APS free tutors/homework help grades 6-13

[Anonymous]

My high school daughter has used the service twice to explain Stats concepts, and reports that it was very helpful. Glad that the county has implemented it.

[Anonymous]

I read about this when it was launched and ... I admit it, I was underwhelmed by the tutoring being a chat program. And also educational videos. These are not live in person tutoring sessions, nor are they even zoom tutoring sessions. It's a chat.

I'm sorry to be such a downer and note some parents here are posting their kid had a good experience with it so wtf do I know? Maybe kids can learn during a chat -- I think for some though that won't be optimal.

Still, though, if you're studying for a test and you're stuck on something and your parents/family can't help, you now suddenly have this other lifeline -- that's a good thing. Yay!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read about this when it was launched and ... I admit it, I was underwhelmed by the tutoring being a chat program. And also educational videos. These are not live in person tutoring sessions, nor are they even zoom tutoring sessions. It's a chat.

I'm sorry to be such a downer and note some parents here are posting their kid had a good experience with it so wtf do I know? Maybe kids can learn during a chat -- I think for some though that won't be optimal.

Still, though, if you're studying for a test and you're stuck on something and your parents/family can't help, you now suddenly have this other lifeline -- that's a good thing. Yay!

+1 It does seem like a good thing for those occasional stuck-on-a-problem issues. It's like when my DD gets stuck on a math problem, she calls her brother (a math whiz) at college and he can usually talk her through it. And once was able to let her know that she was right to be stuck because it was actually unsolvable because of a typo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read about this when it was launched and ... I admit it, I was underwhelmed by the tutoring being a chat program. And also educational videos. These are not live in person tutoring sessions, nor are they even zoom tutoring sessions. It's a chat.

I'm sorry to be such a downer and note some parents here are posting their kid had a good experience with it so wtf do I know? Maybe kids can learn during a chat -- I think for some though that won't be optimal.

Still, though, if you're studying for a test and you're stuck on something and your parents/family can't help, you now suddenly have this other lifeline -- that's a good thing. Yay!

I think my problem is calling this service "tutoring." This is live 27/7 chat support with a trained tutor, but I don't think of chat support or prerecorded videos as tutoring. Maybe I'm too old school, or just too old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read about this when it was launched and ... I admit it, I was underwhelmed by the tutoring being a chat program. And also educational videos. These are not live in person tutoring sessions, nor are they even zoom tutoring sessions. It's a chat.

I'm sorry to be such a downer and note some parents here are posting their kid had a good experience with it so wtf do I know? Maybe kids can learn during a chat -- I think for some though that won't be optimal.

Still, though, if you're studying for a test and you're stuck on something and your parents/family can't help, you now suddenly have this other lifeline -- that's a good thing. Yay!

I think my problem is calling this service "tutoring." This is live 27/7 chat support with a trained tutor, but I don't think of chat support or prerecorded videos as tutoring. Maybe I'm too old school, or just too old.

It's for immediate questions, not long-term learning. An "Education Help Desk".

I think it still can be useful for many kids. I think it'd be helpful for kids who don't always have a parent at home or friend to call to help answer questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Considering there is no homework in grades 6-8 due to equity (?!?!?!?!?!?) not sure what use this will be

Drop the Fox News talking points and actually show up at your school and listen to the teachers explain what’s happening. Back to School night just happened so anyone who went should not be spewing this crap.

+1

PP probably doesn't have a kid in APS anymore. Or generally prefers to complain instead of engaging in their kid's school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It's for immediate questions, not long-term learning. An "Education Help Desk".

I think it still can be useful for many kids. I think it'd be helpful for kids who don't always have a parent at home or friend to call to help answer questions.

This is how I see it too. Your child isn't logging on for a 45min tutoring session with a math tutor three times a week. If he's stuck on a problem or concept, and for a variety of reasons mom or dad can't help, it's a way to get an explanation or help from someone else who has expertise in the area.

We'll see, it may be of no help to some kids but be a lifeline for others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Considering there is no homework in grades 6-8 due to equity (?!?!?!?!?!?) not sure what use this will be

There is homework if students do not complete their school work in class.

Reading teachers are asking for 20 mins of reading each night, and kids are capturing it in a log at school.

There are also projects that have to be completed outside of school (Science in particular).

And maybe some students who actually review and study for exams might have some questions or need some help. I think this is a fabulous investment. The company has seen mixed reviews from users across the country; but if it overall provides effective - FREE to students -- assistance, I think it's money well spent. Lots of kids don't have people at home who can help them with algebra, or who remember the periodic table, or have any clue what English teachers are looking for how they're teaching literature today, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Considering there is no homework in grades 6-8 due to equity (?!?!?!?!?!?) not sure what use this will be

This is not true. My kid is a 7th grader and has math homework and homework in his language most days at a minimum and we're only a couple weeks into school. They also need to study for tests.

The equitable policy is they don't grade the homework and they grade the tests and you can have retakes up to a certain point. So basically they don't grade you while you're practicing, they grade whether you've mastered the material. If you don't master the material, you get another chance (but only within certain parameters and timeframes). If you don't do the homework, you will probably not master the material as well.

People are all bent out of shape and if you just pause for a minute and actually listen to what they're doing, it makes sense. My kid has all the resources in the world, and these policies work better for him. He has time to master the material and if he really isn't getting something, he's still motivated to learn it through retakes.

I can get on board with a student's grade being almost fully based on their level of mastery of the material. But I believe they should be taught to do other assignments because it teaches time management; that you have to do stuff that seems a waste of time all the time in adult life and work life; and still encourages a lot of students to do the practice that results in better mastery rather than re-taking tests over and over. With multiple options for re-takes in all classes for all exams, students don't learn consequences of deadlines and the fact that employers and other life situations don't give re-dos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I can get on board with a student's grade being almost fully based on their level of mastery of the material. But I believe they should be taught to do other assignments because it teaches time management; that you have to do stuff that seems a waste of time all the time in adult life and work life; and still encourages a lot of students to do the practice that results in better mastery rather than re-taking tests over and over. With multiple options for re-takes in all classes for all exams, students don't learn consequences of deadlines and the fact that employers and other life situations don't give re-dos.

This is my issue too. There's also the issue that the lowest grade they can get is 50% if I understand correctly. At least two teachers on BTSN expressed frustration that a young person can receive partial credit for doing nothing at all. Yes, 50% is still a failing grade but it's the concept that is upsetting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read about this when it was launched and ... I admit it, I was underwhelmed by the tutoring being a chat program. And also educational videos. These are not live in person tutoring sessions, nor are they even zoom tutoring sessions. It's a chat.

I'm sorry to be such a downer and note some parents here are posting their kid had a good experience with it so wtf do I know? Maybe kids can learn during a chat -- I think for some though that won't be optimal.

Still, though, if you're studying for a test and you're stuck on something and your parents/family can't help, you now suddenly have this other lifeline -- that's a good thing. Yay!

Your last statement is the real value. "Tutoring" is probably a somewhat misleading term to describe the program. Students who really need a lot of help in a subject might be better off with a personal tutor; but this can be a great help for individual concept help, individual questions, etc. I'm not sure I like the writing review aspect, though. Seems that should be done with the teacher. there are so many opinions and preferences with writing and the "tutor" may not know what the student's specific assignment or teacher are looking for. On the other hand, maybe it's similar to a student who asks a parent or classmate to review their paper before submitting it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read about this when it was launched and ... I admit it, I was underwhelmed by the tutoring being a chat program. And also educational videos. These are not live in person tutoring sessions, nor are they even zoom tutoring sessions. It's a chat.

I'm sorry to be such a downer and note some parents here are posting their kid had a good experience with it so wtf do I know? Maybe kids can learn during a chat -- I think for some though that won't be optimal.

Still, though, if you're studying for a test and you're stuck on something and your parents/family can't help, you now suddenly have this other lifeline -- that's a good thing. Yay!

I think my problem is calling this service "tutoring." This is live 27/7 chat support with a trained tutor, but I don't think of chat support or prerecorded videos as tutoring. Maybe I'm too old school, or just too old.

It's for immediate questions, not long-term learning. An "Education Help Desk".

I think it still can be useful for many kids. I think it'd be helpful for kids who don't always have a parent at home or friend to call to help answer questions.

Oh, I like the "educational help desk" term!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I can get on board with a student's grade being almost fully based on their level of mastery of the material. But I believe they should be taught to do other assignments because it teaches time management; that you have to do stuff that seems a waste of time all the time in adult life and work life; and still encourages a lot of students to do the practice that results in better mastery rather than re-taking tests over and over. With multiple options for re-takes in all classes for all exams, students don't learn consequences of deadlines and the fact that employers and other life situations don't give re-dos.

This is my issue too. There's also the issue that the lowest grade they can get is 50% if I understand correctly. At least two teachers on BTSN expressed frustration that a young person can receive partial credit for doing nothing at all. Yes, 50% is still a failing grade but it's the concept that is upsetting.

It's the "participation trophy" and "everybody wins" concept extended from toddler and little league sports. It is perhaps the most detrimental thing we've done to this generation of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Considering there is no homework in grades 6-8 due to equity (?!?!?!?!?!?) not sure what use this will be

This is not true. My kid is a 7th grader and has math homework and homework in his language most days at a minimum and we're only a couple weeks into school. They also need to study for tests.

The equitable policy is they don't grade the homework and they grade the tests and you can have retakes up to a certain point. So basically they don't grade you while you're practicing, they grade whether you've mastered the material. If you don't master the material, you get another chance (but only within certain parameters and timeframes). If you don't do the homework, you will probably not master the material as well.

People are all bent out of shape and if you just pause for a minute and actually listen to what they're doing, it makes sense. My kid has all the resources in the world, and these policies work better for him. He has time to master the material and if he really isn't getting something, he's still motivated to learn it through retakes.

I can get on board with a student's grade being almost fully based on their level of mastery of the material. But I believe they should be taught to do other assignments because it teaches time management; that you have to do stuff that seems a waste of time all the time in adult life and work life; and still encourages a lot of students to do the practice that results in better mastery rather than re-taking tests over and over. With multiple options for re-takes in all classes for all exams, students don't learn consequences of deadlines and the fact that employers and other life situations don't give re-dos.

If there are no consequence for not doing homework, how is it required?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Considering there is no homework in grades 6-8 due to equity (?!?!?!?!?!?) not sure what use this will be

This is not true. My kid is a 7th grader and has math homework and homework in his language most days at a minimum and we're only a couple weeks into school. They also need to study for tests.

The equitable policy is they don't grade the homework and they grade the tests and you can have retakes up to a certain point. So basically they don't grade you while you're practicing, they grade whether you've mastered the material. If you don't master the material, you get another chance (but only within certain parameters and timeframes). If you don't do the homework, you will probably not master the material as well.

People are all bent out of shape and if you just pause for a minute and actually listen to what they're doing, it makes sense. My kid has all the resources in the world, and these policies work better for him. He has time to master the material and if he really isn't getting something, he's still motivated to learn it through retakes.

I can get on board with a student's grade being almost fully based on their level of mastery of the material. But I believe they should be taught to do other assignments because it teaches time management; that you have to do stuff that seems a waste of time all the time in adult life and work life; and still encourages a lot of students to do the practice that results in better mastery rather than re-taking tests over and over. With multiple options for re-takes in all classes for all exams, students don't learn consequences of deadlines and the fact that employers and other life situations don't give re-dos.

So a couple things if you actually listen to the teachers. They can't retake indefinitely. They need to retake pretty quickly. Three teachers mentioned this specifically and said when they've moved substantially into other material, no retakes. Some had a ceiling on retakes where you could only get highest of a 90 on a retake.

I think it teaches a valuable lesson to kids that if you don't do the homework leading up to the unit test, well you might not do very well. So sort it out and manage yourself. There is no free pass at the end of it all. Eventually they have to take a test and get some kind of score. But there's also always a chance to rebound if you put the effort in, which is good for kids. Doesn't totally kill their motivation. It's actually teaching them more accountability and time management skills in the long run, which is more how life and work really work. Your boss isn't giving you 10 check-ins before the project is due. They just want the project at the end.