At what point is supplementing no longer sufficient?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to be in great public school district in Bethesda, and I still supplemented during elementary school. This is because ALL private and public primary schools have to cater to the lowest common denominator in math and reading, otherwise these kids can't do the rest of their schooling. There is some differentiation in MCPS late elementary, but usually not enough: my son was pulled into a fun advanced spelling group at his home school, and my daughter went to the CES for 4th and 5th, a kind of magnet for elementary kids.

Then by middle school my kids were in advanced tracks and I focused more on extra curricular activities, instead of reading/math/cursive. What PP is missing is that to get to these advanced tracks, some kids do need a bit of outside help... my son needed it, my daughter did not (but I still supplemented, just for her own edification).

So plan on supplementing for all their elementary school years. And before middle school, figure out whether and where you'd like to move for better secondary education. If I were you, I'd stick to public, to keep your powder dry for college. The price of college is exorbitant. My son's private uni is 65K a year total cost of attendance, and in-state public is 30-40K - when your kids get there, it will be much higher.

Our private supports the lowest performing students by doing pullouts and extra work during other periods. The other kids get put into different sections by level (needs a little help, on level, above grade level). In other words, how public schools did for free 30 years ago.

Many public schools still do something similar. Our elementary schools do pull outs for kids needing extra help. In kindergarten and first grade they all are not reading the same books. They all read at their level. Starting in 3rd grade they all read the same age appropriate books.

In middle school they have learning center classes for kids who need extra help They have advanced math. In high school the classes are based on ability. AP, calculus, etc

And be honest about your child. Parents don’t always have good perspective on their child’s abilities and that includes everything needed to work at the highest level. Not every kid is equipped to be in the most difficult classes. Too difficult is just as bad as too easy.

[Anonymous]

We have an 8th grader, and supplementing is still working for us. You have time, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have an 8th grader, and supplementing is still working for us. You have time, OP.

Why? What is the weakness?

[Anonymous]

This is nuts. Children learn best through play. Our kids are now successful in college, but we never supplemented school. We lived our lives, the kids went to school, participated in after school activities like sports or theater, the kids went to summer camp or the local pool and we went on vacation. They were sometimes bored and had to figure out what to do (because I always had chores to suggest). Kids do not need 6 hours a day of school followed by more school at home or on the weekends. They need to be with peers, to figure out how to get along and navigate and negotiate with people who are like them and people who are different from them