents that will absolve them of any responsibility. Today's parents spend more time with their kids than their own parents did with them. What has happened is income inequality leading to more needs in the public school population and fewer middle and upper class kids.

https://news.uci.edu/2016/09/28/todays-parents-spend-more-time-with-their-kids-than-moms-and-dads-did-50-years-ago/

DP-not true. But is NOT my job to potty train your child, make sure your child gets to school (the extra amount of work for absences for teachers is insane) somehow your kid being chronically absent is my job to deal with, pass your kid with they dont do anything, be a counselor, raise your kid....

You're on the defense because this actually probably applies to you in one way or another. The good parents ARE out there and they are doing their jobs. They see what is happening with the other students. They don't brag about doing the very bare minimum in raising kids.

My job is to teach. I do this bell to bell. Do you know how many other tasks I also have to do because parents refuse to do more? You absolutely do not.

Keep blaming teachers though. Seems to be working well for you. Nothing is ever your fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These naep proficiency percentages are unacceptable. Even 50% proficiency rate would be unacceptable.

We don't need foreign language to be taught in school. Families that want that can do it outside or school. We need much higher percentage of students proficient in math.

No. Students need a well-rounded education. Some kids just need a reason to go to school in the morning and math isn't usually the inspiration for that. It's classes that interest them which is why electives are so important including world languages. Parents need to do their part at home. I see so many complaints on this board like "school didn't teach my kids times tables, now they are failing. MCPS is the worst."

....when they could have easily helped by reinforcing and practicing at home. Parents USED to do this. Now they expect schools to do everything including raise them, feed them, deal with their social/emotional problems, etc.

No, they didn't.

I’ve been a teacher for 33 years. Yes, they absolutely did. Parents used to be much more involved in every aspect actually.

Teachers tend to assume anything about parents that will absolve them of any responsibility. Today's parents spend more time with their kids than their own parents did with them. What has happened is income inequality leading to more needs in the public school population and fewer middle and upper class kids.

https://news.uci.edu/2016/09/28/todays-parents-spend-more-time-with-their-kids-than-moms-and-dads-did-50-years-ago/

LMAO. "Today's parents spend more time with their kids..." you mean they give them headphones and an iPad and call it a day. But sure, they are "spending time with them." The denial is real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These naep proficiency percentages are unacceptable. Even 50% proficiency rate would be unacceptable.

We don't need foreign language to be taught in school. Families that want that can do it outside or school. We need much higher percentage of students proficient in math.

No. Students need a well-rounded education. Some kids just need a reason to go to school in the morning and math isn't usually the inspiration for that. It's classes that interest them which is why electives are so important including world languages. Parents need to do their part at home. I see so many complaints on this board like "school didn't teach my kids times tables, now they are failing. MCPS is the worst."

....when they could have easily helped by reinforcing and practicing at home. Parents USED to do this. Now they expect schools to do everything including raise them, feed them, deal with their social/emotional problems, etc.

No, they didn't.

I’ve been a teacher for 33 years. Yes, they absolutely did. Parents used to be much more involved in every aspect actually.

Teachers tend to assume anything about parents that will absolve them of any responsibility. Today's parents spend more time with their kids than their own parents did with them. What has happened is income inequality leading to more needs in the public school population and fewer middle and upper class kids.

https://news.uci.edu/2016/09/28/todays-parents-spend-more-time-with-their-kids-than-moms-and-dads-did-50-years-ago/

LMAO. "Today's parents spend more time with their kids..." you mean they give them headphones and an iPad and call it a day. But sure, they are "spending time with them." The denial is real.

So your response is basically this study is not convenient for me so I will dismiss it without reading it. I honestly think your mental health could be vastly improved by spending less time thinking about how much you hate parents and imagining how terrible and neglectful we all are. And frankly, while you may not believe it, I genuinely believe the "Parents are all terrible" discourse you are participating in is meaningfully harmful to parents and by extension their kids. I urge you to think carefully about what you post online and the very real people who are reading it, nearly all of whom are doing the absolute best they can to be good parents and raise kind and hard working children.

This is what the summary of the study says:

“Time spent with children involved everything from preparing their meals and snacks to feeding and bathing them, changing diapers and clothes, putting them to bed, getting up in the middle of the night, unpaid babysitting, providing medical care, reading and playing with them, as well as supervising and helping with homework,” Treas said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These naep proficiency percentages are unacceptable. Even 50% proficiency rate would be unacceptable.

We don't need foreign language to be taught in school. Families that want that can do it outside or school. We need much higher percentage of students proficient in math.

No. Students need a well-rounded education. Some kids just need a reason to go to school in the morning and math isn't usually the inspiration for that. It's classes that interest them which is why electives are so important including world languages. Parents need to do their part at home. I see so many complaints on this board like "school didn't teach my kids times tables, now they are failing. MCPS is the worst."

....when they could have easily helped by reinforcing and practicing at home. Parents USED to do this. Now they expect schools to do everything including raise them, feed them, deal with their social/emotional problems, etc.

No, they didn't.

I’ve been a teacher for 33 years. Yes, they absolutely did. Parents used to be much more involved in every aspect actually.

Teachers tend to assume anything about parents that will absolve them of any responsibility. Today's parents spend more time with their kids than their own parents did with them. What has happened is income inequality leading to more needs in the public school population and fewer middle and upper class kids.

https://news.uci.edu/2016/09/28/todays-parents-spend-more-time-with-their-kids-than-moms-and-dads-did-50-years-ago/

LMAO. "Today's parents spend more time with their kids..." you mean they give them headphones and an iPad and call it a day. But sure, they are "spending time with them." The denial is real.

So your response is basically this study is not convenient for me so I will dismiss it without reading it. I honestly think your mental health could be vastly improved by spending less time thinking about how much you hate parents and imagining how terrible and neglectful we all are. And frankly, while you may not believe it, I genuinely believe the "Parents are all terrible" discourse you are participating in is meaningfully harmful to parents and by extension their kids. I urge you to think carefully about what you post online and the very real people who are reading it, nearly all of whom are doing the absolute best they can to be good parents and raise kind and hard working children.

This is what the summary of the study says:

“Time spent with children involved everything from preparing their meals and snacks to feeding and bathing them, changing diapers and clothes, putting them to bed, getting up in the middle of the night, unpaid babysitting, providing medical care, reading and playing with them, as well as supervising and helping with homework,” Treas said.

Your little “study” claims “unpaid babysitting” is part of what parents have to do? lol. You lost all credibility with that one. Being a parent by definition is unpaid babysitting not some sort of special additional thing you get applause from. You’re basically asking us to clap for you because you do the bare minimum. Congratulations. Never said I hated parents but you definitely tried to shift the narrative to “teachers don’t do their job so they blane parents.” Teachers are trying to do their jobs while also doing yours. Again, only someone who knows they are guilty get this defensive. Log off DCUM and go spend some unpaid babysitting time w your kids. Good riddance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These naep proficiency percentages are unacceptable. Even 50% proficiency rate would be unacceptable.

We don't need foreign language to be taught in school. Families that want that can do it outside or school. We need much higher percentage of students proficient in math.

No. Students need a well-rounded education. Some kids just need a reason to go to school in the morning and math isn't usually the inspiration for that. It's classes that interest them which is why electives are so important including world languages. Parents need to do their part at home. I see so many complaints on this board like "school didn't teach my kids times tables, now they are failing. MCPS is the worst."

....when they could have easily helped by reinforcing and practicing at home. Parents USED to do this. Now they expect schools to do everything including raise them, feed them, deal with their social/emotional problems, etc.

No, they didn't.

I’ve been a teacher for 33 years. Yes, they absolutely did. Parents used to be much more involved in every aspect actually.

No, many of us try to be involved and most teachers refuse to return emails or work with parents. Its a rare few that actually do. If your kid is struggling too bad. They'd rather the kids fail than help. And, reaching out to admi is a joke as they never return emails or calls, refuse iep's/504's and when you actually get them after extensive outside testing and a huge fight its not followed. So, instead many of us quietly work with our kids at home and hire tutors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These naep proficiency percentages are unacceptable. Even 50% proficiency rate would be unacceptable.

We don't need foreign language to be taught in school. Families that want that can do it outside or school. We need much higher percentage of students proficient in math.

No. Students need a well-rounded education. Some kids just need a reason to go to school in the morning and math isn't usually the inspiration for that. It's classes that interest them which is why electives are so important including world languages. Parents need to do their part at home. I see so many complaints on this board like "school didn't teach my kids times tables, now they are failing. MCPS is the worst."

....when they could have easily helped by reinforcing and practicing at home. Parents USED to do this. Now they expect schools to do everything including raise them, feed them, deal with their social/emotional problems, etc.

No, they didn't.

I’ve been a teacher for 33 years. Yes, they absolutely did. Parents used to be much more involved in every aspect actually.

Teachers tend to assume anything about parents that will absolve them of any responsibility. Today's parents spend more time with their kids than their own parents did with them. What has happened is income inequality leading to more needs in the public school population and fewer middle and upper class kids.

https://news.uci.edu/2016/09/28/todays-parents-spend-more-time-with-their-kids-than-moms-and-dads-did-50-years-ago/

LMAO. "Today's parents spend more time with their kids..." you mean they give them headphones and an iPad and call it a day. But sure, they are "spending time with them." The denial is real.

So your response is basically this study is not convenient for me so I will dismiss it without reading it. I honestly think your mental health could be vastly improved by spending less time thinking about how much you hate parents and imagining how terrible and neglectful we all are. And frankly, while you may not believe it, I genuinely believe the "Parents are all terrible" discourse you are participating in is meaningfully harmful to parents and by extension their kids. I urge you to think carefully about what you post online and the very real people who are reading it, nearly all of whom are doing the absolute best they can to be good parents and raise kind and hard working children.

This is what the summary of the study says:

“Time spent with children involved everything from preparing their meals and snacks to feeding and bathing them, changing diapers and clothes, putting them to bed, getting up in the middle of the night, unpaid babysitting, providing medical care, reading and playing with them, as well as supervising and helping with homework,” Treas said.

Your little “study” claims “unpaid babysitting” is part of what parents have to do? lol. You lost all credibility with that one. Being a parent by definition is unpaid babysitting not some sort of special additional thing you get applause from. You’re basically asking us to clap for you because you do the bare minimum. Congratulations. Never said I hated parents but you definitely tried to shift the narrative to “teachers don’t do their job so they blane parents.” Teachers are trying to do their jobs while also doing yours. Again, only someone who knows they are guilty get this defensive. Log off DCUM and go spend some unpaid babysitting time w your kids. Good riddance.

Wow, you need to deal with your anger issues yesterday. I sincerely hope you don't have kids or any role that involves being around children.

Btw my guess is "unpaid babysitting" refers to caring for other people's kids and your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These naep proficiency percentages are unacceptable. Even 50% proficiency rate would be unacceptable.

We don't need foreign language to be taught in school. Families that want that can do it outside or school. We need much higher percentage of students proficient in math.

No. Students need a well-rounded education. Some kids just need a reason to go to school in the morning and math isn't usually the inspiration for that. It's classes that interest them which is why electives are so important including world languages. Parents need to do their part at home. I see so many complaints on this board like "school didn't teach my kids times tables, now they are failing. MCPS is the worst."

....when they could have easily helped by reinforcing and practicing at home. Parents USED to do this. Now they expect schools to do everything including raise them, feed them, deal with their social/emotional problems, etc.

No, they didn't.

I’ve been a teacher for 33 years. Yes, they absolutely did. Parents used to be much more involved in every aspect actually.

No, many of us try to be involved and most teachers refuse to return emails or work with parents. Its a rare few that actually do. If your kid is struggling too bad. They'd rather the kids fail than help. And, reaching out to admi is a joke as they never return emails or calls, refuse iep's/504's and when you actually get them after extensive outside testing and a huge fight its not followed. So, instead many of us quietly work with our kids at home and hire tutors.

IEP/504s used to not exist and are a huge part of the reason why *everyone* is working more now (parents and teachers) and why it feels so unsustainable. I strongly believe they're not actually necessary for many kids on them and that if we got back to kids being less micromanaged in school (fewer assignments, longer passing periods), fewer kids may even be diagnosed with ADHD. Somehow we seem to be stuck in a loop that tries to make things better for some percent of kids (eg "decrease test anxiety," so go from 2-3 big tests to tons of smaller assignments that can be a pain to keep track of; "don't let kids do drugs or have fights in bathrooms," which leads to passing periods so short kids stress out about not being able to go to the bathroom), which then lead to more overhead for everyone.