Haycock class changes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Principals get a lot of latitude to run their school the way they personally see fit.

I don't know of any other school in FCPS where all the students change subjects based on their ability. I bet a ton of time is wasted transitioning each day. Every other FCPS has teachers differentiating in the classroom. It's public school-you get what you get.

It sounds like some Haycock parents have really unrealistic expectations. Not sure why.

Very true. Northern Virginia is well known for settling and taking what you get. No hyper competitive atmosphere at all. Please.

People are upset because apparently The system works and Haycock’s reputation speaks to that. Don’t knock it because you don’t have it. FCPS is one of the wealthiest counties in the country, we should expect more.

How is it different than "tracking" which is not supposed to be done any more? Why is differentiating within the classroom good enough for every where but Haycock?

[Anonymous]

I am a 5th grade parent and have heard no official word about this change. Have others heard trust officially?

And to pp who said some grades stopped differentiating already. I had not heard this. That is a huge change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Principals get a lot of latitude to run their school the way they personally see fit.

I don't know of any other school in FCPS where all the students change subjects based on their ability. I bet a ton of time is wasted transitioning each day. Every other FCPS has teachers differentiating in the classroom. It's public school-you get what you get.

It sounds like some Haycock parents have really unrealistic expectations. Not sure why.

Very true. Northern Virginia is well known for settling and taking what you get. No hyper competitive atmosphere at all. Please.

People are upset because apparently The system works and Haycock’s reputation speaks to that. Don’t knock it because you don’t have it. FCPS is one of the wealthiest counties in the country, we should expect more.

Kids ate overstressed, overwhelmed, and unhappy. It's elementary school. Slow down.

[Anonymous]

Flexible Grouping based on pre-tests is not tracking. Tracking is fixed.

[Anonymous]

7:53, are you a Haycock parent? My Haycock kids are none of those things.

[Anonymous]

There is going to be a parent led effort to push back. PTA meeting is this Wednesday night , march 21, and anyone who is concerned about the changes should attend. It is impacting grades 3-5 and yes, there is confirmation we are going to lose a lot of teachers in those grades. The teachers are strong.y opposed to the changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you really saying no other ES has math or reading groups?

My kids don't go to Haycock, but it sounds like kids were changing classrooms for different subjects starting in first grade? I think that is unusual.
The norm is reading groups and math centers within the classroom for that age.

My Haycock 1st grader gets pulled out for math enrichment. All of the first graders are pooled for word study so he goes to a different 1st grade classroom for that too. My kid is advanced and probably will end up in AAP in 3rd grade... he (like many kids) thrives on being challenged and I know his behavior would deteriorate significantly if he didn't have the opportunity for differentiation in areas (like math) where he excels.

[Anonymous]

Why would you be losing teachers? Teacher allocation per school is based on a formula regardless of how the principal runs the school.

[Anonymous]

Is Hancock still really overcrowded?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you be losing teachers? Teacher allocation per school is based on a formula regardless of how the principal runs the school.

I think they meant "losing good teachers". You don't have the pick of the litter if people don't like the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you be losing teachers? Teacher allocation per school is based on a formula regardless of how the principal runs the school.

I think they meant "losing good teachers". You don't have the pick of the litter if people don't like the principal.

For sure. The county pays the same no matter what school you teach in. What really brings good teachers to a school is having a supportive principal and engaged parents. It's the type of environment that the previous two principals really managed to cultivate and the reason that Haycock became so attractive. By actively opposing no-cost activities that are supported by both parents and teachers, the principal is now intentionally tearing apart a good school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Principals get a lot of latitude to run their school the way they personally see fit.

I don't know of any other school in FCPS where all the students change subjects based on their ability. I bet a ton of time is wasted transitioning each day. Every other FCPS has teachers differentiating in the classroom. It's public school-you get what you get.

It sounds like some Haycock parents have really unrealistic expectations. Not sure why.

I'm really confused by this attitude that "it's a public school, you should expect it to be crappy." We've already proven that public schools don't have to be crappy and they actually can provide a quality education. It's been working, so why should we let this principal tear it down?

It doesn't cost anything, the teachers and parents support it, and it has been working.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Principals get a lot of latitude to run their school the way they personally see fit.

I don't know of any other school in FCPS where all the students change subjects based on their ability. I bet a ton of time is wasted transitioning each day. Every other FCPS has teachers differentiating in the classroom. It's public school-you get what you get.

It sounds like some Haycock parents have really unrealistic expectations. Not sure why.

I'm really confused by this attitude that "it's a public school, you should expect it to be crappy." We've already proven that public schools don't have to be crappy and they actually can provide a quality education. It's been working, so why should we let this principal tear it down?

It doesn't cost anything, the teachers and parents support it, and it has been working.

The problem is, it's not best practice and it's not not what progressive schools do. By getting a young principal who knows the latest in education theory, you're going to get the latest in education theory in your school.

As to whether it's been working, good schools are made by students (and parents). Not by teachers or by specialization.

(And the opposite of "specialized teachers" is not crappy schools. It's good schools that do not have specialization for their teachers.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Principals get a lot of latitude to run their school the way they personally see fit.

I don't know of any other school in FCPS where all the students change subjects based on their ability. I bet a ton of time is wasted transitioning each day. Every other FCPS has teachers differentiating in the classroom. It's public school-you get what you get.

It sounds like some Haycock parents have really unrealistic expectations. Not sure why.

I'm really confused by this attitude that "it's a public school, you should expect it to be crappy." We've already proven that public schools don't have to be crappy and they actually can provide a quality education. It's been working, so why should we let this principal tear it down?

It doesn't cost anything, the teachers and parents support it, and it has been working.

The problem is, it's not best practice and it's not not what progressive schools do. By getting a young principal who knows the latest in education theory, you're going to get the latest in education theory in your school.

As to whether it's been working, good schools are made by students (and parents). Not by teachers or by specialization.

(And the opposite of "specialized teachers" is not crappy schools. It's good schools that do not have specialization for their teachers.)

Who says it is not the best practice? I have been doing research and it does seem to be best practice. Also, I have had kids at Haycock for a number of years and do not feel that any of the potential cons are really relevant. But I am prepared to have a totally open mind and am willing to read why this is not best practice. Please tell us where to look.

[Anonymous]

I have a coworker who left Haycock because the parents were just too overbearing!