11:01, ask your child about writing warm-ups. They do them daily.

The book reports are often project-based, yes. However, the oral and written comprehension class is where a lot of the actual writing is done.

Re: notice of the unit assesment, No clue. I think this is one of those things that kids are told about and are supposed to write down, but I suspect that doesn't always happen. I know my own kid can tend to get a little loosey goosey with writing down what he is supposed to. Re: classwork, my kid's binder is CRAMMED with old wadded up classwork, so I think it must eventually come home.

You're probably already doing this, but I suggest combing through the binder nightly first thing, and really probing about any blank spaces on the daily agenda.

Is it from Dupree? He does seem to be strict

The unit assessment was something my child did not know about. How does that happen? Did everybody else know? But, then I wonder if it is just me only that is complaining. classwork does not come home, because apparently they are not allowed to bring it home. the child seems to do well on H.W. I don't know. Take the reading class. There was a packet at the beginning of the year that book reports are due etc. etc. I have not seen my child do a book report. They are writing tales.. that is not summarizing, reading books but making quilts and longboats?? Really.... what happend to writing book report summaries. The further they try to improve upon the P.G county school they seem to be taking it down further.

5th grade parent here. My kid's at his other parent's house this week, though, so I'm not really sure what's going on right this moment. Couple thoughts:

Is the issue that it wasn't announced? Or that there's a feeling your child is not doing well and not getting adequate instruction?

My understanding is that unless a kid is doing poorly across the board with some consistency, they are not at risk of being removed from the program, and even then, there is to be intervention long before it gets to that point.

One issue we're having in our family is that while our child is doing ok academically, he's apparently bombing "social skills." Meaning he's getting behavior checks at a rather rapid rate, depsite making concerted efforts not to. To be fair, sometimes they are totally warranted. But then sometimes I suspect they are not.

Okay, any 5th grade parents here. My child took a unannounced unit assessment math test, and it is worth a grade. child also had a "regular" math test yesterday that was announced which is also graded. Is anybody else having problems with the 5th grade group.

Due boundary changes, my youngest was unable to attend GWES. It was a great school, my oldest child went through GWES and found that many kids from GWES have an easier time in middle and highschool because they are well prepared for the homework demands in MS and HS. When I was there, I found the teachers were great. I'm not sure how honest the admin is though.

I have not received any letters explaining a change in time.

What's going on at Glenarden Woods? Did your hours change?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/maryland-schools-insider/post/pr-georges-bus-shortage-leads-to-changes-in-day-at-lanham-school/2012/10/22/5e74f9c8-1c88-11e2-ad90-ba5920e56eb3_blog.html?hpid=z7