Reply to Can anyone shed light on what is likely to change at Norwood with new leadership?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]But how are the teachers ineffective and how are they hurting kids? Everyone is just saying the curriculum is bad but can you give us real examples on how it is bad? How teachers are ineffective?[/quote]

First let me say that the teachers and staff are all very nice to the students and thus, the students love coming to school. That is very important. My child has to be pulled away from the school. I stopped allowing aftercare because he would argue and not want to come home. That is touching and I know no other institution where my kid just loved it.
However, let's move on:
The curriculum is funny. Take spelling, they ask the kids to spell some odd (advanced) words. DC has never been asked to spell the basic words. DC does have trouble with the basics though. 
Same with science. Yes it is nice and hands on and so on, but I am not sure those kids know what they are doing. The science teachers are nice, smart, motivated and they all have degrees in science. I am not sure that they get what should be expected from a 9 year old. It is strange to say that DC loves science, and his teacher (perhaps a crush :)), but I don't think he really gets it. I will say that his vocaulary of scientific terms is greater because of the class. 
Math: no one is happy with the new text, but it is supposedly better than the old one. The teachers are going by the book, so they are not asking the kids to do anything that is not age appropriate, but they really need more time to spend on it. The early grades aren't solidifying the basics. Math instruction needs an energy boost.
Spanish: good. 
Readng. They need to teach the kids how to read. The teachers need to be taught how to teach kids how to read. All kids at Norwood eventually learn how to read. 
Writing is fun, but maybe too much fun. Teachers could be a lot more critical.  
Grammar is OK, good text in 4th grade. 
Transitions: there are many. Partly because of the specials and partly because of the ability grouping. Each transition means that kids need to readjust and settle down. 
PE: very good
Art: very good.
Music: excellent.
This school has a lot going for it. I know that my child is having a happy childhood in part because of Norwood. However, at some point, childhood ends. [/quote]

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