I don't want to supplement at home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love living in the city so I hate to say this. However, if your school is greater than 25% FARMS, you really need to supplement at home in order to prevent those students from being a drain on your own child's education.

I know that's not pretty, but it's true. There are just so many poor students in DC and they need so much remediation that they get prioritized. If you can't find a way to avoid their influence (which is a force of numbers) then you have to find a way to mitigate it.

Wealthier schools help: private, certain DCPS, certain HRCs, suburbs. As long as you can keep their influence below 25% (preferably below 20%) then your child can be a positive influence on them, instead of them being a negative influence on your child.

My son is at a charter that is 75% FARMS, and he is being pushed above grade level with several of his peers. He may not be working to his full potential, but he's almost tested out of their elementary reading curriculum, and is performing much higher in math than most of his peers. It's a charter that gets dismissed on here time and time again because it's mostly AA, but it's a great school (KIPP). My son will be in 2nd grade in the fall, and he's doing work that is taught at the end of 3rd/beginning of 4th grade. He's very bright, and if I supplemented at home he would likely be doing even more challenging work. As it is, we play with numbers some at home, and because we don't own a TV he reads constantly and makes up all kinds of stories to go with his Legos and other toys.

[Anonymous]

I know this sounds dismissive but I don't mean it to be - get your kid obsessed with reading and computer coding. If she/he reads all the time and starts getting into programming, there's no way they won't be ready for high school English and math when the time comes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live on the hill and attend a sought-after charter. The "curriculum" (and I use that term loosely) is far from rigorous and it doesn't seem like the administration is interested in challenging students to perform above grade level. It has surprised me that so many parents seem happy and some kids seem to be achieving academically despite this, and recently it has started to become clear many parents are supplementing at home. For many reasons, that is not a model that is going to work for our family. So if you have a kid who is most probably capable of being an "advanced learner" but is not getting those challenges at school, but supplementing at home isn't an option, where can we go? Or is dcps off the table? We really want to stay in the city but don't see a school that has only 50-60% of its white students at grade level (and very very few above) an option. Please no judgment for not wanting to supplement. Our reasons are many and varied.

Move your child charters are for those that can supplement. Your child will learn in a DCPS. Don't go with the trend do what's best for your kid and your family. You will not get honesty here.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the helpful responses. Here's some more information in case it helps elicit any more good advice

We have already done our due diligence on the current school and determined we are not comfortable with it. We have determined if we were to stay, we would need to do some heavy-duty supplementing in order to feel like we're were doing right by our kids. We want them to achieve to their potential, academically.

My spouse and I both work full time and so in the evenings, we only have 2-3 hours per night with our kids. We do all the stuff "good" "smart" families are supposed to do-- discussions about current events, incorporating math and reading into everyday stuff we do as a family. We read stories together at night. We love spending weekends in the great outdoors and the boys are very into their sports teams, which is also important to us. We have not, in the past, done any sort of deliberate supplementing at home where there is a set curriculum, goals, etc.

Recently I have tried kumon and other workbooks. It just doesn't work. My kids, although they are fine with schoolwork done at school, are very resistant to doing it at home. They don't see the point if their teachers think they are doing fine. It becomes a battle and I would rather spend family time on the fun stuff and the enrichment side of things, and let school focus on the academic fundamentals.

Our in-bounds school is Maury. No personal experience with it since we lotteried into the charter, but have heard mixed things and don't want to pull the kids from somewhere they are happy only to find we didn't improve our situation and need to move again.

We can afford to, and would gladly (well somewhat gladly) move to be in bounds for JKLM. And we will attend those open houses this year. But I am realistic about what you can learn from an open house. Their test scores are respectable but we would be bummed to move only to find the reason the scores at those schools are good is that those parents are supplementing too.

Our ideal is a school where the kids get good fundamentals and are challenged to do advanced work (not necessarily "gifted"-- I am realistic about that). There will be homework from school but otherwise we can enjoy our limited family time doing sports, music, hiking, and enjoying each other's company. Is this possible in DC? I went to public schools myself and have plenty of friends from undergrad and grad school who also went to public schools and did very well academically. So I know private is not necessary. But a good public is...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We saw a similar issue at our old school, lotteried to a WOTP school and found the pace and curriculum more challenging. HTH

This is interesting, because a lot of us who live over here in Ward 3 find our DCPS to be uninspiring and, with the exception of math, slow paced.

[Anonymous]

not trying to turn this into a debate about which kids are gifted etc but DC definitely fails kids who really could do more rigourus work. Why would they help them it would just make the achievement gap that much wider and its a canyon right now. the focus is to bring the slower kids at least to grade level. I am from NC and I never realized how much they did for advanced kids. We had the test in GT classes but since I left the city I lived in now has a special school for those kids who truly are the 1% gifted (like teaching themselves trig in 5th grade kind of thing). I have friend who's daughter is in there and she is thriving. She really struggled socially in GT and now is with her peers< I think its tiny, like classes of 10-12.Again this is truly for the super gifted. NC also has a nationally recognized PUBLIC boarding school for math and science kids in HS. I had a friend end up there by 10th grade, Granted, NC is screwing over its general public education which used to be great but I took for granted that these things existed elsewhere and they don;t but they should. Its mind boggling to me in a city full of type A, educated and demanding parents that we don;t have that in DC. I know its all driven by political correctness and worry that such a program would skew so heavily white. the effort to be 100% inclusive means a lot of parents let their kids get screwed over. Makes no sense

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the helpful responses. Here's some more information in case it helps elicit any more good advice

We have already done our due diligence on the current school and determined we are not comfortable with it. We have determined if we were to stay, we would need to do some heavy-duty supplementing in order to feel like we're were doing right by our kids. We want them to achieve to their potential, academically.

My spouse and I both work full time and so in the evenings, we only have 2-3 hours per night with our kids. We do all the stuff "good" "smart" families are supposed to do-- discussions about current events, incorporating math and reading into everyday stuff we do as a family. We read stories together at night. We love spending weekends in the great outdoors and the boys are very into their sports teams, which is also important to us. We have not, in the past, done any sort of deliberate supplementing at home where there is a set curriculum, goals, etc.

Recently I have tried kumon and other workbooks. It just doesn't work. My kids, although they are fine with schoolwork done at school, are very resistant to doing it at home. They don't see the point if their teachers think they are doing fine. It becomes a battle and I would rather spend family time on the fun stuff and the enrichment side of things, and let school focus on the academic fundamentals.

Our in-bounds school is Maury. No personal experience with it since we lotteried into the charter, but have heard mixed things and don't want to pull the kids from somewhere they are happy only to find we didn't improve our situation and need to move again.

We can afford to, and would gladly (well somewhat gladly) move to be in bounds for JKLM. And we will attend those open houses this year. But I am realistic about what you can learn from an open house. Their test scores are respectable but we would be bummed to move only to find the reason the scores at those schools are good is that those parents are supplementing too.

Our ideal is a school where the kids get good fundamentals and are challenged to do advanced work (not necessarily "gifted"-- I am realistic about that). There will be homework from school but otherwise we can enjoy our limited family time doing sports, music, hiking, and enjoying each other's company. Is this possible in DC? I went to public schools myself and have plenty of friends from undergrad and grad school who also went to public schools and did very well academically. So I know private is not necessary. But a good public is...

If you are at TR, I would try Maury over TR in terms of curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Suburban publics won't be much better for what you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We saw a similar issue at our old school, lotteried to a WOTP school and found the pace and curriculum more challenging. HTH

This is interesting, because a lot of us who live over here in Ward 3 find our DCPS to be uninspiring and, with the exception of math, slow paced.

There will always be folks who are dissatisfied no matter what.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the helpful responses. Here's some more information in case it helps elicit any more good advice

We have already done our due diligence on the current school and determined we are not comfortable with it. We have determined if we were to stay, we would need to do some heavy-duty supplementing in order to feel like we're were doing right by our kids. We want them to achieve to their potential, academically.

My spouse and I both work full time and so in the evenings, we only have 2-3 hours per night with our kids. We do all the stuff "good" "smart" families are supposed to do-- discussions about current events, incorporating math and reading into everyday stuff we do as a family. We read stories together at night. We love spending weekends in the great outdoors and the boys are very into their sports teams, which is also important to us. We have not, in the past, done any sort of deliberate supplementing at home where there is a set curriculum, goals, etc.

Recently I have tried kumon and other workbooks. It just doesn't work. My kids, although they are fine with schoolwork done at school, are very resistant to doing it at home. They don't see the point if their teachers think they are doing fine. It becomes a battle and I would rather spend family time on the fun stuff and the enrichment side of things, and let school focus on the academic fundamentals.

Our in-bounds school is Maury. No personal experience with it since we lotteried into the charter, but have heard mixed things and don't want to pull the kids from somewhere they are happy only to find we didn't improve our situation and need to move again.

We can afford to, and would gladly (well somewhat gladly) move to be in bounds for JKLM. And we will attend those open houses this year. But I am realistic about what you can learn from an open house. Their test scores are respectable but we would be bummed to move only to find the reason the scores at those schools are good is that those parents are supplementing too.

Our ideal is a school where the kids get good fundamentals and are challenged to do advanced work (not necessarily "gifted"-- I am realistic about that). There will be homework from school but otherwise we can enjoy our limited family time doing sports, music, hiking, and enjoying each other's company. Is this possible in DC? I went to public schools myself and have plenty of friends from undergrad and grad school who also went to public schools and did very well academically. So I know private is not necessary. But a good public is...

I completely understand where you are coming from. Although our kids are in EOTP DCPS Public School, I too want to spend our evenings and weekends with Enrichment Activities and not true Supplementing. At this point, I think the benefits of our current situation outweigh the cons. We don't supplement at home... we focus on the enrichment activities.. but might consider it in the future. If we did so, however, it would have to be with a tutor/program because our kids are also resistant to parent instruction.

I do think spending 10-15 minutes doing something like Khan Academy might be an option to explore for Math supplementation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:reading is the only supplement you need. If you know language - it's rhythms and moves - you'll do just fine. You can always get caught up in math, but vocabulary ect just takes lots and lots of reading. You have to encounter a new word three times before you know it and can use it.

If this were true, so many DCPS students wouldn't be performing so poorly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the helpful responses. Here's some more information in case it helps elicit any more good advice

We have already done our due diligence on the current school and determined we are not comfortable with it. We have determined if we were to stay, we would need to do some heavy-duty supplementing in order to feel like we're were doing right by our kids. We want them to achieve to their potential, academically.

My spouse and I both work full time and so in the evenings, we only have 2-3 hours per night with our kids. We do all the stuff "good" "smart" families are supposed to do-- discussions about current events, incorporating math and reading into everyday stuff we do as a family. We read stories together at night. We love spending weekends in the great outdoors and the boys are very into their sports teams, which is also important to us. We have not, in the past, done any sort of deliberate supplementing at home where there is a set curriculum, goals, etc.

Recently I have tried kumon and other workbooks. It just doesn't work. My kids, although they are fine with schoolwork done at school, are very resistant to doing it at home. They don't see the point if their teachers think they are doing fine. It becomes a battle and I would rather spend family time on the fun stuff and the enrichment side of things, and let school focus on the academic fundamentals.

Our in-bounds school is Maury. No personal experience with it since we lotteried into the charter, but have heard mixed things and don't want to pull the kids from somewhere they are happy only to find we didn't improve our situation and need to move again.

We can afford to, and would gladly (well somewhat gladly) move to be in bounds for JKLM. And we will attend those open houses this year. But I am realistic about what you can learn from an open house. Their test scores are respectable but we would be bummed to move only to find the reason the scores at those schools are good is that those parents are supplementing too.

Our ideal is a school where the kids get good fundamentals and are challenged to do advanced work (not necessarily "gifted"-- I am realistic about that). There will be homework from school but otherwise we can enjoy our limited family time doing sports, music, hiking, and enjoying each other's company. Is this possible in DC? I went to public schools myself and have plenty of friends from undergrad and grad school who also went to public schools and did very well academically. So I know private is not necessary. But a good public is...

I completely understand where you are coming from. Although our kids are in EOTP DCPS Public School, I too want to spend our evenings and weekends with Enrichment Activities and not true Supplementing. At this point, I think the benefits of our current situation outweigh the cons. We don't supplement at home... we focus on the enrichment activities.. but might consider it in the future. If we did so, however, it would have to be with a tutor/program because our kids are also resistant to parent instruction.

I do think spending 10-15 minutes doing something like Khan Academy might be an option to explore for Math supplementation.

Do your kids ever kick back, read books, daydream? We did so much of that back when I was a kid, and I think it did more than all the Kumon in the world. I realize you have to run a tight ship with your schedule, but it sounds exhausting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the helpful responses. Here's some more information in case it helps elicit any more good advice

We have already done our due diligence on the current school and determined we are not comfortable with it. We have determined if we were to stay, we would need to do some heavy-duty supplementing in order to feel like we're were doing right by our kids. We want them to achieve to their potential, academically.

My spouse and I both work full time and so in the evenings, we only have 2-3 hours per night with our kids. We do all the stuff "good" "smart" families are supposed to do-- discussions about current events, incorporating math and reading into everyday stuff we do as a family. We read stories together at night. We love spending weekends in the great outdoors and the boys are very into their sports teams, which is also important to us. We have not, in the past, done any sort of deliberate supplementing at home where there is a set curriculum, goals, etc.

Recently I have tried kumon and other workbooks. It just doesn't work. My kids, although they are fine with schoolwork done at school, are very resistant to doing it at home. They don't see the point if their teachers think they are doing fine. It becomes a battle and I would rather spend family time on the fun stuff and the enrichment side of things, and let school focus on the academic fundamentals.

Our in-bounds school is Maury. No personal experience with it since we lotteried into the charter, but have heard mixed things and don't want to pull the kids from somewhere they are happy only to find we didn't improve our situation and need to move again.

We can afford to, and would gladly (well somewhat gladly) move to be in bounds for JKLM. And we will attend those open houses this year. But I am realistic about what you can learn from an open house. Their test scores are respectable but we would be bummed to move only to find the reason the scores at those schools are good is that those parents are supplementing too.

Our ideal is a school where the kids get good fundamentals and are challenged to do advanced work (not necessarily "gifted"-- I am realistic about that). There will be homework from school but otherwise we can enjoy our limited family time doing sports, music, hiking, and enjoying each other's company. Is this possible in DC? I went to public schools myself and have plenty of friends from undergrad and grad school who also went to public schools and did very well academically. So I know private is not necessary. But a good public is...

You sound a bit lazy. You expect your children to have academic rigor without any personal (time) or financial (private school) sacrifice on your part. In that case, I can't help you.

[Anonymous]

Speaking broadly, I think there is now a newish educational model embraced by DC public schools catering to higher SES whereby children do "enrichment" at school (exploring, social/emotional, learning to think/discuss, art, nature) with standard treatment of math and language arts fundamentals. If you want your child to grind ahead in math, for example -- or if your child needs support in spelling -- that's for the parent. I have the impression that this may also be the case with private schools, though I have no direct experience; I see this is sometimes a matter for discussion on the private school board, where proponents of different schools say their children emerge with "a love for learning."

If you want determined focus on academics, you can try to find a suitable DCPS, as 11:57 suggested, bc the "rising" DCPS schools tend to focus on test prep (along with some enrichment). You'll need to poke around to figure out whether any given school will be able to differentiate up to your child's level of proficiency.

This is very broad brush, and not very well expressed. You need to think a bit about the education that you actually want for your child.

[Anonymous]

Lol, you think she sounds lazy. I think she sounds frighteningly over scheduled and over prepared.