Are any APS Elementary Schools Offering After School Tutoring?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about Paper, the online tutoring service APS offers?

+1

Our middle school (DHMS) offers homework help after school. In addition to a study hall when you can reach out to teachers for help. Not exactly tutoring but some extra support is there if needed.

If your kid is testing behind I believe APS creates a learning plan to help remediate. How is he testing on school assessments?

This is a great example and happy to hear Hamm is doing this. It should be at all schools and teachers paid extra for that time if they want the hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you say struggling do you mean behind grade level or that they have to work really hard to stay at grade level?

Our child has been what a special educator friend described as “on the bubble” probably since covid closed things down. He wasn’t failing but he wasn’t thriving. He has struggled to keep up with peers in prior years, which is why we had him tested to see if there was anything underlying that would help explain his struggles. It seems academics just don’t come naturally to him.

This week though his teacher called to tell us that his report card would have a D for his math grade. She indicated that he struggles when he is not in small groups or 1:1. That he just gets lost, tries to finish super fast without checking for accuracy or correctness and then gets a bad score.

I was told when I tried to raise the question of additional interventions or supports two years ago that he had “to be two grade levels behind” in order to qualify for extra services. This was the VP at the time who said that in a group meeting.

[Anonymous]

It might that your kid is struggling to read even though it might appear like he can. Lots of kids just skip words they don’t know and they usually get close to the meaning of what they are reading but as they get older and the texts become more involved it is a struggle.

Your kid might have something diagnosable like dyslexia but he might also just need some basic phonics instruction to help him learn some basics to use when he can’t figure out a word. You can get a book called you child can read and it will give you phonics lessons with a script to teach it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you say struggling do you mean behind grade level or that they have to work really hard to stay at grade level?

Our child has been what a special educator friend described as “on the bubble” probably since covid closed things down. He wasn’t failing but he wasn’t thriving. He has struggled to keep up with peers in prior years, which is why we had him tested to see if there was anything underlying that would help explain his struggles. It seems academics just don’t come naturally to him.

This week though his teacher called to tell us that his report card would have a D for his math grade. She indicated that he struggles when he is not in small groups or 1:1. That he just gets lost, tries to finish super fast without checking for accuracy or correctness and then gets a bad score.

I was told when I tried to raise the question of additional interventions or supports two years ago that he had “to be two grade levels behind” in order to qualify for extra services. This was the VP at the time who said that in a group meeting.

Yep. If your kid doesn't have an IEP and isn't "significantly" behind, they are not going to get much more in APS than more dreambox and lexia at most schools. Not enough staff to serve all the need. And even if your kid does have an IEP, stay on top of that too. We left because all we ever got was progress reports that they were making progress even though they were falling apart academically and emotionally. Couldn't even get summer school because APS said they weren't significantly behind in both. Guess what? Not making progress and definitely behind in both math and reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you say struggling do you mean behind grade level or that they have to work really hard to stay at grade level?

Our child has been what a special educator friend described as “on the bubble” probably since covid closed things down. He wasn’t failing but he wasn’t thriving. He has struggled to keep up with peers in prior years, which is why we had him tested to see if there was anything underlying that would help explain his struggles. It seems academics just don’t come naturally to him.

This week though his teacher called to tell us that his report card would have a D for his math grade. She indicated that he struggles when he is not in small groups or 1:1. That he just gets lost, tries to finish super fast without checking for accuracy or correctness and then gets a bad score.

I was told when I tried to raise the question of additional interventions or supports two years ago that he had “to be two grade levels behind” in order to qualify for extra services. This was the VP at the time who said that in a group meeting.

Other posters have made good comments regarding possible IEP-related factors, which may best explain his struggles. But just as a general observation, math builds and if he has a weak foundation from grades 1-2 (which could easily occur in distance learning), he's going to feel lost in grade 3. You can't add multi-digit numbers if you're not solid on your facts. If he knows he will struggle with adding numbers in a column, he might just shut down & try to get through it as fast as possible. One possibility is to take him to Kumon and have them evaluate his math skills. If he has gaps, something like Kumon could be useful -- basic fact and procedural drills. That's not the favored approach these days, but unfortunately, a lot of kids don't get enough of that and suffer down the road; it looks like they're struggling with grade level math, when it's earlier gaps that are doing them in.

[Anonymous]

Amazing that we all just except that private tutoring for fundamentals like reading and math are just one more part of the exorbitant cost of life in Arlington...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Amazing that we all just except that private tutoring for fundamentals like reading and math are just one more part of the exorbitant cost of life in Arlington...

I think it is the cost of living anywhere that has a highly education population. I grew up in AZ and have family in TX. The schools are light years worse (like state test scores in the 10th percent range). The schools are objectively poor. No one gets tutors. Heck I have family with a kid with severe dyslexia. Their charter school in TX basically said they can't meet his needs and he should go private. His parents dismissed it and basically said it will all turn out fine. It is a different culture there..

I have friends that teach in NY in public and private and kids gave tutors there too because it's competitive and parents are educated to know when there is an issue, and they have the finances to do it.

[Anonymous]

OP, maybe you should consider holding your child back a year since he is behind and not catching up. I have several friends who held their kids back after Covid because they didn’t learn much virtually then couldn’t catch up the next year. Best decision for their kids.

Another friend finally moved her daughter with dyslexia to a private school with small classes and learning specialists.

My son is also not academically inclined. I initially hired tutors but finally moved him out of APS to a Catholic school with more structure and homework. He’s been doing well (As, Bs with a C on occasion).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, maybe you should consider holding your child back a year since he is behind and not catching up. I have several friends who held their kids back after Covid because they didn’t learn much virtually then couldn’t catch up the next year. Best decision for their kids.

Another friend finally moved her daughter with dyslexia to a private school with small classes and learning specialists.

My son is also not academically inclined. I initially hired tutors but finally moved him out of APS to a Catholic school with more structure and homework. He’s been doing well (As, Bs with a C on occasion).

The school will not agree to this for a child who is only a bit behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Amazing that we all just except that private tutoring for fundamentals like reading and math are just one more part of the exorbitant cost of life in Arlington...

There are plenty of kids here who do not really need tutors but have highly competitive parents who think their child needs to be the “best”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing that we all just except that private tutoring for fundamentals like reading and math are just one more part of the exorbitant cost of life in Arlington...

There are plenty of kids here who do not really need tutors but have highly competitive parents who think their child needs to be the “best”

There are a ton of kids who need intensive support or are below basic in reading and math. Not even half are proficient in math right now. Check out the APS dashboard. It's atrocious. The primary recommendation in this thread is "hire a tutor". Trust me when I say that even the most competitive parents would prefer to spend $1000 a month on something else to get their snowflake into Harvard. Families should not need to hire tutors to teach fundamental reading and math skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you say struggling do you mean behind grade level or that they have to work really hard to stay at grade level?

Our child has been what a special educator friend described as “on the bubble” probably since covid closed things down. He wasn’t failing but he wasn’t thriving. He has struggled to keep up with peers in prior years, which is why we had him tested to see if there was anything underlying that would help explain his struggles. It seems academics just don’t come naturally to him.

This week though his teacher called to tell us that his report card would have a D for his math grade. She indicated that he struggles when he is not in small groups or 1:1. That he just gets lost, tries to finish super fast without checking for accuracy or correctness and then gets a bad score.

I was told when I tried to raise the question of additional interventions or supports two years ago that he had “to be two grade levels behind” in order to qualify for extra services. This was the VP at the time who said that in a group meeting.

You mention "group meeting". Was this to assess a kid for special education? Don't get talked out of not assessing your kid for learning disabilities. A child with a learning disability does not have to be two grade levels behind to qualify for extra services. A child with a learning disability qualifies for services based on their need. It's in your interest to rule out any learning disabilities so you don't hear that BS from the assistant principals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing that we all just except that private tutoring for fundamentals like reading and math are just one more part of the exorbitant cost of life in Arlington...

There are plenty of kids here who do not really need tutors but have highly competitive parents who think their child needs to be the “best”

There are a ton of kids who need intensive support or are below basic in reading and math. Not even half are proficient in math right now. Check out the APS dashboard. It's atrocious. The primary recommendation in this thread is "hire a tutor". Trust me when I say that even the most competitive parents would prefer to spend $1000 a month on something else to get their snowflake into Harvard. Families should not need to hire tutors to teach fundamental reading and math skills.

Schools are shifting away from teaching math fundamentals, instead emphasizing group projects, discussions, explorations. All nice if your kid already knows the fundamentals. Not so good if they don't know the fundamentals and need time to practice them. You don't have to get a tutor. Buy a pack of flashcards. The point is that you need to make sure they have these fundamentals. If not, they're going to struggle through the whole pathway and it becomes increasingly hard to remediate because their gaps are from prior years. It's not about getting ahead; it's ensuring they don't fall behind. There seems to a shift in thinking on reading instruction so that's encouraging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing that we all just except that private tutoring for fundamentals like reading and math are just one more part of the exorbitant cost of life in Arlington...

There are plenty of kids here who do not really need tutors but have highly competitive parents who think their child needs to be the “best”

There are a ton of kids who need intensive support or are below basic in reading and math. Not even half are proficient in math right now. Check out the APS dashboard. It's atrocious. The primary recommendation in this thread is "hire a tutor". Trust me when I say that even the most competitive parents would prefer to spend $1000 a month on something else to get their snowflake into Harvard. Families should not need to hire tutors to teach fundamental reading and math skills.

Schools are shifting away from teaching math fundamentals, instead emphasizing group projects, discussions, explorations. All nice if your kid already knows the fundamentals. Not so good if they don't know the fundamentals and need time to practice them. You don't have to get a tutor. Buy a pack of flashcards. The point is that you need to make sure they have these fundamentals. If not, they're going to struggle through the whole pathway and it becomes increasingly hard to remediate because their gaps are from prior years. It's not about getting ahead; it's ensuring they don't fall behind. There seems to a shift in thinking on reading instruction so that's encouraging.

So we’d back to APS isn’t teaching fundamentals and we’re all supposed to be ok with that. Cool, cool.

[Anonymous]

Btw most parents paying for reading and math tutors started out with cheap fixes like flash cards. Again people are not shelling out every month because they didn’t try other things.