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That is what I thought to begin with, but that is not how this system works, or at least, not how I have been told it works. If I am wrong, I'll do cartwheels and be a happy English teacher, but everyone I have spoken to (and I've been asking everyone, cashier at Harris Teeter, Sears deliveryman, ABF cube deliveryman, manager in our apartment complex office, and the man who opened my new account at Wachovia) has confirmed that ALL classes are half the year.
Not to mention, I'm pretty sure I'm right because the job I interviewed for was to teach three classes of English 1 first semester and three classes of English 3 second semester.
I think you are thinking of the block schedule system that I was familiar with in CA (and would be happy to teach) where it is every other day. This is not like that, it is four courses only for the entire semester, everyday. Then second semester, four new courses, everyday.
Can anyone confirm that I have the details correct or incorrect?
My son's school in Charlotte has the college type blocking schedule, so he has 4 classes every day for 90 minutes. Whatever class was on MWF this week will be on Tues/Thurs the next week. This way they do get all 8 classes all year long. The only classes that are not all year long are particular electives - like SAT prep is only a one semester long class.
This schedule has been AWESOME for him. Plus it is preparing him to budget his time in a way that will be familiar to him when he goes to college. What doesn't seem to work as well is schools where you have all 8 classes every day for 50 minutes only. The pace is too hectic and there is very little instruction time once classroom chores like roll call and checking homework are done. Plus, having to meet the same classes day after day can often mean way too much homework at one time.
Anyway, since we hear down here all the time how wonderful Wake schools are I'd love for someone to explain what the real situation is.
Anyway, since we hear down here all the time how wonderful Wake schools are I'd love for someone to explain what the real situation is.
Me too, me too, me too. I want this to work the way you just described. I WANT to be wrong. That system makes sense! I would teach that in a heartbeat and not have to feel that I'm wasting my time on information that will leave their brains the second they move onto their second semester courses. The whole half year for Core classes is insane, which is why that is precisely what I have been questioning complete strangers about. You're talking to someone who is seriously rethinking her career decision if this is the way the system works here. I've been beating my head against the wall on this, so I really, really want you to be right.
It may prepare them for college, but these are teens we are talking about here, not young adults. I just can't imagine the 13 and 14 year-olds I have been teaching (that are still laughing about who farted), being mature enough to handle an eight month gap in their progress in a subject.
Me too, me too, me too. I want this to work the way you just described. I WANT to be wrong. That system makes sense! I would teach that in a heartbeat and not have to feel that I'm wasting my time on information that will leave their brains the second they move onto their second semester courses. The whole half year for Core classes is insane, which is why that is precisely what I have been questioning complete strangers about. You're talking to someone who is seriously rethinking her career decision if this is the way the system works here. I've been beating my head against the wall on this, so I really, really want you to be right.
It may prepare them for college, but these are teens we are talking about here, not young adults. I just can't imagine the 13 and 14 year-olds I have been teaching (that are still laughing about who farted), being mature enough to handle an eight month gap in their progress in a subject.
Anyone have an answer??
If the worst you fear turns out to be the case, is it too late to move or did you sign a contract?
Where did you find your information on test scores? I've found it incredibly difficult to compare states since they use two different forms of testing that are not comparable. I'd be curious to see those results and it would certainly make me feel better about jumping into the Wake county system
CAKD is right....I compared the scores from CA schools by using the End of Grade scores. You can compare by the amount of kids passing the test...seems valid to me. I pulled up the school that my kids would have went to in CA, and the school here. The CA school was so bad...EOG's 60-70%, and we lived in a sought after area for the school...here, its 90+. Not to mention the amount of ESL kids...to me that means a drain on resources. No comparison. I looked at several elementary schools in "good areas" in OC, CA...EOG's are in the 70's...really sad.
CAKD is right....I compared the scores from CA schools by using the End of Grade scores. You can compare by the amount of kids passing the test...seems valid to me. I pulled up the school that my kids would have went to in CA, and the school here. The CA school was so bad...EOG's 60-70%, and we lived in a sought after area for the school...here, its 90+. Not to mention the amount of ESL kids...to me that means a drain on resources. No comparison. I looked at several elementary schools in "good areas" in OC, CA...EOG's are in the 70's...really sad.
Not that I am defending the superiority of CA schools, because, honestly, I was happy to leave the CA system, but as you said, the amount of English language learners taking those tests are much, much higher in CA than here in NC. So you have students (and I know this from experience) who have been in the country learning English for three years and are, therefore, considered to be in the 11th grade taking the 11th grade English STAR test even though they have only had 3 years of English. Again, that system is one of the reasons I was happy to leave, but it really does bring DOWN the scores when you are trying to compare them state-to-state.
I was looking at a site called "School Matters" which has a pretty easy to read chart comparing different states. Schools, High School, Public Schools, School District, Public High Schools - SchoolMatters
While NC is higher up to 8th grade, when you compare the college entrance exam scores you see a significant drop and CA students actually are shown to perform slightly better. It just makes me wonder if part of the cause for that drop might be this half-year courses system.
Another thing to defend CA is that the end of course exams in high school are the STAR test and are used solely for school and district purposes. The very few teachers I have talked to here have made it sound like they use those scores here to determine the abilities of the teacher. I know most students in CA blow off the standardized tests as a waste of time with no real purpose. It sounds like they may be taken more seriously here by teachers and students.
Again, I'm just speculating and appreciate being able to talk it out with all of you. More thoughts anyone?
If the worst you fear turns out to be the case, is it too late to move or did you sign a contract?
I haven't signed a contract, but I don't have the option of moving either. My husband is in computers, so this is the area he needs to be in. We also convinced his parents and my mom to move here with us. His parents already bought a house here and are settled.
I have the option of teaching middle school instead, which I think is more similar to the system that I am used to (I could be wrong again since I haven't heard many people talk about their system), but I work better with older students. I'm on here babbling about this issue because I need to hurry up and make a decision so that I can find a job. I'm just completely torn and was hoping I could get some more information about the way things work before making a decision.
I understand how those of you from California now living in North Carolina are happy with your decision and enjoying your new way of life. I am happy for you. I ask, though, that you do not paint Californians with such a broad brush. I have lived in central California all of my life and will be here mostly likely another couple of years. Yes, there are some of those obsessed with materials possessions and such. But not all. Most of this occurs in Northern and Southern California. I know lots of down home wonderful people not obsessed with money and status in California. They just don't get the media. I'm afraid all of the stereotypes about Californians give us a bad name when we DO decide to venture out of California.
One thing I can tell you about NC HS test scores for EOG standarized tests is that they changed the test two years ago. Actually they changed across the board for all grades and as expected, the first two years of test scores were much lower than they had been before the tests were changed. This was expected. Then last week, the media and WCPSS released a news brief that HS test scores in NC were "unchanged" this year, which again, they stated was "expected". Next year and the year after, they are expected to go back up again after students and teachers are better adapted to the new tests. Based on testing trends across the country, when tests are changed, the results usually take a nose dive, then stable out, then slowly increase again.
Another factor to consider in HS's here is that the graduation requirements changed and the credit hour requirements were increased. Actually I have heard this was a major factor in changing to the 4x4 block system, moreso than growth problems. It allows everyone to get in their credit hours plus gives room for those who fail a class to repeat a class and still graduate on time AND gives extra time to AP students so that they can pursue other academic interests and even graduate early.
I did a quick google search on 4x4 block schedules and there is a wealth of information out there on the pros/cons of block schedules. There are reviews of disctricts from across the country, so it's not just NC, but also CA and NY and other very large distrcits which have found this system beneficial.
I did a quick google search on 4x4 block schedules and there is a wealth of information out there on the pros/cons of block schedules. There are reviews of disctricts from across the country, so it's not just NC, but also CA and NY and other very large distrcits which have found this system beneficial.
Thanks, I've been searching on google and found a lot of sites giving me really negative views, but I didn't think to search out "4X4."
I can really see how the system could be beneficial, I just keep coming back to the main question and that is, "are students really retaining the information presented to them when they are faced with large gaps of time between continuation of the subject?" I'm just not sold on that YET. I'll wander through some of the sites your search has given me.
I wasn't nuts about the block schedule either. Our school here in MA has 2 block days/week where they rotate through the 7 periods but that's it and I like that. Look outside Wake Co. Not all school systems operate this way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KIMBERRRR
I am a high school teacher from CA and am now finding (as I have begun interviewing) that their school system is entirely and psychotically different from CA. They run an odd block schedule when it comes to high school. They only take each subject half of the year. So their classes are separated by semesters, you take your basic courses (English, Math, etc) for one semester, then other classes second semester. This means that they have an entire semester (half a year) and summer vacation before they take the next level in each subject. I'm floored by the insanity of it and clueless as to how they expect their kids to do well on AP tests and other standardized tests. I just moved here on Monday and am still searching for schools that don't work this way, but haven't had any luck. Also, be prepared for all elementary and middle schools to be year-round and that your children may not all be on the same track (I've heard people complaining about this). Just some things to be research and be prepared for. If anyone finds that I have understood things wrong, please correct me, because I have had difficulty finding the specifics about the school system (resorted to questioning the young cashier at the grocery store last night).
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