Anonymous wrote:MCPS is so bizarre. The classwork is incredibly easy. There is nothing college readiness about it under 2.0 yet they don't have enough time for PE more than once a week and very limited recess. What is the point of forcing young children to sit in seats doing boring work way beneath their level of capability??

A school play or even just more outdoor recess would be time better spent than on the 2.0 garbage.

If they were doing something that was academic and rigorous or being challenged then I could see how the schools would be saying they don't have enough time but the stuff they do is ridiculous!!!

Is that what is going on in your child's elementary school? I'm sorry to hear it. It's not what is going on in my child's elementary school.

MCPS is so bizarre. The classwork is incredibly easy. There is nothing college readiness about it under 2.0 yet they don't have enough time for PE more than once a week and very limited recess. What is the point of forcing young children to sit in seats doing boring work way beneath their level of capability??

A school play or even just more outdoor recess would be time better spent than on the 2.0 garbage.

If they were doing something that was academic and rigorous or being challenged then I could see how the schools would be saying they don't have enough time but the stuff they do is ridiculous!!!

Anonymous wrote:Beverly Farms has a second break called "brain break." The idea was that the teachers could teach specific social skills that the kids could work on with their teachers there watching and supporting. I am not sure there is any instruction, but am thrilled that they gave an extra break!

I wish it could be implemented for all the elementary years...

Our ES in Bethesda has a little playground attached to the K classrooms (separate from the big playground) where the teachers send the children to wiggle. Works wonders.

Beverly Farms has a second break called "brain break." The idea was that the teachers could teach specific social skills that the kids could work on with their teachers there watching and supporting. I am not sure there is any instruction, but am thrilled that they gave an extra break!

Anonymous wrote:What those administrators need to realize is that by putting on the play, these kindergartens are working on their public speaking skills. That is a great skill to learn in order to be college and career ready!

Absolutely! And there are other vital skills that are honed in putting together a play, like cooperation and focus.

Nearly 35 years after leaving elementary school, my most indelible memories are my 3rd grade production of "Pied Piper" and my 5th grade production of "Wizard of Oz." It saddens me that my kids did not have the same rich opportunity in their elementary years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not likely to happen inMCPS under the current super. If anything, there's been encouragement for more play in kindergarten (extra recess aka "social emotional learning")

This email isn't about kindergartners playing, it's about a play put on by kindergarteners.

Heh, reading fail. Guess I need to go back to kindergarten.

What those administrators need to realize is that by putting on the play, these kindergartens are working on their public speaking skills. That is a great skill to learn in order to be college and career ready!

Anonymous wrote:Not likely to happen inMCPS under the current super. If anything, there's been encouragement for more play in kindergarten (extra recess aka "social emotional learning")

This email isn't about kindergartners playing, it's about a play put on by kindergarteners.

Lame. This is why I have no guilt keeping my kids home on govt test days. We go to museums or see documentaries or something instead.

Hey who has extra recess in K in MoCo? I want that for my school!

Not likely to happen inMCPS under the current super. If anything, there's been encouragement for more play in kindergarten (extra recess aka "social emotional learning")

Anonymous wrote:Well don't be so sure... our school used to do a fun wax museum project in second grade that was cancelled because of the new curriculum.

If it's just fun, it's a waste of time.

not trying to stir the pot

If research was done to prepare for this project, then it's not a waste of time. But . . . research CAN be a waste if it's not done properly. And unless the wax museum has a them connecting the characters, it's a waste of time.

A fun project is only as good as the learning behind it.

Well don't be so sure... our school used to do a fun wax museum project in second grade that was cancelled because of the new curriculum.

one school, one principal

I wish people would understand that there are some stupid administrators in the US who will never "get it."

I highly doubt this will catch on.

This happened in NY, though it's not a stretch to imagine receiving the same letter here.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/04/26/kindergarten-show-canceled-so-kids-can-keep-working-to-become-college-and-career-ready-really/