Unless you're piloting the new version of Benchmark, all K-2 kiddos are getting Really Great Reading instead of the daily phonics lesson from Benchmark. They still do the other reading and writing lessons from Benchmark.
I agree with other posters, RGR is fantastic!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see how they could have a new curriculum in place by next year. Are they going to be putting an RFP out now?

They have about 12 elementary schools piloting the Benchmark 2022 edition this year. I think they're hoping it solves all of the problems we have with the 2018/19(?) version of Benchmark most of us are stuck teaching right now. I absolutely HATE Benchmark!

I don’t want to burst your bubble but we are doing the “new” benchmark at my school. It is just as terrible as the previous version.

Anonymous wrote:Is this Really Great Reading? My kids' ES introduced it during ELO this past summer, and it's phonics-based. From what I can tell it's, well, really great (for K and 2nd, at least, since that's what I've seen). My 2nd grader's spelling has gotten so much better and both of them are blossoming as readers. I hope this is the program, or they ho with something very similar.

My school is also doing RGR, and the reading specialist gave a presentation about MCPS shifting to structured literacy. I still wasn’t totally getting how they would be fully doing that with the benchmark curriculum, so I guess it makes sense now that they are looking to replace altogether. But my 1st grader seems to be responding to RGR well too.

Is this Really Great Reading? My kids' ES introduced it during ELO this past summer, and it's phonics-based. From what I can tell it's, well, really great (for K and 2nd, at least, since that's what I've seen). My 2nd grader's spelling has gotten so much better and both of them are blossoming as readers. I hope this is the program, or they ho with something very similar.

How can we already be looking for a new ELA curriculum? Who is in charge of the curriculum office and how long have they been there?

Anonymous wrote:http://procurement.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/Home/Bid_Record/2925

Someone better downloaded these current RFP version. Down the road, like last time, MCPS may change the rules because certain vendors were not included.

RFP is posted and would go into effect next fall 2023

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see how they could have a new curriculum in place by next year. Are they going to be putting an RFP out now?

They have about 12 elementary schools piloting the Benchmark 2022 edition this year. I think they're hoping it solves all of the problems we have with the 2018/19(?) version of Benchmark most of us are stuck teaching right now. I absolutely HATE Benchmark!

But they said they are going to have a new ELA curriulum for 2023-2024. Maybe they meant the RFP would go out next year and the new curriculum would be implemented the year after? This was at curriculum night.

Anonymous wrote:I don't see how they could have a new curriculum in place by next year. Are they going to be putting an RFP out now?

They have about 12 elementary schools piloting the Benchmark 2022 edition this year. I think they're hoping it solves all of the problems we have with the 2018/19(?) version of Benchmark most of us are stuck teaching right now. I absolutely HATE Benchmark!

I don't see how they could have a new curriculum in place by next year. Are they going to be putting an RFP out now?

They did record all the sessions, so I hope they will post them. Most of the ES ELA session was about the switch to structured literacy.

Is there a recording of this meeting available?

Thanks for the info. I missed the curriculum night. Any other important info ?

I just attended the MCPS curriculum night presentation. At the end of the ES ELA presentation, they mentioned that they are putting out an RFP for a new ES ELA curriculum that is evidence-based. New curriculum to be in place for 2023-2024 school year.

Does anyone know anything else? This seems very positive to me. Benchmark is terrible, and not just in the early grades when it lacks explicit phonics instruction.