1. Gives spelling tests (of words that you think are sufficiently difficult for the grade level): Yes. And in third grade, has the kids divided into three groups based on ability.
2. Teaches cursive: Yes, homework 2-3 times per week in third grade. They just moved from doing individual letters to short words this week.
3. Has art, PE, or music weekly (and what frequency - once, twice, daily): yes, one time per week. Plus another special called "media center" which is library/technology-focused.
4. Has social studies and science daily (if not, how frequently): definitely several times per week, but probably not daily.
5. Gives homework to K and 1st: Yes, and lots of it. The homework load in K was bigger than in 2nd in a lot of ways. First grade was the most rigorous so far.
6. Allows acceleration in math: Yes, there is differentiation in the classroom and advanced kids are pulled out for compacted math in grades 4 and 5.

I'm the poster from the other thread with the third grader -- school is Bells Mill Elementary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda ES, 3rd grade:

1. Spelling test (today: "especially", "everybody", "doesn't", etc - too easy IMO)
2. No cursive.
3. Weekly specials (one music, library, PE, art a week)
4. Social studies and science daily, supposedly.
5. Completely inane homework in K and 1st.
6. NO math acceleration. I posted about this before, but the only "enrichment" is one 5-6th grade problem in the weekly homework that is way above the kids' heads. The rest of it is too easy. Ridiculous.

There is a compact 4th grade math class at BE

11 students from BE were chosen in 3rd grade to be in the 4th grade compacted math. All the other students deserve to receive differenciated math instruction within their own classrooms as well, in every grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't people jsut relax and let their kids go to school and jsut go to school withouth the race to be the brightest?

It is elementary school ...........

I don't understand this comment. Elem. school is the foundation of their education. It's where they learn to love or hate school, reading, math, etc. It's the easiest time to pick up a foreign language, learn to throw a ball in P.E, learn to play an instrument, etc. Overall, it's a crucial growth period that should be capitalized upon not dismissed as unimportant.

it means you kids are going to be just fine -why push them to be in the highest level all the time?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't people jsut relax and let their kids go to school and jsut go to school withouth the race to be the brightest?

It is elementary school ...........

I don't understand this comment. Elem. school is the foundation of their education. It's where they learn to love or hate school, reading, math, etc. It's the easiest time to pick up a foreign language, learn to throw a ball in P.E, learn to play an instrument, etc. Overall, it's a crucial growth period that should be capitalized upon not dismissed as unimportant.

There is a whole lot of ground to cover between race to be the brightest and an unimportant don'cha think??

OP Here. If we're not making generalizations, then the PP mischaracterizes my original post as a "race to be the brightest." I'm just trying to compile the comments about individual school approaches from other threads into one where it can be helpful. And so far there have been some helpful responses. But this other noise is getting in the way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't people jsut relax and let their kids go to school and jsut go to school withouth the race to be the brightest?

It is elementary school ...........

I don't understand this comment. Elem. school is the foundation of their education. It's where they learn to love or hate school, reading, math, etc. It's the easiest time to pick up a foreign language, learn to throw a ball in P.E, learn to play an instrument, etc. Overall, it's a crucial growth period that should be capitalized upon not dismissed as unimportant.

There is a whole lot of ground to cover between race to be the brightest and an unimportant don'cha think??

Anonymous wrote:Twinbrook ES:

1. Spelling: Yes, seems to be grade level appropriate
2. Cursive: No
3. Art/PE: Yes to all, once per week, rotating specials
4. Science/Social Studies: Yes, daily
5. Homework: Yes, increases each year: Weekly packet in K & 1st, two worksheets each night in 2nd, Writing/Grammar, Spelling & Math - 3rd-5th, plus 20 minutes of Reading
6. Accelerated Math: Yes, accelerated even with 2.0

No, no, it is not possible that Twinbrook ES could be a better school than Bethesda ES! Twinbrook is 65% FARMS, 10.7% white, and 15.8% Asian. Bethesda is 5.7% FARMS, 61.5% white, and 11.5% Asian. So Bethesda must be a better school!!!!

(I apologize for overdoing the sarcasm.)

Twinbrook ES:

1. Spelling: Yes, seems to be grade level appropriate
2. Cursive: No
3. Art/PE: Yes to all, once per week, rotating specials
4. Science/Social Studies: Yes, daily
5. Homework: Yes, increases each year: Weekly packet in K & 1st, two worksheets each night in 2nd, Writing/Grammar, Spelling & Math - 3rd-5th, plus 20 minutes of Reading
6. Accelerated Math: Yes, accelerated even with 2.0

Anonymous wrote:Can't people jsut relax and let their kids go to school and jsut go to school withouth the race to be the brightest?

It is elementary school ...........

I don't understand this comment. Elem. school is the foundation of their education. It's where they learn to love or hate school, reading, math, etc. It's the easiest time to pick up a foreign language, learn to throw a ball in P.E, learn to play an instrument, etc. Overall, it's a crucial growth period that should be capitalized upon not dismissed as unimportant.

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda ES, 3rd grade:

1. Spelling test (today: "especially", "everybody", "doesn't", etc - too easy IMO)
2. No cursive.
3. Weekly specials (one music, library, PE, art a week)
4. Social studies and science daily, supposedly.
5. Completely inane homework in K and 1st.
6. NO math acceleration. I posted about this before, but the only "enrichment" is one 5-6th grade problem in the weekly homework that is way above the kids' heads. The rest of it is too easy. Ridiculous.

There is a compact 4th grade math class at BE

Bethesda ES, 3rd grade:

1. Spelling test (today: "especially", "everybody", "doesn't", etc - too easy IMO)
2. No cursive.
3. Weekly specials (one music, library, PE, art a week)
4. Social studies and science daily, supposedly.
5. Completely inane homework in K and 1st.
6. NO math acceleration. I posted about this before, but the only "enrichment" is one 5-6th grade problem in the weekly homework that is way above the kids' heads. The rest of it is too easy. Ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:All MCPS elementary schools have art, PE, and music weekly-that is standardized. Once per week. Some also have computer lab or media center on a weekly basis. Everything else on your list is considered a "school based decision".

I'm just checking because I was told on a recent school tour that cursive was no longer taught at any of the MoCo schools. But it seems that's not the case according to a poster on the "4th grade is too easy" thread. So I'm wondering if any of the "standardized" stuff actually isn't . . .

Can't people jsut relax and let their kids go to school and jsut go to school withouth the race to be the brightest?

It is elementary school ...........

Acceleration in math is also standardized.

All MCPS elementary schools have art, PE, and music weekly-that is standardized. Once per week. Some also have computer lab or media center on a weekly basis. Everything else on your list is considered a "school based decision".

After reading the post about 4th grade being too easy, I'm taking a poll. Please share whether your elem. school does the following and the name of your school. TIA.

[Please also feel free to edit the polling questions if you think there's something else that would be useful to know.]


1. Gives spelling tests (of words that you think are sufficiently difficult for the grade level)
2. Teaches cursive
3. Has art, PE, or music weekly (and what frequency - once, twice, daily)
4. Has social studies and science daily (if not, how frequently)
5. Gives homework to K and 1st
6. Allows acceleration in math (I'm not sure how to ask this one. My oldest is in preschool. But I know math has been a hot button topic under 2.0)