APS -- Want to return but spouse resistant -- please clarify curriculum 5th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are more advanced and we cannot afford private, so I know I’m coming from a different perspective. But I personally think APS can be good enough for the vast majority of kids. You can supplement a little bit of reading and writing at home; 30 minutes a day does wonders.

Here is a book on it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QL31EU0/ref=dbs_a_def_awm_bibl_vppi_i4

Writing is harder but you can help kids with that too.

Well, OP here, we are active readers (well less so now since we spend so much time working and dealing with kids), but we have always prioritized reading to our kids, and our oldest is a voracious reader. But DD has always been a reluctant reader (we actually suspected dyslexia or some other processing issue but nothing revealed in testing), but loves listening to audiobooks and reading graphic novels. We have tried for years to encourage a 30 minute a day reading on her own, but she won't do it without major argument (she's tired, she's hungry, what not) -- unless we parallel read with her (we both have a copy and take turns reading chapters to each other).

But with our work and family life, parallel reading frequently on top of helping her with homework just isn't happening -- if its assigned reading for school, she reads it all on her own no problem (peer effects I guess?).

I guess one thing that will help is my understanding is that APS has no homework at all elementary or middle school, so if ALL we have to do is parallel read that should be a little more manageable? Though we personally did like having independent homework in the evening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are more advanced and we cannot afford private, so I know I’m coming from a different perspective. But I personally think APS can be good enough for the vast majority of kids. You can supplement a little bit of reading and writing at home; 30 minutes a day does wonders.

Here is a book on it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QL31EU0/ref=dbs_a_def_awm_bibl_vppi_i4

Writing is harder but you can help kids with that too.

Well, OP here, we are active readers (well less so now since we spend so much time working and dealing with kids), but we have always prioritized reading to our kids, and our oldest is a voracious reader. But DD has always been a reluctant reader (we actually suspected dyslexia or some other processing issue but nothing revealed in testing), but loves listening to audiobooks and reading graphic novels. We have tried for years to encourage a 30 minute a day reading on her own, but she won't do it without major argument (she's tired, she's hungry, what not) -- unless we parallel read with her (we both have a copy and take turns reading chapters to each other).

But with our work and family life, parallel reading frequently on top of helping her with homework just isn't happening -- if its assigned reading for school, she reads it all on her own no problem (peer effects I guess?).

I guess one thing that will help is my understanding is that APS has no homework at all elementary or middle school, so if ALL we have to do is parallel read that should be a little more manageable? Though we personally did like having independent homework in the evening.

It's not true they never have homework in middle school. My 6th grader had a book assigned he read all at home in English. He studied for tests at home (2-4/month I'd say). He occasionally had other homework but finished most of his in school. My understanding from friends is some kids don't finish everything in school and do homework at home pretty regularly. When they are older, my understanding is also that they get more homework.

[Anonymous]

I’m an APS teacher (upper elementary but not 5th). I also have 3 kids in APS. We have a constant read aloud going in our class. We start one book and as soon as we finish we move on to the next one. Usually if we have time at the end of the year we do book clubs where we group students and assign them books and they meet and discuss them. We also have plenty of books in the classroom and students can and do choose to read independently when they have time after finishing work or when we have a spare 10-15 minutes here or there.

As a parent, of my 3 kids, 2 are voracious readers, the oldest and youngest. My middle one reads for school (he’s in HS) without complaint and usually enjoys the book. But he doesn’t read on his own for enjoyment like my other 2 kids do.

If you want to test your child you can see where they stand by giving the end of year DIBELS yourself. It’s 2 short tests and it’s free to print online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m an APS teacher (upper elementary but not 5th). I also have 3 kids in APS. We have a constant read aloud going in our class. We start one book and as soon as we finish we move on to the next one. Usually if we have time at the end of the year we do book clubs where we group students and assign them books and they meet and discuss them. We also have plenty of books in the classroom and students can and do choose to read independently when they have time after finishing work or when we have a spare 10-15 minutes here or there.

As a parent, of my 3 kids, 2 are voracious readers, the oldest and youngest. My middle one reads for school (he’s in HS) without complaint and usually enjoys the book. But he doesn’t read on his own for enjoyment like my other 2 kids do.

If you want to test your child you can see where they stand by giving the end of year DIBELS yourself. It’s 2 short tests and it’s free to print online.

Thanks for the perspective that is a great resource.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many novels were assigned for 5th grade students to read on their own at home? Langley had DD read 5 novels, then write essays and do a quiz on them. Which spouse really appreciates since our DD is a reluctant reader, so having it "assigned" has made it much easier to get her to read independently.

In our experience, none. Reading and writing -- and critical thinking skills -- are undervalued.

We came late to the realization but are on several waitlists at privates; next year we may still be APS but will almost certainly switch to private by the following year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m an APS teacher (upper elementary but not 5th). I also have 3 kids in APS. We have a constant read aloud going in our class. We start one book and as soon as we finish we move on to the next one. Usually if we have time at the end of the year we do book clubs where we group students and assign them books and they meet and discuss them. We also have plenty of books in the classroom and students can and do choose to read independently when they have time after finishing work or when we have a spare 10-15 minutes here or there.

As a parent, of my 3 kids, 2 are voracious readers, the oldest and youngest. My middle one reads for school (he’s in HS) without complaint and usually enjoys the book. But he doesn’t read on his own for enjoyment like my other 2 kids do.

If you want to test your child you can see where they stand by giving the end of year DIBELS yourself. It’s 2 short tests and it’s free to print online.

What books were they reading aloud in class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We left APS for Langley early in the pandemic, as our DD was struggling with the isolation of remote school and had trouble reading so much on the screen.

We have had a good experience at Langley, but it is quite expensive for us, DD misses her friends, and we would love to be part of a neighborhood school again.

Spouse believes reading and writing are underemphasized in APS, so can someone who has just finished 5th grade help me win this argument:

How many novels were assigned for 5th grade students to read on their own at home? Langley had DD read 5 novels, then write essays and do a quiz on them. Which spouse really appreciates since our DD is a reluctant reader, so having it "assigned" has made it much easier to get her to read independently.

Assigned novels = zero.
5th grade in APS schools is basically a year off for the students.

[Anonymous]

There is definitely homework in APS. My middle schooler & elementary kid both had homework this year (though more in elementary).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is definitely homework in APS. My middle schooler & elementary kid both had homework this year (though more in elementary).

Which school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is definitely homework in APS. My middle schooler & elementary kid both had homework this year (though more in elementary).

Which school?

My middle schooler at HBW had no homework all year (or did it all at school).

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t leave Langley. We had to because of the expense and we miss it every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is definitely homework in APS. My middle schooler & elementary kid both had homework this year (though more in elementary).

Which school?

I hear most schools have “homework” that they are given a lot of time in class to complete, and only the kids who good off tend to actually take it home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an APS teacher (upper elementary but not 5th). I also have 3 kids in APS. We have a constant read aloud going in our class. We start one book and as soon as we finish we move on to the next one. Usually if we have time at the end of the year we do book clubs where we group students and assign them books and they meet and discuss them. We also have plenty of books in the classroom and students can and do choose to read independently when they have time after finishing work or when we have a spare 10-15 minutes here or there.

As a parent, of my 3 kids, 2 are voracious readers, the oldest and youngest. My middle one reads for school (he’s in HS) without complaint and usually enjoys the book. But he doesn’t read on his own for enjoyment like my other 2 kids do.

If you want to test your child you can see where they stand by giving the end of year DIBELS yourself. It’s 2 short tests and it’s free to print online.

What books were they reading aloud in class?

I honestly have no idea. I focus more on my middle school kid TBH, as long as my elementary kid is doing well, no issues, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is definitely homework in APS. My middle schooler & elementary kid both had homework this year (though more in elementary).

Which school?

My Discovery kid had a math sheet each week plus supposed to read nightly (although not logged). At WMS my kids certainly have homework or projects but not every night.

[Anonymous]

We are moving our child to private because the upper elementary curriculum does not sound strong enough. We asked a lot of questions - the school will still use Lucy calkins for writing in the upper grades; spelling and grammar etc are not explicitly taught.

These kids missed two years of formative instruction in these key areas. We’re going someplace that will provide it.