We sat throught the Haycock Back to School Night presentation on 6th grade math. It was very clear that our principal, as great as she is, was totally uncertain on questions parents had and pivoted us to the webinar that was held last week. If principals cannot respond to foundational questions about a program that is being offered in their school, it should make FCPS [Gatehouse] question whether the rollout of the program is truly effective and whether kids can really be effective in learning the material. It's some haphazard implementation to meet some esoteric strategic plan goal. She also called out Reid on very poor communications and transparency on this program -- I'm happy she at least acknowledged that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not necessary. We are concerned about the quartile because the class is starting in about one week and no one heard anything yet. I don’t really worry about the teacher cause I can teach my son by myself. P.S. I took the Praxis Algebra test before and found it really easy with almost perfect score.

EXACTLY THIS. An incoming 6th grader who can qualify to take algebra probably comes from a better home environment with smarter parents. The teacher could be fresh out of college and most of these kids will still be fine because the bulk of their math learning is happening in the home where their parents accelerate them, do Beast Academy workbooks with them over the summer, send them to RSM/AOPS, etc.

Why not just homeschool?

DP here.

Socialization is important. So are sports. And most parents know that they can’t teach everything - so sending your kid to school and supplementing at home is more effective in the long run.

But in general- most of these parents know how competitive high school is now. And as the grade they get here is put on their high school record: they want to make sure their kid does well.

And not to knock homeschooling- but seriously? We are talking FCPS. Not Louisiana.

OP here. We are in the same boat and I agree with you 100% … except for the last paragraph.

I am FCPS parent and privileged thanks to the years of hard work and sacrifice.

But, I am trying to wrap my head why you would make that comparison with Louisiana. No matter the way I look at that last sentence in your comment, I find it disturbingly offensive. If I were you, I would ask moderator to remove your comment from this thread.

FCPS’s worse schools are better than over half of the schools in the US. There are entire States whose schools are not as strong as the worst school in FCPS. I would be looking at private or homeschooling in those states. Virginia ranks 15th for education, carried by the NoVA schools, Louisiana 45th. We had friends move from Tennessee tell us that it took almost two years in ES to catch up with their classmates in FCPS.

Yup. Military friends moved from Alabama. Their (very bright) kids struggled big time to adjust to the rigor and expectations in FCPS. By the end of a rough year they were fine and back in line with their peers, but it stinks when that rough year is in high school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not necessary. We are concerned about the quartile because the class is starting in about one week and no one heard anything yet. I don’t really worry about the teacher cause I can teach my son by myself. P.S. I took the Praxis Algebra test before and found it really easy with almost perfect score.

EXACTLY THIS. An incoming 6th grader who can qualify to take algebra probably comes from a better home environment with smarter parents. The teacher could be fresh out of college and most of these kids will still be fine because the bulk of their math learning is happening in the home where their parents accelerate them, do Beast Academy workbooks with them over the summer, send them to RSM/AOPS, etc.

Why not just homeschool?

DP here.

Socialization is important. So are sports. And most parents know that they can’t teach everything - so sending your kid to school and supplementing at home is more effective in the long run.

But in general- most of these parents know how competitive high school is now. And as the grade they get here is put on their high school record: they want to make sure their kid does well.

And not to knock homeschooling- but seriously? We are talking FCPS. Not Louisiana.

OP here. We are in the same boat and I agree with you 100% … except for the last paragraph.

I am FCPS parent and privileged thanks to the years of hard work and sacrifice.

But, I am trying to wrap my head why you would make that comparison with Louisiana. No matter the way I look at that last sentence in your comment, I find it disturbingly offensive. If I were you, I would ask moderator to remove your comment from this thread.

FCPS’s worse schools are better than over half of the schools in the US. There are entire States whose schools are not as strong as the worst school in FCPS. I would be looking at private or homeschooling in those states. Virginia ranks 15th for education, carried by the NoVA schools, Louisiana 45th. We had friends move from Tennessee tell us that it took almost two years in ES to catch up with their classmates in FCPS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not necessary. We are concerned about the quartile because the class is starting in about one week and no one heard anything yet. I don’t really worry about the teacher cause I can teach my son by myself. P.S. I took the Praxis Algebra test before and found it really easy with almost perfect score.

EXACTLY THIS. An incoming 6th grader who can qualify to take algebra probably comes from a better home environment with smarter parents. The teacher could be fresh out of college and most of these kids will still be fine because the bulk of their math learning is happening in the home where their parents accelerate them, do Beast Academy workbooks with them over the summer, send them to RSM/AOPS, etc.

Why not just homeschool?

DP here.

Socialization is important. So are sports. And most parents know that they can’t teach everything - so sending your kid to school and supplementing at home is more effective in the long run.

But in general- most of these parents know how competitive high school is now. And as the grade they get here is put on their high school record: they want to make sure their kid does well.

And not to knock homeschooling- but seriously? We are talking FCPS. Not Louisiana.

OP here. We are in the same boat and I agree with you 100% … except for the last paragraph.

I am FCPS parent and privileged thanks to the years of hard work and sacrifice.

But, I am trying to wrap my head why you would make that comparison with Louisiana. No matter the way I look at that last sentence in your comment, I find it disturbingly offensive. If I were you, I would ask moderator to remove your comment from this thread.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not necessary. We are concerned about the quartile because the class is starting in about one week and no one heard anything yet. I don’t really worry about the teacher cause I can teach my son by myself. P.S. I took the Praxis Algebra test before and found it really easy with almost perfect score.

EXACTLY THIS. An incoming 6th grader who can qualify to take algebra probably comes from a better home environment with smarter parents. The teacher could be fresh out of college and most of these kids will still be fine because the bulk of their math learning is happening in the home where their parents accelerate them, do Beast Academy workbooks with them over the summer, send them to RSM/AOPS, etc.

Why not just homeschool?

DP here.

Socialization is important. So are sports. And most parents know that they can’t teach everything - so sending your kid to school and supplementing at home is more effective in the long run.

But in general- most of these parents know how competitive high school is now. And as the grade they get here is put on their high school record: they want to make sure their kid does well.

And not to knock homeschooling- but seriously? We are talking FCPS. Not Louisiana.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not necessary. We are concerned about the quartile because the class is starting in about one week and no one heard anything yet. I don’t really worry about the teacher cause I can teach my son by myself. P.S. I took the Praxis Algebra test before and found it really easy with almost perfect score.

EXACTLY THIS. An incoming 6th grader who can qualify to take algebra probably comes from a better home environment with smarter parents. The teacher could be fresh out of college and most of these kids will still be fine because the bulk of their math learning is happening in the home where their parents accelerate them, do Beast Academy workbooks with them over the summer, send them to RSM/AOPS, etc.

Why not just homeschool?

Anonymous wrote:Not necessary. We are concerned about the quartile because the class is starting in about one week and no one heard anything yet. I don’t really worry about the teacher cause I can teach my son by myself. P.S. I took the Praxis Algebra test before and found it really easy with almost perfect score.

EXACTLY THIS. An incoming 6th grader who can qualify to take algebra probably comes from a better home environment with smarter parents. The teacher could be fresh out of college and most of these kids will still be fine because the bulk of their math learning is happening in the home where their parents accelerate them, do Beast Academy workbooks with them over the summer, send them to RSM/AOPS, etc.

Not necessary. We are concerned about the quartile because the class is starting in about one week and no one heard anything yet. I don’t really worry about the teacher cause I can teach my son by myself. P.S. I took the Praxis Algebra test before and found it really easy with almost perfect score.

Only on DCUM would people be worrying about their kids quartile vs the teacher being certified to teach Algebra. Many 6th grade teachers have been told to teach this high school course with absolutely no training. They don’t have to pass the Praxis for it until the end of the year, so you could conceivably have a teacher teaching your 6th grader what is arguably the most foundational of math courses that does not have the skills needed to do so.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know whether the virtual informational webinar (mentioned in the original parent email) is held separately for each school, or at the time for the entire county?

~OP

Separately by school.

I meant *at the same day and time for the entire county*

Does anyone know whether the virtual informational webinar (mentioned in the original parent email) is held separately for each school, or at the time for the entire county?

~OP

We are Langley pyramid and haven’t heard anything yet. I am just confused about the 1125Q quartile. No where to find this in iReady report.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents with kids were selected to Algebra 1, what scores did they get for iready and SOL? We haven’t heard anything yet from our piloting school except the class is starting after Labor Day.

After Labor Day?! My kid took Algebra 1 HN last year in 7th grade and I'm pretty sure they started after the first orientation day. Maybe this is because they end up having more time in the class because they have math everyday? Who knows ... sounds odd.

From what I heard from school admins, it sounded like the school was not ready. Our school will also start after Labor Day and has not sent emails yet.

No school is ready! Even the teachers have never taught the subject and have to learn it on the fly.

We are in the McLean pyramid and algebra was being taught on the 2nd day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents with kids were selected to Algebra 1, what scores did they get for iready and SOL? We haven’t heard anything yet from our piloting school except the class is starting after Labor Day.

After Labor Day?! My kid took Algebra 1 HN last year in 7th grade and I'm pretty sure they started after the first orientation day. Maybe this is because they end up having more time in the class because they have math everyday? Who knows ... sounds odd.

From what I heard from school admins, it sounded like the school was not ready. Our school will also start after Labor Day and has not sent emails yet.

No school is ready! Even the teachers have never taught the subject and have to learn it on the fly.