Sunday, December 18, 2011
Just in case you missed something this week, Patch brings you the week that was in Greater Annapolis and the top stories that everyone's talking about.
Patch articles stay on the site even when they're not posted as a top story, and we encourage you to grab a cup of coffee and spend some time exploring some of the older articles. We also have some detailed information if you'd like to know more about how to use the Patch site. Each week, we'll highlight the top five stories of the week so you can join in the conversation. Remember that you can sign up to receive daily or weekly updates from Patch. We're also active on Facebook and Twitter. This week's top five stories (in no particular order):
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Just in case you missed something this week, Patch brings you the week that was in Greater Annapolis and the top stories that everyone's talking about.
Patch articles always stay on the site, even when they're not posted as a top story, and we encourage you to grab a cup of coffee and spend some time exploring some of the older articles. We have some more information if you'd like to know more about how to use the Patch site. Each week, we'll highlight the top five stories of the week so you can join in the conversation. Remember that you can sign up to receive daily or weekly updates from Patch. We're also active on Facebook and Twitter, too. This week's top five stories (in no particular order):
Friday, November 18, 2011
Some parents don't agree with the idea of heterogeneous grouping and said so at Wednesday's Board of Education meeting.
- SCHOOLS
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Friday, November 18, 2011
Since the issue of heterogeneous grouping at Annapolis High School first came up last spring, it has been met with some opposition from local parents. The possibility of implementing the instructional change has also come up at other schools in the county, including Central Middle School. As Patch reported Thursday, some parents at this week's Anne Arundel County Board of Education meeting are considering having their children opt out of this year's Maryland State Assesment (MSA) test to make their point. As noted in the article, Superintendent Kevin Maxwell said boycotting the MSA would be detrimental to schools.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Principal Don Lilley said he is preparing a letter to update parents on the school's plan.
Heterogeneous grouping at Annapolis High School could be under way soon, Principal Don Lilley said. The plan is to offer honors-level science and social studies courses to all incoming ninth-graders, he said. The principal is working on a letter that will be sent to parents soon providing all the details. "When the letter comes out, it's going to say this is what we're going to do,” Lilley said. The principal said the intent of the change is to close the achievement gap and better prepare students for higher-level coursework in their junior year. “With all the different pathways that students have when they become 11th graders at Annapolis High School, we want to make sure they’re prepared,” Lilley said. “If we're not challenging the kids …
Social studies and science classes for freshman at AHS would be taught at the honors level under the new plan.
Heterogeneous grouping at Annapolis High School could be under way soon, Principal Don Lilley said. The plan is to offer honors-level science and social studies courses to all incoming ninth-graders, he said. The principal is working on a letter that will be sent to parents soon providing all the details. "When the letter comes out, it's going to say this is what we're going to do,” Lilley said. The principal said the intent of the change is to close the achievement gap and better prepare students for higher-level coursework in their junior year. “With all the different pathways that students have when they become 11th graders at Annapolis High School, we want to make sure they’re prepared,” Lilley said. “If we're not challenging the kids …
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Column from Kevin Maxwell lays out school system's thoughts on contentious changes.
- OPINION
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Saturday, October 22, 2011
By Kevin Maxwell Superintendent of Anne Arundel County Public Schools In recent months, newspaper and website stories, letters, and blogs have contained opinions from all ends of the spectrum regarding the access of students to rigorous coursework. From the so-called “heterogeneous grouping” at Annapolis High School and Central Middle School to the Advanced Learner Programs at our elementary schools, there has been considerable debate over the reasons for and wisdom of these initiatives. Among those who have expressed consternation, a common theme seems to be that the efforts are “dumbing down” instruction for higher-end learners while failing to help on-level students increase their knowledge and success level. That is clearly not the aim…
Thursday, October 20, 2011
School system offers more students access to rigorous coursework at all county elementary schools with Advanced Learner Programs, and at Annapolis High and Central Middle.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) hopes that offering greater access to rigorous coursework will increase achievement for all students. New Advanced Learner Programs at all county elementary schools was one step taken in this new direction. Heterogeneous grouping became a hot topic after the principal at Annapolis High announced last spring his intention to utilize it at the school. While that possibility is still being investigated, Central Middle in Edgewater grouped sixth-grade students together in the same math level (Algebraic Readiness) starting with this school year. At Wednesday's AACPS Board of Education meeting, parents of Central Middle students took a stand against grouping higher-performing students with lower-…
In his monthly letter, Anne Arundel County Schools Superintendent Kevin Maxwell emphasizes the importance of efforts to push students toward more challenging classes.
- OPINION
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Thursday, October 20, 2011
By Kevin Maxwell In recent months, newspaper and website stories, letters, and blogs have contained opinions from all ends of the spectrum regarding the access of students to rigorous coursework. From the so-called “heterogeneous grouping” at Annapolis High School and Central Middle School to the Advanced Learner Programs at our elementary schools, there has been considerable debate over the reasons for and wisdom of these initiatives. Among those who have expressed consternation, a common theme seems to be that the efforts are “dumbing down” instruction for higher-end learners while failing to help on-level students increase their knowledge and success level. That is clearly not the aim, and not the outcomes we are seeing. The research is…
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Greater Annapolis Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families with weekly topics.
Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in Greater Annapolis. Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council of experts and smart moms take your questions, give advice and share solutions. Moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about local neighborhood schools, the best pediatricians, 24-hour pharmacies and the thousands of other issues that arise while raising children. Moms Talk also will be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. And this week that hot topic was easily a plan for heterogeneous grouping for all ninth grade students at Annapolis High School…
Karen Colburn
7:15 am on Monday, November 21, 2011
Sandee, there is plenty of evidence that top performers get "stunted." Here's just a few articles/research. 1. October 2, 2011 New York Times article: “Are Top Students Getting Short Shrift?”—Read the latest research on the problems with differentiated instruction and what it means for our advanced students. http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/10/02/are-top-students-getting-short-shrift 2. … more ›