Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its me, the co-teacher again. We gave the students their choice of two alternate reading choices if they choose to opt out of The Magic Fish. They are A Separate Peace and When I Was Puerto Rican. 0 out of 75 students took the choice of the alternate book, but we did give them the weekend to discuss it with their parents.

Thank you for the update!

A couple of questions.

1) do the students get to decide or do the parents? (I thought families hd to fill out an opt out form and then the students would be assigned an alternative - is this really up to the students?)

2) when students opt out are they given specific . Assignments for their new book? A Separate Peace is in the curriculjm and has specific assignments that go with it.

3) it seems late to be just starting a novel now when school has been in session for several weeks. What has the class been doing? Are there different readings and writing activities that they have been doing?

Thanks from the mom of an 8th grader

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the new opt out policy, teachers are even more beleaguered. The RT at my school was concerned about showcasing the texts her teachers were using at BTSN because she worried that parents would flip through them and complain.

Could a parent opt out of Magic Fish and All American Boys and in effect force A Separate Peace?

My 9th grade students have the option to opt out of the Magic Fish, especially considering the fact it has a moderate LGBTQ focus. We told them in class they can do that. However we have let them know that the other books they choose will be more difficult and that all instruction will be tailored towards the 99% of kids who are reading The Magic Fish. Any kid who opts out will essentially be on independent study and for better or worse, be left to sink or swim. This is not an ideal way to begin their adjustment to high school and the real academic consequences that come with it.

What would you say to a student who doesn’t want/need to opt out of Magic Fish but would like to be offered a more challenging book and guided independent study in addition?

They have that option if they want. They also have the option to read independently on their own outside of school. Nobody is stopping them from doing that. However, If they want to be able to receive regular and routine assistance and guidance from myself and the other teacher in the room, they probably should follow the plan in place.

If a child is truly so gifted that Magic Fish is beneath them, they should have no issue with easily getting their A during the 44 minutes a day we spend in class and supplementing their education outside of class.

Shouldn't Magic Fish be "beneath" almost every student since it's written below a 3rd grade reading level? Is your class majority EML students or kids otherwise way below grade level? Why would you try to steer all the kids in your honors English high school class into a book at an elementary school level?

I am the co teacher. The other teacher who is the established ELA teacher has been teaching 9th grade for 6 years and I trust their judgement in knowing how to ensure student success early in the year.

My middle schooler has a 1500 lexile on their MAP report.

I don't my child to experience "success" in highschool in an extremely coddled, low-expectations environment that leaves him unprepared for college and life.

Then, you need to go private.

Anonymous wrote:Its me, the co-teacher again. We gave the students their choice of two alternate reading choices if they choose to opt out of The Magic Fish. They are A Separate Peace and When I Was Puerto Rican. 0 out of 75 students took the choice of the alternate book, but we did give them the weekend to discuss it with their parents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the new opt out policy, teachers are even more beleaguered. The RT at my school was concerned about showcasing the texts her teachers were using at BTSN because she worried that parents would flip through them and complain.

Could a parent opt out of Magic Fish and All American Boys and in effect force A Separate Peace?

My 9th grade students have the option to opt out of the Magic Fish, especially considering the fact it has a moderate LGBTQ focus. We told them in class they can do that. However we have let them know that the other books they choose will be more difficult and that all instruction will be tailored towards the 99% of kids who are reading The Magic Fish. Any kid who opts out will essentially be on independent study and for better or worse, be left to sink or swim. This is not an ideal way to begin their adjustment to high school and the real academic consequences that come with it.

What would you say to a student who doesn’t want/need to opt out of Magic Fish but would like to be offered a more challenging book and guided independent study in addition?

They have that option if they want. They also have the option to read independently on their own outside of school. Nobody is stopping them from doing that. However, If they want to be able to receive regular and routine assistance and guidance from myself and the other teacher in the room, they probably should follow the plan in place.

If a child is truly so gifted that Magic Fish is beneath them, they should have no issue with easily getting their A during the 44 minutes a day we spend in class and supplementing their education outside of class.

Shouldn't Magic Fish be "beneath" almost every student since it's written below a 3rd grade reading level? Is your class majority EML students or kids otherwise way below grade level? Why would you try to steer all the kids in your honors English high school class into a book at an elementary school level?

I am the co teacher. The other teacher who is the established ELA teacher has been teaching 9th grade for 6 years and I trust their judgement in knowing how to ensure student success early in the year.

My middle schooler has a 1500 lexile on their MAP report.

I don't my child to experience "success" in highschool in an extremely coddled, low-expectations environment that leaves him unprepared for college and life.

Congrats on getting the opportunity to humble brag about your child. Im sure they are going to do just fine getting into the college of their choice regardless of having to have been forced to read a book below their level in 9th grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the new opt out policy, teachers are even more beleaguered. The RT at my school was concerned about showcasing the texts her teachers were using at BTSN because she worried that parents would flip through them and complain.

Could a parent opt out of Magic Fish and All American Boys and in effect force A Separate Peace?

My 9th grade students have the option to opt out of the Magic Fish, especially considering the fact it has a moderate LGBTQ focus. We told them in class they can do that. However we have let them know that the other books they choose will be more difficult and that all instruction will be tailored towards the 99% of kids who are reading The Magic Fish. Any kid who opts out will essentially be on independent study and for better or worse, be left to sink or swim. This is not an ideal way to begin their adjustment to high school and the real academic consequences that come with it.

What would you say to a student who doesn’t want/need to opt out of Magic Fish but would like to be offered a more challenging book and guided independent study in addition?

They have that option if they want. They also have the option to read independently on their own outside of school. Nobody is stopping them from doing that. However, If they want to be able to receive regular and routine assistance and guidance from myself and the other teacher in the room, they probably should follow the plan in place.

If a child is truly so gifted that Magic Fish is beneath them, they should have no issue with easily getting their A during the 44 minutes a day we spend in class and supplementing their education outside of class.

Shouldn't Magic Fish be "beneath" almost every student since it's written below a 3rd grade reading level? Is your class majority EML students or kids otherwise way below grade level? Why would you try to steer all the kids in your honors English high school class into a book at an elementary school level?

I am the co teacher. The other teacher who is the established ELA teacher has been teaching 9th grade for 6 years and I trust their judgement in knowing how to ensure student success early in the year.

My middle schooler has a 1500 lexile on their MAP report.

I don't my child to experience "success" in highschool in an extremely coddled, low-expectations environment that leaves him unprepared for college and life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All American Boys
But they will also be reading Of Mice and Men

Of Mice & Men is a choice in MP2. And it's super short. Why couldn't they read both of these in MP1?

Totally agree. My HS English class in 1986 probably read twice as many books. I remember we read Great Expectations, catcher in the rye, Frankenstein, a Shakespeare play, the Iliad, and I’m sure there were a couple more I’m forgetting now (maybe Huck Finn?) And I went to public school in a random state so I feel like it’s achievable for McPS.

Note that Shakespeare and poetry are covered in the English classes but its usually not listed as the quarterly novel or reading.

Romeo and a Juliet is an option (not a requirement) in Q4. There is no other Shakespeare in 9th grade English.

Is that not enough? How much Shakespeare do your think really needs to be done in a school year?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All American Boys
But they will also be reading Of Mice and Men

Of Mice & Men is a choice in MP2. And it's super short. Why couldn't they read both of these in MP1?

Totally agree. My HS English class in 1986 probably read twice as many books. I remember we read Great Expectations, catcher in the rye, Frankenstein, a Shakespeare play, the Iliad, and I’m sure there were a couple more I’m forgetting now (maybe Huck Finn?) And I went to public school in a random state so I feel like it’s achievable for McPS.

Note that Shakespeare and poetry are covered in the English classes but its usually not listed as the quarterly novel or reading.

Romeo and a Juliet is an option (not a requirement) in Q4. There is no other Shakespeare in 9th grade English.

Is that not enough? How much Shakespeare do your think really needs to be done in a school year?

I would be fine if kids actually read the play — but a) it’s an option, not a requirement and b) at some schools they say they do Shakespeare but the kids don’t read the play — they watch a movie version. I hope that even central office staff would admit that’s not acceptable, but there is zero oversight or accountability.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the new opt out policy, teachers are even more beleaguered. The RT at my school was concerned about showcasing the texts her teachers were using at BTSN because she worried that parents would flip through them and complain.

Could a parent opt out of Magic Fish and All American Boys and in effect force A Separate Peace?

My 9th grade students have the option to opt out of the Magic Fish, especially considering the fact it has a moderate LGBTQ focus. We told them in class they can do that. However we have let them know that the other books they choose will be more difficult and that all instruction will be tailored towards the 99% of kids who are reading The Magic Fish. Any kid who opts out will essentially be on independent study and for better or worse, be left to sink or swim. This is not an ideal way to begin their adjustment to high school and the real academic consequences that come with it.

What would you say to a student who doesn’t want/need to opt out of Magic Fish but would like to be offered a more challenging book and guided independent study in addition?

They have that option if they want. They also have the option to read independently on their own outside of school. Nobody is stopping them from doing that. However, If they want to be able to receive regular and routine assistance and guidance from myself and the other teacher in the room, they probably should follow the plan in place.

If a child is truly so gifted that Magic Fish is beneath them, they should have no issue with easily getting their A during the 44 minutes a day we spend in class and supplementing their education outside of class.

Shouldn't Magic Fish be "beneath" almost every student since it's written below a 3rd grade reading level? Is your class majority EML students or kids otherwise way below grade level? Why would you try to steer all the kids in your honors English high school class into a book at an elementary school level?

I am the co teacher. The other teacher who is the established ELA teacher has been teaching 9th grade for 6 years and I trust their judgement in knowing how to ensure student success early in the year.

My middle schooler has a 1500 lexile on their MAP report.

I don't my child to experience "success" in highschool in an extremely coddled, low-expectations environment that leaves him unprepared for college and life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the new opt out policy, teachers are even more beleaguered. The RT at my school was concerned about showcasing the texts her teachers were using at BTSN because she worried that parents would flip through them and complain.

Could a parent opt out of Magic Fish and All American Boys and in effect force A Separate Peace?

My 9th grade students have the option to opt out of the Magic Fish, especially considering the fact it has a moderate LGBTQ focus. We told them in class they can do that. However we have let them know that the other books they choose will be more difficult and that all instruction will be tailored towards the 99% of kids who are reading The Magic Fish. Any kid who opts out will essentially be on independent study and for better or worse, be left to sink or swim. This is not an ideal way to begin their adjustment to high school and the real academic consequences that come with it.

What would you say to a student who doesn’t want/need to opt out of Magic Fish but would like to be offered a more challenging book and guided independent study in addition?

They have that option if they want. They also have the option to read independently on their own outside of school. Nobody is stopping them from doing that. However, If they want to be able to receive regular and routine assistance and guidance from myself and the other teacher in the room, they probably should follow the plan in place.

If a child is truly so gifted that Magic Fish is beneath them, they should have no issue with easily getting their A during the 44 minutes a day we spend in class and supplementing their education outside of class.

Shouldn't Magic Fish be "beneath" almost every student since it's written below a 3rd grade reading level? Is your class majority EML students or kids otherwise way below grade level? Why would you try to steer all the kids in your honors English high school class into a book at an elementary school level?

I am the co teacher. The other teacher who is the established ELA teacher has been teaching 9th grade for 6 years and I trust their judgement in knowing how to ensure student success early in the year.

Anonymous wrote:All American Boys
Blair

Anonymous wrote:MCPS should have someone who likes literature and writing to be in charge of the k-12 curriculum. Reading this thread is really sad and appalling.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All American Boys
But they will also be reading Of Mice and Men

Of Mice & Men is a choice in MP2. And it's super short. Why couldn't they read both of these in MP1?

Totally agree. My HS English class in 1986 probably read twice as many books. I remember we read Great Expectations, catcher in the rye, Frankenstein, a Shakespeare play, the Iliad, and I’m sure there were a couple more I’m forgetting now (maybe Huck Finn?) And I went to public school in a random state so I feel like it’s achievable for McPS.

Note that Shakespeare and poetry are covered in the English classes but its usually not listed as the quarterly novel or reading.

Romeo and a Juliet is an option (not a requirement) in Q4. There is no other Shakespeare in 9th grade English.

Is that not enough? How much Shakespeare do your think really needs to be done in a school year?