Anonymous wrote:For those parents supplementing at home because you feel MCPS is not doing its job.. what are you supplementing, math only? Writing? What exactly is MCPS not teaching your kid that you teach them at home?

For me, DC#1 is 4th and DC#2 is in 1st grade.

DC#1 has learned from MCPS in previous years:
- multiplication math facts up to 12
- cursive
- addition and subtraction the "old" way (borrowing/carrying) as well as other methods taught under 2.0 math

DC#2 is going to be learning how to read an analog clock. While this is not necessary in these times, I think it helps with math, ie, fractions, counting by 5's, 10's, etc.

Both DCs are reading about 2 yrs above grade level. Both DCs have learned to read math word problems and figure out the answer. I see some of their assignments, and while it is different from what I am used to, I see that it teaches them to think, and not just do worksheet after worksheet of 2+2, 2+3, 4+2, etc..

I supplement at bit at home because I feel like the class sizes are too big (26+ kids), and I know it's nearly impossible for the teacher to give my DC individualized attention for more than 5 min. a day. I work with my DCs on a few math tricks I use to do math quickly in my head.

But, for the most part, I think MCPS has been educating my kids. DC#1 is on track to take Algebra in 7th grade. That's pretty advanced to me.

What are they missing? I don't think it's necessary for such young kids to have test after tests in class to see if my kids are learning. I see that in the class and HW they bring home.

It seems to me, from what I have read on this forum, that may parents are unhappy about the lack of communication between the teacher and the parent. Some parents aren't seeing HW, tests, etc.. brought home. But some parents are. Some kids are not learning multiplication math facts, or having enough comments written on assignments. Some parents are unhappy because the kid seems to be really good at some subject, usually math, but gets a P in the report card. So, the parents don't understand the grading system or how their kids are doing.

Some teachers just suck and some are great. That's not going to change by getting rid of 2.0. Maybe the crappy teachers are more magnified because of the new curriculum. If they are crappy teachers to begin with, throw in a new curriculum with little prep time, and you get an even crappier teacher.

These issues are not largely due to 2.0, but a teacher communication issue, a lack of uniformity (or standards) in the lesson plans, and MCPS' grading rubric.

I'm still not clear based on this thread what it is exactly that some parents see lacking in their kids' education. Another PP asked for something similar, for people who are complaining about it, to state what grades their kids are in, what do they think is missing, etc.... But the only responses I have seen are the same thing: "It sucks, so I'm supplementing at home, keeping quiet, etc.."

Unless someone gives some concrete reason why MCPS is failing, I can only assume that people who are complaining just want more individualized attention to their children (which can't happen in a big public school) and want their kids to be able to jump several math and reading levels because they think that means the kid is smarter and will be able to "compete" globally" (which it doesn't).

Someone tell me something different.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps you should move away from Bethesda/Potomac? I read more complaints about Bethesda/Potomac schools on DCUM than about schools anywhere else in MCPS. My children go to unregarded MCPS elementary and middle schools, and I am very happy with the education they've received so far.

Are you highly educated? Bethesda is home to the most highly educated population in the nation; we're very picky about the schools. I'm sure if Bethesdans lived in your cluster, they'd complain too. The curriculum is the same throughout MCPS - we are just more aware of its shortcomings.

Anonymous wrote:Or looking at it this way: of all the kids who graduated from MCPS, one in four of them went to MC. So I think that's a pretty big number.
With a HS diploma, none of them should have needed remediation in math in order to take a college math course for credit.

Anonymous wrote:County OLO report out today says that of the students new to Montgomery College in 2011, 72% needed remediation in math. Given that such a large percentage of MCPS grads enroll in MC, this is extremely troubling.

Anonymous wrote:For those parents supplementing at home because you feel MCPS is not doing its job.. what are you supplementing, math only? Writing? What exactly is MCPS not teaching your kid that you teach them at home?

For me, DC#1 is 4th and DC#2 is in 1st grade.

DC#1 has learned from MCPS in previous years:
- multiplication math facts up to 12
- cursive
- addition and subtraction the "old" way (borrowing/carrying) as well as other methods taught under 2.0 math

DC#2 is going to be learning how to read an analog clock. While this is not necessary in these times, I think it helps with math, ie, fractions, counting by 5's, 10's, etc.

Both DCs are reading about 2 yrs above grade level. Both DCs have learned to read math word problems and figure out the answer. I see some of their assignments, and while it is different from what I am used to, I see that it teaches them to think, and not just do worksheet after worksheet of 2+2, 2+3, 4+2, etc..

I supplement at bit at home because I feel like the class sizes are too big (26+ kids), and I know it's nearly impossible for the teacher to give my DC individualized attention for more than 5 min. a day. I work with my DCs on a few math tricks I use to do math quickly in my head.

But, for the most part, I think MCPS has been educating my kids. DC#1 is on track to take Algebra in 7th grade. That's pretty advanced to me.

What are they missing? I don't think it's necessary for such young kids to have test after tests in class to see if my kids are learning. I see that in the class and HW they bring home.

It seems to me, from what I have read on this forum, that may parents are unhappy about the lack of communication between the teacher and the parent. Some parents aren't seeing HW, tests, etc.. brought home. But some parents are. Some kids are not learning multiplication math facts, or having enough comments written on assignments. Some parents are unhappy because the kid seems to be really good at some subject, usually math, but gets a P in the report card. So, the parents don't understand the grading system or how their kids are doing.

Some teachers just suck and some are great. That's not going to change by getting rid of 2.0. Maybe the crappy teachers are more magnified because of the new curriculum. If they are crappy teachers to begin with, throw in a new curriculum with little prep time, and you get an even crappier teacher.

These issues are not largely due to 2.0, but a teacher communication issue, a lack of uniformity (or standards) in the lesson plans, and MCPS' grading rubric.

I'm still not clear based on this thread what it is exactly that some parents see lacking in their kids' education. Another PP asked for something similar, for people who are complaining about it, to state what grades their kids are in, what do they think is missing, etc.... But the only responses I have seen are the same thing: "It sucks, so I'm supplementing at home, keeping quiet, etc.."

Unless someone gives some concrete reason why MCPS is failing, I can only assume that people who are complaining just want more individualized attention to their children (which can't happen in a big public school) and want their kids to be able to jump several math and reading levels because they think that means the kid is smarter and will be able to "compete" globally" (which it doesn't).

Someone tell me something different.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those parents supplementing at home because you feel MCPS is not doing its job.. what are you supplementing, math only? Writing? What exactly is MCPS not teaching your kid that you teach them at home?

I supplement math, writing, and foreign language on a weekly basis. As the kids get older we try to work in supplemental instruction in history and geography, but that is something we currently do much more informally

For writing, MCPS seems to do a decent job at the creative/productive aspects of writing in the younger grades, but I prefer a more systematic and formal approach. At home we do direct instruction in grammar and use a writing program that focuses on narration and copywork. I think this complements the writing done in the classroom and should ideally lead to my kids having a more well-rounded writing style that is both content-rich and technically sound.

In math we focus on fact memorization, mental math, logic, and simple math extension going beyond what's offered in class.

I feel that history and geography, which to me go hand in hand as very closely related subjects that ought to be considered together rather than in isolation, is one of the weakest areas of the US system of K-12 education. There's a tremendous emphasis on reading and STEM, which is great since those subjects are important. But social studies/history seems to fall by the wayside too often for my comfort, and the general level of knowledge of geography I have seen amongst the admittedly small sample of US students I know is terrible. Other than reading Story of the World for history, we don't do a formal curriculum for this yet because we prefer taking heavy advantage of opportunities for hands on learning at home or in the local area and integrating these content areas into our daily lives.

Anonymous wrote:For those parents supplementing at home because you feel MCPS is not doing its job.. what are you supplementing, math only? Writing? What exactly is MCPS not teaching your kid that you teach them at home?

Anonymous wrote:DC is in 4th grade at a well regarded "W" cluster school. We are very concerned about the lack of instruction in many subjects but reading, writing and spelling in particular. I recall learning more (and more being demanded of me) back in the 70's in a school that many on here would consider quite undesireable (not a MoCo school). We cannot really afford private, we do whatever we can to supplement, but are very concerned about the education our DC is/is not receiving. I guess MCPS is not all it is cracked up to be-very dissapointed. Also wondering what others are thinking/doing to remedy this issue?