I-pad usage - ATS

[Anonymous]

How much does ATS rely on the iPad during upper elementary? I have a kindergartener and so far it seems like they do some Lexia and dream box in class but otherwise, most of the work they do is on paper. None of my neighbors have kids at ATS, but as far as they know, most APS schools begin to rely more and more on the iPad in the upper grades. I was wondering if that’s the case at ATS as well. Someone asked the principal a question about iPad usage during the information night and her response was quite vague. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t count on it being the same by the time your K student gets there. I have a kid who went to a neighborhood school and is currently in an upper grade at ATS. It varies quite a bit by teacher I think. Ours uses canvas a lot more than our previous teacher but he gets lots of pen and paper work back too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much does ATS rely on the iPad during upper elementary? I have a kindergartener and so far it seems like they do some Lexia and dream box in class but otherwise, most of the work they do is on paper. None of my neighbors have kids at ATS, but as far as they know, most APS schools begin to rely more and more on the iPad in the upper grades. I was wondering if that’s the case at ATS as well. Someone asked the principal a question about iPad usage during the information night and her response was quite vague. Thank you!

I don't suppose 2nd grade counts as upper elementary, but judging from my son's battery usage it's not used everyday and then not very much. They do use Lexia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much does ATS rely on the iPad during upper elementary? I have a kindergartener and so far it seems like they do some Lexia and dream box in class but otherwise, most of the work they do is on paper. None of my neighbors have kids at ATS, but as far as they know, most APS schools begin to rely more and more on the iPad in the upper grades. I was wondering if that’s the case at ATS as well. Someone asked the principal a question about iPad usage during the information night and her response was quite vague. Thank you!

I don't suppose 2nd grade counts as upper elementary, but judging from my son's battery usage it's not used everyday and then not very much. They do use Lexia.

Sounds promising!

[Anonymous]

I literally just asked my 4th grader this question. She added it up to 1-1.5 hours a day, between lexia, reflex and blookit. I was shocked and plan to ask her teacher about it at the parent/teacher conference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I literally just asked my 4th grader this question. She added it up to 1-1.5 hours a day, between lexia, reflex and blookit. I was shocked and plan to ask her teacher about it at the parent/teacher conference.

We have screen time turned on. Average is about 50 minutes, sometimes up to 75. I don’t love it but when I click the breakdown a decent amount is on canvas (checking and submitting assignments)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I literally just asked my 4th grader this question. She added it up to 1-1.5 hours a day, between lexia, reflex and blookit. I was shocked and plan to ask her teacher about it at the parent/teacher conference.

Sorry there, but you need to talk to central office about this. The teachers are given mandated time at other schools, it isn’t in their control!

[Anonymous]

Mine, 3rd, does about 30 min a day...We get a screen notification every day on the school IPad. She doesn't complete all of the Lexia and Math games that she's supposed to so I'd guess other classmates may be more at 40-45 min/day.

I wonder if there's some teacher wiggle room. Ours seems pretty traditional. Also, I opted out of IPad "homework" b/c the ux was frustrating thus preventing actual learning. Not a prob.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I literally just asked my 4th grader this question. She added it up to 1-1.5 hours a day, between lexia, reflex and blookit. I was shocked and plan to ask her teacher about it at the parent/teacher conference.

Sorry there, but you need to talk to central office about this. The teachers are given mandated time at other schools, it isn’t in their control!

Just a note that kids with dyslexia should use Lexia with somebody competent to teach phonics along with the program. Depending on age, many can't do it alone. Also, Reflex Math is not appropriate for kids with dyslexia b/c sometimes slow-processing and random access memory are both slow for kids with dyslexia.

So mandate all you want but if your kid has trouble with them, ask yourself and the teachers why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much does ATS rely on the iPad during upper elementary? I have a kindergartener and so far it seems like they do some Lexia and dream box in class but otherwise, most of the work they do is on paper. None of my neighbors have kids at ATS, but as far as they know, most APS schools begin to rely more and more on the iPad in the upper grades. I was wondering if that’s the case at ATS as well. Someone asked the principal a question about iPad usage during the information night and her response was quite vague. Thank you!

Hopefully a lot. We need to prepare these kids for the real world, where the use of screens is essential and prevalent.

[Anonymous]

In middle school they will be expected to self manage all classes, grades, and assignments in Canvas and other platforms. So you don’t want them doing nothing in elementary school. And it would make sense to ramp up in the older grades in preparation for middle school.

Also reflex is a great tool for memorizing math facts. Not everything about the iPad is just “bad”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In middle school they will be expected to self manage all classes, grades, and assignments in Canvas and other platforms. So you don’t want them doing nothing in elementary school. And it would make sense to ramp up in the older grades in preparation for middle school.

Also reflex is a great tool for memorizing math facts. Not everything about the iPad is just “bad”.

Gotcha. What about the addictive behaviors that apps that use leveling systems (Lexia, DreamBox, reflex) also ramp up? I mean I see your point, but I also have a broader concern that brain research show that using game like platforms for learning causes children to have less emotional regulation. I think late elementary for canvas and grading/assignments is entirely different than the game-based “learning” apps that are currently in vogue. I think these two groups of technology affect neural systems/brain chemistry differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much does ATS rely on the iPad during upper elementary? I have a kindergartener and so far it seems like they do some Lexia and dream box in class but otherwise, most of the work they do is on paper. None of my neighbors have kids at ATS, but as far as they know, most APS schools begin to rely more and more on the iPad in the upper grades. I was wondering if that’s the case at ATS as well. Someone asked the principal a question about iPad usage during the information night and her response was quite vague. Thank you!

Hopefully a lot. We need to prepare these kids for the real world, where the use of screens is essential and prevalent.

Oh yes let just start pushing down on small kids everything that adults do. Thing need to be introduced in age appropriate ways. Kids brains are still forming and need to consider screen addiction and relation with shortened attention spans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In middle school they will be expected to self manage all classes, grades, and assignments in Canvas and other platforms. So you don’t want them doing nothing in elementary school. And it would make sense to ramp up in the older grades in preparation for middle school.

Also reflex is a great tool for memorizing math facts. Not everything about the iPad is just “bad”.

Gotcha. What about the addictive behaviors that apps that use leveling systems (Lexia, DreamBox, reflex) also ramp up? I mean I see your point, but I also have a broader concern that brain research show that using game like platforms for learning causes children to have less emotional regulation. I think late elementary for canvas and grading/assignments is entirely different than the game-based “learning” apps that are currently in vogue. I think these two groups of technology affect neural systems/brain chemistry differently.

Ok. I had one kid who had to learn math facts by staring at a paper grid and just doing pen/pencil/flashcard situation. Old school how we memorized them. And another kid who learned using Reflex. The first way was torture and led to a lot of resistance and arguing and it just went on and on. The second kid, it was easy. Granted different kids. So maybe the second kid is just better at memorizing math facts. Second kid seems to emotionally regulate just fine. Not yet addicted to drugs. Still wait and see though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In middle school they will be expected to self manage all classes, grades, and assignments in Canvas and other platforms. So you don’t want them doing nothing in elementary school. And it would make sense to ramp up in the older grades in preparation for middle school.

Also reflex is a great tool for memorizing math facts. Not everything about the iPad is just “bad”.

Gotcha. What about the addictive behaviors that apps that use leveling systems (Lexia, DreamBox, reflex) also ramp up? I mean I see your point, but I also have a broader concern that brain research show that using game like platforms for learning causes children to have less emotional regulation. I think late elementary for canvas and grading/assignments is entirely different than the game-based “learning” apps that are currently in vogue. I think these two groups of technology affect neural systems/brain chemistry differently.

Ok. I had one kid who had to learn math facts by staring at a paper grid and just doing pen/pencil/flashcard situation. Old school how we memorized them. And another kid who learned using Reflex. The first way was torture and led to a lot of resistance and arguing and it just went on and on. The second kid, it was easy. Granted different kids. So maybe the second kid is just better at memorizing math facts. Second kid seems to emotionally regulate just fine. Not yet addicted to drugs. Still wait and see though.

Ok. I'm going to guess that you have no idea how the younger grades (pre-k- 1st) are using iPads in the schools now. Your kids have to be older elementary 2nd grade + to have already memorized their math facts.

Still 3/5 stars for your snark!