How to help child succeed at BASIS

[Anonymous]

I think it means that Basis works best for math superstars and other bright, hard-working kids who conform easily. The program's MO is march in step, do as you're told, plug away, don't question. Even some of the brainiest kids, and their parents, aren't happy with this approach, at least not for 8 years. Some families stick with Basis past 6th grade for lack of an alternative DC public middle school offering real rigor, but probably shouldn't, and not necessarily because kids aren't doing well academically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it means that Basis works best for math superstars and other bright, hard-working kids who conform easily. The program's MO is march in step, do as you're told, plug away, don't question. Even some of the brainiest kids, and their parents, aren't happy with this approach, at least not for 8 years. Some families stick with Basis past 6th grade for lack of an alternative DC public middle school offering real rigor, but probably shouldn't, and not necessarily because kids aren't doing well academically.

Bingo. I hear that many kids are really unhappy with the lack of a computer lab and first-aid class.

Who cares that USN&WR ranks Basis the top-ranked public middle school in DC?

[Anonymous]

We also will be attending BASIS and made a hard decision to not go into our feeder school DCI. We chose based solely on academics. I have read a lot about preparing your incoming child for academics, workload and organization, but I am really trying to work with my child regarding the change in type of school facility, school day structure, lack of recess as well as navigating new friendships.

[Anonymous]

We are also making a hard choice between sticking around for DCI or departing for Basis. I’d be curious to hear your thought process if you don’t mind sharing, PP. Also, do you plan to maintain the foreign language outside of Basis? I don’t mean to derail this thread. I have concerns about potentially preparing for Basis coming out of an immersion school where most of the academic challenge derived from the foreign language component.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't worry abut 5th grade at Basis. The entry year is Basis light. The kids get a lot of academic support and are taught how to stay organized. Things get more intense in 6th grade.

Going forward, immersion graduates at Basis won't be allowed to study the target language they learned in elementary school until 8th grade, and then only at an advanced beginner level. You will be on your own to maintain the language. If you bother to do so, your kid won't be able to take challenging courses in that language at Basis.

Some Spanish immersion families in the Deal-Wilson pyramid stay in-boundary to keep the immersion going. Wilson has started teaching Spanish literature, past the AP level. At Basis, the emphasis is on advanced math and science, not advanced language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't worry abut 5th grade at Basis. The entry year is Basis light. The kids get a lot of academic support and are taught how to stay organized. Things get more intense in 6th grade.

Going forward, immersion graduates at Basis won't be allowed to study the target language they learned in elementary school until 8th grade, and then only at an advanced beginner level. You will be on your own to maintain the language. If you bother to do so, your kid won't be able to take challenging courses in that language at Basis.

Some Spanish immersion families in the Deal-Wilson pyramid stay in-boundary to keep the immersion going. Wilson has started teaching Spanish literature, past the AP level. At Basis, the emphasis is on advanced math and science, not advanced language.

Other courses such as English, history, etc. are advanced as well.

If you want to keep up a foreign language from elementary school you will need to supplement,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are also making a hard choice between sticking around for DCI or departing for Basis. I’d be curious to hear your thought process if you don’t mind sharing, PP. Also, do you plan to maintain the foreign language outside of Basis? I don’t mean to derail this thread. I have concerns about potentially preparing for Basis coming out of an immersion school where most of the academic challenge derived from the foreign language component.

This has also been a concern of mine. At this point, I thought about continuing with professional tutoring once a week for conversational Spanish, maintaining reading at home in Spanish and possibly participating in immersion experiences in the summer. I know this cannot replace being in an immersion environment at all, but it can hopefully keep my child engaged in the language.

I agree with you that the language component of the immersion program was by far the strongest component at my child's school.

[Anonymous]

Supplementing language would be very important, but I am curious if there are any BASIS families on this thread who have been successful in this area to maintain continued language acquisition for their child.

[Anonymous]

If language is important, I would stick with DCI, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All will be well if your kid doesn't advocate for an elected middle school student government, ethics training, first aid training, cooking classes, a gardening club, a bona fide school musical, a band or orchestra, or any other activity that might build toward a full-fledged education. That approach could get them in hot water fast. Now, if your kid advocates for extra pre pre AP prep and a nicely organized binder or two, smooth sailing, mom.

Love how this PP failed as a parent but is trying to shift the blame onto Basis. My kid already had first aid training cooking classes and learned to garden before coming to Basis, because I taught him as part of basic parenting. Are you spending any time with your kid at all??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If language is important, I would stick with DCI, PP.

PP here, this would be understandable to stay at DCI. I have heard really good things about the school. but the academic rigor of BASIS was very appealing. I can't help but wonder if it would be sufficient or beneficial to supplement language especially if the child continues to be interested in strengthening their language acquisition as a BASIS student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All will be well if your kid doesn't advocate for an elected middle school student government, ethics training, first aid training, cooking classes, a gardening club, a bona fide school musical, a band or orchestra, or any other activity that might build toward a full-fledged education. That approach could get them in hot water fast. Now, if your kid advocates for extra pre pre AP prep and a nicely organized binder or two, smooth sailing, mom.

Love how this PP failed as a parent but is trying to shift the blame onto Basis. My kid already had first aid training cooking classes and learned to garden before coming to Basis, because I taught him as part of basic parenting. Are you spending any time with your kid at all??

Don't take the bait, PP, don't respond. The point is a good one. Basis doesn't offer an actual education. The programs offers intensive test prep, that's it. Basis parents know this and it rankles them privately. So they get defensive whenever this is pointed out on DCUM. Yawn.

[Anonymous]

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All will be well if your kid doesn't advocate for an elected middle school student government, ethics training, first aid training, cooking classes, a gardening club, a bona fide school musical, a band or orchestra, or any other activity that might build toward a full-fledged education. That approach could get them in hot water fast. Now, if your kid advocates for extra pre pre AP prep and a nicely organized binder or two, smooth sailing, mom.

Love how this PP failed as a parent but is trying to shift the blame onto Basis. My kid already had first aid training cooking classes and learned to garden before coming to Basis, because I taught him as part of basic parenting. Are you spending any time with your kid at all??

Don't take the bait, PP, don't respond. The point is a good one. Basis doesn't offer an actual education. The programs offers intensive test prep, that's it. Basis parents know this and it rankles them privately. So they get defensive whenever this is pointed out on DCUM. Yawn.

Yes, it's just free Kaplan courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are also making a hard choice between sticking around for DCI or departing for Basis. I’d be curious to hear your thought process if you don’t mind sharing, PP. Also, do you plan to maintain the foreign language outside of Basis? I don’t mean to derail this thread. I have concerns about potentially preparing for Basis coming out of an immersion school where most of the academic challenge derived from the foreign language component.

This has also been a concern of mine. At this point, I thought about continuing with professional tutoring once a week for conversational Spanish, maintaining reading at home in Spanish and possibly participating in immersion experiences in the summer. I know this cannot replace being in an immersion environment at all, but it can hopefully keep my child engaged in the language.

I agree with you that the language component of the immersion program was by far the strongest component at my child's school.

As a non-DCI, non language parent, I do think that if language is paramount to you, you should try to speak to other parents who have moved to Basis from immersion schools and who are in later middlle school or high school. For all intents and purposes, foreign language instruction won't start until 8th grade for your student.

You need to be informed about how much they will lose or how much you will have to supplement to keep your kids' sills up and if you can live with that, because you'd hate to regret the choice.