How quickly can MCPS fix the curriculum nightmare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fix the curriculum for your own child. Ed Hirsch's books, Beestar.Org, aleks.com, khan academy, Great Courses. All provide guidelines, coursework, etc. Look at the curriculum from the best school districts in the US.

We can't. we have demanding jobs, work travel, and have to manage clients plus junior teams. But when we're home we're in the present.
But I cannot also be home-schooling my kids at night and weekends - we want to do fun stuff. My K'r comes home beat tired from 7 hours in ES, and this was after age 2,3 and 4 in 9am-3pm montessorri program. No way she is going to want to do singapore math or learn cursive. We chat, do art, sometimes soccer, plan the weekend.

We are going to have to look at other schooling options. But first I am having an hour long mtg with the principal to confirm how things are done or not done.

There is no need to home school your kids at night and on the weekends if they are the least bit naturally intelligent. What is with all of these parents who think they need to supplement so much? Are they that far behind? If you don't think your kids are learning enough for your standards, then just have them read more at home. If your K'er comes home beat tired from 7 hours in ES, why do you think that is? Because he's sitting around all day staring at a Chromebook? Of course not! Use some common sense, please.

yeah, but if he's spending tons of time staring at a Chromebook, he's not learning much of anything. I'd much rather have my kindergartner come home tired because of a day of playing outside, doing arts and crafts, learning to read with physical books, etc.

[Anonymous]

Yes, talk with neighbors and PTA, heavily weight the parents who volunteer or even semi-understand how they teach (rotational centers) in ES.

Ask the kids too. We asked our babysitter, good info, and her mom who had a 5th grader, 10th grader and graduate to compare experiences.

Most parents will be clueless. Too busy. Never know what their kids are doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you think privates schools don't integrate technology into the classroom you are oblivious. In a well-known private school in this area, the students use iPads for everything. iPads go back and forth from home to school. I'm hesitant to name the school though.

Yes we did tours and sat in classes of privates too. very impressed with the class discussions and how the teacher was able to get each kid to raise hands, contribute to the discussion (Let's talk about things with the number 5). Sally would talk about her hand, Sam would talk about # of weekdays, etc.
Also noted that math, english and reading are 50 minute times slots, alongside a designated science small group class, social studies, 'Choice time', PE most days, 1-2 recesses, Art most days, Music/dance most days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you think privates schools don't integrate technology into the classroom you are oblivious. In a well-known private school in this area, the students use iPads for everything. iPads go back and forth from home to school. I'm hesitant to name the school though.

Yes we did tours and sat in classes of privates too. very impressed with the class discussions and how the teacher was able to get each kid to raise hands, contribute to the discussion (Let's talk about things with the number 5). Sally would talk about her hand, Sam would talk about # of weekdays, etc.
Also noted that math, english and reading are 50 minute times slots, alongside a designated science small group class, social studies, 'Choice time', PE most days, 1-2 recesses, Art most days, Music/dance most days.

Yep!

Also, let me put it this way: In my private HS, the only "technology" they have in English and history classrooms is a large, round table the kids sit around to facilitate discussion. Technology is used in science classes and some art classes (for design and things like that), but otherwise, the classes look about as they did 100 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Thanks but we have seen the difference between how MSPC ES misuses technology, apps, and chromebooks and how other catholic and private schools use it sparingly.

It's a problem here. Distracting to students. Poor content. Takes away from class discussion. Faulty hardware and wifi. Too much time per day. 4th & 5th graders game the system constantly (login twice). Not paying attn in class. Zero critical thinking involved. Zero handwriting skills developed. Minimal retention of materials read on screen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fix the curriculum for your own child. Ed Hirsch's books, Beestar.Org, aleks.com, khan academy, Great Courses. All provide guidelines, coursework, etc. Look at the curriculum from the best school districts in the US.

We can't. we have demanding jobs, work travel, and have to manage clients plus junior teams. But when we're home we're in the present.
But I cannot also be home-schooling my kids at night and weekends - we want to do fun stuff. My K'r comes home beat tired from 7 hours in ES, and this was after age 2,3 and 4 in 9am-3pm montessorri program. No way she is going to want to do singapore math or learn cursive. We chat, do art, sometimes soccer, plan the weekend.

We are going to have to look at other schooling options. But first I am having an hour long mtg with the principal to confirm how things are done or not done.

There is no need to home school your kids at night and on the weekends if they are the least bit naturally intelligent. What is with all of these parents who think they need to supplement so much? Are they that far behind? If you don't think your kids are learning enough for your standards, then just have them read more at home. If your K'er comes home beat tired from 7 hours in ES, why do you think that is? Because he's sitting around all day staring at a Chromebook? Of course not! Use some common sense, please.

yeah, but if he's spending tons of time staring at a Chromebook, he's not learning much of anything. I'd much rather have my kindergartner come home tired because of a day of playing outside, doing arts and crafts, learning to read with physical books, etc.

That was my point that you missed. He's tired because he's doing those things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yep!

Also, let me put it this way: In my private HS, the only "technology" they have in English and history classrooms is a large, round table the kids sit around to facilitate discussion. Technology is used in science classes and some art classes (for design and things like that), but otherwise, the classes look about as they did 100 years ago.

This doesn't seem so great to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you think privates schools don't integrate technology into the classroom you are oblivious. In a well-known private school in this area, the students use iPads for everything. iPads go back and forth from home to school. I'm hesitant to name the school though.

Yes we did tours and sat in classes of privates too. very impressed with the class discussions and how the teacher was able to get each kid to raise hands, contribute to the discussion (Let's talk about things with the number 5). Sally would talk about her hand, Sam would talk about # of weekdays, etc.
Also noted that math, english and reading are 50 minute times slots, alongside a designated science small group class, social studies, 'Choice time', PE most days, 1-2 recesses, Art most days, Music/dance most days.

Right because public school teachers do not call on kids with questions. At my kids ES they have a container with all the names in it. The teacher calls on whose ever name comes out until they are all gone to make sure no one is not contributing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you think privates schools don't integrate technology into the classroom you are oblivious. In a well-known private school in this area, the students use iPads for everything. iPads go back and forth from home to school. I'm hesitant to name the school though.

Yes we did tours and sat in classes of privates too. very impressed with the class discussions and how the teacher was able to get each kid to raise hands, contribute to the discussion (Let's talk about things with the number 5). Sally would talk about her hand, Sam would talk about # of weekdays, etc.
Also noted that math, english and reading are 50 minute times slots, alongside a designated science small group class, social studies, 'Choice time', PE most days, 1-2 recesses, Art most days, Music/dance most days.

Right because public school teachers do not call on kids with questions. At my kids ES they have a container with all the names in it. The teacher calls on whose ever name comes out until they are all gone to make sure no one is not contributing.

That’s a responsive classroom technique — and a good one — that teacher knows what they’re doing. Several privates in the area use the responsive classroom approach.

[Anonymous]

I would never do ambush style questioning where you choose names out of a container. It increases anxiety in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never do ambush style questioning where you choose names out of a container. It increases anxiety in the classroom.

Well just shows you..many different opinions on teaching methods. I bet another audit firm might have different finding than JH too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never do ambush style questioning where you choose names out of a container. It increases anxiety in the classroom.

It actually doesn’t—but you’d have to know how to do it correctly. Done well, it builds trust and takes the pressure off of being “right.”

[Anonymous]

so many kids in the classroom and so few teachers, oh yeah 1 teacher, how can s/he keep track of who actually spoke each day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks but we have seen the difference between how MSPC ES misuses technology, apps, and chromebooks and how other catholic and private schools use it sparingly.

It's a problem here. Distracting to students. Poor content. Takes away from class discussion. Faulty hardware and wifi. Too much time per day. 4th & 5th graders game the system constantly (login twice). Not paying attn in class. Zero critical thinking involved. Zero handwriting skills developed. Minimal retention of materials read on screen.

Ugh, can we cite religious reasons for not using the chromebook every class period?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you think privates schools don't integrate technology into the classroom you are oblivious. In a well-known private school in this area, the students use iPads for everything. iPads go back and forth from home to school. I'm hesitant to name the school though.

Yes we did tours and sat in classes of privates too. very impressed with the class discussions and how the teacher was able to get each kid to raise hands, contribute to the discussion (Let's talk about things with the number 5). Sally would talk about her hand, Sam would talk about # of weekdays, etc.
Also noted that math, english and reading are 50 minute times slots, alongside a designated science small group class, social studies, 'Choice time', PE most days, 1-2 recesses, Art most days, Music/dance most days.

Right because public school teachers do not call on kids with questions. At my kids ES they have a container with all the names in it. The teacher calls on whose ever name comes out until they are all gone to make sure no one is not contributing.

They're called equity sticks.