Frustrated

[Anonymous]

My dd attends an upper NW elementary school that is highly regarded. Although the school has a great reputation, I am disappointed in the lack of challenge my dd receives in her classroom. I have spoken with the teacher and asked that she be given more challenging assignments. The teacher said my dd would receive enrichment instruction in reading and would try to provide more advanced math instruction. However, the enrichment seems to be spotty and nothing is happening with math. My dd cried the other moring and said she was tired of having to do the same things over and over again when she knew them already. How do I approach the teacher again about this? Why does dcps short change more advanced students? I really can not afford private school and am heartbroken that my child is not being challenged in school to reach her full potential. I know I can supplement, but what about the six hours she spends in school everyday? I am scared she will be turned off of school by this.

[Anonymous]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand this is why we struggle mightily to pay for private, despite living in-bounds for a sought-after Ward 3 school.

Have you inquired into financial aid? Once the admission season calms down (March), make inquires at a few schools about your chances for $ assistance. You can run some numbers using an online calculator provided by the national company that the schools around here use.

Seriously, no matter what anyone on this thread tells you, DCPS is spotty all-'round for differentiation and enrichment-during-the-school day. You might get it one year but not the next. Or Mrs. Jones' 3rd grade class might get it but not Mrs. Smith's 3rd grade class. Or you might get it 3 mos. of the year but not the 6 mos. they're reviewing for the standardized tests. It's all ad-hoc, as you are finding.

[Anonymous]

Glad we're in a charter with plenty of opportunities for challenging instruction!

[Anonymous]

13:33, what Charter is that?

[Anonymous]

Washington Yu Ying. Our primary reason for wanting DC to attend was that we felt that even if the typical English reading/writing, early stage math, and science/social studies curriculum of most elementary programs wasn't engaging enough, the addition of Chinese would offer a whole new world of opportunities. It just didn't look like there were any privates that could compete with that (with the exception of WIS, which we really did like).

[Anonymous]

OP are you the same OP who posted about your daughter not receiving reading instruction at her level in K?

Could you give us a first letter?

We are in pre-K and your post and the other post are making me nervous. TIA.

[Anonymous]

OP here - no, my dd is in a slightly higher grade.

[Anonymous]

This gets better in the upper grades when they track students. Find out what grade that starts ... It's a damn shame DCPS doesn't provide enrichment programs. Can she bring independent reading to class? Does she do any outside enrichment instruction?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washington Yu Ying. Our primary reason for wanting DC to attend was that we felt that even if the typical English reading/writing, early stage math, and science/social studies curriculum of most elementary programs wasn't engaging enough, the addition of Chinese would offer a whole new world of opportunities. It just didn't look like there were any privates that could compete with that (with the exception of WIS, which we really did like).

This is the same reason why my son attends Yu Ying.

[Anonymous]

This is why we send our kids to a private school. I agree with the advice by 13:12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Washington Yu Ying. Our primary reason for wanting DC to attend was that we felt that even if the typical English reading/writing, early stage math, and science/social studies curriculum of most elementary programs wasn't engaging enough, the addition of Chinese would offer a whole new world of opportunities. It just didn't look like there were any privates that could compete with that (with the exception of WIS, which we really did like).

This is the same reason why my son attends Yu Ying.

That and the fact that you got very lucky in the lottery.

[Anonymous]

There's an easy fix for this. It's called Core Knowledge. We should be lobbying Michelle Rhee to encourage schools to adopt this supplemental curriculum. It adds geography, world history, classic children's literature, art history, music appreaciation and science from PreK through grade 8.

Check out the website at http://coreknowledge.org/CK/index.htm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This gets better in the upper grades when they track students. Find out what grade that starts ... It's a damn shame DCPS doesn't provide enrichment programs. Can she bring independent reading to class? Does she do any outside enrichment instruction?

Tracking doesn't address a weak curriculum.

[Anonymous]

I guess I'm wondering if there are other things about the school that make the whole situation redeemable -- walking to school, going to school with neighboring kids with whom you have easy after school/weekend play dates, good art or music there, nice after school program, good parental support... whatever... Maybe the teacher is a really nice person who's great with the kids as a group. I don't know. Anyway, even in private school you will have up and down years, better teachers than others, teachers who "get" your kid and those who don't. Just wondering if it's too soon to just bag the whole school based on this issue this year.

And I say this wondering about my own situation where I am pondering private school as well....

[Anonymous]

My son faced a similar situation at our local DCPS school. Some teachers stepped up and were able to challenge him and others failed. For fifth grade we moved him to Washington Latin. He loves it and feels challenged. He is no longer getting all As -- and that is a good thing!