Anonymous
07/26/2013 10:22
Subject: s/o Gifted classes in DC schools
"The dumbing down of America..."
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:In most threads, no matter the topic, someone always circles back to the fact that DC does not have test-in gifted/advanced classes especially at the elementary level. I just read on a middle school thread that Deal is no longer offer "honors" courses etc. I get that DCPS is very politically correct and wants to keep ALL kids together regardless of ability but don't they realize that they would keep a heck of a lot more high SES families in the school system if they offered a legit program like most surrounding counties. Its just a a fact that the smarter kids will be bored in a class that teaches to the most struggling studends. ANd in DC that is signficant. So my question is what would it take for DCPS to actually offer gifted classes? And why aren't more parents organizing and demanding this? I suspect its because they worry about appearing racists/classist or elitist. But it may be the thing that finally saves DCPS from losing another 5k students. I keep thinking a test-in model at an underperforming school would do wonders to bring in more parents, money and volunteers which could benefit the entire school.
Am I missing something? Why aren't parents demanding this? (And Im not talking about DCPS and their bs "enrichment programs" a couple of hours a week either). Im sure I will get flamed for this but I think a ton of parents are thinking the same thing but just afraid to bring it up at a PTA meeting.
Soon most states and counties won't, due to Core Curriculum's teaching to the middle to bring up average test scores.
Anonymous
07/23/2013 15:30
Subject: s/o Gifted classes in DC schools
differentiation isnt challenging enough for the advanced students, boring for the middle of the road. It always has to focus on the students most behind. How exactly does a teacher plan for a class where a 3rd are reading one to two levels above grade and the rest are likely two grades behind. DC doesn't care about this until 9th grade. I think most of you parents really only look at the diversity on the surface and are so smugly proud of your kid being in this classroom. But seriously, you your kid sitting around in middle school with kids who are reading on the 2nd grade level is acceptable? no thanks.
Anonymous
07/23/2013 07:56
Subject: Re:s/o Gifted classes in DC schools
Anonymous wrote:So if most parents want what I have, they want good, in-classroom differentiation--not a gifted program.
Actually, I wanted a gifted program, but that will never, ever happen in DCPS. We're at Murch. We can't waste any more time with DS's education and we'll be moving him for middle school to one of two private schools (not just any old private, but the two that I know will kick his butt), or Montgomery County. We will also look at BASIS, I suppose.
Believe me, you don't want a gifted program. yeah, what is wrong with differentiation?
Anonymous
06/20/2013 15:50
Subject: s/o Gifted classes in DC schools
Anonymous wrote:In most threads, no matter the topic, someone always circles back to the fact that DC does not have test-in gifted/advanced classes especially at the elementary level. I just read on a middle school thread that Deal is no longer offer "honors" courses etc. I get that DCPS is very politically correct and wants to keep ALL kids together regardless of ability but don't they realize that they would keep a heck of a lot more high SES families in the school system if they offered a legit program like most surrounding counties. Its just a a fact that the smarter kids will be bored in a class that teaches to the most struggling studends. ANd in DC that is signficant. So my question is what would it take for DCPS to actually offer gifted classes? And why aren't more parents organizing and demanding this? I suspect its because they worry about appearing racists/classist or elitist. But it may be the thing that finally saves DCPS from losing another 5k students. I keep thinking a test-in model at an underperforming school would do wonders to bring in more parents, money and volunteers which could benefit the entire school.
Am I missing something? Why aren't parents demanding this? (And Im not talking about DCPS and their bs "enrichment programs" a couple of hours a week either). Im sure I will get flamed for this but I think a ton of parents are thinking the same thing but just afraid to bring it up at a PTA meeting.
Soon most states and counties won't, due to Core Curriculum's teaching to the middle to bring up average test scores.
Anonymous
06/18/2013 11:30
Subject: s/o Gifted classes in DC schools
Your info is out of date. DCPS has been mandating phonemic awareness and phonics word study each day for each elementary grade for the past several years.
Anonymous
06/18/2013 11:29
Subject: s/o Gifted classes in DC schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Arguably this is the result when kids move from DCPS to charter to a different charter back to DCPS etc
I don't know about that - most of the DCPS kids I've dealt with have been completely lost where it comes to history and geography.
Sure because they aren't on the test. Math and reading. Math and reading. Math and reading.
And, DCPS can't even manage to get the math and reading part right. Weak reading skills due to overreliance on sight words and underreliance on phonics, and consequently the kids struggle in their other classes like Geography because they can't read or understand the text well enough, particularly given foreign names that they can't even sound out.
how do you know that's true at every school?
Anonymous
06/18/2013 00:27
Subject: s/o Gifted classes in DC schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Arguably this is the result when kids move from DCPS to charter to a different charter back to DCPS etc
I don't know about that - most of the DCPS kids I've dealt with have been completely lost where it comes to history and geography.
Sure because they aren't on the test. Math and reading. Math and reading. Math and reading.
And, DCPS can't even manage to get the math and reading part right. Weak reading skills due to overreliance on sight words and underreliance on phonics, and consequently the kids struggle in their other classes like Geography because they can't read or understand the text well enough, particularly given foreign names that they can't even sound out.
how do you know that's true at every school?
Anonymous
06/17/2013 18:17
Subject: s/o Gifted classes in DC schools
Anonymous wrote:What about literature?
Don't know about upper grades, but 5th grade read The Cay, The Jungle Book and Five Children and IT. I don't remember getting a lot of lit until 9th grade when I was in school in the 80s.
Anonymous
06/17/2013 18:08
Subject: s/o Gifted classes in DC schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Arguably this is the result when kids move from DCPS to charter to a different charter back to DCPS etc
I don't know about that - most of the DCPS kids I've dealt with have been completely lost where it comes to history and geography.
Sure because they aren't on the test. Math and reading. Math and reading. Math and reading.
And, DCPS can't even manage to get the math and reading part right. Weak reading skills due to overreliance on sight words and underreliance on phonics, and consequently the kids struggle in their other classes like Geography because they can't read or understand the text well enough, particularly given foreign names that they can't even sound out.
Anonymous
06/16/2013 18:39
Subject: s/o Gifted classes in DC schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Arguably this is the result when kids move from DCPS to charter to a different charter back to DCPS etc
I don't know about that - most of the DCPS kids I've dealt with have been completely lost where it comes to history and geography.
Sure because they aren't on the test. Math and reading. Math and reading. Math and reading.