To the Administration at Great Valley:
"A great problem in U.S. education is that gifted students are rarely
pushed to achieve their full potential. It is no secret that American
students overall lag their international peers." Wall Street Journal, 8/19/15
We are asking that the dismantling of the advanced (math) and LA-G for the gifted students at the middle school be stopped immediately.
We believe that the curriculum changes were done without any parental input, feedback, or transparency.
Some limited graphs were shown at a meeting, which were unclear which variables were used to derive outcomes. When more in-depth and detailed information were requested, it was not provided.
1. We definitely support some differentiation in the classroom, as not all students are the same and would certainly benefit from some modified and personalized instruction!
2. However, we ask that the existing advanced math classes NOT be dismantled, as these high-ability and gifted students are capable of moving through math content at a quicker and deeper pace in line with their ability.
3. We ask that the existing LA-G for gifted students in the middle school NOT be dismantled. Many parents and students find benefit from gifted peer interaction and the unique and challenging projects.
We support and love our teachers at Great Valley, who are already working very hard. We are simply asking you to keep the classes that already currently exist in place, and we are also looking to build a stronger high-ability and gifted student program at Great Valley as well.
“Gifted
children are a precious human-capital resource. They are the future creators of modern art, culture, leaders in
business, health care, law, the professoriate, and STEM.” David Lubinski - Vanderbilt University.
Sincerely,
The Parents of Great Valley
(as signed below)
Updates
March 10, 2016
The momentum is undeniable. This is proof that families demand transparency.
13 Comments
Would love to see differentiated attention within classrooms but really see the need to first differentiate classrooms. It seems so much better for every kid to be at the overall level that best suits them - with added customized attention within that leve. I feel strongly that each kid needs to be pushed and supported as much as possible based on their needs to thrive and succeed and the best starting point for that is in groups at roughly the same level. There will still be tons of diversity and learning opportunities within that.
I have consulted with my kids, one in advanced math at KDM and one in LA at Great Valley Middle School. They both believe that there should be separate classes for students of different levels so teachers in each class can concentrate their effort on a smaller set of materials and dive deeper. I personally don't understand how a teacher can manage a 40-50 minute lesson having to provide individualized teaching to a class of students who are all over on the learning scale. Thanks!
Putting advanced students to grade level classroom to improve their test scores is counter intuitive and anti common sense. If students are not challenged enough in the advanced class, it doesn’t make sense to expect them to get more challenges in a lower level class. If you really want to implement differentiate teaching, please keep the advanced classes and do differentiate teaching there too. Removing advanced classes will also make Great Valley district less attractive to families with high achieving children. Great Valley needs to look up to TE and other better performing school districts and provide more support to our advanced students, not doing the opposite.
I have concern with having one teacher teaching multiple groups of kids in the same class. I believe it is less efficient for the teacher to teach and kids to learn. It is irresponsible for the district to make such a decision without first making sure that this decision will NOT negatively impact the students' scores and the school district's overall ranking.
The burden to the teacher based on the change is so great. We don't believe that it will benefit any student by stretching teachers too much.
I find it difficult to rationalize the argument that our students would somehow be better served under a less specific and more generalized program with no differentiation among children of varying abilities. By simply announcing these changes without a careful and considered dialog with both parents and students over a reasonable period of time seems a sham by the district. It is hard to envision any positive outcome for the students under this proposal, and objectively I cannot see it as anything more than a cost-cutting measure by the district. As Downingtown continues to excel with, and garner accolades for their STEM Academy high-school, which is highly focused on providing a dedicated, rigorous environment to challenge high-ability students, under this new program at Great Valley we are left with what seems little more than a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. How can two neighboring districts be so disparate in their methodology if both truly value student achievement as their ultimate measure of success in education? Where else has the Great Valley district looked and seen high-level success with such a 'cookie-cutter' approach to the curriculum? I am deeply troubled as I believe the district is moving in the wrong direction.
Gifted programs are crucial for GVSD
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To the Administration at Great Valley:
"A great problem in U.S. education is that gifted students are rarely
pushed to achieve their full potential. It is no secret that American
students overall lag their international peers." Wall Street Journal, 8/19/15
We are asking that the dismantling of the advanced (math) and LA-G for the gifted students at the middle school be stopped immediately.
We believe that the curriculum changes were done without any parental input, feedback, or transparency.
Some limited graphs were shown at a meeting, which were unclear which variables were used to derive outcomes. When more in-depth and detailed information were requested, it was not provided.
1. We definitely support some differentiation in the classroom, as not all students are the same and would certainly benefit from some modified and personalized instruction!
2. However, we ask that the existing advanced math classes NOT be dismantled, as these high-ability and gifted students are capable of moving through math content at a quicker and deeper pace in line with their ability.
3. We ask that the existing LA-G for gifted students in the middle school NOT be dismantled. Many parents and students find benefit from gifted peer interaction and the unique and challenging projects.
We support and love our teachers at Great Valley, who are already working very hard. We are simply asking you to keep the classes that already currently exist in place, and we are also looking to build a stronger high-ability and gifted student program at Great Valley as well.
“Gifted
children are a precious human-capital resource. They are the future creators of modern art, culture, leaders in
business, health care, law, the professoriate, and STEM.” David Lubinski - Vanderbilt University.
Sincerely,
The Parents of Great Valley
(as signed below)
Updates
March 10, 2016
The momentum is undeniable. This is proof that families demand transparency.
13 Comments
GVSD needs to attract and keep the brightest students instead of losing them to TE and DASD.
Would love to see differentiated attention within classrooms but really see the need to first differentiate classrooms. It seems so much better for every kid to be at the overall level that best suits them - with added customized attention within that leve. I feel strongly that each kid needs to be pushed and supported as much as possible based on their needs to thrive and succeed and the best starting point for that is in groups at roughly the same level. There will still be tons of diversity and learning opportunities within that.
I have consulted with my kids, one in advanced math at KDM and one in LA at Great Valley Middle School. They both believe that there should be separate classes for students of different levels so teachers in each class can concentrate their effort on a smaller set of materials and dive deeper. I personally don't understand how a teacher can manage a 40-50 minute lesson having to provide individualized teaching to a class of students who are all over on the learning scale. Thanks!
Putting advanced students to grade level classroom to improve their test scores is counter intuitive and anti common sense. If students are not challenged enough in the advanced class, it doesn’t make sense to expect them to get more challenges in a lower level class. If you really want to implement differentiate teaching, please keep the advanced classes and do differentiate teaching there too. Removing advanced classes will also make Great Valley district less attractive to families with high achieving children. Great Valley needs to look up to TE and other better performing school districts and provide more support to our advanced students, not doing the opposite.
I have concern with having one teacher teaching multiple groups of kids in the same class. I believe it is less efficient for the teacher to teach and kids to learn. It is irresponsible for the district to make such a decision without first making sure that this decision will NOT negatively impact the students' scores and the school district's overall ranking.
The burden to the teacher based on the change is so great. We don't believe that it will benefit any student by stretching teachers too much.
I find it difficult to rationalize the argument that our students would somehow be better served under a less specific and more generalized program with no differentiation among children of varying abilities. By simply announcing these changes without a careful and considered dialog with both parents and students over a reasonable period of time seems a sham by the district. It is hard to envision any positive outcome for the students under this proposal, and objectively I cannot see it as anything more than a cost-cutting measure by the district. As Downingtown continues to excel with, and garner accolades for their STEM Academy high-school, which is highly focused on providing a dedicated, rigorous environment to challenge high-ability students, under this new program at Great Valley we are left with what seems little more than a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. How can two neighboring districts be so disparate in their methodology if both truly value student achievement as their ultimate measure of success in education? Where else has the Great Valley district looked and seen high-level success with such a 'cookie-cutter' approach to the curriculum? I am deeply troubled as I believe the district is moving in the wrong direction.
Gifted programs are crucial for GVSD
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GVSD needs to attract and keep the brightest students instead of losing them to TE and DASD.