Inspired Teaching - looking or feedback

[Anonymous]

Did anybody attend the open house on Saturday?
What was your impression?
Do you have kids currently enrolled?
What is your experience?

[Anonymous]

Our child is in ps3 so this is our first year but she loves it and we've been happy with the teachers and administration. I was underwhelmed by the open house last year but ranked it high based on reputation. I would go and see a class in action if possible.

[Anonymous]

Another PS3 family here. Our child really enjoys going to school, which is a big change from day care. We are pleased with the teachers. In the student showcase it was very clear how much effort teachers put into lesson planning so that students can learn through play. The kids spend a lot of time outdoors. The facilities are really nice with a newly renovated building, a playground, and a field in the back. Overall we are very pleased with our experience so far. I am excited to see more academics in higher grades but appreciate the focus on the whole child and on social and behavioral development in early preschool.

[Anonymous]

It all depends what type of education you want for your child and when you are looking at your 3 year old it may be hard to figure out. For the young children meaning preK3 through K I think ITS has it figured out. What happens in 1st through 4th is a different story. The best I can describe our educational experience is mediocre. Yes, the partnership with the Philips Collection is special, but art integration does not really exist. The school PR feels like it should be expeditionary learning, but it's not. You want to believe that there is project based learning going on all the time, but it's sporadic and sometimes feels rushed for the learning showcases. Hardly any field trips; total underutilization of what DC has to offer to enhance learning. Completely insufficient enhanced learning opportunities if your child excels. That said, i believe that if you have a child who has learning needs, the school does a good job of providing support. It's the other end of the spectrum that they fall short. If it was project based learning, if it was more creative or inspired, they could meet the needs of kids who sit well above grade level, but it's not. They have a hard time figuring out how to integrate all the great ideas they had when they started the school. There are very few teachers who are Master Teachers (those who have more than 5 years of experience) or have completed the program at the Center for Inspired Teaching. They all get some sort of training at the beginning of the year, but they don't all go through the training program at the Center. Also, there are very few Resident Teachers and they are all concentrated in the lower grades with the exception of 3rd grade. It's a school that is still trying to figure out who they want to be and they will tell any griping parent that that's what you get with a new school. It may be true to an extent, but I feel they are giving themselves far too many pats on their own backs without working out the issues that are really important. Yes, the building is nice, yes the family community rocks, but it's a balancing game -- the trappings or a quality education? On Middle School, you couldn't ask for a more dynamic leader, but it remains to be seen how much room she will be given to move by the Head of School.

[Anonymous]

I was told at the EdFest at the Inspired Teaching booth that they were "Montessori inspired". Everything I've read seems to be the complete opposite. Any current parents have any feedback (or any idea where that comment came from?)

[Anonymous]

DC is in PS3 and we are very happy with the program. The facilities are great, the early-ed curriculum and teaching is strong. Very welcoming parent community. DC is making friends and comes home talking about positive interactions with teachers. I take that to mean that DC is getting a good balance of group and one on one attention. We've had solid experience with the Y aftercare program. We love that they have "camp" for teacher workdays and vacations at the school, which has been key for DC who can get nervous in new environments. I don't know what "inspired Montessori" means, but I'll be honest, I'm not in love with a Montessori program. So from my vantage point, I'm very happy that DC is not in a Montessori program and wouldn't characterized what DC experiences as in line with the Montessori philosophy. I do believe DCs teachers act as "guides" and I have watched as DC has put some of the "problem solving" approaches learned at school into action at home. DC has developed better impulse control and will try several options to fix a problem before throwing the "problem" across the room (DC is 3 after all!).

I cannot comment on the upper grades, but I think a work in progress is most likely a good description. I can imagine if you have an outlier child (in either direction) you may struggle to find the right educational fit, regardless of school.

We will not be going into the lottery for the foreseeable future. However, we do have some concerns that if we stay through middle school, public high school may be problematic. But that's a long way away.

[Anonymous]

Anybody can call anything "Montessori Inspired." All it shows is a lack of knowledge about what that means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was told at the EdFest at the Inspired Teaching booth that they were "Montessori inspired". Everything I've read seems to be the complete opposite. Any current parents have any feedback (or any idea where that comment came from?)

I'm an ITS parent and have heard the school leadership describe the school's philosophy as Reggio-inspired (Reggio Emilia) on many occasions. Is there any chance that's what you heard at EdFest? Otherwise, my guess is that someone misspoke and meant to say Reggio-inspired.

[Anonymous]

They claim to be inspired by many different styles and pedagogy. Montessori, Reggio, Waldorf. There claim to have the "whole child approach".

[Anonymous]

They are not clearly defined by one model.

[Anonymous]

Are you seeing families leave in the older grades?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you seeing families leave in the older grades?

There a few families that leave due to moving out of state, a handful that get into immersion, and some that move to a Deal feeder. They still struggle to fill upper two grades and think they will continue to struggle to fill 5-8th due to many people leaving early for Latin, Basis, Deal feeders. Almost feel they should end at 5th of they don't have plans to go to HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you seeing families leave in the older grades?

Our oldest is now in 2nd -- his fourth year there -- and we are still happy with it, with some caveats. It remains to be seen if the people with option$ who say they are committed to the school stick with it to third and beyond, or get cold feet and bail to private or the suburbs. I think many will stay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you seeing families leave in the older grades?

There a few families that leave due to moving out of state, a handful that get into immersion, and some that move to a Deal feeder. They still struggle to fill upper two grades and think they will continue to struggle to fill 5-8th due to many people leaving early for Latin, Basis, Deal feeders. Almost feel they should end at 5th of they don't have plans to go to HS.

Sounds about right.

[Anonymous]

This year I believe there are families leaving in some of the upper grades 2-4th due to lack of Master teachers in those grades and inability to follow the model of learning that brought them to the school. As a previous poster said they've got a great thing going in lower Elemantery but start lacking in 2-4 with the exception of a 3rd who has an awesome Master teacher.