Inconsistency among teachers and schools (14)
2 Everything is perfect
2 Doing a great job!!!!
6 Great by me -- I love 6th grade ability to take Algebra -- great way to challenge the brighter kids with the standard course offerings and school day.
3 Our 3rd grader at [ ] spec. ed class receives outstanding instruction from his teacher, [ ].
6 The teacher is wonderful and concerned and communicates very well with me. This child has vestibular damage and doesn't organize himself well to start. Requires help and needs an aide to help him.
5 Math is the one area of instruction that Montgomery County does a very good job on! Let's work on social studies & science -- PLEASE.
1 I am very impressed with the concepts being taught in the grade one math curriculum. I have volunteered during [ ] math class, and I am very impressed by her use of concrete manipulatives to help the students learn the concepts.
8 I think the system is doing an excellent job. If it were at all possible, I'd suggest they get more teachers like [ ] at [ ] to teach at the other MCPS.
1 None at this point. The kids are enjoying math while learning it -- which is the most [illegible]
8 I'm very pleased with my child's math program. More homework would not hurt!
4 We are very happy with the curriculum
6 We're very satisfied with the curriculum and instruction
4 We're very satisfied with the curriculum
5 Very satisfied
3 It's excellent!
8 Have been very satisfied with curriculum & we have been fortunate to have excellent instructors which make the success or failure of the math program.
7 Math is the strongest curriculum area, in our opinion
3 Q11: Yes. I feel every effort is being made to ensure my child's needs are met this year.
7 Nothing! [ ]is an excellent teacher. We are fortunate our son has had him as an instructor!
6 Nothing -- we're very satisfied
8 Q11: Yes. Strongly
5 I am very happy with the math curriculum
8 I'm very pleased at [ ]
K It's a little early for us to comment beyond kindergarten, but I'm very pleased with what is being taught there -- more than I was expecting to see, but presented in a very enjoyable and non-intimidating method.
3 Teacher is very focused on math. I am pleased with instruction.
5 So far I am pleased with the [ ] math curriculum and instruction. My children are strong in math and are well challenged with great teachers.
8 I've been happy with the math program, the teachers, and knowing that the support is there if needed.
2 Keep up the good work
4 We're satisfied with curriculum & instruction
3 I'm satisfied with the math curriculum for my child
5 We think you are doing a good job
3 Right now the curriculum seems appropriate
4 Elementary school [ ] has provided good instruction.
8 Good curriculum
4 I am pleased with the math instruction my child is receiving at this level
1 My daughter is having a positive experience at [ ] and I would like to see her have a stronger foundation that we can support at home through clear and regular communication. I believe that [ ] has taken on a big challenge and is rising to the occasion.
3 He enjoys it very much. At times he could be challenged more, but I think the curriculum is appropriate for his grade.
5 Everything is O.K. by now
7 I am currently satisfied with curriculum & instruction
2 Happy with math instruction
5 At this time everything seems to be OK!
1 Everything is OK
6 My daughter is in her first year of junior high school and from our experience to date, we are both basically satisfied with the instructor and the course. Next year may pose other concerns and I won't be able to comment until that time.
7 I am okay with the current level of instruction & curriculum
6 I'm satisfied with the actual curriculum
7 The math curriculum/instruction at [ ] needs no improvement at this time
3 I don't think there is a big need for improvement.
8 I think the curriculum has been fine for the most part.
6 It's fine
2 I think the curriculum is fine
1 I think it is good the way it is
7 It's a fine program!
5 So far the curriculum seems fine.
2 All seems well!
3 None at [ ]. We are very pleased with our child's progress, her teacher, the teacher's varied teaching techniques, and the open communication with our child's teachers
6 Nothing
5 No improvement needed. Very pleased with curriculum.
1 Q11: No!!!
5 Q11: No. She could be learning so much more!
10 Help the children that have the average/below average grades. There is so much talk of helping kids and nothing is ever done.
7 If my child were of average to above-average ability in math, I would expect greater acceleration. To be honest, I'm disappointed with the curriculum -- too many silly games, really bad textbooks & worksheets, pointless problems with NO relevance to real world. Since my child is LD (math), he lags behind because not enough emphasis has been placed on BASIC SKILLS, done over & over again, & with application to real-world problems. My child would also benefit from frequent review of previously-learned processes & functions. LD kids can easily forget what they learned yesterday.
3 The third grade math curriculum has been a disaster this year
3 Overall, I have been very unhappy with MCPS 3rd grade curriculum & instruction. My husband keeps telling me to home school. I'm considering it.
2 Math program does not appear to be as strong as the reading program. I believe math program could be a bit stronger.
7 The quality of instruction needs to be improved
2 Q14: Everything
8 I have an older child who just graduated in 2000. Now in college, he is having great difficulty. After a discussion with his professor, he was told his skills are "inadequate." He graduated with a 3.75 GPA, 1200 SAT scores, & is going to college on an academic scholarship. He took a very academic courseload in high school Something is wrong with our math program if kids are going off to college lacking the basic skills of algebra. The quality of math teachers I see in our cluster is poor. The classes are too large.
Inconsistency among teachers and schools:
2 Consistency among teachers
10 This year in Geometry, he seems to be doing fine. However, he had a very difficult time in 9th grade Algebra I last year. I don't know if it was the instructor, the curriculum, the way the final was handled after Semester 1, or a combination of these. Math is not his strong point, but he is doing fine so far in Geometry.
4 Consistency in instruction between schools (one school was very advanced, another [illegible])
2 My 2nd grader has spent very little time on the basics. Her 1st grade math curriculum as almost nonexistent. At the end of the school year in 1st grade they were still "coloring boxes that add to a specific number." We have been at 2 different MCPS elementary schools. The math instruction differed tremendously between the two schools. The first school had a strong team of 1st grade teachers who were excellent. A lot was accomplished in math. The second school had a weak team of 1st grade teachers & math was de-emphasized. I am surprised that the content varies so much. Also, the 1st school moved kids ahead who could do the work -- i.e., approximately 10 first graders were doing second grade math. The second school does no grouping according to ability. Kids who "get it" quickly should be able to move ahead.
3 I've been told my daughter is one of the two top math students in the entire third grade. Yet she's doing subtraction --my average-ability first grader is doing the same thing (different school)! Peers at other MCPS schools are doing fractions, probability, etc. Two years ago, I taught my daughter long division (she saw the symbol and was curious) in about 10 minutes, but she has yet to see it at school. But she has to compete against other schools' students for a slot at a G/T Center School for next year.
2 Improve consistency between classes and between schools.
1 Consistency between classes and schools
10 More consistency among schools and teachers. Better oversight by county & principals. Ensure that all schools have teachers and department heads that are fully trained & following the county curriculum. You should not have to worry about which schools your child attends and which teachers they have to receive the highest level of instruction.
11 The math curriculum at the elementary school level seems acceptable. The ISM tests address the desired skills. Children who have not achieved those skills are quickly identified and can be given additional help. The volunteer program at the elementary level is able to offer assistance to the teachers for those than need extra aid and also to challenge the exceptional students.
Once the child enters middle school, the whole game changes. The curriculum seems to have no focus, there is no way to identify students who are struggling (grades don't indicate the intuitive understanding of the math skill), and there is very little volunteer help in the middle schools. And yet this is when we are building the foundation of analytical math for future college students.
2 More consistent across district.
3 Consistency of instruction (difficulty, explanation of new concepts)
8 Consistency in curriculum between "teaching" teams in middle school
3 Lack of consistency between 2nd & 3rd grade
6 Consistency in instruction: class to class, school to school
3 Q6: No? They do a fairly good job but I think they can do better
4 Q11: More or less. Some yes, some no.
1 Q11: Sort of
7 Q11: Yes/No. This is only the second year in MCPS that I have been satisfied with my child's progress in math and in both instances, it is totally a reflection of the teacher.
2 No suggestions
6 Nothing
3 None
1 None
4 Not on the elementary level
4 None known
2 None
10 None
1 None
4 Nothing
K No complaints so far
2 Not aware of any substantial deficiencies at this point . . .
3 None
7 No improvement
2 At this point, none
6 None
4 None
1 At this point, none.
2 At this point, none
2 At this level, nothing yet
4 Nothing as of yet!
6 Nothing at this time
1 None at this time
1 My only exposure has been to the K-1st grade levels of learning, thus far. I don't feel adequately informed about the curriculum in 2nd - 12th grades to provide you with meaningful feedback.
K Don't know enough to comment yet
K Don't know yet
1 Too soon to tell
1 Too soon to tell
2 Not sure -- this is our first year in MCPS.
K Unknown in kindergarten
1 Not sure -- still at early stage
K My child is in kindergarten, so I'll have more comments in the coming years
K Unable to answer this question, as our eldest child is only in kindergarten.
1 I really don't know since it's too early with him only being in the 1st grade
1 You would be better off getting the teacher's input. They know what part of the curriculum needs improvement.
2 The teacher knows better!
3 I don't think I know enough about teaching math to give suggestions.
3 Q11: Fairly satisfied
Q14: As a non-custodial parent since last 10 months, my familiarity with my son's math curriculum and progress is somewhat restricted at the moment. Therefore, I cannot comment about "needs for improvement." Hope my familiarity would increase as I attend PTO.
3 I don't know
2 Don't have enough info to comment
6 No idea
1 Don't know
8 Unable to provide knowledgeable answer
8 I am not as informed as I need to be to answer this question. I would like additional information on the curriculum, and what is offered to my child.
3 I don't know, because I have never seen the curriculum
6 Not sure if any
2 Before I can answer this question, I need more information regarding the math curriculum
K No knowledge of curriculum
10 Don't know
2 I'm not familiar enough to suggest changes
1 Don't know enough to answer this
2 I don't know
2 Unsure
3 Don't know much about curriculum. Would love more information so I can make a judgment.
3 Don't know
2 Don't know enough about it to say
K I don't know enough about it to answer
1 Don't know enough to comment