Reply to Can someone tell me about the Eastern Magnet?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Excellent writers? Yes, there might be some. But all?

Magnet program is not a magic potion. If your child is a strong writer they will thrive no matter where.

[/quote]

I am not sure of any 5th or 6th grader that could be considered a "strong writer" without instruction. No one is saying, however, that a magnet is the only way to become a strong writer. Eastern does an amazing job, however, of teaching (more than any other public MS that I've seen) 11 and 12 year olds how to organize their thoughts, pick a topic of interest to them, research the topic, and cogently discuss the topic through researching and writing a 10-page research paper in 7th grade.  They research the topic in an undergraduate research library, learn how to outline a paper, learn how to back up arguments with meaningful primary and secondary sources, and learn how to cite those sources accurately according to MLA.  The way that the program scaffolds this process is priceless - I truly wish I had learned how to do this before I got to college.  It is challenging, and it can be stressful, but the teachers coach them through it and help them with time management and the step-by-step process of research/write/rewrite/proof/finalize.  This is not creative writing (although there are lots of creative aspects to Eastern, the research paper is full-on academic research).   The kids in the magnet program are generally thoughtful, wonderful kids that also are normal everyday middle schoolers with the attendant drama.  The kids go on to magnet programs, neighborhood schools, private - just like kids in other MSs, and they thrive (or not).  Eastern (or TPMS or Prep or any other school) is not a panacea or sure-fire recipe for success, but it does have a program that is simply not offered in other schools, and if its a program that your child would like (thoughtful discussion, challenging material, etc), then go for it!  They won't be sorry (although December of 7th grade they will be stressed - by the end of 7th grade they have an feeling of accomplishment that is hard to get anywhere else.). Also, the NY trip to film and create a documentary while visiting various museums, restaurants, and Broadway is also an amazing experience (when if comes back online).[/quote]

+1.  My current 7th grader is so proud of the 2500-word research paper she produced in the fall, and also of the 10-minute documentary she and two classmates made based on one of these research papers.  The process was stressful but well developed, and I imagine it would have been even better in a non-pandemic year where they could actually visit the UMD library and have more in-class time to work. I'm doubtful she'll get the NYC trip in the fall, which is disappointing, but it's still been a really good program for my kid and she's glad she's at Eastern.[/quote]

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