Reply to Underwhelmed by FCPS

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Like a couple of other PPs, I also grew up here and attended FCPS.  At the time, they really were wonderful schools.  There was a huge emphasis on writing, which has paid dividends throughout my life.  We also moved back here so our kids could have the same experience.  Sadly, the "world-class" schools FCPS loves to brag about are no more.  They've been coasting on their reputation for far too long, with little to back it up.

My 7th grader is in Honors English.  Her assignments so far include making a group video talking about a "classroom of the future" (?) and a book project which consisted of presenting the book she read as a movie poster (?).  No writing, just some pretty pictures.  In fact, there has been no writing instruction at all this year, and next to none in elementary school.  To say we are disappointed is an understatement.  If we could afford it, we would absolutely go private.[/quote]

I'm not sure the reason for this is coasting. I think this is in part due to the whole project based learning emphasis and the backlash against homework and standardized testing. Also class size issues make it difficult to complete writing assignments well. When people advocate for changes and additions to the school day, I wish they'd take into consideration what that change or addition will replace and how each year builds on the previous toward an end goal.[/quote]

PP here.  I really don't think it's too much to ask that a book report actually require *writing* about the book.  Such an incredibly lazy assignment (the movie poster).

PBL is another big, big mistake FCPS has made.  It's the worst kind of "learning" experience.   My DD just put in hours on a group science project.  She did 99% of the work because the other kids refused to do their parts.  She got a C because of them, and could have gotten an A on her own. [/quote]

The poster idea is fine as long as writing is part of it too I think. The group science project issue is one we've all had. It's still important to do group projects. But if they aren't effective ways to learn because the project is mismanaged, that's another issue.[/quote]

Which speaks to management in the teacher's end, not to the merit of the instructional strategy itself.[/quote]

If the teacher doesn't have enough support from FCPS, than I blame FCPS. Other schools are using PBL just fine.[/quote]

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