Inspired Teaching - looking or feedback

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is far from Waldorf.

+1
- Founding Family

Waldorf focuses on providing practical, hands-on activities and environments that encourage creative play. Sounds pretty much like the PR stuff that ITS puts out there.

Waldorf also builds imaginary fairy worlds, shuns technology, was founded by a racist, and doesn't teach reading until 2nd grade.
Not anything like IT. IT's approach is research-based, like Reggio, Creative Curriculum (GOLD), and a literacy workshop based model.

Just for clarification purposes, Creative Curriculum is a research based curriculum. Reggio is not a curriculum, but rather an educational approach.

[Anonymous]

This is a question for parents of children in older grades. We are currently in PS3 and have had a great experience with the school so far and are happy with the teachers and administration. My nagging concern is about academics (mostly from reading this thread). In the early years the focus seems to be primarily on social and behavioral skills. How are the academics at the Kindergarten level and above?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Funny you should say aftercare. It is excellent for our family. Affordable price also includes half days, spring break, other days off.

Some time ago a Lee parent (I assume) posted about observations of ITS aftercare on the (shared) playground. At the time I joined the conversation saying that I had not witnessed the type of issues that the poster described. Since then I have seen such problems, and they were spot on. The issues stem from poor supervision, unfortunately. I have no idea if other aspects of the aftercare are better, but I assume that's what PP is referring to.

95% of the issues I have seen on the playground after school have been with kids there with parents or other caregivers, NOT the Y.

The issues I have seen have been with the Y. Rocks being thrown, older kids pushing younger ones aggressively on the slide, 3 year olda who have wet themselves and staff haven't noticed it etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a question for parents of children in older grades. We are currently in PS3 and have had a great experience with the school so far and are happy with the teachers and administration. My nagging concern is about academics (mostly from reading this thread). In the early years the focus seems to be primarily on social and behavioral skills. How are the academics at the Kindergarten level and above?

There are some more academics in K, but the bigger shift is in 1st grade. This has worked well for my child.

My child seems to be on track with expectations, so I have no complaints on that front.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Funny you should say aftercare. It is excellent for our family. Affordable price also includes half days, spring break, other days off.

Some time ago a Lee parent (I assume) posted about observations of ITS aftercare on the (shared) playground. At the time I joined the conversation saying that I had not witnessed the type of issues that the poster described. Since then I have seen such problems, and they were spot on. The issues stem from poor supervision, unfortunately. I have no idea if other aspects of the aftercare are better, but I assume that's what PP is referring to.

95% of the issues I have seen on the playground after school have been with kids there with parents or other caregivers, NOT the Y.

The issues I have seen have been with the Y. Rocks being thrown, older kids pushing younger ones aggressively on the slide, 3 year olda who have wet themselves and staff haven't noticed it etc.

My child attends the Y aftercare and I have never seen anything like this, although she is in K and they are not usually with older children. She enjoys it greatly and we have had a very good experience. PP, I assume you have reported this lack of playground supervision immediately to the school administration? If not, please do so, I can't imagine seeing this and not telling someone. I have no doubt that it would be handled swiftly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a question for parents of children in older grades. We are currently in PS3 and have had a great experience with the school so far and are happy with the teachers and administration. My nagging concern is about academics (mostly from reading this thread). In the early years the focus seems to be primarily on social and behavioral skills. How are the academics at the Kindergarten level and above?

Our first grader was well prepared in K and 1st for the reading, writing, and math curriculum. Literacy is taught in a Reading and Writing Workshop, google the work of Lucy Calkins of Teachers College if you aren't familiar with the style) and math is taught through the Envision Math curriculum from Pearson. Not entirely sure about the math curriculum - is anyone happy with their school's math program? - but there are groups of varying skill levels within the classroom and my DC seems to enjoy the activities and explains the concepts they're learning with ease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Funny you should say aftercare. It is excellent for our family. Affordable price also includes half days, spring break, other days off.

Some time ago a Lee parent (I assume) posted about observations of ITS aftercare on the (shared) playground. At the time I joined the conversation saying that I had not witnessed the type of issues that the poster described. Since then I have seen such problems, and they were spot on. The issues stem from poor supervision, unfortunately. I have no idea if other aspects of the aftercare are better, but I assume that's what PP is referring to.

95% of the issues I have seen on the playground after school have been with kids there with parents or other caregivers, NOT the Y.

The issues I have seen have been with the Y. Rocks being thrown, older kids pushing younger ones aggressively on the slide, 3 year olda who have wet themselves and staff haven't noticed it etc.

My child attends the Y aftercare and I have never seen anything like this, although she is in K and they are not usually with older children. She enjoys it greatly and we have had a very good experience. PP, I assume you have reported this lack of playground supervision immediately to the school administration? If not, please do so, I can't imagine seeing this and not telling someone. I have no doubt that it would be handled swiftly.

Sorry, but the "older kids" here may be kindergartners, certainly no older than first grade. I have raised it with the y staff every time I've seen the more egregious examples. They are usually sitting on a bench chatting, but respond well when informed. It shouldn't be necessary though.

[Anonymous]

Parent of older grade kid and Y member here. The kids are separated by age. I have rarely seen more than one grade play on playground at a time. I have NEVER witnessed any behavior mentioned up thread. The Y leaders are very active and often seen running, jumping, playing ball with the best of them. I pick up on the early side and have never seen any teacher sit on a bench. Not saying it hasn't happened just offering my experience. There is a site leader that sits at front desk to buzz people in and sign kids out. I am usually there by 445-5 and usually have to wait another 15-30 mins because my kid begs to stay. As far as academics, I agree that there is a pretty noticeable shift in 1st grade. I love that they keep inspired methods. My kid was a late reader in K (compared to the excellent readers in class). Just left our second parent teacher conference yesterday and DC is reading high second/low third grade level. DC has always excelled in math and this year is no change. DC is doing multiplication and basics of fractions. They separate the kids into reading, writing, and math groups based on levels and they do a great job teaching where your child is. Most importantly, they are still very aware of the social development of a 6 year old and work to help them with independence.

I am not trying to paint only a rainbow picture. I am weary of the limitations of such a small school. Will middle school have enough kids? Will the test scores continue to rise? Will they change some great methods to get better test results? As of now, we are very content and have no plans to move. The family community is very close and welcoming. There are family happy hours, dates, and babysitting coops and a lot of diversity.

[Anonymous]

1. Yes, ITS kids to appear to be of one grade level on the playground, or at least approx the same age. The younger kids who are pushed aside and even trodden on are not ITS students.

2. The Y staff are ALWAYS seated on the bench. I am there several times a week and if they are outside aside from lining the kids up to go back in, they are seated except on rare occasions. I have never seen them playing with the kids or organising activities on the playground (fine because it's free play but a little more oversight would be good). I assume they are more hands on inside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Yes, ITS kids to appear to be of one grade level on the playground, or at least approx the same age. The younger kids who are pushed aside and even trodden on are not ITS students.

2. The Y staff are ALWAYS seated on the bench. I am there several times a week and if they are outside aside from lining the kids up to go back in, they are seated except on rare occasions. I have never seen them playing with the kids or organising activities on the playground (fine because it's free play but a little more oversight would be good). I assume they are more hands on inside.

I find it interesting that only Lee parents seem to have a problem with the Y aftercare staff.

[Anonymous]

Only Lee parents seem to hang out on the playground after school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only Lee parents seem to hang out on the playground after school.

So because a Lee parent witnessed some not so good behavior of ITS studdents and the Y staff and wanted to being it to ITS parents attention they have a problem? Maybe ITS parents standards and expectations are just low and mediocre care is okay with them. Lee's aftercare program rocks! it's affordable and the kids have choices of signing up for things like yoga, dance, karate, and Lego robotics along whit an outstanding staff who go above and beyond the Mediocer care witnessed and told about by even ITS parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only Lee parents seem to hang out on the playground after school.

So because a Lee parent witnessed some not so good behavior of ITS studdents and the Y staff and wanted to being it to ITS parents attention they have a problem? Maybe ITS parents standards and expectations are just low and mediocre care is okay with them. Lee's aftercare program rocks! it's affordable and the kids have choices of signing up for things like yoga, dance, karate, and Lego robotics along whit an outstanding staff who go above and beyond the Mediocer care witnessed and told about by even ITS parents.

We are a family considering bothe Lee and Inspired. I have to say between posts like this and other posts, I am really turned off by the attitude of some Lee posters here. I hope that this is not representative of the school at large. I have not seen any posts by Inspired families being nearly offensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only Lee parents seem to hang out on the playground after school.

So because a Lee parent witnessed some not so good behavior of ITS studdents and the Y staff and wanted to being it to ITS parents attention they have a problem? Maybe ITS parents standards and expectations are just low and mediocre care is okay with them. Lee's aftercare program rocks! it's affordable and the kids have choices of signing up for things like yoga, dance, karate, and Lego robotics along whit an outstanding staff who go above and beyond the Mediocer care witnessed and told about by even ITS parents.

We are a family considering bothe Lee and Inspired. I have to say between posts like this and other posts, I am really turned off by the attitude of some Lee posters here. I hope that this is not representative of the school at large. I have not seen any posts by Inspired families being nearly offensive.

I'm the person who posted about the concerns and I'm inclined to agree. I wasn't trying to be divisive and PPs post is unhelpful. Fwiw, I haven't seen any attitude like that among Lee parents in real life.

[Anonymous]

So wondering what the take away is for the OP? Does any of this change your view of IT? Will you still be ranking it as one of your lottery choices? If so are you ranking it as high as before reading this thread?