tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post1146604157813432155..comments2024-03-29T02:41:52.718-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open ThreadMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-14360298862835330832016-11-30T13:57:46.010-08:002016-11-30T13:57:46.010-08:00I know a kid who went K-5 at Thornton Creek, MS at...I know a kid who went K-5 at Thornton Creek, MS at Hazelwolf and now attends Hale. Not an HC student, but always eager to learn. This freshman is getting straight A's and is enjoying Hale and the students very much.<br /><br />Different StrokesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-38668000873869431162016-11-30T12:01:28.156-08:002016-11-30T12:01:28.156-08:00I agree with DisAPPointed's comments on Runnin...I agree with DisAPPointed's comments on Running Start. My point above was that it seems to be the most accessible (and most common) choice that Hale HCC kids have if they're looking for more challenge than Hale provides, which isn't much.znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80208455419306789062016-11-30T11:48:31.256-08:002016-11-30T11:48:31.256-08:00HS Parent, that sounds like a great experience. To...HS Parent, that sounds like a great experience. Too bad the Ingraham option is no longer guaranteed for HCC students, and many who want it will instead be sent over to Garfield, where they are actively doing everything they can to reduce the level of challenge and rigor.<br /><br />DisAPPointedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-64024923733755388312016-11-30T11:45:05.020-08:002016-11-30T11:45:05.020-08:00Running Start classes aren't that challenging,...Running Start classes aren't that challenging, either. Community college and UW undergrad classes are not designed with HC students in mind, so if you have one of those "true HCC outlier" types that z mentioned, you might keep that in mind. It's not until you get into upper division classes that things start to get interesting. <br /><br />DisAPPointedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43821633112233534722016-11-30T11:40:01.654-08:002016-11-30T11:40:01.654-08:00My IBx senior decided to take a full-load of addit...My IBx senior decided to take a full-load of additional IB courses senior year choosing those that were interesting & those that had great teachers. Three of the strongest teachers I've seen, & another very good, all in one year, unimaginable at RHS. Also 2 science classes which was not allowed at RHS when we were there even if you could find 2 worth taking.<br /><br /><br /><br />-HS ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90413964277593711282016-11-30T11:11:39.330-08:002016-11-30T11:11:39.330-08:00Blogger ate my comment from earlier this morning, ...Blogger ate my comment from earlier this morning, I'll try again.<br /><br />Eighth Grade,<br /><br />I fully agree with Hindsight's first paragraph, couldn't disagree more with the second.<br /><br />Roosevelt isn't a great building for HCC kids that really need to be challenged, and yes, not much diversity. But at least there are a wide variety of AP courses and the overall level of learning, engagement and challenge is higher than most high schools.<br /><br />Hale, on the other hand, is all about leveling the playing field for everyone. That may work fine for many kids, but if you have a true HCC outlier that needs rigor and challenge, Hale isn't likely to be a good fit. Most HCC kids that find themselves at Hale end up taking lots of Running Start classes.<br /><br />Neither school will offer your kid a lot of gifted peers, which may or may not be critical for him/her. As always, it depends a lot on your kid. Good luck.znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-84680512161142241022016-11-30T11:08:00.016-08:002016-11-30T11:08:00.016-08:00What did your IBX student do for senior year?
Ho...What did your IBX student do for senior year? <br /><br />Honestly, I'd rather my child have three years of engaging classes and graduate early than four years of the typical high school curriculum in blended honors classes. Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45418262086320867992016-11-30T10:17:01.059-08:002016-11-30T10:17:01.059-08:00I sent an HCC qualified student through RHS. Lots...I sent an HCC qualified student through RHS. Lots of mediocre/poor teachers & AP curriculum is all about memorizing information. Student learned nothing in 4 years of science, had only 1 year of worthwhile English, BC Calc & AP Stats were fine not great, History was all AP so just memorizing flash cards, the whole Spanish dept was really excellent, also music was excellent. <br /><br />AP is about learning facts, practicing, memorizing, to get the right answer. The humanities & social science classes are like survey courses in college & math is like Kumon. My kid felt like very little learning or thinking happened and curiosity had no place at all.<br /><br />Younger kid did IBx, higher quality teaching & curriculum with exception of music & Spanish.<br /><br />-HS Parent<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-17943173168372437732016-11-30T09:52:28.681-08:002016-11-30T09:52:28.681-08:00I would think it would be easier to skip Biology i...I would think it would be easier to skip Biology in 10th grade than it would be to skip the 9th grade academy. There is a coordinated presentation of LA, Biology and Social Studies in 10th grade (Darwin, genetics, literature) but if you already had Biology, I wouldn't think it would be necessary to repeat it especially if you have already passed the EOC.<br /><br />HPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50017990277492476892016-11-30T09:12:27.552-08:002016-11-30T09:12:27.552-08:00I believe Hale would mean a repeat of science in b...I believe Hale would mean a repeat of science in both 9th AND 10th grades, yes? Not to mention a smaller cohort of HC-qualified students, if that's who your child best relates to. Diversity and inclusivity sound great in theory, but if you have a hard time finding academic and intellectual peers, school (and life) can be pretty isolating. <br /><br />Face itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52800988813767421832016-11-30T07:47:18.531-08:002016-11-30T07:47:18.531-08:00Hindsight, even with Hale's inclusive classes ...Hindsight, even with Hale's inclusive classes and repeat of science in 9th grade? Just curious. <br /><br />My kid was very happy at Hale and really enjoyed the diversity and inclusivity. My kid is now doing great at UO and feels like Hale provided good preparation for college, especially in math. My kid was not HCC though.<br /><br />HPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86528111940782977112016-11-29T22:07:47.481-08:002016-11-29T22:07:47.481-08:00Eighth Grade: we have a HCC student at RHS and we...Eighth Grade: we have a HCC student at RHS and we literally regret it every day. There is so little discussion, lots of stand and deliver, and little diversity. <br /><br />Wish we'd gone with Hale.<br /><br /><br />HindsightAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-38585963284086276542016-11-29T19:40:15.301-08:002016-11-29T19:40:15.301-08:00An honors designated class that doesn't do mor...An honors designated class that doesn't do more advanced work, but just more work, is not truly an honors class. When you go on school tours, ask if they have honors classes, for what subjects, and if are they blended (honors option?) or honors only classes. If they are blended, ask how the work is more advanced for honors, or are they just given additional [busywork] assignments. <br /><br />Based on the Roosevelt tour years ago, core science classes do not have separate honors classes, but they sounded like they were taught to a pretty high standard (perhaps even more comprehensive than some "honors" classes at other schools.) In my child's "honors" Chemistry class (not Roosevelt), students sometimes need to take the role of teacher because the teacher cannot explain some concepts. I suppose that works as long as you have only advanced students in the class. It's SPS. It varies by teacher and school. There does not seem to be any standard. Texts vary. Content coverage varies.<br /><br />-anything goesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-89169518666162934632016-11-29T18:41:48.566-08:002016-11-29T18:41:48.566-08:00Can anyone share their experience at Roosevelt wit...Can anyone share their experience at Roosevelt with an HCC student? <br /><br />Eighth gradeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-71659863462572988002016-11-29T17:49:12.514-08:002016-11-29T17:49:12.514-08:00Another high school has a similar situation, Susan...Another high school has a similar situation, Susan. "Honors" option includes putting a student in a general education class. Then, the advanced learner is given a different test. My student isn't impressed.Sighnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-39323860007636100672016-11-29T12:33:33.619-08:002016-11-29T12:33:33.619-08:00Yep, and regarding math and science, I was comfort...Yep, and regarding math and science, I was comforted by the fact that at least Garfield still offered honors sections of those classes. But I found out that's not really the case. My son's Honors Chemistry is in fact just a basic chemistry class, where one can "opt in" to Honors by answering a few extra questions/demonstrating a higher level grasp of material. The class is not moving at a faster speed or covering deeper material. Anyone can choose to take the honors credit by doing a little extra work. <br /><br />Which makes me reiterate: ANYONE can opt in to honors classes in high school. There is no tracking anyway. SusanHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-34864369790718090742016-11-29T11:40:47.953-08:002016-11-29T11:40:47.953-08:00I don't think the changes are limited to Garfi...I don't think the changes are limited to Garfield. IHS changed the course catalog to reflect the change to IBX being opt in, with the senior year even vaguer than ever (the change was put in writing after this years 9th graders had enrolled). HCC students will by default follow the non-IBX pathway to IB in 11th and 12th, even though it turns 10th grade into a holding pattern for some students. While the change is perhaps being instituted for good reason - some students just couldn't keep up with the IB work load - it doesn't seem fully planned and may result in the end of acceleration for students who may need the added challenge. More advanced courses will cease to exist in senior year because they won't have enough students to fill the classes. It's like a planned obsolescence. IHS does not offer appropriately challenging science courses outside of the IB coursework (partially a teacher issue) and as 10th graders they can't yet access Running Start. If neither Garfield nor Ingraham are going to make an effort to provide appropriately challenging courses outside of AP or IB coursework, then Ballard and Roosevelt HCC students may be better off remaining in their neighborhood school. Of course the offerings become a big unknown for the year Lincoln opens. It does make one think it is part of a larger effort to move away from HCC pathways in high school.<br /><br />-speculatin'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79921510411776836822016-11-29T10:15:53.925-08:002016-11-29T10:15:53.925-08:00My sense is that Garfield is offering a pilot prog...My sense is that Garfield is offering a pilot program. Didn't the mayor recently talk about Garfield's "pilot" program in relation to closing the gap?<br /><br />Will Garfield bring in anyone that offers a different perspective in relation to advanced learners?? I doubt it. Very one sided presentation.<br /><br />One director has been asking for the board to provide evidence that advanced learners needs are being met. What do we get? Crickets.<br /><br />HCC Parentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20890246894151602762016-11-29T10:03:30.136-08:002016-11-29T10:03:30.136-08:00I think you should be advocating now with the boar...I think you should be advocating now with the board as a whole that any further changes at Garfield must be announced prior to open enrollment. This is information families need in order to choose the appropriate school for their students. Busing across town to Garfield makes no sense for a student in the Ballard or Roosevelt attendance area if the school no longer offers appropriate classes for accelerated students. <br /><br />The district describes the program at Garfield as an accelerated AP pathway. Who is responsible for ensuring the school is actually offering that?Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53513754449011957512016-11-29T09:53:20.583-08:002016-11-29T09:53:20.583-08:00@ SusanH, I think the writing is on the wall that ...@ SusanH, I think the writing is on the wall that they want detracking. While the folks down at JSCEE don't seem to support advanced learning and are letting it die a slow death through neglect, the folks at Garfield seem to be taking advantage of the antipathy and charging ahead. Several years ago they decided HCC students were no longer able to jump right into AP World History in 9th grade, as they had done for years. This past summer, that article on Ted Howard originally said he was eliminating honors in 9th grade, and I suspect that the "honors for all" rebranding was partly in response to the fact that SPS is required to provide some type of HC services in every grade, and with Garfield the HCC pathway, they couldn't officially offer nothing (though in practice, they can). In that same article, he mentioned that this move was about "chipping away" at the current system, implying that this is just the start. Now we have that recent op-ed by Mr. Truax--which didn't come out of nowhere--and the effort to bring Ms. Burris out. <br /><br />Charlie tried to put a positive spin on the Honors for All thing by buying the story that they'll be thoroughly evaluating the success of this approach, but I'm not falling for it. Does anyone really think they will do a rigorous, meaningful evaluation of the impact this has on different types of students? Not only do they likely not have the capacity to conduct such a study (and they've never identified their "success" outcome measures in the first place), but they can't really do it before time to make a decision on next year. I fully expect they'll instead just use their own impressions that it's all going "great" to expand the effort schoolwide. They'll use Ms. Burris' visit as further justification, even though what they implemented at GHS in NO WAY resembles what they did in Rockville Centre. <br /><br />Face itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10629742444948341042016-11-29T09:21:38.164-08:002016-11-29T09:21:38.164-08:00Do you guys have a sense of whether or not the 9th...Do you guys have a sense of whether or not the 9th grade "honors for all" is just the beginning? I thought it was an isolated test program, but with the "detracking expert" coming to speak, I fear it's part of a larger effort. Is Garfield intending to continue the program to 10th grade as well (and not let us know until the summer)? I keep thinking, "well, it's OK that my child has a slacker year for 9th grade; they are getting used to high school after all," but I am hoping for more challenging, faster-paced classes starting in 10th. This year has been SO much easier than middle school.SusanHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82645307494120683492016-11-28T23:47:20.210-08:002016-11-28T23:47:20.210-08:00I wonder if Ms Burris has any clue just how differ...I wonder if Ms Burris has any clue just how differently Garfield is implementing their version of detracting, compared to the well-planned, well-supported, and slowly phased in model they created in Rockville Center. There's no comparison, and no reason to expect similar outcomes. <br /><br />Face itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24134918732887484972016-11-28T19:32:29.929-08:002016-11-28T19:32:29.929-08:00I know Ms Burris from other work; I'll try to ...I know Ms Burris from other work; I'll try to talk to her.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18487814083068243742016-11-28T19:27:36.374-08:002016-11-28T19:27:36.374-08:00Who is paying for the Carol Burris visit to Garfie...Who is paying for the Carol Burris visit to Garfield?<br /><br />-wonderingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53394283537548792212016-11-28T18:42:31.512-08:002016-11-28T18:42:31.512-08:00Open Ears-
We also do ability grouping in school ...Open Ears-<br /><br />We also do ability grouping in school sports.<br /><br />-mouserAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com