Dorothy Hamm
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Anonymous
| How is Dorothy Hamm academically these days for students who are more advanced in Math and English? Before we left APS, DC was tagged "gifted" in English, Math, Social Studies, and Science by the elementary school, but the school leadership was so intolerable, we left--along with a lot of other students and teachers. Now we are considering returning to Dorothy Hamm, but it's important for us that DC continue to be challenged academically in school, and we are also concerned about over-reliance on screens (ipads, Chromebooks) for digital instruction and homework vs. actually teaching the old-fashioned way. Anyone have current info? |
Anonymous
| There have been posts on an advanced curriculum being re-introduced to the APS middle schools, including Dorothy Hamm, over the past couple years. Only the high school students use the Macbook Airs (not Chromebooks). The middle schools have iPads. APS has open surveys on technology use in schools; they are becoming more responsive to the concerns of parents. |
Anonymous
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Math seems to be the class with the largest over-reliance on screens. There's a lot of sending kids to videos and websites to learn how to do problems instead of instruction being provided in class.
Homework problems are also on IXL so kids are encouraged to do their work on a screen instead of on paper. |
Anonymous
There are still a lot of screens, their assignments, curriculum, tasks (videos to watch, texts to read), everything is on the devices. Where are you now? |
Anonymous
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We have an 8th grader. 6th grade was all iPad all the time. Intensified classes had not yet been introduced, there was no homework (other than iXL) and most classes were a repeat of what she learned in the 5th grade. My understanding is that whole situation has changed for the better for the 6th grade, but I would talk to a current 6th grade parent to confirm. Just by the tone of your question, you would not have been happy with the 6th grade experience that my daughter had.
7th grade and now 8th grade, each year has brought less iPad time. The ability to take intensified classes has also helped. If your student wants or needs a challenge, you need to make sure they are placed in the intensified classes. The non-intensified options are very entry level. Texts in English class have only been in book form (not online). They may, but do not have to, pick their independent reading from the e-reader app on their iPad. Most classes they don't open the iPad at all. Notes are taken on paper. But they still use iXL as their primary homework in math, which means most kids we know supplement with a tutor. However, if you are looking for your student to bring home a backpack full of text books and memorize info, you're not going to get that. By the 8th grade, they have homework more or less daily. Each grade has very strong teachers so your student is unlikely to encounter too many issues there. I've been really impressed by several of the teachers not only as teachers but as genuinely good people. I don't know that I'd be such a great person if I was trapped all day with a room of middle school students...they can be horrible. But there are definitely gaps and there are few teachers who do not belong in teaching or really in any kind of professional setting. Truly one of the worst humans I've ever encountered teaches at DHMS. I can't say anything overly good or bad about the administration and we've had to meet with them several times. I do not get a feeling that they play favorites or engage in any of those kinds of shenanigans. I do think that they are really only hitting their stride this year, because they opened right before closing for Covid. It seems like this year there is a sense of planning ahead, rather than reacting. |
Anonymous
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“ But there are definitely gaps and there are few teachers who do not belong in teaching or really in any kind of professional setting. Truly one of the worst humans I've ever encountered teaches at DHMS.”
This made me laugh. I think I know who you are talking about. I’ve had three go through dhms, and agree with this posters review. Intensified classes are more challenging, but there isn’t a lot of class work if your child is diligent and a good student. Every year my kids get 2-3 dud teachers. The math department is really really really bad; there are three good teachers and the rest should not be teaching or around children. The math coach is just plain dumb and vindictive. The social studies department and English departments are both very good. In the end it’s a public school. |
Anonymous
| DHMS got a new math coach in 2024 who seems fantastic. Pp - are you referring to her or the crazy lady that was there before her. |
Anonymous
| OP here - thanks to all of you for these very helpful perspectives! |
Anonymous
Our Catholic school is also very screen heavy, i think the class management software and younger teachers preferring that is driving the adoption everywhere except Waldorf! |
Anonymous
Also a new math teacher who is very good. Finally! |
Anonymous
| The crazy ape lady who thinks screens are the most evil thing ever has moved into lobbying APS to get rid of them for older kids too. |
Anonymous
Wasn’t she one of the APE bullies during the pandemic…even though her kids weren’t even in school yet? |
Anonymous
| The only schools I know of that have banned digital devices are a few bespoke private schools in silicon valley. |
Anonymous
I agree. New/younger teachers seem to want to rely on iPads. But the more I research the more I see that a big part of the problem is that teachers colleges are not properly training them. |
Anonymous
Honestly, she’s right. All of the recent studies show the significant learning decline with screens. It’s a fact. |