Reply to Helping Elementary DS in Areas Where FCPS Curriculum is Weak

Forum Index » Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)

Reply to "Helping Elementary DS in Areas Where FCPS Curriculum is Weak"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We are not allowed to assign homework over break in FCPS in elementary. It’s a big deal that it’s not allowed. Typing is supposed to be taught somewhat but there just isn’t time. Same for cursive. Ask the teacher, because they should have Type to Learn at home. I still do spelling the traditional way, but a lot of schools do word study, which I hate. A lot of teachers do cursive after SOLs. [/quote]

If there is no time for cursive, typing, spelling or word study, why can't fcps just be up front about it. All of this is why I wish we had gone private. We just paid last summer to have someone teach our kids cursive and have had to sign our kids up for grammar and typing classes too. Days go by in school with no knowledge of what is being taught. No large class sizes either or special needs. Meanwhile the private schools fit all of this stuff into the school day. Makes me wonder.[/quote]

Maybe you should've done your homework about the school ahead of time. Public schools teach what is being tested. Cursive handwriting is not on the agenda although some teachers might teach it a little bit after testing ends to fill up the time until the end of the year. Private school students don't take those tests. The reason they can fit in a lot of "extras" is because they choose students who are already successful or have the ability to be successful. My son's private school teacher could tell me that he needs remedial work in X and it would be on me to provide it (myself or through a tutor). Public schools have to educate whoever walks in the door, no IQ tests allowed. Private school parents are motivated to keep their child at that school so they will do what is necessary. They also seem to understand what public schools do not. You cannot coddle the students and give them easy grades. It will set them up for failure further down the line. If my son's teacher gives him a low grade, it is because that is what he earned. She is going to give him retakes to get a higher grade. He knew when the test was and he knew what was being tested so that C he got was on him. The grading is gift IMO. I took him out of public school partly due to the grading. He didn't deserve the straight As they were giving him. The bar is low in public schools.[/quote]

There are few kids below grade level at our school and few misbehaviors as well. Model students really. That's not the problem. We also aren't at a very intensive test taking school although I think you are right that even if it is part of the curriculum standards, if it isn't tested, it might not be taught. I think it is a curriculum issue, but really still perplexed about the entire thing. Our school seems to think these subjects are outdated. I think that is the main problem. They have no respect for them.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics