Anonymous
06/11/2012 11:36
Subject: what should my expectations be for 1st grade?
We are in a Title I school in FCPS. As such, they have the Young Scholars program. My Kindergartener has a weekly pull out for that program which is taught by the school's full time AART/Science Teacher. The school is not rated highly on Great Schools, but we have been extremely pleased so far with the level of differentiation. Our older ds attends a different FCPS school. There was little to no differentiation until he placed into AAP, so I think that the PP is right on with regard to little early elementary differentiation in that school. I think it really varies from school to school, and test scores (in our case) are defininitely not a good predictor for level of differentiation.
Anonymous
06/11/2012 11:03
Subject: Re:what should my expectations be for 1st grade?
Can anyone tell me what the entire year is like for 1st grade at FCPS especially regarding ways of teaching, homework load, and differentiation? We only saw perhaps one differentiated worksheet come home every two to three weeks in kindergarten even with the new math standards in place. In language arts, there were reading groups once a week. I have heard 1st grade isn't much different which is why I wonder why FCPS decided to change their math standards if they didn't bother to follow through to make sure they were actually offered to students with appropriate materials and support given to teachers. I think it is funny that there is so much talk about AAP among FCPS contributors here but I hear about more differentiation and interesting work in the early elementary years from friends with kids in the Arlington and Montgomery County school systems.
Anonymous
06/08/2012 18:30
Subject: Re:what should my expectations be for 1st grade?
Op, my son's in first grade at a school with a high Great Schools score and they I can honestly say he has not learned anything new with regards to math this year (he was a bit ahead in math when he started but I still expected him to at least learn something new). His class has also been watching movies. He has still been getting a bit of homework, but it's all review things. I think his last one was patterns! Seriously, circle-circle-box, what's next. 
Anonymous
06/07/2012 13:30
Subject: what should my expectations be for 1st grade?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Still have math homework, still have language arts homework. (We're in Arlington.)
Also, in Arlington. Homework for our 1st grader has become more optional (math) and self-directed (reading). Students can complete pages in their math workbook and get stickers for each page. They can do as many as they want, or none at all. They are still supposed to read each night and have a book log to bring in each week. There haven't been homework packets (math and language arts) for a couple of weeks now. Personally, I am fine with that. They are still working in class, but are also having some more fun - a few extended recesses and an ice cream celebration after a play was performed yesterday. It is all good with me - I feel like there is so little time for fun in schools these days and it is OK to relax a little at the end of the year. I should add that my son is doing very well academically and often says school is easy for him, so maybe that's why I don't have as much of a problem with him having some downtime. I suppose if he was struggling, I might be more anxious for the work and homework to continue until June 22.
PP here who said I wish they'd keep working 'til the end of the year. My DC is not struggling at all - school is a cake walk for her, thats the point. I kept waiting for the school work/homework to get more challenging and it never did and then it was over. She has all summer to play.
oh well, I suppose (hope) differentiation will be more evident in the 2nd grade.
Anonymous
06/07/2012 12:55
Subject: what should my expectations be for 1st grade?
Anonymous wrote:Still have math homework, still have language arts homework. (We're in Arlington.)
Also, in Arlington. Homework for our 1st grader has become more optional (math) and self-directed (reading). Students can complete pages in their math workbook and get stickers for each page. They can do as many as they want, or none at all. They are still supposed to read each night and have a book log to bring in each week. There haven't been homework packets (math and language arts) for a couple of weeks now. Personally, I am fine with that. They are still working in class, but are also having some more fun - a few extended recesses and an ice cream celebration after a play was performed yesterday. It is all good with me - I feel like there is so little time for fun in schools these days and it is OK to relax a little at the end of the year. I should add that my son is doing very well academically and often says school is easy for him, so maybe that's why I don't have as much of a problem with him having some downtime. I suppose if he was struggling, I might be more anxious for the work and homework to continue until June 22.
Anonymous
06/07/2012 12:44
Subject: what should my expectations be for 1st grade?
No homework for my first grader this week (and I imagine next week too.) No reports of extra recesses though. She used to be pulled out for reading and math and this seems to have stopped a couple of weeks ago. I personally wish they'd keep going with the academics until the end. Why not just end the school year at the end of May if they are going to coast for the last 2 weeks?
Anonymous
06/07/2012 07:41
Subject: what should my expectations be for 1st grade?
Still have math homework, still have language arts homework. (We're in Arlington.)
Anonymous
06/06/2012 23:14
Subject: Re:what should my expectations be for 1st grade?
OP here - thanks for your comments. I would rather not provide the name of the school, but if you are looking for a new home just know that the school is ranked low on greatschools.com.
Anonymous
06/06/2012 21:57
Subject: what should my expectations be for 1st grade?
My first grader still has math (and it seems pretty hard for first grade). She finished word study the week before Memorial Day.
What school are you in OP?
What school are you in OP?
Anonymous
06/06/2012 19:20
Subject: what should my expectations be for 1st grade?
This is a problem with the teacher. Not necessarily the school. The teacher has likely checked out. I'm a former teacher and some of my colleagues used to get lazy at the end of the year. I'd investigate if other first grade parents are noticing the same problem.
Anonymous
06/06/2012 18:22
Subject: Re:what should my expectations be for 1st grade?
OP: do you mind sharing what school you are referring to?
Anonymous
06/06/2012 17:55
Subject: what should my expectations be for 1st grade?
My DD is also finishing first in FCPS. She just finished up her math homework. They haven't had reading homework for last few weeks (besides reading and keeping a log), but that was due to her reading teacher having to take a sudden medical leave for remainder of year. Have not heard of any extra recess or movies, etc. Just field day next week and a party on the 15th.
Anonymous
06/06/2012 17:52
Subject: what should my expectations be for 1st grade?
My first grader is doing his homework right now. There hasn't been any change in homework or reading requirements; class work and instructional time is the same also. Public school.
Anonymous
06/06/2012 15:14
Subject: what should my expectations be for 1st grade?
I would be thrilled about the extra recess time. At my dd's school, they have missed a ton of recess because apparently they don't go outside when other kids are taking tests (???!!!). She had many days in May with no recess time. Which is ridiculous and not age appropriate at all for a six year old.
Anonymous
06/06/2012 15:00
Subject: what should my expectations be for 1st grade?
My child is in the first grade and it seems that since the start of May, the focus as been on standardized testing and the children are not learning anything new.
For the past 1.5 months, there have been no math or reading assignments. Also, my daughter is always telling me how she had
double recess or extended recess time. They are watching movies in class, and I was told by my daughter that they are no longer
doing math assignments in their workbooks. It is like the school year has been over since the beginning of May! Am I expecting too much for the first grade?
The school is loved by the small community it serves, which includes high-income households and a large lower-income ESOL population.
We are thinking about moving because of issues with the school, but I am concerned that perhaps this is the norm at all schools and the move will just be
an added household expense with not much change at the elementary school level.
For the past 1.5 months, there have been no math or reading assignments. Also, my daughter is always telling me how she had
double recess or extended recess time. They are watching movies in class, and I was told by my daughter that they are no longer
doing math assignments in their workbooks. It is like the school year has been over since the beginning of May! Am I expecting too much for the first grade?
The school is loved by the small community it serves, which includes high-income households and a large lower-income ESOL population.
We are thinking about moving because of issues with the school, but I am concerned that perhaps this is the norm at all schools and the move will just be
an added household expense with not much change at the elementary school level.