New Parent In GDS 9th: The Lack of Transparency Alarms Me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Remember that before 9th grade, students at GDS don't have any grades at all (just progressing/etc), so checking on grades is not part of the culture and students and parents don't expect real-time grade reports. I can imagine coming from a school system where there were grades, this may feel foreign. The emphasis is really on learning rather than grades, per se, before 9th grade. The culture is that kids are expected to be accountable, and parents don't really micro manage their kids, as I have experienced GDS, and that this is a real positive. If you have concerns, I would reach out to your kids advisor. Students at GDS are expected to be able to teach themselves content at a certain point, and to be able to be their own advocate; at the same time, if a student is falling behind here are plenty of resources on student free period. Good luck!

I wouldn't describe it as teaching themselves as much as students are expected to be able to attain a base level of understanding of a topic on their own, and class is for discussion and pushing that knowledge. Teachers are very available outside of class to help, but they are there for specific questions, issues or problems that a student has already worked to the best of their ability. Not directed at OP's son, but if that's not how a particular child learns best, then GDS may not be the best place for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Remember that before 9th grade, students at GDS don't have any grades at all (just progressing/etc), so checking on grades is not part of the culture and students and parents don't expect real-time grade reports. I can imagine coming from a school system where there were grades, this may feel foreign. The emphasis is really on learning rather than grades, per se, before 9th grade. The culture is that kids are expected to be accountable, and parents don't really micro manage their kids, as I have experienced GDS, and that this is a real positive. If you have concerns, I would reach out to your kids advisor. Students at GDS are expected to be able to teach themselves content at a certain point, and to be able to be their own advocate; at the same time, if a student is falling behind here are plenty of resources on student free period. Good luck!

I wouldn't describe it as teaching themselves as much as students are expected to be able to attain a base level of understanding of a topic on their own, and class is for discussion and pushing that knowledge. Teachers are very available outside of class to help, but they are there for specific questions, issues or problems that a student has already worked to the best of their ability. Not directed at OP's son, but if that's not how a particular child learns best, then GDS may not be the best place for them.

As a parent of a GDS 9th grader, I agree with that characterization. My child loves the resulting conversations/discussions in class. My other child needs more scaffolding and so doesn't go to GDS.

[Anonymous]

PP here, correct - base level of understanding is maybe more accurate, at large - but for some science classes, in particular - kids are also teaching themselves, if on the honors track later, as this will be expected in college science. The class time is for enrichment/ adding on to the base learning.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like your kid is going in unprepared for the meetings with teachers. i.e. is he saying "can you read my paper and tell me what to improve" or "can you explain this project to me" when the teacher likely went over it in class. You kid needs to be going in "prepared" for these one on ones, i.e. say "I want to get feedback on my thesis and if you think my argument xx is properly supporting xxx" or "I am confused about this direction on the project, can you explain if you want me to do xx or xx for this portion."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what you expect? Your kid is in high school. You don’t need to see his grades in real time. DC is at another big 3 and there is no way for the parents to see grades in real time. It’s the norm at a lot of schools. As for the copy editing comment, what exactly did your kid ask? If he wants somebody to go through line by line, that is not the norm either. Kids at these schools are not spoonfed information where all they have to do is regurgitate what they memorized. Is this your first year at a private school in general?

We are not at a "big-3" and we have realtime data on this. Its pretty standard at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don't get my 9th grader's grades, but we've gotten more communication from teachers than I expected. Two teachers have taken the time to send positive student updates that gave specific examples of things my child is doing well. The written feedback on my child's first English paper was the best feedback he's ever received -- specific, positive and places to grow, focused on ideas.

Ditto for my 9th grader.

They received a huge amount of feedback written on the first English paper and the teacher appreciated it when DC went to meet with teacher to discuss (same feedback) with the teacher in-person. Also have received positive student updates with both examples of where my DC is doing well and providing some areas to work on. DC also had positive experience meeting with another teacher after a test.

We have never followed our children's grades online. I do think my GDS freshman will need to get used to keeping track of their grade over the semester though. So far they aren't bothering - but I think it'd be good practice to start. Seeing what teacher says grades will be and keeping track of where they stand on their own (which might require checking in with teacher on items they don't have)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what you expect? Your kid is in high school. You don’t need to see his grades in real time. DC is at another big 3 and there is no way for the parents to see grades in real time. It’s the norm at a lot of schools. As for the copy editing comment, what exactly did your kid ask? If he wants somebody to go through line by line, that is not the norm either. Kids at these schools are not spoonfed information where all they have to do is regurgitate what they memorized. Is this your first year at a private school in general?

We are not at a "big-3" and we have realtime data on this. Its pretty standard at this point.

For high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't get my 9th grader's grades, but we've gotten more communication from teachers than I expected. Two teachers have taken the time to send positive student updates that gave specific examples of things my child is doing well. The written feedback on my child's first English paper was the best feedback he's ever received -- specific, positive and places to grow, focused on ideas.

Ditto for my 9th grader.

They received a huge amount of feedback written on the first English paper and the teacher appreciated it when DC went to meet with teacher to discuss (same feedback) with the teacher in-person. Also have received positive student updates with both examples of where my DC is doing well and providing some areas to work on. DC also had positive experience meeting with another teacher after a test.

We have never followed our children's grades online. I do think my GDS freshman will need to get used to keeping track of their grade over the semester though. So far they aren't bothering - but I think it'd be good practice to start. Seeing what teacher says grades will be and keeping track of where they stand on their own (which might require checking in with teacher on items they don't have)

For those considering GDS HS, I wouldn't expect a lot of direct teacher-to-parent communication outside of the parent-teacher conferences in the fall and responses to specific questions you ask. The school really wants the student front-and-center when it comes to feedback from and communication with their teachers. This was made pretty clear to us when our child was in MS, and it's certainly been true for us in HS.

[Anonymous]

If your kid is coming in from public, he will be in for a rude awakening, because displaying basic competency isn't enough for straight A's at GDS or any elite private. He will have to dig much deeper in the texts, develop more sophisticated writing, and think more abstractly in math.

If you can afford it, I'd recommend getting a writing tutor to teach him how to develop strong prose and how to read for meaning.

[Anonymous]

+10000%% so true. It is a thing i love about GDS: kids are independent. This is not a place for “hovering” or micro managing parents in the HS. Students graduate and have executive functioning skills to thrive in college.

[Anonymous]

Land the helicopter, OP. You kid is in high school - not kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The grades thing is as it should be. Students not getting help when going to the teacher is not good, however.

I agree. It's literally their job.

How many times have I heard that private is better because students get personal attention and support and don’t fall through the cracks? We get teacher writing feedback and help in history for free over here in public. They also communicate the grades in real time to parents and students.

WHOever claims that teachers are not available to help students 1:1 when the student asks is not being truthful, at Sidwell STA NCS and GDS. maybe other independent schools too. But certainly these 4.

Yes, that is in fact what we pay for. OP needs to loosen the apron strings a little

We know of many cases at Sidwell where students were not helped.

[Anonymous]

Schools are not supposed to be transparent. You would keep running into the walls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The grades thing is as it should be. Students not getting help when going to the teacher is not good, however.

I agree. It's literally their job.

How many times have I heard that private is better because students get personal attention and support and don’t fall through the cracks? We get teacher writing feedback and help in history for free over here in public. They also communicate the grades in real time to parents and students.

WHOever claims that teachers are not available to help students 1:1 when the student asks is not being truthful, at Sidwell STA NCS and GDS. maybe other independent schools too. But certainly these 4.

Yes, that is in fact what we pay for. OP needs to loosen the apron strings a little

We know of many cases at Sidwell where students were not helped.

Do your children attend Sidwell?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like your kid is going in unprepared for the meetings with teachers. i.e. is he saying "can you read my paper and tell me what to improve" or "can you explain this project to me" when the teacher likely went over it in class. You kid needs to be going in "prepared" for these one on ones, i.e. say "I want to get feedback on my thesis and if you think my argument xx is properly supporting xxx" or "I am confused about this direction on the project, can you explain if you want me to do xx or xx for this portion."

Got it. So a child new to the school works up the guts to ask for help, but if he doesn’t ask for help in just the right way, he is brushed off. He will have to self-teach science, and parents paying the bill are excluded from any involvement, transparency and communication. They are gaslit that if they actually want to know what’s going on and support their child that they are helicoptering or micromanaging. Why you folks pay for this nonsense is beyond me. The goal is for the student to learn and grow. Why put up all these made up roadblocks?