Reply to Yorktown intensified classes

Forum Index » VA Public Schools other than FCPS

Reply to "Yorktown intensified classes"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My kids were advised by counselors as part of a large group that it was not advisable to take all intensified classes at Yorktown. I asked them (2 kids during different years) to check in with their teachers and a counselor before registering for classes. The teachers and the counselor both said “oh, no. That wasn’t meant for you. You could easily do it.” My kids are smart but not special.  I don’t know why the counseling staff scares kids and parents off these classes. Unfortunately, I can’t report back because neither kid ended up going to Yorktown.[/quote]

I am OP and yes it's this exact dynamic that happened to my daughter.

Smart kid, nothing over the top.  Recommended for all intensified and they tried to scare the crap out of her.  Why are you recommending them for these classes then?[/quote]

You will find the counselors at WMS (1 in particular) create WAY too much stress for these kids. Everything is dramatic, they stress that 12 yo MS students need to be concerned about college now, advanced diploma is a must, etc. I have been blown away at how awesome our YHS counselor is. They truly believe in balance and what's right for the individual kid. My DS has all As at WMS and struggled with all intensified classes at YHS (particularly the English/History block).  I met with the Counselor and they said [b]kids didn't all learn proper homework and study skills in MS[/b]. Most were doing their HW during class, never had to study and still got As. Then they go to YHS and  first quarter is a whole new world, and some of them struggle- because they lack those skills. We got him back on track quickly thank goodness but if your kid doesn't have good study/HW skills in MS, be prepared to be on them first quarter in HS![/quote]

APS and parents pushing for no homework and other "equitable grading" policies are doing all students a disservice. At the same time, teachers complain that they don't have any time to do any grading; so they also are doing students a disservice by not giving more significant assignments. The whole effort to minimize work is antithesis to my efforts as a parent to teach my kids to do more than the bare minimum. Why do I suspect the parents pushing for "equitable grading" are parents of kids who are high achieving students and/or who give their kids the help or can afford to hire the help their kids need? The ones whose kids aren't going to be irreparably hindered or harmed by them.[/quote]

It’s mostly sports parents who push no homework.

The plan for them is that the kids will excel at sports and that is their admissions hook along with good grades which goes along with no homework and easier classes.

In college it doesn’t really matter, since these are folks going into sales and business so grades are not that important. [/quote]

I’m a no homework parent—for elementary school.   I was shocked when my kid went to MS and still had no homework (accelerated math and intensified classes). So we pulled for an extremely rigorous private high school where high schooler does lots of homework.   And I’m very grateful my 8, 9, 10 year old wasn’t doing homework with their free time.  But that’s nonsense for a 15, 16, 17 year old.   So it’s not just sports parents.  [/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