Grade your school's distance learning approach

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not buying the A scores boosters are posting. Come off it, DC schools are just too screwed up.

The honest parents are mostly those new to schools. They're left feeling confused by rave reviews up the chain.

Huh?

I'm one of the A posters from Deal. I'm not making this up. It's been great.

The teachers were on time from day 1
Their websites on Canvas are organized and you can tell they put a ton of time into them.
They had 2 days of organization and get-to-know-you type stuff and now they're teaching live each day.
My kid has assignments and is learning.
What is not to like? Sure, it would be great to be in person but there have been no screw-ups, no tech issues, no drama, no missed lessons. Teachers are animated, kids are respectful. Learning is happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not buying the A scores boosters are posting. Come off it, DC schools are just too screwed up.

The honest parents are mostly those new to schools. They're left feeling confused by rave reviews up the chain.

Huh?

I'm one of the A posters from Deal. I'm not making this up. It's been great.

The teachers were on time from day 1
Their websites on Canvas are organized and you can tell they put a ton of time into them.
They had 2 days of organization and get-to-know-you type stuff and now they're teaching live each day.
My kid has assignments and is learning.
What is not to like? Sure, it would be great to be in person but there have been no screw-ups, no tech issues, no drama, no missed lessons. Teachers are animated, kids are respectful. Learning is happening.

+ 1

I was happy in the spring with what they cobbled together at such short notice but yeah totally an A (7th grade) for the fall! They are getting social time too with the morning huddle and community building and my kid is a vocal participant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not buying the A scores boosters are posting. Come off it, DC schools are just too screwed up.

The honest parents are mostly those new to schools. They're left feeling confused by rave reviews up the chain.

Huh?

I'm one of the A posters from Deal. I'm not making this up. It's been great.

The teachers were on time from day 1
Their websites on Canvas are organized and you can tell they put a ton of time into them.
They had 2 days of organization and get-to-know-you type stuff and now they're teaching live each day.
My kid has assignments and is learning.
What is not to like? Sure, it would be great to be in person but there have been no screw-ups, no tech issues, no drama, no missed lessons. Teachers are animated, kids are respectful. Learning is happening.

+ 1

I was happy in the spring with what they cobbled together at such short notice but yeah totally an A (7th grade) for the fall! They are getting social time too with the morning huddle and community building and my kid is a vocal participant.

Couldn’t agree more (7th). I am always amazed by the leadership of Ms. Neal and her assistant principals. The weekly check in meetings are fantastic. Live support when needed. The family meeting/back to school night had informative and helpful sessions (again, super organized). Drive by Popsicles with the Principal was a hit and I love that she is doing pop ups around the entire city this week to reach kids in all wards that attend. I’m telling you, I’d Ms. Neal hasn’t received Principal Of the year before, she definitely should be nominated this year. Not to mention, the teachers have all done a great job so far. I do feel that there is a lot of work, but I expected some increase from 6th to 7th. Solid A, if not A+.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not buying the A scores boosters are posting. Come off it, DC schools are just too screwed up.

The honest parents are mostly those new to schools. They're left feeling confused by rave reviews up the chain.

Not really a booster, and I've been pretty happy with my school's DL. All DC schools aren't exactly the same. Also, different grades are going to have different experiences. ECE is really hard for DL, and MS might be harder as kids are trying to navigate multiple teachers and classes. Mid-ES kids have fewer teachers and are a little better able to learn from DL. And HS kids might be better able to manage multiple classes.

Yes, agree. I stand by my A/A- ratings of Deal and Wilson. But I also recognize that they are highly subjective, based on our personal circumstances: functioning tech and WiFi; a big enough house to accommodate separate, quiet work spaces for two kids and two adults; and organized kids who are good at self-advocacy and able to manage their school days without any parental intervention.

If any of above weren’t true, I imagine our personal experience and evaluation would be different. I do think both schools have done a very good job with communication and outreach, and the teachers are working really hard to make this work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not buying the A scores boosters are posting. Come off it, DC schools are just too screwed up.

The honest parents are mostly those new to schools. They're left feeling confused by rave reviews up the chain.

There is something in the psychology of DC moms that they have to convince themselves or maybe others that their school is AMAZING and THE BEST THING EVER. Weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not buying the A scores boosters are posting. Come off it, DC schools are just too screwed up.

The honest parents are mostly those new to schools. They're left feeling confused by rave reviews up the chain.

There is something in the psychology of DC moms that they have to convince themselves or maybe others that their school is AMAZING and THE BEST THING EVER. Weird.

I gave my school an A, but I’m grading on a curve, as I expect there to be some tech snafus, some challenges figuring out schedules and assignments, etc. it’s not wonderland, but the school is organized, has a solid structure, and will no doubt succeed in teaching my kid a lot this year. In these times, that warrants an A.

[Anonymous]

Basis - 7th - A+

This is my kid’s rating. She loves it, and I only see her for her to tell me about things she is excited about learning. But it is a LONG day! With few breaks. I have her teams on my phone, so I see all her work and messages with her teachers, and there have been some hiccups but none that she even bothered to mention to me. When a problem comes up, she tells the teacher (after running language past a friend as they learned better results if complaints are edited) they discuss, it is fixed. So I stay out of it. I really couldn’t be happier about what she is learning, and she is giddy and motivated, so even if it wouldn’t be my cup of tea, I’m giving it an A+ for my kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Basis - 7th - A+

This is my kid’s rating. She loves it, and I only see her for her to tell me about things she is excited about learning. But it is a LONG day! With few breaks. I have her teams on my phone, so I see all her work and messages with her teachers, and there have been some hiccups but none that she even bothered to mention to me. When a problem comes up, she tells the teacher (after running language past a friend as they learned better results if complaints are edited) they discuss, it is fixed. So I stay out of it. I really couldn’t be happier about what she is learning, and she is giddy and motivated, so even if it wouldn’t be my cup of tea, I’m giving it an A+ for my kid.

Great to hear. I hope we get there someday.
-dispirited 5th grade parent

[Anonymous]

Taylor Elementary (Arlington) / 3 / F

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Capital City/ PK3/ B
Mundo Verde Calle Ocho/PK4/ A-

I’m just curious: did you just opt out of MV8 for PK3 this year due to the difficulty in doing language immersion in a distance learning format?

And while I’m here: MV8 / Primary / B+

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Taylor Elementary (Arlington) / 3 / F

can you elaborate? No improvement from the spring?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Capital City/ PK3/ B
Mundo Verde Calle Ocho/PK4/ A-

I’m just curious: did you just opt out of MV8 for PK3 this year due to the difficulty in doing language immersion in a distance learning format?

And while I’m here: MV8 / Primary / B+

No, just different needs for different kids. Our younger kiddo has expressive language issues that we were concerned would be exacerbated by putting him in an immersion school. Plus he's got an IEP with speech and other therapies, and though we've been happy with MV8 for our older kiddo, I've heard enough mixed reviews of SPED services at Mundo Verde to give me pause.

[Anonymous]

ITDS/ 1st/ B+
Teachers are doing are working hard and doing a lot. It is too much there are too many apps & platforms, too much switching between small groups & whole class. There are some hour long classes & some 15 minute mini session & only 30 minutes for lunch.
Pretty sure the core learning could be done in half the time but enough (or the loud) parents want their kids busy on the computer the made a full day of classes. I really wish kids were only on live lessons 2 ish hours a day at this age. 8:30- 2pm is just too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ITDS/ 1st/ B+
Teachers are doing are working hard and doing a lot. It is too much there are too many apps & platforms, too much switching between small groups & whole class. There are some hour long classes & some 15 minute mini session & only 30 minutes for lunch.
Pretty sure the core learning could be done in half the time but enough (or the loud) parents want their kids busy on the computer the made a full day of classes. I really wish kids were only on live lessons 2 ish hours a day at this age. 8:30- 2pm is just too much.

My first grader only has 1.5 hours a day live class. If you don't count the special (which I don't, we mainly skip it). Some days she has 2 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Capital City/ PK3/ B
Mundo Verde Calle Ocho/PK4/ A-

I’m just curious: did you just opt out of MV8 for PK3 this year due to the difficulty in doing language immersion in a distance learning format?

And while I’m here: MV8 / Primary / B+

No, just different needs for different kids. Our younger kiddo has expressive language issues that we were concerned would be exacerbated by putting him in an immersion school. Plus he's got an IEP with speech and other therapies, and though we've been happy with MV8 for our older kiddo, I've heard enough mixed reviews of SPED services at Mundo Verde to give me pause.

Thank you! I’m the previous poster who asked. That’s helpful to know as a new MV8 family.