I'm with you OP. I don't see it as an issue of the teachers not teaching, but having the desks facing each other in groups of 6-8 is so distracting. All I hear about is the kids chatting and gossiping when they should be working. Back in my day (ha!) the desks were all in a row and you stared at the back of someone's head. I may not be as into teamwork because of it but our classes were much better behaved than what I hear from my kids. How do you not talk when facing each other in a group - it's just human nature.

Anonymous wrote:

Well they got rid of PARCC, so does that mean MCPS will get rid of the Chromebooks now?

They have not yet gotten rid of PARCC. And the replacement tests will be computer-adaptive, like the MAP tests - so no.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/k-12/bs-md-parcc-replacement-test-20180905-story.html

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean do teachers never teach to the class anymore? I volunteer and these groups of kids just talk and goof off. No one is really facing the front if the class, but I guess the teacher really doesn’t need their attention at once. I just find the set up very distracting during “busy” work.

There are lots of ways to teach that don't involve the teacher lecturing from the front of the classroom to rows of students.

In MCPS the only ways to teach are chromebooks and busy work. I never see teachers teach to the whole class anymore.

Is that based on the nanny cam you have set up in your children's classrooms? WTF? The whole reason MCPS pushed for Chromebooks was because students have to take PARCC online. If we still took MSA on paper there wouldn't be as much of a need for Chromebooks. Not every teacher just throws their kids on Chromebooks all day.

Well they got rid of PARCC, so does that mean MCPS will get rid of the Chromebooks now?

I see my children’s teachers teach to the whole class with some regularity but they do it on the rug not with kids at their desks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean do teachers never teach to the class anymore? I volunteer and these groups of kids just talk and goof off. No one is really facing the front if the class, but I guess the teacher really doesn’t need their attention at once. I just find the set up very distracting during “busy” work.

There are lots of ways to teach that don't involve the teacher lecturing from the front of the classroom to rows of students.

In MCPS the only ways to teach are chromebooks and busy work. I never see teachers teach to the whole class anymore.

Because you have been in every classroom of every school in MCPS. Mmmmkay.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, OP, I am a teacher, and I don't even have desks, just a large round table. I am proud to say that my school embraces the Harkness method. I wouldn't have it any other way.

But OP, your kid isn't at my school

Are you at a private school? My high school used the Harkness method and I've never heard of it being used in public schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean do teachers never teach to the class anymore? I volunteer and these groups of kids just talk and goof off. No one is really facing the front if the class, but I guess the teacher really doesn’t need their attention at once. I just find the set up very distracting during “busy” work.

There are lots of ways to teach that don't involve the teacher lecturing from the front of the classroom to rows of students.

In MCPS the only ways to teach are chromebooks and busy work. I never see teachers teach to the whole class anymore.

Is that based on the nanny cam you have set up in your children's classrooms? WTF? The whole reason MCPS pushed for Chromebooks was because students have to take PARCC online. If we still took MSA on paper there wouldn't be as much of a need for Chromebooks. Not every teacher just throws their kids on Chromebooks all day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean do teachers never teach to the class anymore? I volunteer and these groups of kids just talk and goof off. No one is really facing the front if the class, but I guess the teacher really doesn’t need their attention at once. I just find the set up very distracting during “busy” work.

There are lots of ways to teach that don't involve the teacher lecturing from the front of the classroom to rows of students.

In MCPS the only ways to teach are chromebooks and busy work. I never see teachers teach to the whole class anymore.

Yes, OP, I am a teacher, and I don't even have desks, just a large round table. I am proud to say that my school embraces the Harkness method. I wouldn't have it any other way.

But OP, your kid isn't at my school

Anonymous wrote:I’m 38 and classrooms were set up like this (in table groups) when I was in ES. Besides, OP, the new thing is flexible seating with a variety of options. Desks placed on risers with stools instead of chairs, tables, lap desks, cushions, floor mats, etc etc. Bet you’d love that!

Primary teacher here and flexible seating is a joke.

I’m 38 and classrooms were set up like this (in table groups) when I was in ES. Besides, OP, the new thing is flexible seating with a variety of options. Desks placed on risers with stools instead of chairs, tables, lap desks, cushions, floor mats, etc etc. Bet you’d love that!

Anonymous wrote:I mean do teachers never teach to the class anymore? I volunteer and these groups of kids just talk and goof off. No one is really facing the front if the class, but I guess the teacher really doesn’t need their attention at once. I just find the set up very distracting during “busy” work.

This just shows that you don't understand everything about teaching.

Anonymous wrote:I mean do teachers never teach to the class anymore? I volunteer and these groups of kids just talk and goof off. No one is really facing the front if the class, but I guess the teacher really doesn’t need their attention at once. I just find the set up very distracting during “busy” work.

There are lots of ways to teach that don't involve the teacher lecturing from the front of the classroom to rows of students.

I’m an old, and teachers were doing this even in my day. It allows for easy collaboration. Not quite sure what you mean by teachers not teaching.

I mean do teachers never teach to the class anymore? I volunteer and these groups of kids just talk and goof off. No one is really facing the front if the class, but I guess the teacher really doesn’t need their attention at once. I just find the set up very distracting during “busy” work.