Reply to Eastern or Takoma MS magnets vs SSIMS?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Our home school is Silver Spring International MS.  Trying to learn about how different the educational offerings are at SSI versus the Eastern or Takoma Park MS magnet programs.  I know that SSI has the middle years programme, and have read about it, but have not heard from parents who are familiar with it.

While I am glad that the gifted magnet programs are offered, I don't see much need to ask middle school kids to specialize in math/science versus humanities.  How is the specialized focus versus a balanced education accomplished?

And in these magnet programs, how much is it that schoolwork/homework is much more work, or it is different work than a traditional MS, or both more and different work?  trying to get a sense of how much harder students need to work to be successful in these magnet programs.  [/quote]

We had the same concern you express about having to [b]specialize at such a young age[/b].  DC got into both Takoma Park and Eastern programs and ultimately picked Eastern.  It is important to know that while the core program is enriched and accelerated, they still have to take Math and Science!  So your 6th grader could take IM or Algebra I as a sixth grader as well as Advanced Science.  In other words, they get the same Math and Science curriculum they would get at a regular MS such as SSIMS but they get a lot more in social studies and English.  What they miss out on is a foreign language (in sixth grade only) and electives.  The Media course is required and takes the place of an elective but they do have the option to take Band etc, if they stay after school.  In sixth grade only nearly all students take "Literature and the Humanities" instead of a foreign language.  I don't know how to describe the class but it nearly sounds like a philosophy class and it was dc's fav. class.  From what I've heard, the students LOVE this class and it really encourages creative and critical thinking.
  
I can't speak to the TP program but I have been impressed by the Humanities program.  DC in sixth grade read a lot of the books an 8th grader would read in Advanced English.  I also liked that the program is designed so well - if they are learning a topic in English, they will take it up in some form in Social Studies and Media and of course Lit and the Humanities.  They do have homework and a lot of projects but the work is interesting and engaging.  You do need good time management skills and if that is a problem for your child, you should think about it carefully.  [/quote]

The term "specialize" suggests that the focus is in a given area or areas and that other areas are not covered - but in fact, at both magnets, those areas *are* covered at the standard MCPS level.  So I don't see how the higher-level work in math/science (TPMS) or the humanities (Eastern) constitutes specialization since the rest of the curriculum is the same as it would have been had the student not enrolled in the magnet.

Our child was also invited to attend both magnets and we and DC chose TPMS, not only for the math/science focus, but also for the fantastic music program (the instrumental music program is unparalleled in the county); the foreign language option; and the wonderful after-school activities.  Also, the facility is far nicer than the one at Eastern.

DC has been super-happy at TPMS overall, but I wish DC could attend *both* programs as she would benefit from them both.  Too bad there is no middle school magnet for all disciplines.[/quote]

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