Dorothy Hamm - 6th grade info

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I love that they all have reading in 6th. Even for my 99%+ bookworm.

I wouldn't get too excited. My 6th grader (at Swanson) last year said they didn't read any books at all. It was all just exercises using one of the apps (Lexia?). Child thought it was completely pointless.

I don't have to get excited because both of my kids already took reading in 6th. They read tons of books - together and independently, worked on reading comprehension, learned how to take notes (cornell notes), and worked on grammar (incl. Lexia for homework). I love that they have all kids do reading. It's such a critical skill that should be reinforced early and often.

I would complain about that class at Swanson - they should definitely be reading (and more) in reading class.

We’re at Gunston and the reading class is much more than Lexia. They have to read and review 10 books each quarter (long books count as 2) and they do many other assignments. Coupled with English it’s a good amount of work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I love that they all have reading in 6th. Even for my 99%+ bookworm.

I wouldn't get too excited. My 6th grader (at Swanson) last year said they didn't read any books at all. It was all just exercises using one of the apps (Lexia?). Child thought it was completely pointless.

An entire class all year just using Lexia?

It is half a year. My child did a language the other half of the year (which was great), though students can elect to take another semester long reading class instead of a language. My child read plenty of books on their own, but in the classroom said it was just exercises. The English class (year long) was better. Just our experience with one teacher at Swanson. Perhaps it was an anomaly.

[Anonymous]

Wondering about the afterschool activities at Hamm…is there anything in the way of STEM activities?

How is the school culture in general? Are the behaviors/bullying about on par as those found in other middle schools, better, worse? TIA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering about the afterschool activities at Hamm…is there anything in the way of STEM activities?

How is the school culture in general? Are the behaviors/bullying about on par as those found in other middle schools, better, worse? TIA

There are a few STEM activities.
https://dorothyhamm.apsva.us/clubs/
https://www.instagram.com/phoenix_activities

Not sure how it compares with other MSs but there is some bad stuff happening - fights, vaping, etc. They seem on top of it though and I’ve heard of kids getting suspended so it seems like it’s being managed. I only hear things second hand though so take it with a grain of salt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I love that they all have reading in 6th. Even for my 99%+ bookworm.

I wouldn't get too excited. My 6th grader (at Swanson) last year said they didn't read any books at all. It was all just exercises using one of the apps (Lexia?). Child thought it was completely pointless.

An entire class all year just using Lexia?

It is half a year. My child did a language the other half of the year (which was great), though students can elect to take another semester long reading class instead of a language. My child read plenty of books on their own, but in the classroom said it was just exercises. The English class (year long) was better. Just our experience with one teacher at Swanson. Perhaps it was an anomaly.

It’s full year for everyone at Hamm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I love that they all have reading in 6th. Even for my 99%+ bookworm.

I wouldn't get too excited. My 6th grader (at Swanson) last year said they didn't read any books at all. It was all just exercises using one of the apps (Lexia?). Child thought it was completely pointless.

I don't have to get excited because both of my kids already took reading in 6th. They read tons of books - together and independently, worked on reading comprehension, learned how to take notes (cornell notes), and worked on grammar (incl. Lexia for homework). I love that they have all kids do reading. It's such a critical skill that should be reinforced early and often.

I would complain about that class at Swanson - they should definitely be reading (and more) in reading class.

We’re at Gunston and the reading class is much more than Lexia. They have to read and review 10 books each quarter (long books count as 2) and they do many other assignments. Coupled with English it’s a good amount of work

What level of books are they reading that kids can get through 10 books in a quarter? Those must be exceptionally short and easy books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wondering about the afterschool activities at Hamm…is there anything in the way of STEM activities?

How is the school culture in general? Are the behaviors/bullying about on par as those found in other middle schools, better, worse? TIA

There are a few STEM activities.
https://dorothyhamm.apsva.us/clubs/
https://www.instagram.com/phoenix_activities

Not sure how it compares with other MSs but there is some bad stuff happening - fights, vaping, etc. They seem on top of it though and I’ve heard of kids getting suspended so it seems like it’s being managed. I only hear things second hand though so take it with a grain of salt.

There are STEM activities. Your student needs to be able to sign up and go to them on their own on the right day, but they have several after school activities.

I have a 6th grader and he hasn't reported any vaping, fights...and it's not at all out of the realm of the realistic that he'll be involved in that nonsense some day. But for now, there's been no chatter about it. The 6th graders are kinda kept apart from the older kids, though.

No reports of bullying either.