My kid is bored...

[Anonymous]

OP, if it's truly because your child is so advanced, then see if he could test into skipping a grade. If not, then ask the teachers if he can bring a book to read once he's done with his class work.

Even advanced kids generally aren't advanced in all areas. You might want to check with his pediatrician to see what else might be going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you sent your kid to a MS with weak facilities, enrichment and extra curriculars and teachers and staff who aren't paid well enough to stick around for many years.

If he were at a MS in Fairfax or maybe MoCo or Arlington, he'd have a good library and computer lab to haunt in search of inspiration. He's probably have access to a robotics lab, band and orchestra sessions during class time, a serious chess club, debate club, a range of languages to choose from, school musicals to get involved with etc. His teachers and school counselor would probably be more experienced than at BASIS.

BASIS was too short on fun, staff cohesion and inspiration for us. I'm an MIT grad who works in STEM.

The main difference between suburban middle schools, private schools and BASIS is....MONEY.

BASIS doesn't have the resources for much in the way of fun enrichment. Maybe you to invest more in activities for DC, OP, to buck him up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, if it's truly because your child is so advanced, then see if he could test into skipping a grade. If not, then ask the teachers if he can bring a book to read once he's done with his class work.

Even advanced kids generally aren't advanced in all areas. You might want to check with his pediatrician to see what else might be going on.

At BASIS, no way. Admins aren't allowed to consider it, not the model, not in marching orders from AZ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid maybe depressed?

no, just too smart for his own good

I love when people roll their eyes at things like this. Yes, there are kids who are bored senseless in school because they are smart and advanced. Truly, there are, whether or not your kid is one of them.

NP, who has multiple kids and only one of them fits this description.

I taught for ten years and literally NEVER encountered this. Super smart kids are the least likely to be bored because they generally are really easy to task with extensions and/or they are very creative at coming up with their own things.

99% likely parents who say this sort of stuff are parents of totally average kids who just aren't that into school.

+1. kids who love learning (and who usually have parents who love learning) find all kinds of creative ways to learn. From a few of these OP's posts, it seems like she and her kid actually kind of dislike learning...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid maybe depressed?

no, just too smart for his own good

I love when people roll their eyes at things like this. Yes, there are kids who are bored senseless in school because they are smart and advanced. Truly, there are, whether or not your kid is one of them.

NP, who has multiple kids and only one of them fits this description.

I taught for ten years and literally NEVER encountered this. Super smart kids are the least likely to be bored because they generally are really easy to task with extensions and/or they are very creative at coming up with their own things.

99% likely parents who say this sort of stuff are parents of totally average kids who just aren't that into school.

+2. The boy sounds average and says he is bored, like all average kids do. He probably just needs a hobby. Maybe suggest that he reads a book or volunteers somewhere.

+1. kids who love learning (and who usually have parents who love learning) find all kinds of creative ways to learn. From a few of these OP's posts, it seems like she and her kid actually kind of dislike learning...

[Anonymous]

Or maybe OP and her kid prefer more self-directed and hands-on learning, e.g. Montessori or Waldorf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you sent your kid to a MS with weak facilities, enrichment and extra curriculars and teachers and staff who aren't paid well enough to stick around for many years.

If he were at a MS in Fairfax or maybe MoCo or Arlington, he'd have a good library and computer lab to haunt in search of inspiration. He's probably have access to a robotics lab, band and orchestra sessions during class time, a serious chess club, debate club, a range of languages to choose from, school musicals to get involved with etc. His teachers and school counselor would probably be more experienced than at BASIS.

BASIS was too short on fun, staff cohesion and inspiration for us. I'm an MIT grad who works in STEM.

Obviously, you don't know much about Basis DC, Mr/Ms. MIT grad who works in STEM. Maybe in your day kids hung out in the library and computer lab, but I don't think that this is a "thing" nowadays. Moreover, kids in DC can walk to libraries and--breaking news--many even have their own computers. Maybe not where you live? In fact, Basis kids on Capitol Hill can stroll over to the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world, and use that if they wish.

Here is a link if people are interested about activities at Basis:

https://www.basised.com/washington-dc/files/2021/01/dc-tour-kit.pdf

One update from the above: USN&WR recently ranked Basis DC the number #1 public middle school in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your kid maybe depressed?

no, just too smart for his own good

I love when people roll their eyes at things like this. Yes, there are kids who are bored senseless in school because they are smart and advanced. Truly, there are, whether or not your kid is one of them.

NP, who has multiple kids and only one of them fits this description.

I taught for ten years and literally NEVER encountered this. Super smart kids are the least likely to be bored because they generally are really easy to task with extensions and/or they are very creative at coming up with their own things.

99% likely parents who say this sort of stuff are parents of totally average kids who just aren't that into school.

+1. kids who love learning (and who usually have parents who love learning) find all kinds of creative ways to learn. From a few of these OP's posts, it seems like she and her kid actually kind of dislike learning...

+2. The boy sounds average and says he is bored like all normal kids do. He probably just needs a hobby. Maybe suggest that he reads a book or volunteer somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you sent your kid to a MS with weak facilities, enrichment and extra curriculars and teachers and staff who aren't paid well enough to stick around for many years.

If he were at a MS in Fairfax or maybe MoCo or Arlington, he'd have a good library and computer lab to haunt in search of inspiration. He's probably have access to a robotics lab, band and orchestra sessions during class time, a serious chess club, debate club, a range of languages to choose from, school musicals to get involved with etc. His teachers and school counselor would probably be more experienced than at BASIS.

BASIS was too short on fun, staff cohesion and inspiration for us. I'm an MIT grad who works in STEM.

Obviously, you don't know much about Basis DC, Mr/Ms. MIT grad who works in STEM. Maybe in your day kids hung out in the library and computer lab, but I don't think that this is a "thing" nowadays. Moreover, kids in DC can walk to libraries and--breaking news--many even have their own computers. Maybe not where you live? In fact, Basis kids on Capitol Hill can stroll over to the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world, and use that if they wish.

Here is a link if people are interested about activities at Basis:

https://www.basised.com/washington-dc/files/2021/01/dc-tour-kit.pdf

One update from the above: USN&WR recently ranked Basis DC the number #1 public middle school in DC.

His statement that BASIS doesn't have a library or computer lab is factually correct. His statement that BASIS has high staff turnover, coupled with low pay, as compared to high-performing suburban middle schools in this Metro area is also factually correct. He's 2-2. Your activities list sounds great, but BASIS DC can only run so many high quality activities with the facilities and resources available to it (shoe-string budget for extra-curriculars).

#1 MS public MS in DC obviously isn't a high bar to clear. That's why the award goes to a school with a crappy building, mediocre ELA scores and so-so college acceptances, other than for a handful of grads bound for MIT and one or two Ivies.

[Anonymous]

You can’t afford private school? Your kid is smarter than you.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you looked at Truth? Supposed to be self-directed learning, maybe he can move ahead there at a more rapid pace.

[Anonymous]

Truth better for a truly academically advanced student?

Nuts.

Middle school libraries as superfluous in 2021?

Just as nuts. Fine middle school librarians and libraries help 11-15 year-olds learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, have you looked at Truth? Supposed to be self-directed learning, maybe he can move ahead there at a more rapid pace.

I was going to say this as well. I just moved my elementary kid from our neighborhood IB school to a Montessori charter, and feel it's the only way (in public) where the kids can actually drive their own learning and move ahead in areas where they want to accelerate. I imagine Truth, being a Montessori based middle school, may allow for the same?

[Anonymous]

Give him a crossword puzzle of some sort to do while in class.

[Anonymous]

are the rowdy kids canceled out after 5th grade? Are the rowdy kids keeping up with the work load? it seems ike it must get better each year no?