Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing deeper about 2.0. Its repetition again and again. At this point MCPS could just combine K/1st/2nd into one grade/one year and 3rd/4th/5th into one grade. My K can do her older sister's 2nd grade math homework. She isn't gifted or even a math whiz. If a kid knows basic addition and subtraction, can read basic chapters books and write a sentence they are set through the end of 2nd grade.

If that is what your school is doing, that is a problem with your school -- not with 2.0.

Knowing basic addition and subtraction, reading basic chapter books, and being able to write a sentence would not get you set through the end of 2nd grade at the school my second grader goes to.

Not the PP quoted above, but I understand the point. The point is that there is so much repetition and not nearly enough new or challenging material. That is, indeed, a 2.0 issue. But I also understand that different parents will have different opinions about how much contend is too little/just right/too much. Fair enough. But what I focus on is the lack of objective measurement, grading, feedback, etc. that comes with 2.0. When my kids started in MCPS a few years ago (pre-2.0), they learned more material, took unit tests and got specific grades. Especially on the math unit tests: they would get a grade that really explained what was going on - for ex., 14 out of 15 correct in computation and 11 out of 14 in algebraic formulas, etc). To have to study for a test covering material learned over time is a very important skill. In addition, as a parent, it is very important to see a graded unit test so that I understand what my child has retained/learned. Now, under 2.0, there really aren't any tests! That is crazy. Not only do I not know if my child has learned the information, but my child doesn't have to hone the skills of studying for a test.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing deeper about 2.0. Its repetition again and again. At this point MCPS could just combine K/1st/2nd into one grade/one year and 3rd/4th/5th into one grade. My K can do her older sister's 2nd grade math homework. She isn't gifted or even a math whiz. If a kid knows basic addition and subtraction, can read basic chapters books and write a sentence they are set through the end of 2nd grade.

If that is what your school is doing, that is a problem with your school -- not with 2.0.

Knowing basic addition and subtraction, reading basic chapter books, and being able to write a sentence would not get you set through the end of 2nd grade at the school my second grader goes to.

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing deeper about 2.0. Its repetition again and again. At this point MCPS could just combine K/1st/2nd into one grade/one year and 3rd/4th/5th into one grade. My K can do her older sister's 2nd grade math homework. She isn't gifted or even a math whiz. If a kid knows basic addition and subtraction, can read basic chapters books and write a sentence they are set through the end of 2nd grade.

Anonymous wrote:I hate the new curriculum 2.0. I have 3 kids, grades 1,3 and 5. Saying it's bad is understatement. Not only it doesn't accelerate the learning, but it slows down the more advanced kids. My 3rd grader did math for grade 3, when he was in grade 2. This year he is back to doing grade 2 math. Can you believe it, he is asked to draw pictures of the numbers (squares and dots) to subtract, instead of actually doing it.
I haven't met a single parent who likes it. I feel I am failing my kids, because I can't afford to pull them out of that rubbish curriculum and put them in a private school.
I do work extra with my kids to teach them the basics of math, writing and reading, but the teachers said not to do it, because it would confuse the kid. WHAT???????

In addition to the math failure, the reading/writing part is even worse. Can you believe that the kids are not expected to write if they don't want to. It's enough to be able to express their opinion on what they are doing in class.

Some bonus to the whole flop is that the kids will no longer have unit tests. They will be tested immediately after having the lesson taught. This means that they no longer have to work on their long term memory. All they have to do is remember what the teacher just said and repeat it.

This is a total failure. I cannot believe that someone actually worked on that curriculum and thought it was good.

Anonymous wrote:

Common core is a standard NOT a curriculum every state must use.

Common Core IS a standard, Curriculum 2.0 is Maryland's implementation. Every state does NOT have to use common core.

The government tied common core to Race to the Top funding, some states NEVER adopted Common Core, Texas, Virginia, Nebraska and Alaska. Repeal legislation for the PARCC test has been introduced in Florida. Alabama and Indiana have introduced repeal legislation. Implementation has also been halted in Michigan and it's under review in Indiana. Louisiana lawmakers are also looking at introducing repeal legislation. Georgia pulled out of PARCC testing due to the inflated cost under PARCC.

Surprise, surprise, contract has been awarded to Pearson, follow the money it all flows back to Pearson...


PARCC testing is expensive and adds additional educational days, here is a comparison for Florida, could not find one for Maryland...


http://www.fldoe.org/parcc/pdf/FCAT-PARCC-TestingTime.pdf


http://blog.heritage.org/2013/09/30/florida-to-withdraw-from-common-core-assessments-other-states-may-soon-follow/

http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/07/30/remaining-parcc-states-affirm-commitment-get-on-track-for-field-testing.aspx

Common core is a standard NOT a curriculum every state must use.

Anonymous wrote:At our PTA meeting with the principal and educators it seemed like they have no idea what Curriculum 2.0 is, they talk of multiple meetings, unpacking the curriculum, heated discussions. I have full faith that they are doing their best, but with us being IN the school year, they should not be working this hard to figure out what to do.

This curriculum is just not ready for prime time. Ironic all this blah, blah, blah about Global Standards when it seems like every school is doing something different and trying to figure out what they are supposed to do. This curriculum has been rushed out unproven and untested and is why many state legislatures are putting the brakes on it until it is reviewed further.


[url]http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/multimedia/anti-cc-bill.html
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This year, one week there is no math acceleration, next week they are having compacted 4/5 available. Last year, one day they are drawing 50 dots on a paper to count, next day they are sent home with "enrichment" that requires an algebraic math proof, a week later they are drawing hands on a clock in 3rd grade and answering questions about time for a solid week every day.

My child's primary school teacher told us they are still arguing over what ES and P mean.

Ability grouping is supposed to be strictly forbidden in MCPS at the elementary, primary school level, but others have written that it is implemented in their schools. http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Blogs/Education-Matters/January-February-2013/MCPS-Superintendent-Says-Mixed-Ability-Grouping-is-Here-to-Stay/, but a PP stated that it was being done at his school.

My other child's elementary school teacher told us that they are getting the lesson plans (if lucky) 2 days ahead of schedule.

So if your experience is good with common core, accept that others experience may not be... this is an educational standard that is not implemented equally because it is raw and untested and just does not exist in any structure or format. It's a lot of fanciful terms thrown together without concrete implementation to back it up.

Anonymous wrote:I hate the new curriculum 2.0. I have 3 kids, grades 1,3 and 5. Saying it's bad is understatement. Not only it doesn't accelerate the learning, but it slows down the more advanced kids. My 3rd grader did math for grade 3, when he was in grade 2. This year he is back to doing grade 2 math. Can you believe it, he is asked to draw pictures of the numbers (squares and dots) to subtract, instead of actually doing it.
I haven't met a single parent who likes it. I feel I am failing my kids, because I can't afford to pull them out of that rubbish curriculum and put them in a private school.
I do work extra with my kids to teach them the basics of math, writing and reading, but the teachers said not to do it, because it would confuse the kid. WHAT???????

In addition to the math failure, the reading/writing part is even worse. Can you believe that the kids are not expected to write if they don't want to. It's enough to be able to express their opinion on what they are doing in class.

Some bonus to the whole flop is that the kids will no longer have unit tests. They will be tested immediately after having the lesson taught. This means that they no longer have to work on their long term memory. All they have to do is remember what the teacher just said and repeat it.

This is a total failure. I cannot believe that someone actually worked on that curriculum and thought it was good.

Anonymous wrote: