Anonymous wrote:I do not understand this obsession about writing. Research shows that there are 4 stages of learning a language --understand, speak, read then write. Somehow in the schools, everything is happening simultaneously where the writing process is before understanding (vocabulary, idioms). Also, what's this idée fixe about plagiarism and original ideas? I mean when a student is trying to answer a question by analyzing a book, there are going to be overlaps, which wo;; causing problems. So after writing, students are obsessing about putting their essay into programs to see what percentage is coming as "plagiarism" before changing and tweaking sentences and ideas, and resulting into am overall less interesting essay ...

Good luck to your kids at one of these colleges:

https://washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/septoct-2014/americas-worst-colleges/

As someone whose kids are older (youngest is HS junior), I want to offer a little context.

I agree the math curriculum is wretched. However, there were significant problems with the curriculum preceding 2.0 and common core. I think elementary math is about the same now as it was then, although there is less opportunity for acceleration. Middle school math may have changed, although I remember parents (and math teachers) complaining about how Geometry didn't include proofs and Algebra was a fake Algebra course, where there was too much emphasis on data analysis and not enough on traditional concepts.

I agree that the Reading/English is also wretched. It too, is basically unchanged under 2.0. I believe they did change the reading materials to include Science and Social studies topics. If so, I consider this a positive step. Pre-2.0, these subjects were woefully inadequate.

MCPS develops this curriculum and sells it to Pearson to market. (MCPS had tried to market it themselves before that, largely unsuccessfully.)

This FAQ from MCPS addresses both the changes that occurred with 2.0 and relationship with Pearson.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/2.0/faq.aspx

The MCPS curriculum is content light in all the ways previous posters have described. I know this both from talking to teachers and being part of a curriculum committee. When students receive strong content instruction (i.e. grammar, handwriting, etc.), it is coming from the teacher, not as part of the curriculum, but in spite of the curriculum. If your student has had such a teacher, consider yourself fortunate, because it's largely luck of the draw. I have seen significant differences between 2 different teachers teaching the same grade in the same school. There may be cases where a principal mandates specific approaches for a school; I can't speak to that. However, in my experience, the position of ES principal is just a stepping stone resulting in rapid turnover (The average tenure of principals in my children's schools (they switched in fourth for HGC) was about 2 years. I suspect the teacher's instructional inclinations have more impact overall on what subject matter is actually taught to your child.

Anonymous wrote:One of the drivers for why MCPS is worse than other school systems is the attitude that getting bad grades will make kids feel bad.

MCPS is very against actually grading kids because they believe bad grades will destroy a child's confidence. They also know that getting bad grades will invite more parents to seek services if their child has a learning disability. For higher SES families, a child coming home with bad grades results in more studying at home, tutors and work to get the grades up. In lower SES families, it usually results in a child not getting any additional help and later dropping out. From the MCPS standpoint - it better if no one learns than see an increase in the achievement gap if more higher SES students do better. Grade inflation in MCPS is all about keeping MCPS employees happy and everyone blissfully ignorant that everyone is doing a great job.


It works if your kid stays in MCPS for their entire K-12 experience but they are in for a rude awakening.

Pure B.S.

Anonymous wrote:There is also Math Literacy. It's a big thing at Sidwell Friends Lower School.

They adopted the term literacy for math, that's true. It probably means that you should be able to read the text and nobody cares if you can write the correct answer.

Anonymous wrote:One of the drivers for why MCPS is worse than other school systems is the attitude that getting bad grades will make kids feel bad.

MCPS is very against actually grading kids because they believe bad grades will destroy a child's confidence. They also know that getting bad grades will invite more parents to seek services if their child has a learning disability. For higher SES families, a child coming home with bad grades results in more studying at home, tutors and work to get the grades up. In lower SES families, it usually results in a child not getting any additional help and later dropping out. From the MCPS standpoint - it better if no one learns than see an increase in the achievement gap if more higher SES students do better. Grade inflation in MCPS is all about keeping MCPS employees happy and everyone blissfully ignorant that everyone is doing a great job.


It works if your kid stays in MCPS for their entire K-12 experience but they are in for a rude awakening.

Grade inflation bc of potential Lawsuits too

I’m pulling my kids from the system before it’s too late for them. An A means nothing anymore.

There is also Math Literacy. It's a big thing at Sidwell Friends Lower School.

One of the drivers for why MCPS is worse than other school systems is the attitude that getting bad grades will make kids feel bad.

MCPS is very against actually grading kids because they believe bad grades will destroy a child's confidence. They also know that getting bad grades will invite more parents to seek services if their child has a learning disability. For higher SES families, a child coming home with bad grades results in more studying at home, tutors and work to get the grades up. In lower SES families, it usually results in a child not getting any additional help and later dropping out. From the MCPS standpoint - it better if no one learns than see an increase in the achievement gap if more higher SES students do better. Grade inflation in MCPS is all about keeping MCPS employees happy and everyone blissfully ignorant that everyone is doing a great job.


It works if your kid stays in MCPS for their entire K-12 experience but they are in for a rude awakening.

I do not understand this obsession about writing. Research shows that there are 4 stages of learning a language --understand, speak, read then write. Somehow in the schools, everything is happening simultaneously where the writing process is before understanding (vocabulary, idioms). Also, what's this idée fixe about plagiarism and original ideas? I mean when a student is trying to answer a question by analyzing a book, there are going to be overlaps, which wo;; causing problems. So after writing, students are obsessing about putting their essay into programs to see what percentage is coming as "plagiarism" before changing and tweaking sentences and ideas, and resulting into am overall less interesting essay ...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
That's cute, but what does "literacy" mean?

History is cute?

Your way of (not) admitting that you were wrong about what "literacy" means.

Anonymous wrote:
That's cute, but what does "literacy" mean?

History is cute?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It certainly suggests that ability to spell correctly in English isn't necessary for success.

And you suggesting that all the kids should become illiterate because somebody on DCUM is successful without being able to spell?

I'm suggesting that the ability to spell correctly in English isn't necessary for success.

Also, since you mention illiteracy -- literacy is being able to read, not being able to use standard spellings in English.

(English spelling is stupid. And I say that as a person who actually can spell.)

Quickly, open a new window and google "literacy". Come back and tell us what you've just learned today.

Historically, the ability to write was considered to be separate from the ability to read. True fact! Martin Luther thought that everybody should know how to read so that they could the bible without an intermediary, but he didn't care if people were able to write.

That's cute, but what does "literacy" mean?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It certainly suggests that ability to spell correctly in English isn't necessary for success.

And you suggesting that all the kids should become illiterate because somebody on DCUM is successful without being able to spell?

I'm suggesting that the ability to spell correctly in English isn't necessary for success.

Also, since you mention illiteracy -- literacy is being able to read, not being able to use standard spellings in English.

(English spelling is stupid. And I say that as a person who actually can spell.)

Quickly, open a new window and google "literacy". Come back and tell us what you've just learned today.

Historically, the ability to write was considered to be separate from the ability to read. True fact! Martin Luther thought that everybody should know how to read so that they could the bible without an intermediary, but he didn't care if people were able to write.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It certainly suggests that ability to spell correctly in English isn't necessary for success.

And you suggesting that all the kids should become illiterate because somebody on DCUM is successful without being able to spell?

I'm suggesting that the ability to spell correctly in English isn't necessary for success.

Also, since you mention illiteracy -- literacy is being able to read, not being able to use standard spellings in English.

(English spelling is stupid. And I say that as a person who actually can spell.)

Quickly, open a new window and google "literacy". Come back and tell us what you've just learned today.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It certainly suggests that ability to spell correctly in English isn't necessary for success.

And you suggesting that all the kids should become illiterate because somebody on DCUM is successful without being able to spell?

I'm suggesting that the ability to spell correctly in English isn't necessary for success.

Also, since you mention illiteracy -- literacy is being able to read, not being able to use standard spellings in English.

(English spelling is stupid. And I say that as a person who actually can spell.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the obsession with spelling? When was the last time you had to write a doc on a piece of paper instead of a word processor? I spelled "obssessed" on this forum, and it underlined it in red so I knew I spelled it incorrectly. My spelling has always sucked, and we had spelling tests growing up, as do my MCPS ES kids. My spelling still sucks. Thank goodness for spell checker, yet I still got a good paying job (six figures) where I use my analytical, critical thinking and tech skills. Even when I write an email at work, it spell checks for me. My grammar is fine, good enough to get my point across without people misunderstanding. Spelling? No one cares that much, especially because we have spellchecker.



OK. I can't even believe someone actually believes this. Scary Sh*t.

On the same line of thinking: "If I don't use math, nobody should care about it because we have calculators."

I don't understand your disbelief. Here is somebody who says that they spell badly, are successful, and are grateful for spell-checker. Do you think they're lying? Or that bad spelling skills inescapably lead to failure in life?

Do you know the difference between evidence and anecdotal evidence? Him being successful without being able to spell doesn't mean that spelling is useless and should be neglected in school.

It certainly suggests that ability to spell correctly in English isn't necessary for success.

And you suggesting that all the kids should become illiterate because somebody on DCUM is successful without being able to spell?