Anonymous wrote:Not from MCPS but what is Benchmark? No phonics? How do you teach kids to read without it?

You don’t for many kids. Hence the terrible stats on number of kids actually at grade level. We are paying a private tutor. Some parents are able to teach their own kids. Some kids are able to get it despite the terrible curriculum.

Any teachers or experts out there have a recommended alternative to benchmark?

Not from MCPS but what is Benchmark? No phonics? How do you teach kids to read without it?

Anonymous wrote:I'm new to MoCo, and my kid is still in daycare (4). Where should I be expressing my concern regarding the lack of phonics-based instruction?

To the Board of Education and MCPS.

BOE:

Brenda_Wolff@mcpsmd.org
Karla_Silvestre@mcpsmd.org
Judy_Docca@mcpsmd.org
Shebra_L_Evans@mcpsmd.org
Lynne_Harris@mcpsmd.org
Rebecca_K_Smondrowski@mcpsmd.org
Hana_O'Looney@mcpsmd.org
Soon there will also be a new disrict 3 member, but he's not yet listed on the website

MCPS:

Monifa_B_Mcknight@mcpsmd.org
Ruschelle_Reuben@mcpsmd.org
Niki_T_Hazel@mcpsmd.org
Kisha_Logan@mcpsmd.org

In addition to writing individual emails, you might ask for a meeting to discuss your concerns.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC (currently in 5th Grade) has been having Evidence based reading routinely as part of ELC program since 4th grade.

That’s only available at select schools. Most kids don’t have access to that curriculum.

One of the many ways that MCPS is inequitable in its offerings. All schools should offer the ELC to students who demonstrate a need for enrichment in ELA.

Anonymous wrote:My DC (currently in 5th Grade) has been having Evidence based reading routinely as part of ELC program since 4th grade.

That’s only available at select schools. Most kids don’t have access to that curriculum.

My DC (currently in 5th Grade) has been having Evidence based reading routinely as part of ELC program since 4th grade.

I'm new to MoCo, and my kid is still in daycare (4). Where should I be expressing my concern regarding the lack of phonics-based instruction?

Evidence is racist, so probably never.

I read that MCOS paid for Benchmark only through the end of this year. Parents and teachers should be vocal about finding she evidence-based curriculum that will teach phonics. But I think there is no chance they will have a new curriculum by next year, unfortunately. Even with activism and pressure to move from Benchmark, it will be at least one more year.

Anonymous wrote:My kid went through 2.0 from beginning to end. I hated it, but she came out just fine. Your kids will too.

I wish this were true, but it's not fine.

The current pre-kindergarten through 5th grade MCPS reading curriculum, Benchmark Advance, is based on the "balanced literacy" approach which goes against decades of research on the science of reading. The program fails thousands of the county's students and leads to inequitable outcomes: 40% of Black and 28% of Hispanic MCPS 3rd graders read proficiently versus 69% of White MCPS 3rd graders.

If TN, DE and NC are doing this so can we.

https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/students-in-the-u-s-are-struggling-to-read-experts-share-what-they-know-can-help/

My kid went through 2.0 from beginning to end. I hated it, but she came out just fine. Your kids will too.

All the teachers I know hate Benchmark too, but unfortunately I think MCPS will stick with it to save face, they don't want to admit they chose the wrong curriculum. They stayed with 2.0 a ridiculously long time too.

But it's mind boggling that they continue to F this up over and over. I REALLY want to know if anyone in central office received a kickback for choosing Benchmark because there are no sensible reasons for selecting such a poor curriculum.

Yes. Every single classroom teacher I’ve met hates benchmark with a passion. Another example of terrible expensive decisions being made by the bloated, incompetent central office. Cut half of those jobs and redistribute $$ to teachers, paras, subs.

https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/12/13/incoming-schools-chancellor-david-banks-on-why-so-many-black-brown-students-arent-reaching-proficiency-theyre-teaching-wrong/

Bravo to the new School Chancellor in NYC for his leadership! When is MCPS going to step up? Our elementary reading scores are dismal and there are huge disparities—and we know that the curriculum the system uses is the wrong way to teach reading.