Did SWS not work out for your child?

[Anonymous]

The latest SWS thread on "SWS open" raised some questions in my mind. Right now I am trying to decide whether to rank SWS as #1 on our lottery form. We have a good chance of getting into what would be our #2 school (which is more traditional), but I need to decide if SWS would be better. My husband and I both went to "traditional" public schools, so that is what we know and we are (mostly) comfortable with. We are persuaded by research on curricula such as Reggio-Emilia, which shows that learning through exploration provides a more meaningful educational experience, etc. So we like the idea of a school like SWS, but we haven't experienced it personally. And some people on this board will say it is not a "good fit" for all children. Can anyone provide some concrete examples of what type of children would do better in a more traditional school setting?

Thanks. And, I'd appreciate no comments on our chances of getting into SWS through the lottery, or if it is fair to enter the lottery for a city-wide school when you have a decent neighborhood option, etc. etc. We've thought all that through and really now I am just trying to decide whether I like SWS better than our other option so I can decide how to rank them. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

how do you know you got into SWS?
The entrance exams are not until the 14th

[Anonymous]

15:13, you're thinking of SWW (school without walls). I think OP means SWS (School-within-a-school, formerly at Peabody).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:how do you know you got into SWS?
The entrance exams are not until the 14th

You're thinking of SWW (School Without Walls), not SWS (School Within a School).

[Anonymous]

OP, I think you ask some good questions, but I don't know that you are going to get the answers you want here, since the people who choose to go to SWS (apply, get in, and enroll) are by their very nature more likely to have kids who will do well with the Reggio-Emilia philosophy. So, I doubt there are many people who found that SWS didn't work,even though I personally believe that Reggio-Emilia--especially a program throughout all of elementary school--will work for some but not all kids.

[Anonymous]

OP, Reggio is very child-driven, and traditional schools are teacher-drived. I think a key question is whether you are comfortable with this model through elementary school. (Most Reggio programs are in preschool, where a child-centered approach is more common.)

[Anonymous]

^This. I don't know that it won't be a "good fit" for any child as much as the parents have to feel good about the philosophy in order for it to be an optimal model for the entire family. (See the "appeals to some people" and "too touchy feely" commentary on the other thread.)

I think any child can thrive in the environment, but your 3-year-old is NOT going to enter PK4 knowing how to read and you have to be comfortable with that. They're learning, in my opinion, other invaluable lessons about critical thinking and social interaction, but if you aren't comfortable with the model, please reconsider listing it at all. For anyone who has continuing questions about Reggio, I encourage you to visit the school during the school day to see it at work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^This. I don't know that it won't be a "good fit" for any child as much as the parents have to feel good about the philosophy in order for it to be an optimal model for the entire family. (See the "appeals to some people" and "too touchy feely" commentary on the other thread.)

I think any child can thrive in the environment, but your 3-year-old is NOT going to enter PK4 knowing how to read and you have to be comfortable with that. They're learning, in my opinion, other invaluable lessons about critical thinking and social interaction, but if you aren't comfortable with the model, please reconsider listing it at all. For anyone who has continuing questions about Reggio, I encourage you to visit the school during the school day to see it at work.

I'm a prospective parent (not OP), and I agree with the suggestion to go to an open house where you can actually see the classrooms. I learned a lot there. My sense is that it's more than just--are you comfortable with your kid potentially not reading at the end of kindergarten? It extends to other grades, too. As a child-directed approach (not quite as child-directed as Montessori, but still led by the child and not the teacher), are you comfortable with this as your child enters 3rd grades and above and will have to take the CAS (or whatever the new test is called)? Is your child one that will learn all the skills he/she is expected to learn in elementary school in a child-oriented environment? Will your child transition okay after elementary school into a middle school that decidedly won't be child-centered?

[Anonymous]

PP here, I also found this useful in terms of why so many Reggio programs end in preschool--mainly, that some key academic skills in later years are not as easily learned in a child-directed approach: http://www.mothering.com/community/t/528955/why-are-there-so-few-reggio-school-for-older-kids

[Anonymous]

Families rarely leave SWS to attend another DC public/charter school. But when they do leave, it is because they wish the school was more academic or more 'traditional' in its school culture/demographics. Typically, everyone is fine with children not being pressed to read in pre-school or pre-k4. Come K, parents start to vary in their expectations re: a more academic focus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Families rarely leave SWS to attend another DC public/charter school. But when they do leave, it is because they wish the school was more academic or more 'traditional' in its school culture/demographics. Typically, everyone is fine with children not being pressed to read in pre-school or pre-k4. Come K, parents start to vary in their expectations re: a more academic focus.

I second this. You regularly hear of people leaving Maury and Watkins. Peabody churns a little. And, yes, several families have left Brent for perceived greener pastures (even prior to 5th grade). But not SWS. And, while we don't have firsthand experience, you also really don't hear people speak negatively about it around the Hill, which is rare for a school---someone always has an axe to grind. Of course, their grade footprint is small, but still. It also has very dedicated parents. We've made the rounds during fundraising season and SWS's auction is at or near the top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Families rarely leave SWS to attend another DC public/charter school. But when they do leave, it is because they wish the school was more academic or more 'traditional' in its school culture/demographics. Typically, everyone is fine with children not being pressed to read in pre-school or pre-k4. Come K, parents start to vary in their expectations re: a more academic focus.

"academic focus" is really nebulous. SWS teaches "academic" principles at the appropriate ages. They test evern young children for DIBELS like every other school, and DC CAS will be introduced in 3rd grade. Kids who read early are encouraged to progress and kids who need more time get support, but it's not like kids are pushed to reach arbitrary age based milestones.

Curriculum is Expeditionary Learning. You'll find similar curricula at schools like 2 Rivers. It's a dynamic classroom and it can be an adjustment for parents with different expectations of how a classroom and learning environment should be structured.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Families rarely leave SWS to attend another DC public/charter school. But when they do leave, it is because they wish the school was more academic or more 'traditional' in its school culture/demographics. Typically, everyone is fine with children not being pressed to read in pre-school or pre-k4. Come K, parents start to vary in their expectations re: a more academic focus.

"academic focus" is really nebulous. SWS teaches "academic" principles at the appropriate ages. They test evern young children for DIBELS like every other school, and DC CAS will be introduced in 3rd grade. Kids who read early are encouraged to progress and kids who need more time get support, but it's not like kids are pushed to reach arbitrary age based milestones.

Curriculum is Expeditionary Learning. You'll find similar curricula at schools like 2 Rivers. It's a dynamic classroom and it can be an adjustment for parents with different expectations of how a classroom and learning environment should be structured.

Can you talk more about the curriculum? I was at the first weekday open house and was there for two hours--no one ever said the curriculum was expeditionary learning. They focused on a child-centered/driven approach, more in line with what Inspired Teaching offers than with the expeditionary learning schools I've visitied. I've been to Mundo Verde, Two Rivers, and Cap City open houses, all of which have expeditionary learning, and they seem to use the same theme for a term of learning that is selected ahead of time. My sense is that these schools are more teacher-directed than child-directed. SWS and IT seem more child-directed and arts-focused.

[Anonymous]

Some corrections

2nd graders at SWS will take the DCCAS this year. They have already been taking the paced interim assessments

Reggio approach has very rarely, almost never been applied beyond kindergarten. The move into the upper grades is experimental. All we have been told as parents in that the educational approach ( not curriculum) will be project-based ( not Expeditionary Learning, which is one kind of project-based approach ).

That means that SWS will of course have all the same standards and assessments as the rest of DCPS, but will approach those standards in a cross-disciplinary way organized around themes that have popped up from the children's interests and questions.

It is still very much a work in progress. But I am confident the excellent administration and teachers will end up crafting a top notch school all the way through 5th grade. Personally I chose SWS partly for the respectful and developmentally appropriate approach to early childhood education but also because they are some of the finest teachers I have seen anywhere around DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some corrections

2nd graders at SWS will take the DCCAS this year. They have already been taking the paced interim assessments

Reggio approach has very rarely, almost never been applied beyond kindergarten. The move into the upper grades is experimental. All we have been told as parents in that the educational approach ( not curriculum) will be project-based ( not Expeditionary Learning, which is one kind of project-based approach ).

That means that SWS will of course have all the same standards and assessments as the rest of DCPS, but will approach those standards in a cross-disciplinary way organized around themes that have popped up from the children's interests and questions.

It is still very much a work in progress. But I am confident the excellent administration and teachers will end up crafting a top notch school all the way through 5th grade. Personally I chose SWS partly for the respectful and developmentally appropriate approach to early childhood education but also because they are some of the finest teachers I have seen anywhere around DCPS.

PP here who asked for clarification on the curriculum -- thank you, this is extremely useful. The project-based approach sounds similar to what Bridges is implementing.