Middle school at APS

[Anonymous]

OP here.. I should have added that our child already has an IEP in place, but elementary school is a real
Struggle academically (is dyslexic along with other struggles) and socially .. despite many accommodations and our ES making an effort to support in anyway they can. I worry in middle school our child will be lost with all the transitions and changing social dynamics and heavy use of tech (he struggles with the fast pace of some learning apps and grows frustrated with moving up levels) . We are assigned to Williamsburg but are considering a private specialty school- commonwealth or maybe Newton. Have heard better things abt Williamsburg vs others.. but seems that changes every year!

Thank you for all the feedback. This is very helpful

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Help me to understand what middle school at APS looks like...I'm assuming they switch classes? Do they have teams..ie a couple of teachers to a "team" that the kids switch classes between (this is how I did it growing up) How heavily do they rely on ipads/or chrome books? Do they have text books?

I ask because we have a 4th grader with adhd who struggles with executive functioning, academics and is addicted to screens.

Text books. You are hilarious.

Don’t worry your kid will do fine; there isn’t much homework so as long as they behave in class and do work as assigned during the block, there won’t be any issues with executive function. Everything is on the iPad so just track that one thing.

I could not disagree with this advice more. Don't worry your kids will be just fine? HOw dismissive and out of touch can you be?

I didn’t say they would be fine. I said they will perform fine in middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ours, they switch classes. They have teams, but I’m not sure how much that changes things- they don’t appear to be physically clustered. They get iPads and no textbooks. But I think they are doing more on paper and less on the iPad than in previous years.

Does your kid have an IEP? If so, his 5th grade review meeting will include middle school planning. There are special resource periods and home rooms for special ed kids that you can request. They were not offered to us until we asked about options, so I would ask specifically about any help that you think might be needed and not assume they are offering everything.

Trams means the classes are just with your cohort of 1/3 of your grade. You will only have classes with your team, it’s like you go to 3 separate smaller schools. It kind of sucks if your elementary friends are split on another team, you could end up knowing almost no one in your classes.

And you could end up making more/new friends.
Friendships change significantly through middle school and into high school regardless.
Speaking from personal experience, yes, it is comforting to have a friend in your first homeroom in middle school. My best friend and I were; but we very quickly fell into different social circles as we met the other kids in our classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 8th grader at Gunston has a math textbook this year as well. I’m addition to a math workbook.

Hasn’t middle school always had math textbooks?

Well, he didn’t have one in 6th or 7th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ours, they switch classes. They have teams, but I’m not sure how much that changes things- they don’t appear to be physically clustered. They get iPads and no textbooks. But I think they are doing more on paper and less on the iPad than in previous years.

Does your kid have an IEP? If so, his 5th grade review meeting will include middle school planning. There are special resource periods and home rooms for special ed kids that you can request. They were not offered to us until we asked about options, so I would ask specifically about any help that you think might be needed and not assume they are offering everything.

Trams means the classes are just with your cohort of 1/3 of your grade. You will only have classes with your team, it’s like you go to 3 separate smaller schools. It kind of sucks if your elementary friends are split on another team, you could end up knowing almost no one in your classes.

This isn't true. The core subjects are in the team. For my kid in 7th grade, it's just civics, English, and science with the team. Math where they are differentiated could be with anyone. Lunch is the whole grade (in my kid's MS at least). Elective period (could be band, chorus, drama, or whatever they offer) could be with anyone and your language once you get to 7th grade could be with anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ours, they switch classes. They have teams, but I’m not sure how much that changes things- they don’t appear to be physically clustered. They get iPads and no textbooks. But I think they are doing more on paper and less on the iPad than in previous years.

Does your kid have an IEP? If so, his 5th grade review meeting will include middle school planning. There are special resource periods and home rooms for special ed kids that you can request. They were not offered to us until we asked about options, so I would ask specifically about any help that you think might be needed and not assume they are offering everything.

Trams means the classes are just with your cohort of 1/3 of your grade. You will only have classes with your team, it’s like you go to 3 separate smaller schools. It kind of sucks if your elementary friends are split on another team, you could end up knowing almost no one in your classes.

This isn't true. The core subjects are in the team. For my kid in 7th grade, it's just civics, English, and science with the team. Math where they are differentiated could be with anyone. Lunch is the whole grade (in my kid's MS at least). Elective period (could be band, chorus, drama, or whatever they offer) could be with anyone and your language once you get to 7th grade could be with anyone.

Oh and I forgot PE which is very social. PE could be with anyone. That is the class they all want with friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ours, they switch classes. They have teams, but I’m not sure how much that changes things- they don’t appear to be physically clustered. They get iPads and no textbooks. But I think they are doing more on paper and less on the iPad than in previous years.

Does your kid have an IEP? If so, his 5th grade review meeting will include middle school planning. There are special resource periods and home rooms for special ed kids that you can request. They were not offered to us until we asked about options, so I would ask specifically about any help that you think might be needed and not assume they are offering everything.

Trams means the classes are just with your cohort of 1/3 of your grade. You will only have classes with your team, it’s like you go to 3 separate smaller schools. It kind of sucks if your elementary friends are split on another team, you could end up knowing almost no one in your classes.

And you could end up making more/new friends.
Friendships change significantly through middle school and into high school regardless.
Speaking from personal experience, yes, it is comforting to have a friend in your first homeroom in middle school. My best friend and I were; but we very quickly fell into different social circles as we met the other kids in our classes.

Basically in middle school as long as you aren’t alone you can make new friends. If you are isolated from your pack, you are tagged as a loser — same reason guys want a wingman because the single guy is bad scene.

You made new friends because they saw you were friend worthy with your BFF; you go into lunch room and not know anyone and sit alone, it’s the scarlet letter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ours, they switch classes. They have teams, but I’m not sure how much that changes things- they don’t appear to be physically clustered. They get iPads and no textbooks. But I think they are doing more on paper and less on the iPad than in previous years.

Does your kid have an IEP? If so, his 5th grade review meeting will include middle school planning. There are special resource periods and home rooms for special ed kids that you can request. They were not offered to us until we asked about options, so I would ask specifically about any help that you think might be needed and not assume they are offering everything.

Trams means the classes are just with your cohort of 1/3 of your grade. You will only have classes with your team, it’s like you go to 3 separate smaller schools. It kind of sucks if your elementary friends are split on another team, you could end up knowing almost no one in your classes.

This isn't true. The core subjects are in the team. For my kid in 7th grade, it's just civics, English, and science with the team. Math where they are differentiated could be with anyone. Lunch is the whole grade (in my kid's MS at least). Elective period (could be band, chorus, drama, or whatever they offer) could be with anyone and your language once you get to 7th grade could be with anyone.

In theory, but core subjects drive the schedule, so it’s pretty similar to team groupings.

Are all lunches the full grade? I thought few schools had capacity for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ours, they switch classes. They have teams, but I’m not sure how much that changes things- they don’t appear to be physically clustered. They get iPads and no textbooks. But I think they are doing more on paper and less on the iPad than in previous years.

Does your kid have an IEP? If so, his 5th grade review meeting will include middle school planning. There are special resource periods and home rooms for special ed kids that you can request. They were not offered to us until we asked about options, so I would ask specifically about any help that you think might be needed and not assume they are offering everything.

Trams means the classes are just with your cohort of 1/3 of your grade. You will only have classes with your team, it’s like you go to 3 separate smaller schools. It kind of sucks if your elementary friends are split on another team, you could end up knowing almost no one in your classes.

This isn't true. The core subjects are in the team. For my kid in 7th grade, it's just civics, English, and science with the team. Math where they are differentiated could be with anyone. Lunch is the whole grade (in my kid's MS at least). Elective period (could be band, chorus, drama, or whatever they offer) could be with anyone and your language once you get to 7th grade could be with anyone.

In theory, but core subjects drive the schedule, so it’s pretty similar to team groupings.

Are all lunches the full grade? I thought few schools had capacity for that.

Ok, not my kid's experience. He has different kids in all the things I mentioned above who are not in his team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ours, they switch classes. They have teams, but I’m not sure how much that changes things- they don’t appear to be physically clustered. They get iPads and no textbooks. But I think they are doing more on paper and less on the iPad than in previous years.

Does your kid have an IEP? If so, his 5th grade review meeting will include middle school planning. There are special resource periods and home rooms for special ed kids that you can request. They were not offered to us until we asked about options, so I would ask specifically about any help that you think might be needed and not assume they are offering everything.

Trams means the classes are just with your cohort of 1/3 of your grade. You will only have classes with your team, it’s like you go to 3 separate smaller schools. It kind of sucks if your elementary friends are split on another team, you could end up knowing almost no one in your classes.

This isn't true. The core subjects are in the team. For my kid in 7th grade, it's just civics, English, and science with the team. Math where they are differentiated could be with anyone. Lunch is the whole grade (in my kid's MS at least). Elective period (could be band, chorus, drama, or whatever they offer) could be with anyone and your language once you get to 7th grade could be with anyone.

In theory, but core subjects drive the schedule, so it’s pretty similar to team groupings.

Are all lunches the full grade? I thought few schools had capacity for that.

Swanson has all grade lunches and I think Williamsburg does? Don't know about others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ours, they switch classes. They have teams, but I’m not sure how much that changes things- they don’t appear to be physically clustered. They get iPads and no textbooks. But I think they are doing more on paper and less on the iPad than in previous years.

Does your kid have an IEP? If so, his 5th grade review meeting will include middle school planning. There are special resource periods and home rooms for special ed kids that you can request. They were not offered to us until we asked about options, so I would ask specifically about any help that you think might be needed and not assume they are offering everything.

Trams means the classes are just with your cohort of 1/3 of your grade. You will only have classes with your team, it’s like you go to 3 separate smaller schools. It kind of sucks if your elementary friends are split on another team, you could end up knowing almost no one in your classes.

This isn't true. The core subjects are in the team. For my kid in 7th grade, it's just civics, English, and science with the team. Math where they are differentiated could be with anyone. Lunch is the whole grade (in my kid's MS at least). Elective period (could be band, chorus, drama, or whatever they offer) could be with anyone and your language once you get to 7th grade could be with anyone.

In theory, but core subjects drive the schedule, so it’s pretty similar to team groupings.

Are all lunches the full grade? I thought few schools had capacity for that.

Ok, not my kid's experience. He has different kids in all the things I mentioned above who are not in his team.

Teams doesn't mean all the kids in all of your classes are going to be the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ours, they switch classes. They have teams, but I’m not sure how much that changes things- they don’t appear to be physically clustered. They get iPads and no textbooks. But I think they are doing more on paper and less on the iPad than in previous years.

Does your kid have an IEP? If so, his 5th grade review meeting will include middle school planning. There are special resource periods and home rooms for special ed kids that you can request. They were not offered to us until we asked about options, so I would ask specifically about any help that you think might be needed and not assume they are offering everything.

Trams means the classes are just with your cohort of 1/3 of your grade. You will only have classes with your team, it’s like you go to 3 separate smaller schools. It kind of sucks if your elementary friends are split on another team, you could end up knowing almost no one in your classes.

This isn't true. The core subjects are in the team. For my kid in 7th grade, it's just civics, English, and science with the team. Math where they are differentiated could be with anyone. Lunch is the whole grade (in my kid's MS at least). Elective period (could be band, chorus, drama, or whatever they offer) could be with anyone and your language once you get to 7th grade could be with anyone.

In theory, but core subjects drive the schedule, so it’s pretty similar to team groupings.

Are all lunches the full grade? I thought few schools had capacity for that.

Swanson has all grade lunches and I think Williamsburg does? Don't know about others.

Yes, all grade lunch at Williamsburg. Also, at Williamsburg they typically do three or four PE classes at the same time so even though your child and friend may have different teachers, they can play together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ours, they switch classes. They have teams, but I’m not sure how much that changes things- they don’t appear to be physically clustered. They get iPads and no textbooks. But I think they are doing more on paper and less on the iPad than in previous years.

Does your kid have an IEP? If so, his 5th grade review meeting will include middle school planning. There are special resource periods and home rooms for special ed kids that you can request. They were not offered to us until we asked about options, so I would ask specifically about any help that you think might be needed and not assume they are offering everything.

Trams means the classes are just with your cohort of 1/3 of your grade. You will only have classes with your team, it’s like you go to 3 separate smaller schools. It kind of sucks if your elementary friends are split on another team, you could end up knowing almost no one in your classes.

How do they split the teams? 100% randomly or with some sort of M/F, racial, academic consideration? Do the teams stay the same for all 3 years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ours, they switch classes. They have teams, but I’m not sure how much that changes things- they don’t appear to be physically clustered. They get iPads and no textbooks. But I think they are doing more on paper and less on the iPad than in previous years.

Does your kid have an IEP? If so, his 5th grade review meeting will include middle school planning. There are special resource periods and home rooms for special ed kids that you can request. They were not offered to us until we asked about options, so I would ask specifically about any help that you think might be needed and not assume they are offering everything.

Trams means the classes are just with your cohort of 1/3 of your grade. You will only have classes with your team, it’s like you go to 3 separate smaller schools. It kind of sucks if your elementary friends are split on another team, you could end up knowing almost no one in your classes.

How do they split the teams? 100% randomly or with some sort of M/F, racial, academic consideration? Do the teams stay the same for all 3 years?

No, the teams do not stay together. I have no idea how they do it… We were new to our middle school last year, so our child made friends pretty much only their team. This year they were on the opposite team from literally all of their new friends, so they had to make new connections in class again. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it was unexpected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At ours, they switch classes. They have teams, but I’m not sure how much that changes things- they don’t appear to be physically clustered. They get iPads and no textbooks. But I think they are doing more on paper and less on the iPad than in previous years.

Does your kid have an IEP? If so, his 5th grade review meeting will include middle school planning. There are special resource periods and home rooms for special ed kids that you can request. They were not offered to us until we asked about options, so I would ask specifically about any help that you think might be needed and not assume they are offering everything.

Trams means the classes are just with your cohort of 1/3 of your grade. You will only have classes with your team, it’s like you go to 3 separate smaller schools. It kind of sucks if your elementary friends are split on another team, you could end up knowing almost no one in your classes.

This isn't true. The core subjects are in the team. For my kid in 7th grade, it's just civics, English, and science with the team. Math where they are differentiated could be with anyone. Lunch is the whole grade (in my kid's MS at least). Elective period (could be band, chorus, drama, or whatever they offer) could be with anyone and your language once you get to 7th grade could be with anyone.

In theory, but core subjects drive the schedule, so it’s pretty similar to team groupings.

Are all lunches the full grade? I thought few schools had capacity for that.

Ok, not my kid's experience. He has different kids in all the things I mentioned above who are not in his team.

Teams doesn't mean all the kids in all of your classes are going to be the same.

Yes, I understand. He has classes with kids not in his team. In the classes I mentioned above - math, his elective, PE, and his language - he has friends in his classes who are not in his team.

Someone above is saying that the kids are in teams and then don't get to interact with other students much. It's as if there are separate schools within the school, the person said. Possibly it is that way at some APS middle schools but not ours.