Reading groups being slowed down?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You all are ridiculously obsessed with reading levels. Reading level is only a small piece of the puzzle. It is what you do with the reading that counts--and that can be taught at grade level.

Well, this particular thread is about reading groups (says that in the title!).

But, no, I'm not obsessed with reading levels. It's more just that I'd like my kid to actually be improving/learning for the 30 hours/week she's at school.

I'm actually quite concerned about math also, but that's a whole different thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Well since my one child is in 6th and my other in 1st, I guess all 8 teachers I have witnessed have poor classroom management. Wait, I take that back. How can a teacher TEACH to a class if she spends 1.5hrs of the day, pulling aside a few kids at a time. Oh, wait she can't, especially when she has 25-32 kids in a class. It is not the teacher, it is the style of teaching MCPS wants to have. Trying to be politically correct and blend the kids. Kids who are reading at 2-3 grade levels above and kids who can't read or don't even speak English. Neither group of kids are getting the direct teaching/learning they deserve.

Maybe they do all have poor classroom management. Or maybe you have unrealistic expectations. Because it actually is possible to teach kids reading without separating them into different classes.

Parents on DCUM like to assert that MCPS is doing within-class differentiation because of "political correctness". (Whatever that means.) An alternative explanation is that MCPS is doing within-class differentiation because that's what works best for the most children, with the resources MCPS has.

Can you explain this further? (we're new to MCPS)

I know that the ES we're zoned for has 4 K classes with about 20 students each. Why wouldn't they just separate out the kids based on reading ability at the beginning of the year? It would use the same amount of 'resources', right? Same teachers. Same classroom. What is the down side?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is horrible how much these kids just completely sit around. Very little learning on any given day.Don't even get me started how little science and history is in MCPS. Why they can't incorporate it into their "reading" time is beyond me.

I'm wondering how you know this.

Because I volunteer 2.5hrs a day 1-2x a week. I am actually in the classroom all morning.

So if you are in the classroom that much, why in the heck are you not helping while the teacher is doing something else with another group of kids? Guess that would increase the learning and decrease the sitting around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Can you explain this further? (we're new to MCPS)

I know that the ES we're zoned for has 4 K classes with about 20 students each. Why wouldn't they just separate out the kids based on reading ability at the beginning of the year? It would use the same amount of 'resources', right? Same teachers. Same classroom. What is the down side?

To find out more, start by looking up "within-class ability grouping" and "between-class ability grouping". This debate has been going on since at least the 1950s. Part of the problem is that there are trade-offs.

Here's a summary article from the New York Times from last June about how within-class ability grouping works:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/10/education/grouping-students-by-ability-regains-favor-with-educators.html?_r=0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is horrible how much these kids just completely sit around. Very little learning on any given day.Don't even get me started how little science and history is in MCPS. Why they can't incorporate it into their "reading" time is beyond me.

I'm wondering how you know this.

Because I volunteer 2.5hrs a day 1-2x a week. I am actually in the classroom all morning.

So if you are in the classroom that much, why in the heck are you not helping while the teacher is doing something else with another group of kids? Guess that would increase the learning and decrease the sitting around.

Not the PP, but what a ridiculous comment.

Wait, so now MCPS should be dependent on parent volunteers to teach our kids?? Should a parent volunteer be the one teaching your 6 year old phonics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In class differentiation only works when the students are given materials and resources that provide feedback and correction. Montessori does this pretty well BUT all the materials are designed to provide feedback to the student so they can self correct and learn . MCPS still uses traditional style teaching which is not self-paced and offers no feedback other than through teacher comments, or verbal feedback.

If MCPS could give the kids a computer with a program that provided feedback and coaching then they could do in class differentiate. These programs exist but of course MCPS doesn't use them....that would make too much sense.

You willing to have your taxes increased so MCPS can pay for all these computers for the THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS IN THE SYSTEM?
You don't think those things are free did you?
You have teachers asking for hand sanitizer and tissues and you think MCPS has the budget for individual computers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is horrible how much these kids just completely sit around. Very little learning on any given day.Don't even get me started how little science and history is in MCPS. Why they can't incorporate it into their "reading" time is beyond me.

I'm wondering how you know this.

Because I volunteer 2.5hrs a day 1-2x a week. I am actually in the classroom all morning.

So if you are in the classroom that much, why in the heck are you not helping while the teacher is doing something else with another group of kids? Guess that would increase the learning and decrease the sitting around.

Not the PP, but what a ridiculous comment.

Wait, so now MCPS should be dependent on parent volunteers to teach our kids?? Should a parent volunteer be the one teaching your 6 year old phonics?

If the volunteer is not helping, what is the purpose of the volunteer ? I am asking seriously!
The volunteer comes in to provide aid, right?
So, she comes in and says this group is working on their spelling words -- can you help them with this list?
A grown-a** cannot help a group of first-graders with 10 monosyllabic vocabulary words?
You equate this with doing the school's job???
What should the volunteer be doing -- handing out pencils?
Really? Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is horrible how much these kids just completely sit around. Very little learning on any given day.Don't even get me started how little science and history is in MCPS. Why they can't incorporate it into their "reading" time is beyond me.

I'm wondering how you know this.

Because I volunteer 2.5hrs a day 1-2x a week. I am actually in the classroom all morning.

So if you are in the classroom that much, why in the heck are you not helping while the teacher is doing something else with another group of kids? Guess that would increase the learning and decrease the sitting around.

Not the PP, but what a ridiculous comment.

Wait, so now MCPS should be dependent on parent volunteers to teach our kids?? Should a parent volunteer be the one teaching your 6 year old phonics?

No, MCPS should not depend on parent volunteers to teach our kids. I do think that the "why in the heck" PP raises a good question, though. What does the work consist of that the volunteering PP is doing for 2.5 hours a day, 1-2x a week, while observing the children not learn?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I volunteer too and see the same thing. There is so much unproductive time. Even during parent observation hour which you would think would be a display of more engaging activities the kids are bored to death and the parents try not to fall asleep in the chairs. The 1st grade teacher was demonstrating things that my kids did early in preschool. Their second year of preschool for ages 4-5 was more advanced than what the teacher was doing.

OMG! You do realize that there is a lot of repetition, going back over material, laying down the foundation ...that is a lot what goes on in K-1st grade. Not only that, but those early years is a lot about teaching kids HOW TO LEARN. Teaching them to focus, be in a classroom setting, getting organized, plus a lot of the fundamental facts they will need to build on in the later grades.
Some of you people are a trip, if your little 4-5 yr old is such a genius and wayyyyy beyond the scope of K-1 in MCPS, why the freak didn't you just test them into 3rd grade.
Get a grip!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is horrible how much these kids just completely sit around. Very little learning on any given day.Don't even get me started how little science and history is in MCPS. Why they can't incorporate it into their "reading" time is beyond me.

I'm wondering how you know this.

Because I volunteer 2.5hrs a day 1-2x a week. I am actually in the classroom all morning.

So if you are in the classroom that much, why in the heck are you not helping while the teacher is doing something else with another group of kids? Guess that would increase the learning and decrease the sitting around.

Not the PP, but what a ridiculous comment.

Wait, so now MCPS should be dependent on parent volunteers to teach our kids?? Should a parent volunteer be the one teaching your 6 year old phonics?

If the volunteer is not helping, what is the purpose of the volunteer ? I am asking seriously!
The volunteer comes in to provide aid, right?
So, she comes in and says this group is working on their spelling words -- can you help them with this list?
A grown-a** cannot help a group of first-graders with 10 monosyllabic vocabulary words?
You equate this with doing the school's job???
What should the volunteer be doing -- handing out pencils?
Really? Really?

Calm down, PP. You sound a bit unhinged.

I volunteer at my kid's school, and I'll tell you what I do. I don't have a teaching degree, so I'm glad they don't ask me to do much 'direct instruction' other than reading the kids stories. As a volunteer, I usually take care of the 100 other things my kid's teacher needs to do.

I go through their homework folders.
I hang up bulletin boards.
I make photocopies.
I put together packets of homework for the kids to take home.
I clean the whiteboards.
I sharpen pencils/crayons and refill the kid's desk bins with supplies.
I cut construction paper for various projects.
I put together books for the kids to take home (because some of them can't afford books).
I distribute the graded papers back to the students.

There is PLENTY of stuff to do that doesn't involve 'direct instruction', but does free the teacher's time up (since she is actually the one with the teaching degree).

I'd love to volunteer every day, but I have a job, and can only get away one day a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is horrible how much these kids just completely sit around. Very little learning on any given day.Don't even get me started how little science and history is in MCPS. Why they can't incorporate it into their "reading" time is beyond me.

I'm wondering how you know this.

Because I volunteer 2.5hrs a day 1-2x a week. I am actually in the classroom all morning.

So if you are in the classroom that much, why in the heck are you not helping while the teacher is doing something else with another group of kids? Guess that would increase the learning and decrease the sitting around.

Not the PP, but what a ridiculous comment.

Wait, so now MCPS should be dependent on parent volunteers to teach our kids?? Should a parent volunteer be the one teaching your 6 year old phonics?

No, MCPS should not depend on parent volunteers to teach our kids. I do think that the "why in the heck" PP raises a good question, though. What does the work consist of that the volunteering PP is doing for 2.5 hours a day, 1-2x a week, while observing the children not learn?

I'm not the PP, but please see my post above at 14:18.

Have you ever volunteered? There is no shortage of other work to be done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I volunteer too and see the same thing. There is so much unproductive time. Even during parent observation hour which you would think would be a display of more engaging activities the kids are bored to death and the parents try not to fall asleep in the chairs. The 1st grade teacher was demonstrating things that my kids did early in preschool. Their second year of preschool for ages 4-5 was more advanced than what the teacher was doing.

OMG! You do realize that there is a lot of repetition, going back over material, laying down the foundation ...that is a lot what goes on in K-1st grade. Not only that, but those early years is a lot about teaching kids HOW TO LEARN. Teaching them to focus, be in a classroom setting, getting organized, plus a lot of the fundamental facts they will need to build on in the later grades.
Some of you people are a trip, if your little 4-5 yr old is such a genius and wayyyyy beyond the scope of K-1 in MCPS, why the freak didn't you just test them into 3rd grade.
Get a grip!

Do you actually have a kid in MCPS? MCPS does NOT like kids to skip grades AT ALL. They don't even like you do to EEK. It is not easy to have your kid skip a grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is horrible how much these kids just completely sit around. Very little learning on any given day.Don't even get me started how little science and history is in MCPS. Why they can't incorporate it into their "reading" time is beyond me.

I'm wondering how you know this.

Because I volunteer 2.5hrs a day 1-2x a week. I am actually in the classroom all morning.

So if you are in the classroom that much, why in the heck are you not helping while the teacher is doing something else with another group of kids? Guess that would increase the learning and decrease the sitting around.

Not the PP, but what a ridiculous comment.

Wait, so now MCPS should be dependent on parent volunteers to teach our kids?? Should a parent volunteer be the one teaching your 6 year old phonics?

If the volunteer is not helping, what is the purpose of the volunteer ? I am asking seriously!
The volunteer comes in to provide aid, right?
So, she comes in and says this group is working on their spelling words -- can you help them with this list?
A grown-a** cannot help a group of first-graders with 10 monosyllabic vocabulary words?
You equate this with doing the school's job???
What should the volunteer be doing -- handing out pencils?
Really? Really?

Calm down, PP. You sound a bit unhinged.

I volunteer at my kid's school, and I'll tell you what I do. I don't have a teaching degree, so I'm glad they don't ask me to do much 'direct instruction' other than reading the kids stories. As a volunteer, I usually take care of the 100 other things my kid's teacher needs to do.

I go through their homework folders.
I hang up bulletin boards.
I make photocopies.
I put together packets of homework for the kids to take home.
I clean the whiteboards.
I sharpen pencils/crayons and refill the kid's desk bins with supplies.
I cut construction paper for various projects.
I put together books for the kids to take home (because some of them can't afford books).
I distribute the graded papers back to the students.

There is PLENTY of stuff to do that doesn't involve 'direct instruction', but does free the teacher's time up (since she is actually the one with the teaching degree).

I'd love to volunteer every day, but I have a job, and can only get away one day a week.

I was not responding to you, I was responding to the other pp who said she volunteered so much but said that little instruction was going on.
And the kids were not learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm not the PP, but please see my post above at 14:18.

Have you ever volunteered? There is no shortage of other work to be done.

Yes, I have volunteered. As you say, there is no shortage of other work to be done.

Which then leads to the question: if (as you say) nobody is learning anything, then where does all of this no-shortage-of-other-work-to-be-done work come from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I volunteer too and see the same thing. There is so much unproductive time. Even during parent observation hour which you would think would be a display of more engaging activities the kids are bored to death and the parents try not to fall asleep in the chairs. The 1st grade teacher was demonstrating things that my kids did early in preschool. Their second year of preschool for ages 4-5 was more advanced than what the teacher was doing.

OMG! You do realize that there is a lot of repetition, going back over material, laying down the foundation ...that is a lot what goes on in K-1st grade. Not only that, but those early years is a lot about teaching kids HOW TO LEARN. Teaching them to focus, be in a classroom setting, getting organized, plus a lot of the fundamental facts they will need to build on in the later grades.
Some of you people are a trip, if your little 4-5 yr old is such a genius and wayyyyy beyond the scope of K-1 in MCPS, why the freak didn't you just test them into 3rd grade.
Get a grip!

Do you actually have a kid in MCPS? MCPS does NOT like kids to skip grades AT ALL. They don't even like you do to EEK. It is not easy to have your kid skip a grade.

Yes, I do have a kid in MCPS. I actually don't think the system is perfect, but I think my DC is getting an excellent education. It's just funny to me that so many folks are claiming there kid is not learning anything in school. IT BAFFLES THE MIND!