Reply to ACPS - administrative transfers for kindergarten

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Current MVCS parent PP here. Welcome new MVCS parent and hello future MVCS parent! It is such a great school community. To answer your question about math instruction, the curriculum is the same throughout ACPS in terms of what is covered in each grade. Some summary information is available here: http://www.acps.k12.va.us/curriculum/what-to-expect/ I remember reading more detailed information as well, but couldn't find it in my quick search for a link. Note that this doesn't include the TAG curriculum. TAG math is accelerated and covers more information, so e.g., the 4th grade TAG math students do 5th grade work, and the 5th grade TAG students do 6th/7th grade work.

Overall, I have been pleased with the math instruction. A couple of years ago, the math teachers gave a presentation to the PTA demonstrating some of their math teaching techniques that included video of different classes. It was really cool to watch. The instruction included small group discussions about math concepts called "number talk" and it seemed to be really effective. I wish I could remember more of what they presented. (As an aside, one of the things I love about the principal is the extent to which it is clear that he treats his teachers with a great deal of professional respect -- you can see it in how they are not afraid to bring new ideas to the table). I know in the younger grades in particular, there is a lot of hands-on work (using objects to count, add, subtract, etc). And in second grade there is an economics piece that is legendary among the students. Ask any MVCS kid in 3rd or higher and they will talk your ear off about their second grade economics unit -- they create a whole marketplace and buy/sell imaginary and real things.

I know one of the things people new to dual language education worry about is the fact that math is taught in Spanish. But it has never been an issue for our kids. A lot of the words are cognates and they pick up the Spanish words for the numbers pretty quickly. Both of my kids really enjoy math.[/quote]

I am the parent of the child who will start there next year--I truly appreciate this post. I just want to make sure there is rigor and a focus on it (not an afterthought), and it sounds like there is. In general, I also like the inherent challenge of having to learn a new language.  I look forward to being part of the community![/quote]

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