NP helZre. My child's middle school doesn't offer the slower version of languages. Plus there is only one other elective offered and my child wouldn't be comfortable in that class. So he really has no choice. You shouldn't assume that all MCPS middle schools have the same options.

Anonymous wrote:My DS struggled in Spanish 1A/1B - he ended with a B but I was certain that teacher jacked up his grade to avoid my emails for help when at one point he had a 9% on Edline. He was placed in Spanish 2 in grade 7, but came home after the first day and said there was no way he could do the class. He dropped down and retook Spanish 1B, which gave him a far better foundation. He has done far better in Spanish 2 this year.

Spanish teacher - sometimes kids switch language in high school because there are more options. Mine is -- and he has had a B the second half of the year.

Again, isn't this why people suggest taking the slower version of Span 1A in 7 and 1B in 8 instead of combined 1A/B in one year? It moves fast and there's a ton of memorization...which mcps doesn't prepare kids for in elementary. We didn't start a language in 6th grade precisely for that reason.

My DS struggled in Spanish 1A/1B - he ended with a B but I was certain that teacher jacked up his grade to avoid my emails for help when at one point he had a 9% on Edline. He was placed in Spanish 2 in grade 7, but came home after the first day and said there was no way he could do the class. He dropped down and retook Spanish 1B, which gave him a far better foundation. He has done far better in Spanish 2 this year.

Spanish teacher - sometimes kids switch language in high school because there are more options. Mine is -- and he has had a B the second half of the year.

Thank you for sharing your experience. It was a good call to focus his energy and time on other interests.

I mean that he dropped the class in addition to his grades dropping. He was encouraged to start a new language but we decided to just focus on his stronger areas.

We went through similar struggles with DS. Also know that Spanish 3 gets much harder than Spanish 2..even taking the non-honors version. My child dropped after 1/2 of Spanish 3. Grades dropped from C's to D's.

There were times I really wanted him to drop the class but he wants to stay in it and see it though to the end and I felt that his perseverance would serve him well in the future.

Dear Spanish teacher-

Thank you for responding. By struggle, I mean C for his cumulative grade for the first half of the year and Q3 (C) and currently for Q4 he has a high D, so I am concerned about impact on his GPA. I appreciate your insight as a teacher. I often wondered how students performed the second time around in a foreign language class. But, it sounds like if he doesn't do well on the final, or doesn't take it, he can always start fresh next year (most likely with a new language). Thank you for letting me know the final is multiple choice, that is certainly less difficult.

Spanish teacher here- please define struggle. In my experience, some parents consider a B a struggle- and if that's the case, have him start again with a new language in high school. Students who repeat tend to not do better the second time around, at least in my experience.

If you're talking MCPS, keep in mind that the semester final- the last of its kind- is largely multiple choice, so it's generally easier to do well on it than it would be on an exam that required pure production.

Confirm with the school but I believe you have to pass the final to get hs credit. If you fail it (don't take it) you just don't get the credit so no grade shows up

Thanks for the feedback. I Just need more clarification, if you skip the final and it's not on the HS transcript, can you take another language or does it Have to be the same class? This might be a silly question.

This is why it's better to take the slower version, right? The one where you do half of Spanish I one year and the other half the next year? At least that's what I've heard.

If your child doesn't pass, pick a new language for next year. You only need two years of language and it doesn't have to be the same one for each year.

Skip the final. Retake it next year. It will not be on his transcript..

My middle schooler is taking Spanish II. Its been a struggle all year and there's a chance he may not pass this quarter. With so little time left in the school year, what options are available so that it will not impact his high school G.P.A. Any suggestions are appreciated.