Technology at Oakridge Elementary?

[Anonymous]

Can you tell me what it's like, starting from 1st grade onward? I hear there is mandatory iPad work and learning is done through apps? Is cell phone use restricted?
And have they switched to evidence based phonics/reading instruction? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Not sure but it’s a horrible horrible school, the absolute worst in Arlington. So technology use is almost irrelevant here. There was an entire school board meeting about Oakridge and there is a group of parents that have organized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure but it’s a horrible horrible school, the absolute worst in Arlington. So technology use is almost irrelevant here. There was an entire school board meeting about Oakridge and there is a group of parents that have organized.

+1 it’s the least of your worries.

[Anonymous]

This makes me sad because I remember when my kid started K (he is now in 6th) folks really liked Oakridge!

[Anonymous]

What makes it the worst?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This makes me sad because I remember when my kid started K (he is now in 6th) folks really liked Oakridge!

Same!

But OP, with technology, it was really inconsistent. At one point the kids weren't allowed to take iPads home or use them in class except for very specific circumstances (like the required Lexia time), but then they changed the policy and kids did take their iPads home because kids were lagging on test scores in reading and math. At the beginning of last year teachers had a lot of leeway in how much they were used. My son's teacher didn't like them as a rule so they didn't use them much. Then the kids started driving the teachers insane (understandably!!!) and she did sometimes use them to entertain the students when she had to do assessments or something.

When it comes to Oakridge I wouldn't count on anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What makes it the worst?

just do a little searching on this forum and Arlington Now articles and comments.

[Anonymous]

Can someone tell me where I can find more info about the school board meeting that discussed Oakridge?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell me where I can find more info about the school board meeting that discussed Oakridge?

I hadn't heard about this. Anyone?

[Anonymous]

This, like many problems at Oakridge, can be traced to staff turnover, which in turn is largely due to the principal. The school has been without an instructional technology coordinator for years.

[Anonymous]

OP, or others, what have you found out? We’re curious about this too.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Still trying to find out. Our neighbor said they had mandatory iPad work throughout but there were also games on the iPad and her kid was always on it at home. No idea how Oakridge teaches reading or the cell phone policy...
What I really want to know is what makes it "..a horrible, horrible school, the absolute worst" ???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Still trying to find out. Our neighbor said they had mandatory iPad work throughout but there were also games on the iPad and her kid was always on it at home. No idea how Oakridge teaches reading or the cell phone policy...
What I really want to know is what makes it "..a horrible, horrible school, the absolute worst" ???

I mean your friend should just not let your kid on the school ipad at home. That is not a school issue but a parenting one, so that can clearly change in your house if you want. We aren't at Oakridge but APS elementary schools use the ipad in a few ways they do learning apps (dream box and Lexia). These apps are typically part of a rotation of activities the kids do a day. So for example one section of kids does the ipad, one section works with the teacher, one section works with physical math manipulatives etc., and then they rotate. This is typically a 10-20 min chunk. Then kids will use the ipad to create google slide presentations for class or do research for projects. This varies by grade and obviously a 5th grader is doing more research then a kinder kid. Finally, they will do quizzes and state testing on the ipad.

The kids generally are not on the ipad all day. Kid in ES rotate through subjects pretty quickly and add in special, lunch, recess and they aren't just sitting there staring at a screen despite how folks on DCUM or Facebook may make it seem.

I don't know that APS elementary schools have cell phone policies because the vast majority of elementary kids do not have cell phones. When it comes to middle school or high school the policy is now (I believe) that the phone must remain put away the entire day. I am sure how strict this is varies by school or teacher.

APS schools should (I believe) be using CKLA for reading and no, it is not taught all on the ipad. Again, my kid is at another school but he says they haven't gotten their ipads yet other than for state assessments and we are a month into school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Still trying to find out. Our neighbor said they had mandatory iPad work throughout but there were also games on the iPad and her kid was always on it at home. No idea how Oakridge teaches reading or the cell phone policy...
What I really want to know is what makes it "..a horrible, horrible school, the absolute worst" ???

Why don’t you do a quick search on Arlingtonow and this board, as suggested and find out? Why don’t you take a look at its school report card and compare it to neighboring schools? Why don’t you go and listen to the school board meetings? There is a lot you can do to figure it out. Or you can just pretend it is a great school and move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Still trying to find out. Our neighbor said they had mandatory iPad work throughout but there were also games on the iPad and her kid was always on it at home. No idea how Oakridge teaches reading or the cell phone policy...
What I really want to know is what makes it "..a horrible, horrible school, the absolute worst" ???

Cell phone policy? APS ES do not allow cell phone use. They have to be put away in bags all day.