Tell me about how classes are taught at your middle school

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11/03/2021 11:17

Subject: Tell me about how classes are taught at your middle school

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Anonymous

We switched to private this year instead of going to our local fcps middle school, and my kid is failing almost every subject. My formerly AAP (school-based) kid. Turns out he has no idea how to take notes or study for tests, which the new school requires a lot of. I guess he didn't really need to sit down and study before, and they never asked them to take notes. For those in middle school, do kids in fcps have to take notes in class and study - like actually sit down and memorize things that they wrote down in class? I'm wondering if the problem is missed time due to covid, or just that fcps doesn't do those things. And if they do those things, do they teach the kids how at all or just expect them to know it in middle school?

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11/03/2021 11:28

Subject: Re:Tell me about how classes are taught at your middle school

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pettifogger
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Joined: 01/22/2020 20:34
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In middle school they're supposed to learn how to plan ahead, study for a test, and learn to ask for help if they are stuck. Ideally they should take some notes or at least concentrate in class. I would not focus on "memorization" as that is not a good way to learn things. They should learn how to understand things, and if they feel they don't get it, self analyze by asking themselves questions to pinpoint what they don't get and then seek out help from teachers.

profile p.m.

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11/03/2021 11:29

Subject: Tell me about how classes are taught at your middle school

quote

Anonymous

Our middle school doesn’t teach it.

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11/03/2021 11:31

Subject: Tell me about how classes are taught at your middle school

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Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:Our middle school doesn’t teach it.

Do they expect them to do it, though?

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11/03/2021 12:14

Subject: Tell me about how classes are taught at your middle school

quote

Anonymous

I have not seen much homework or studying in middle school. My 7th grader has straight As and does not seem to have to do much to get them.

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11/03/2021 12:16

Subject: Tell me about how classes are taught at your middle school

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our middle school doesn’t teach it.

Do they expect them to do it, though?

No. MS is a joke.

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11/03/2021 12:16

Subject: Tell me about how classes are taught at your middle school

quote

Anonymous

OP, I think you are dealing with the difference b/t private school and public school.

They probably taught those skills for the last few years at the public school. They definitely do not teach them in public school. It's not your kid... it's that there's a gap with what he's had in the past and what is expected in his school now.

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11/03/2021 13:24

Subject: Tell me about how classes are taught at your middle school

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:I have not seen much homework or studying in middle school. My 7th grader has straight As and does not seem to have to do much to get them.

Same with my 7th grader. She's in Honors Algebra and has once or twice indicated that she needed to spend time reviewing a new concept, but has spent maybe 30 mins total on it ytd.

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11/03/2021 13:36

Subject: Re:Tell me about how classes are taught at your middle school

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Anonymous

My kid is in fourth grade and has study guides and is expected to study for tests in a FCPS ES. He brought home his social studies notebook that had worksheets glued into it with his "notes" to study.

Has your child asked his Teachers for help?

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11/03/2021 14:00

Subject: Tell me about how classes are taught at your middle school

quote

Anonymous

My kid also had study guides to study for tests in upper elementary. In middle school, especially 7th grade, kids were taught how to set up a binder for all their classes, different styles of notetaking, and strategies for studying and success in school. It probably varies by school, though.

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11/03/2021 14:47

Subject: Re:Tell me about how classes are taught at your middle school

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Anonymous

My child is in AVID where she learned how to take Cornell notes in 7th grade. She is in 8th now and takes them in all her classes included Algebra II. (She took Alg. 1 H in 7th and Geometry H summer between 7 and 8). She is very good at note taking and some of her classmates take photos of her notes. I don't love that but she doesn't seem to mind. She has ADHD so she has to study. She also has all A's and did in 7th grade too. Without AVID I'm not sure she would know how to take notes, annotate books, and study unless I showed her.

OP you may need to teach your son. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsR-10piMp4

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11/03/2021 14:57

Subject: Tell me about how classes are taught at your middle school

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:My kid also had study guides to study for tests in upper elementary. In middle school, especially 7th grade, kids were taught how to set up a binder for all their classes, different styles of notetaking, and strategies for studying and success in school. It probably varies by school, though.

This is what generally happened at our middle school - Rocky Run MS

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11/03/2021 14:59

Subject: Tell me about how classes are taught at your middle school

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:We switched to private this year instead of going to our local fcps middle school, and my kid is failing almost every subject. My formerly AAP (school-based) kid. Turns out he has no idea how to take notes or study for tests, which the new school requires a lot of. I guess he didn't really need to sit down and study before, and they never asked them to take notes. For those in middle school, do kids in fcps have to take notes in class and study - like actually sit down and memorize things that they wrote down in class? I'm wondering if the problem is missed time due to covid, or just that fcps doesn't do those things. And if they do those things, do they teach the kids how at all or just expect them to know it in middle school?

They do not teach test prep or notes in MS. Which is why I taught DC, and I'm sure some would say micromanaged how DC planned her week. I was on top of her assignments and how she planned to do them. I didn't review or do them for DC, but rather, made sure they were done. Repeat, repeat, repeat. SOMEONE has to teach them if the schools don't, and they don't (and that's not limited to here).

DC is in 9th now and one of DC's teachers recently commented on how DC takes notes in class but most of the other kids don't. DC has an A in that note-heavy class (honors).

I get that it would be great for schools to teach this, and I do wish they would, but at some point parents have to be on top of what they're kids are doing, learning, not learning, and fill in the gaps. This is one of those things, imo.

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11/03/2021 15:00

Subject: Tell me about how classes are taught at your middle school

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid also had study guides to study for tests in upper elementary. In middle school, especially 7th grade, kids were taught how to set up a binder for all their classes, different styles of notetaking, and strategies for studying and success in school. It probably varies by school, though.

This is what generally happened at our middle school - Rocky Run MS

+2 - Katherine Johnson MS.

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11/03/2021 15:08

Subject: Tell me about how classes are taught at your middle school

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We switched to private this year instead of going to our local fcps middle school, and my kid is failing almost every subject. My formerly AAP (school-based) kid. Turns out he has no idea how to take notes or study for tests, which the new school requires a lot of. I guess he didn't really need to sit down and study before, and they never asked them to take notes. For those in middle school, do kids in fcps have to take notes in class and study - like actually sit down and memorize things that they wrote down in class? I'm wondering if the problem is missed time due to covid, or just that fcps doesn't do those things. And if they do those things, do they teach the kids how at all or just expect them to know it in middle school?

They do not teach test prep or notes in MS. Which is why I taught DC, and I'm sure some would say micromanaged how DC planned her week. I was on top of her assignments and how she planned to do them. I didn't review or do them for DC, but rather, made sure they were done. Repeat, repeat, repeat. SOMEONE has to teach them if the schools don't, and they don't (and that's not limited to here).

DC is in 9th now and one of DC's teachers recently commented on how DC takes notes in class but most of the other kids don't. DC has an A in that note-heavy class (honors).

I get that it would be great for schools to teach this, and I do wish they would, but at some point parents have to be on top of what they're kids are doing, learning, not learning, and fill in the gaps. This is one of those things, imo.

I am the same way and my child is in 6th. I full expect to do the same in middle school. I am hoping there will finally be independence by high school.