Reply to When do classes get more challenging?

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[quote=Anonymous]It happens as soon as they hit HS.  MCPS does almost no ability grouping in MS.  Both my kids felt like MS was a drop off in work from ES. Assignments seemed to be designed to be completed in class and homework scores can only be 10% of the grade, so they have nearly no impact.  Everything seemed arranged to prevent kids from failing without making a concerted effort.  All the ES homework that was supposedly necessary to build study skills, feels like a waist given the three year break of MS.  It's true, third year language can be difficult (and of course will be a class of only motivated 8th graders so expectations can be a little higher) but it's still dependent on the teacher and how much effort was made the previous two years.  My youngest is in eighth now and seems to be doing well with French 3 and hasn't complained about a change.

But HS is very different, nearly all classes are grouped by ability, either because of honors sections or because of prerequisites putting students on different tracks.  There is a lot of real homework and no real transition time a the start of the year.  Lab science was something that took an adjustment for my older DC in 9th.  It was necessary to read the lab set up before class and understand both the procedure and underlying material before starting.  Having good partners was helpful, but either way it's necessary to know what everyone is doing so that whatever the results it's possible to write up in a meaningful way when back at home.  Whatever goes on in MS science class, it wasn't a preparation for HS lab.  It's understandable that the level of science would be simpler, but it would be good if they could at least get some practice with the group dynamics and time management of lab work.

I will say in our household it all seems to have worked out.  Both my kids were fairly disgruntled about the low expectations, but enjoyed the break and at least my oldest hit high school thrilled to be challenged again.  (So far younger DC is like minded but hasn't hit HS yet, fingers crossed.)[/quote]

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