Inspired Teaching?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're getting pushback because you said, the school "is only good up to 3rd grade." Many ITDS parents don't feel the way you do. The school offers us something that other schools don't and it is "good" for our kids. All DC schools are likely "in need of improvement" with something (and of course, ITDS can be improved), but it's about finding a school that works best for your child. This school works best for mine. Not everyone wants the same thing you do. My kid is learning and thriving. No bullying. Great teachers. I'm not rationalizing. I'm just happy my kid is happy. However, you made the claim that all grades after 3rd grade are bad, really? I don't agree with that.

Anonymous wrote:
There is a strong current of rationalization among parents who love ITDS, that nothing is in need of improvement and anyone who wants different doesn't belong at the school anyway. And people who leave either want a high school (so not ITDS's fault) or they're uptight tiger parents who are damaging their kids.

I'm not the person who said that. I have a middle schooler at ITDS and I do think it is good after 3rd. I wish that my kid had gotten into Latin because I think it would be an excellent fit and provide needed differentiation. But I did not lottery for my kid elsewhere because ITDS is better than our other options.

However, I would not assert that there is no bullying I have seen it with my own eyes. And while some of the teachers are great, they are not all great. The less good seem to be encouraged to leave, which is nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a teen in ITDS middle school. He is having a good middle school experience thus far with great friends, teachers, and advanced learning. I have not heard complaints from middle school parents. The parents who complain are usually a small group in 4th-5th who are looking for a Basis-type experience for their kid. Most leave before reaching middle school.

Oh FFS. In our cohort the vast majority of rising 5th graders who left, headed to Latin. And the people who complain tend to be those who want more effective differentiation, such as offering geometry in 8th which is standard for DCPS schools. Or they want behavior/violence to be dealt with more effectively than the school is willing to do, or have had a bad experience with so-called "restorative" practices not putting a stop to the bullying and violence.

There is a strong current of rationalization among parents who love ITDS, that nothing is in need of improvement and anyone who wants different doesn't belong at the school anyway. And people who leave either want a high school (so not ITDS's fault) or they're uptight tiger parents who are damaging their kids.

NP. ITDS loses lots kids in the upper grades and it’s not just some are leaving for 5th for Latin. Correct about contingent of parents who won’t acknowledge problems at the school.

BTW it’s likely the same person from ITDS that has responded numerous times on this thread.

[Anonymous]

It's very unfortunate you saw bullying. My kid has not experienced that this year in ITDS middle school, but we've heard about a kid being expelled in another grade (so it seems like it is being dealt with).

ITDS is what it is. If I wanted Geometry for my 8th grader, then yes I would want to go to another school. But I am happy with Algebra in 8th grade.

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the person who said that. I have a middle schooler at ITDS and I do think it is good after 3rd. I wish that my kid had gotten into Latin because I think it would be an excellent fit and provide needed differentiation. But I did not lottery for my kid elsewhere because ITDS is better than our other options.

However, I would not assert that there is no bullying I have seen it with my own eyes. And while some of the teachers are great, they are not all great. The less good seem to be encouraged to leave, which is nice.

[Anonymous]

Is geometry in 8th grade now the standard? I ask because when I was growing up algebra in 8th was the standard. I went to a very competitive school and they did not offer algebra until 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a teen in ITDS middle school. He is having a good middle school experience thus far with great friends, teachers, and advanced learning. I have not heard complaints from middle school parents. The parents who complain are usually a small group in 4th-5th who are looking for a Basis-type experience for their kid. Most leave before reaching middle school.

Oh FFS. In our cohort the vast majority of rising 5th graders who left, headed to Latin. And the people who complain tend to be those who want more effective differentiation, such as offering geometry in 8th which is standard for DCPS schools. Or they want behavior/violence to be dealt with more effectively than the school is willing to do, or have had a bad experience with so-called "restorative" practices not putting a stop to the bullying and violence.

There is a strong current of rationalization among parents who love ITDS, that nothing is in need of improvement and anyone who wants different doesn't belong at the school anyway. And people who leave either want a high school (so not ITDS's fault) or they're uptight tiger parents who are damaging their kids.

NP. ITDS loses lots kids in the upper grades and it’s not just some are leaving for 5th for Latin. Correct about contingent of parents who won’t acknowledge problems at the school.

BTW it’s likely the same person from ITDS that has responded numerous times on this thread.

I'm not sure, the new Latin location definitely took a big bite out of ITDS' rising 5th and 6th grade classes in the past few years. But this year I'm hearing a lot less about that, Cooper has a long waitlist, and Truth took very few 6th graders from ITDS. So this may be a higher retention year. People do leave for all kinds of reasons, of course, but 5th is a big exodus.

And of course, upwards differentiation isn't a priority for everyone. Some people leave because they know their child won't get into a selective DCPS high school or private school, so they need a good by-right. One of the reasons ITDS gets a lot of its kids into selective schools is that the kids who won't get in tend to peel off before then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is geometry in 8th grade now the standard? I ask because when I was growing up algebra in 8th was the standard. I went to a very competitive school and they did not offer algebra until 9th grade.

I'm not sure I would call it "the standard", but it's an option for at least some kids at Latin, Deal, Stuart-Hobson, and some others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is geometry in 8th grade now the standard? I ask because when I was growing up algebra in 8th was the standard. I went to a very competitive school and they did not offer algebra until 9th grade.

I'm not sure I would call it "the standard", but it's an option for at least some kids at Latin, Deal, Stuart-Hobson, and some others.

It's an option of many of the DCPS schools -- basically there are two ways to accelerated (algebra in 7th and Geo in 8th, or algebra in 8th), and they test kids in the entry grades to figure out where to put them.

I think Latin does something similar?

BASIS accelerates all the kids one more level (algebra, geometry and algebra 2 by the end of 8th).

So, ITSs math curriculum may be a negative for anyone who has these other paths as an option and want Math acceleration.

[Anonymous]

The geometry thing is to my understanding still on the table. Possibly for some of next year's 7th graders or the the year after to begin taking algebra so that they can take geometry in 8th. In previous years they didn't have the capacity to offer this, but it may be possible in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The geometry thing is to my understanding still on the table. Possibly for some of next year's 7th graders or the the year after to begin taking algebra so that they can take geometry in 8th. In previous years they didn't have the capacity to offer this, but it may be possible in the future.

That would be awesome. I do understand it requires a re-think of the whole math sequence, and is a staffing and logistics and budget question as well. Part of the tradeoff of choosing a smaller school.

[Anonymous]

Geometry was pitched as "we will have it if your kid needs it, but based on test scores there's no one who currently needs it." There is a push for 7th graders to take Algebra this year though so that they'll be ready for 8th grade.

Anonymous wrote:The geometry thing is to my understanding still on the table. Possibly for some of next year's 7th graders or the the year after to begin taking algebra so that they can take geometry in 8th. In previous years they didn't have the capacity to offer this, but it may be possible in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geometry was pitched as "we will have it if your kid needs it, but based on test scores there's no one who currently needs it." There is a push for 7th graders to take Algebra this year though so that they'll be ready for 8th grade.

Anonymous wrote:The geometry thing is to my understanding still on the table. Possibly for some of next year's 7th graders or the the year after to begin taking algebra so that they can take geometry in 8th. In previous years they didn't have the capacity to offer this, but it may be possible in the future.

Yeah... That's not a good sign. The only way they're going to have geometry is if they re-think the sequence so that more kids are ready. And stop the attrition of high scoring math kids in the first place. I asked the HOS and got a pretty dismissive answer that it's for outlier kids. But... That's the kid I have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geometry was pitched as "we will have it if your kid needs it, but based on test scores there's no one who currently needs it." There is a push for 7th graders to take Algebra this year though so that they'll be ready for 8th grade.

Anonymous wrote:The geometry thing is to my understanding still on the table. Possibly for some of next year's 7th graders or the the year after to begin taking algebra so that they can take geometry in 8th. In previous years they didn't have the capacity to offer this, but it may be possible in the future.

Yeah... That's not a good sign. The only way they're going to have geometry is if they re-think the sequence so that more kids are ready. And stop the attrition of high scoring math kids in the first place. I asked the HOS and got a pretty dismissive answer that it's for outlier kids. But... That's the kid I have.

Honestly, the middle school is tiny and does not have any significant cohort of kids performing well in math to offer this. Their differentiation is basically giving a kid some harder problems. It’s not just math.

It also doesn’t help the high attrition rate that middle school has and new kids coming in who are weak in math already

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is geometry in 8th grade now the standard? I ask because when I was growing up algebra in 8th was the standard. I went to a very competitive school and they did not offer algebra until 9th grade.

I'm not sure I would call it "the standard", but it's an option for at least some kids at Latin, Deal, Stuart-Hobson, and some others.

It's an option of many of the DCPS schools -- basically there are two ways to accelerated (algebra in 7th and Geo in 8th, or algebra in 8th), and they test kids in the entry grades to figure out where to put them.

I think Latin does something similar?

BASIS accelerates all the kids one more level (algebra, geometry and algebra 2 by the end of 8th).

So, ITSs math curriculum may be a negative for anyone who has these other paths as an option and want Math acceleration.

I would also add DCI to above which is now accelerating kids 2 years ahead who can handle it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geometry was pitched as "we will have it if your kid needs it, but based on test scores there's no one who currently needs it." There is a push for 7th graders to take Algebra this year though so that they'll be ready for 8th grade.

Anonymous wrote:The geometry thing is to my understanding still on the table. Possibly for some of next year's 7th graders or the the year after to begin taking algebra so that they can take geometry in 8th. In previous years they didn't have the capacity to offer this, but it may be possible in the future.

Yeah... That's not a good sign. The only way they're going to have geometry is if they re-think the sequence so that more kids are ready. And stop the attrition of high scoring math kids in the first place. I asked the HOS and got a pretty dismissive answer that it's for outlier kids. But... That's the kid I have.

Honestly, the middle school is tiny and does not have any significant cohort of kids performing well in math to offer this. Their differentiation is basically giving a kid some harder problems. It’s not just math.

It also doesn’t help the high attrition rate that middle school has and new kids coming in who are weak in math already

Right. Those things are connected. But if they were willing to accelerate in 5th and 6th, rather than just offer some side projects to keep the smarter kids busy, then the cohort of kids actually ready for Algebra I and geometry could be larger than it currently is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geometry was pitched as "we will have it if your kid needs it, but based on test scores there's no one who currently needs it." There is a push for 7th graders to take Algebra this year though so that they'll be ready for 8th grade.

Anonymous wrote:The geometry thing is to my understanding still on the table. Possibly for some of next year's 7th graders or the the year after to begin taking algebra so that they can take geometry in 8th. In previous years they didn't have the capacity to offer this, but it may be possible in the future.

Yeah... That's not a good sign. The only way they're going to have geometry is if they re-think the sequence so that more kids are ready. And stop the attrition of high scoring math kids in the first place. I asked the HOS and got a pretty dismissive answer that it's for outlier kids. But... That's the kid I have.

Honestly, the middle school is tiny and does not have any significant cohort of kids performing well in math to offer this. Their differentiation is basically giving a kid some harder problems. It’s not just math.

It also doesn’t help the high attrition rate that middle school has and new kids coming in who are weak in math already

Right. Those things are connected. But if they were willing to accelerate in 5th and 6th, rather than just offer some side projects to keep the smarter kids busy, then the cohort of kids actually ready for Algebra I and geometry could be larger than it currently is.

It’s about priorities and reality is that it’s a low ROI and not worth it if you only have 1 or 2 kids. They are not going to hire another teacher for this or focus on them. The higher ROI is helping all the kids who are not doing well in math which is a much larger cohort.

And like any small middle school, but especially ITDS which is super tiny, offerings in everything is going to be very limited (classes/course selection, sports, extracurriculars, etc..)