How to help child succeed at BASIS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For every comment on here finding fault with BASIS, there’s another comment on this thread or a different thread where people are singing its praises or eager to find out if their child will get off the waitlist. BASIS is clearly great for some and terrible for others. It’s important and helpful to know what generally makes it a good fit or not to the extent folks are trying to decide for their own child. But I’m the end everyone has their own priorities and those are not right or wrong. Just different.

But for a moment, I’d like to get back to the original question on here regarding success at BASIS. How can parents help their children? Are the parents quizzing their kids? Do students ever/often form study groups together? When students receive disappointing “pre-comps” scores what specific measures are taken to ensure they improve by the end of year comps? How much do pre-comps count for the course grade? How is the “90s Club” or any other measure of success presented to the students to help them stay motivated and focused? I heard the school has a spirit week. Do students feel like they are “in it together” or do they feel more competitive with one another? Are the most successful students generally successful from the beginning, or is it common for “stragglers” to get the help they need and rise to the top?

As a parent of a kid at BASIS, I’ve heard from other parents that it’s a mix of everything. Kids who are struggling at the school often tend to leave early (5th, 6th grade, maybe 7th.). The ones who stay seem to get the hang of how the place works, and this may help with establishing study groups because they are mostly aligned with their study habits. I think the school administration is generally supportive, and the students are generally supportive of each other, with students being less cut throat than what I hear from my friends whose kids are in the top privates. There are some really good teachers and some that aren’t so good…like any school. I’ve also seen some kids who are friends with my child start off as average, and then eventually climb into the top 10-20% with hard work (based on the results from awards ceremonies.)

I don’t know how to answer your question on how to prep them for BASIS except for encouraging strong executive functioning skills. A lot of this is taught at the school and comes with time, but as a parent you can work with your child over the summer by having set schedules at home and encouraging your child to write down what they plan to do daily and checking off completed tasks. Although I don’t think this is unique to BASIS, it will help your child manage their workload once the school year starts.

You see knowledgeable and helpful so can I follow-up with this: I have seen reports on DCUM of kids who manage to get most homework done during school hours. In your experience is that regularly possible?

I think in the first year (5th grade) it’s harder to do that because it’s a lot more work than what elementary school kids are used to. However, it may be possible in later years as the child gets used to a new homework completion pattern. Also, if the child uses study hall efficiently, there is less work to do at home. There is also significant variability in homework over the year, with more study time and prep work needed before the end of grading period exams and pre-comps/comps. Hope this helps

Depends entirely on the elementary school, the kid and the family. Our eldest was allowed to work ahead a year in math at his DCPS before BASIS. We're raising our kids bilingual and biliterate in a language not taught in DC public schools, meaning language classes on weekends and homework in the second language. We've been supplementing for reading and writing via on-line courses and tutors for several years. Our kids play musical instruments in youth ensembles. One also plays competitive chess. BASIS was actually less work in 5th than our kids were accustomed to from 4th grade.

Ok. Your point it? You took the time to chime in to say that if you effectively have your kid in school school 7 days a week and pay for tutors and teachers on the side then Basis (or any school) isn't a step up? Would you also like to share that your kid has been in USA Gymnastics since the age of 3, attends Olympic training camps in TX and competed at the Junior Worlds and you want everyone to know that gym class at Wilson isn't very challenging?

I assume you were going for "humble brag". You landed instead on something that rhymes - "d-bag".

This thread has become ridiculously unpleasant.

PP above makes a fair point: don't believe the hype. All 5th graders aren't going to find the BASIS workload intimidating, not in a Metro area where high-achieving families are a dime a dozen.

The fact that a new BASIS student attended a DC public ES through 4th grade doesn't necessarily mean that they're not used to hard work and high standards. The point seems to be that BASIS exceptionalism gets.....tiresome.

OK sure, but the point is that you don’t have to be an absolute academic helicopter fleet family for your kid to do OK at BASIS. PP with the very, ahem, rigorous approach to parenting is actually an outlier.

[Anonymous]

Spare us the hyperbole. The real problems are obvious and epic (hint, no Deal or Wilson/JR EotP). The arrangement puts BASIS in a good position to push its families around. Parents’ desperation for a halfway decent middle school lends itself to abuses. At BASIS, we were offended by crappy treatment of certain families of very hard-working and talented kids on the part of bullying young admins paid with taxpayer dollars. We saw this in both HS and MS. If you don’t want to hear from the likes of us, you can stick to private school threads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spare us the hyperbole. The real problems are obvious and epic (hint, no Deal or Wilson/JR EotP). The arrangement puts BASIS in a good position to push its families around. Parents’ desperation for a halfway decent middle school lends itself to abuses. At BASIS, we were offended by crappy treatment of certain families of very hard-working and talented kids on the part of bullying young admins paid with taxpayer dollars. We saw this in both HS and MS. If you don’t want to hear from the likes of us, you can stick to private school threads.

This is way too vague to be even remotely useful. Either spill the tea or get out of the thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For every comment on here finding fault with BASIS, there’s another comment on this thread or a different thread where people are singing its praises or eager to find out if their child will get off the waitlist. BASIS is clearly great for some and terrible for others. It’s important and helpful to know what generally makes it a good fit or not to the extent folks are trying to decide for their own child. But I’m the end everyone has their own priorities and those are not right or wrong. Just different.

But for a moment, I’d like to get back to the original question on here regarding success at BASIS. How can parents help their children? Are the parents quizzing their kids? Do students ever/often form study groups together? When students receive disappointing “pre-comps” scores what specific measures are taken to ensure they improve by the end of year comps? How much do pre-comps count for the course grade? How is the “90s Club” or any other measure of success presented to the students to help them stay motivated and focused? I heard the school has a spirit week. Do students feel like they are “in it together” or do they feel more competitive with one another? Are the most successful students generally successful from the beginning, or is it common for “stragglers” to get the help they need and rise to the top?

As a parent of a kid at BASIS, I’ve heard from other parents that it’s a mix of everything. Kids who are struggling at the school often tend to leave early (5th, 6th grade, maybe 7th.). The ones who stay seem to get the hang of how the place works, and this may help with establishing study groups because they are mostly aligned with their study habits. I think the school administration is generally supportive, and the students are generally supportive of each other, with students being less cut throat than what I hear from my friends whose kids are in the top privates. There are some really good teachers and some that aren’t so good…like any school. I’ve also seen some kids who are friends with my child start off as average, and then eventually climb into the top 10-20% with hard work (based on the results from awards ceremonies.)

I don’t know how to answer your question on how to prep them for BASIS except for encouraging strong executive functioning skills. A lot of this is taught at the school and comes with time, but as a parent you can work with your child over the summer by having set schedules at home and encouraging your child to write down what they plan to do daily and checking off completed tasks. Although I don’t think this is unique to BASIS, it will help your child manage their workload once the school year starts.

You see knowledgeable and helpful so can I follow-up with this: I have seen reports on DCUM of kids who manage to get most homework done during school hours. In your experience is that regularly possible?

My sixth grader is incredibly anti school and does the absolute minimum; in elementary school he refused to do any of his projects, which was the only homework. At Basis, he spent most of 5th grade playing video games and I haven't seen him do a minute of schoolwork this year. The thing is, he learns enough and does enough work at school that he's passing, with not completely awful grades. For us, that's success. The bare minimum at Basis is adequate, which I don't think is true at most other schools. Kids with higher standards might choose to do more work.

lol, great kid. working harder does not mean working smarter! does he seem to enjoy school though? do the tests stress him out?

"Enjoy" school would be an overstatement, but generally, yes. He goes to school willing, doesn't complain, mentions having friends, and very occasionally talks enthusiastically about stuff they are learning. He doesn't seem stressed at all - even when failing tests - but does seem proud when he does well, e.g. "I got 100 percent on my math test!" People talk about the very high standards and workload, but to a large extent it's self determined by parents and students. The chances of doing so badly you're held back are very low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spare us the hyperbole. The real problems are obvious and epic (hint, no Deal or Wilson/JR EotP). The arrangement puts BASIS in a good position to push its families around. Parents’ desperation for a halfway decent middle school lends itself to abuses. At BASIS, we were offended by crappy treatment of certain families of very hard-working and talented kids on the part of bullying young admins paid with taxpayer dollars. We saw this in both HS and MS. If you don’t want to hear from the likes of us, you can stick to private school threads.

Jeff kicks posters off threads, not you.

OP, I'd go into my BASIS with my eyes wide open. The set-up, model, building and leadership are far from ideal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For every comment on here finding fault with BASIS, there’s another comment on this thread or a different thread where people are singing its praises or eager to find out if their child will get off the waitlist. BASIS is clearly great for some and terrible for others. It’s important and helpful to know what generally makes it a good fit or not to the extent folks are trying to decide for their own child. But I’m the end everyone has their own priorities and those are not right or wrong. Just different.

But for a moment, I’d like to get back to the original question on here regarding success at BASIS. How can parents help their children? Are the parents quizzing their kids? Do students ever/often form study groups together? When students receive disappointing “pre-comps” scores what specific measures are taken to ensure they improve by the end of year comps? How much do pre-comps count for the course grade? How is the “90s Club” or any other measure of success presented to the students to help them stay motivated and focused? I heard the school has a spirit week. Do students feel like they are “in it together” or do they feel more competitive with one another? Are the most successful students generally successful from the beginning, or is it common for “stragglers” to get the help they need and rise to the top?

As a parent of a kid at BASIS, I’ve heard from other parents that it’s a mix of everything. Kids who are struggling at the school often tend to leave early (5th, 6th grade, maybe 7th.). The ones who stay seem to get the hang of how the place works, and this may help with establishing study groups because they are mostly aligned with their study habits. I think the school administration is generally supportive, and the students are generally supportive of each other, with students being less cut throat than what I hear from my friends whose kids are in the top privates. There are some really good teachers and some that aren’t so good…like any school. I’ve also seen some kids who are friends with my child start off as average, and then eventually climb into the top 10-20% with hard work (based on the results from awards ceremonies.)

I don’t know how to answer your question on how to prep them for BASIS except for encouraging strong executive functioning skills. A lot of this is taught at the school and comes with time, but as a parent you can work with your child over the summer by having set schedules at home and encouraging your child to write down what they plan to do daily and checking off completed tasks. Although I don’t think this is unique to BASIS, it will help your child manage their workload once the school year starts.

You see knowledgeable and helpful so can I follow-up with this: I have seen reports on DCUM of kids who manage to get most homework done during school hours. In your experience is that regularly possible?

My sixth grader is incredibly anti school and does the absolute minimum; in elementary school he refused to do any of his projects, which was the only homework. At Basis, he spent most of 5th grade playing video games and I haven't seen him do a minute of schoolwork this year. The thing is, he learns enough and does enough work at school that he's passing, with not completely awful grades. For us, that's success. The bare minimum at Basis is adequate, which I don't think is true at most other schools. Kids with higher standards might choose to do more work.

lol, great kid. working harder does not mean working smarter! does he seem to enjoy school though? do the tests stress him out?

"Enjoy" school would be an overstatement, but generally, yes. He goes to school willing, doesn't complain, mentions having friends, and very occasionally talks enthusiastically about stuff they are learning. He doesn't seem stressed at all - even when failing tests - but does seem proud when he does well, e.g. "I got 100 percent on my math test!" People talk about the very high standards and workload, but to a large extent it's self determined by parents and students. The chances of doing so badly you're held back are very low.

The chances of a kid become unhappy at BASIS even if they're doing well academically aren't low. Talk to parents who moved on to more humane buildings (light! space! greenery! playing fields!) and well-led programs if you doubt this, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For every comment on here finding fault with BASIS, there’s another comment on this thread or a different thread where people are singing its praises or eager to find out if their child will get off the waitlist. BASIS is clearly great for some and terrible for others. It’s important and helpful to know what generally makes it a good fit or not to the extent folks are trying to decide for their own child. But I’m the end everyone has their own priorities and those are not right or wrong. Just different.

But for a moment, I’d like to get back to the original question on here regarding success at BASIS. How can parents help their children? Are the parents quizzing their kids? Do students ever/often form study groups together? When students receive disappointing “pre-comps” scores what specific measures are taken to ensure they improve by the end of year comps? How much do pre-comps count for the course grade? How is the “90s Club” or any other measure of success presented to the students to help them stay motivated and focused? I heard the school has a spirit week. Do students feel like they are “in it together” or do they feel more competitive with one another? Are the most successful students generally successful from the beginning, or is it common for “stragglers” to get the help they need and rise to the top?

As a parent of a kid at BASIS, I’ve heard from other parents that it’s a mix of everything. Kids who are struggling at the school often tend to leave early (5th, 6th grade, maybe 7th.). The ones who stay seem to get the hang of how the place works, and this may help with establishing study groups because they are mostly aligned with their study habits. I think the school administration is generally supportive, and the students are generally supportive of each other, with students being less cut throat than what I hear from my friends whose kids are in the top privates. There are some really good teachers and some that aren’t so good…like any school. I’ve also seen some kids who are friends with my child start off as average, and then eventually climb into the top 10-20% with hard work (based on the results from awards ceremonies.)

I don’t know how to answer your question on how to prep them for BASIS except for encouraging strong executive functioning skills. A lot of this is taught at the school and comes with time, but as a parent you can work with your child over the summer by having set schedules at home and encouraging your child to write down what they plan to do daily and checking off completed tasks. Although I don’t think this is unique to BASIS, it will help your child manage their workload once the school year starts.

You see knowledgeable and helpful so can I follow-up with this: I have seen reports on DCUM of kids who manage to get most homework done during school hours. In your experience is that regularly possible?

My sixth grader is incredibly anti school and does the absolute minimum; in elementary school he refused to do any of his projects, which was the only homework. At Basis, he spent most of 5th grade playing video games and I haven't seen him do a minute of schoolwork this year. The thing is, he learns enough and does enough work at school that he's passing, with not completely awful grades. For us, that's success. The bare minimum at Basis is adequate, which I don't think is true at most other schools. Kids with higher standards might choose to do more work.

lol, great kid. working harder does not mean working smarter! does he seem to enjoy school though? do the tests stress him out?

"Enjoy" school would be an overstatement, but generally, yes. He goes to school willing, doesn't complain, mentions having friends, and very occasionally talks enthusiastically about stuff they are learning. He doesn't seem stressed at all - even when failing tests - but does seem proud when he does well, e.g. "I got 100 percent on my math test!" People talk about the very high standards and workload, but to a large extent it's self determined by parents and students. The chances of doing so badly you're held back are very low.

The chances of a kid become unhappy at BASIS even if they're doing well academically aren't low. Talk to parents who moved on to more humane buildings (light! space! greenery! playing fields!) and well-led programs if you doubt this, OP.

I know a family that did this and the kid isn’t that happy at the new school either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For every comment on here finding fault with BASIS, there’s another comment on this thread or a different thread where people are singing its praises or eager to find out if their child will get off the waitlist. BASIS is clearly great for some and terrible for others. It’s important and helpful to know what generally makes it a good fit or not to the extent folks are trying to decide for their own child. But I’m the end everyone has their own priorities and those are not right or wrong. Just different.

But for a moment, I’d like to get back to the original question on here regarding success at BASIS. How can parents help their children? Are the parents quizzing their kids? Do students ever/often form study groups together? When students receive disappointing “pre-comps” scores what specific measures are taken to ensure they improve by the end of year comps? How much do pre-comps count for the course grade? How is the “90s Club” or any other measure of success presented to the students to help them stay motivated and focused? I heard the school has a spirit week. Do students feel like they are “in it together” or do they feel more competitive with one another? Are the most successful students generally successful from the beginning, or is it common for “stragglers” to get the help they need and rise to the top?

As a parent of a kid at BASIS, I’ve heard from other parents that it’s a mix of everything. Kids who are struggling at the school often tend to leave early (5th, 6th grade, maybe 7th.). The ones who stay seem to get the hang of how the place works, and this may help with establishing study groups because they are mostly aligned with their study habits. I think the school administration is generally supportive, and the students are generally supportive of each other, with students being less cut throat than what I hear from my friends whose kids are in the top privates. There are some really good teachers and some that aren’t so good…like any school. I’ve also seen some kids who are friends with my child start off as average, and then eventually climb into the top 10-20% with hard work (based on the results from awards ceremonies.)

I don’t know how to answer your question on how to prep them for BASIS except for encouraging strong executive functioning skills. A lot of this is taught at the school and comes with time, but as a parent you can work with your child over the summer by having set schedules at home and encouraging your child to write down what they plan to do daily and checking off completed tasks. Although I don’t think this is unique to BASIS, it will help your child manage their workload once the school year starts.

You see knowledgeable and helpful so can I follow-up with this: I have seen reports on DCUM of kids who manage to get most homework done during school hours. In your experience is that regularly possible?

My sixth grader is incredibly anti school and does the absolute minimum; in elementary school he refused to do any of his projects, which was the only homework. At Basis, he spent most of 5th grade playing video games and I haven't seen him do a minute of schoolwork this year. The thing is, he learns enough and does enough work at school that he's passing, with not completely awful grades. For us, that's success. The bare minimum at Basis is adequate, which I don't think is true at most other schools. Kids with higher standards might choose to do more work.

lol, great kid. working harder does not mean working smarter! does he seem to enjoy school though? do the tests stress him out?

"Enjoy" school would be an overstatement, but generally, yes. He goes to school willing, doesn't complain, mentions having friends, and very occasionally talks enthusiastically about stuff they are learning. He doesn't seem stressed at all - even when failing tests - but does seem proud when he does well, e.g. "I got 100 percent on my math test!" People talk about the very high standards and workload, but to a large extent it's self determined by parents and students. The chances of doing so badly you're held back are very low.

The chances of a kid become unhappy at BASIS even if they're doing well academically aren't low. Talk to parents who moved on to more humane buildings (light! space! greenery! playing fields!) and well-led programs if you doubt this, OP.

I know a family that did this and the kid isn’t that happy at the new school either.

No kidding. It's almost like a kid's happiness depends upon the kid's reactions to the environment around him/her.

[Anonymous]

Gee, it’s almost like different kids do better at different schools, and one size doesn’t fit all.

What a revelation!

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have experience with the BASIS summer camp program? We are considering enrolling at BASIS and wondering if one of the summer programs there would help acclimate our rising 5th grader to the school and perhaps provide an opportunity to meet more incoming 5th graders before school starts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience with the BASIS summer camp program? We are considering enrolling at BASIS and wondering if one of the summer programs there would help acclimate our rising 5th grader to the school and perhaps provide an opportunity to meet more incoming 5th graders before school starts.

The week long orientation? Yes, your kid should do it.

[Anonymous]

The summer camp program is relatively new.

I’d enroll if you’re available and the camp sounds interesting, but it’s not necessary to orient your incoming 5th grader.

But, yes, you should do the BOSS camp. That’s intended as 5th grade orientation.

[Anonymous]

When are these camps? Our rising 5th grader will likely be offered a spot eventually, but our summer is pretty booked right now. Yikes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When are these camps? Our rising 5th grader will likely be offered a spot eventually, but our summer is pretty booked right now. Yikes.

Per the Head of School last night, ~130 kids have completed enrollment paperwork for 5th grade, so there are only five unfilled 5th grade seats right now. Thus, unless you have a very low waitlist number right now, I surmise you’re unlikely to get in.

In any case, enrollment for the summer camp is due this week or sometime soon. The orientation, however, will be offered several times in the summer.

[Anonymous]

Also, the Head of School confirmed that there will be 80-90 kids in 9th grade next year. While they’re able to keep this year’s entering 5th grade class at 135, they expect to have to reduce the entering 5th grade class size starting next year.