How to help child succeed at BASIS

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS doesn't withhold language. If language is important to you then choose a school that prioritizes language or as other posters have said, supplement. No school can be all things to all people. If you want a school to teach your child languages in 5th then pick a school that teaches languages in 5th. If that's not BASIS then pick another school. If you absolutely want BASIS and want languages, then supplement languages. Why is this so hard.

I know why it is so hard, they went the study languages route rather than the rigorous academics when in school.

This is the regressive posture that keeps most Americans monolingual. To somebody from another part of the world, studying a language seriously from the upper elementary grades is as routine as studying math.
Educators around the world follow the science behind learning languages young, since it's much easier to teach a child to speak a language than an older teen or an adult. Viewing middle school language learning as a liability in college admissions wouldn't make sense elsewhere. What BASIS does is let the 5th grade immersion graduates' language skills slide, only to endeavor to teach them languages from scratch from 8th grade, without providing anything like appropriate challenge. The result is that 5s on AP language exams aren't nearly as common as they could be at BASIS DC.

What BASIS DC parents don't know is that some of the BASIS Arizona campuses allow modern languages to be learned in middle school, including at the advanced level, but on a voluntary basis. They also offer serious instrumental music programs. BASIS Scottsdale certainly does. BASIS DC is hardly the jewel in the BASIS crown, for several reasons. The building isn't among the worst and the franchise, admins and parents aren't raising money for enrichment as they do elsewhere, and the school's leadership has changed repeatedly (what is it now, 8 Heads of School in 10 years?). Parent contributions in DC go only to top up teachers' salaries.

If you want language immersion in DC, you should look elsewhere.

No kids at Basis but why not demand better with the school with languages especially since other sites offer it? Improve the overall curriculum instead the status quo

No other public school in DC has the equivalent academics.

You want your kid to be a polyglot, send them to boarding school in Switzerland.

You are settling for less and don’t even know it. All the schools in the suburbs of DC offer languages and academic challenge

So why are you in a DC Public School board? Go away.

Because I’m a DC parent and want the city to offer adequate curriculum instead of selling for less.

The way to make change is to advocate, not to make excuses. Parents shouldn’t settle for the status quo

Typo settling

So you live in DC, and send your kids to an MD school? And then come on the DC board to argue about a tiny charter school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it could hurt to inquire with BASIS about the possibility of altering the language curriculum, especially since they clearly just altered it to substitute linguistics for Latin at 5th grade. The worst that can happen is they don’t allow it, but if other BASIS locations have that option (as a PP mentioned), perhaps it can be looked into. But even if there’s no hope of allowing earlier modern language study at advanced levels at BASIS, at the very least I don’t see why language clubs can’t be formed (even if they must be outside the school) by connecting like-minded immersion families. There must be a critical mass of students who either came from an immersion ES or otherwise have foreign language experience…Does anyone know if BASIS provides a general family directory for the school? I realize parents are less involved with their students in MS than ES, but perhaps they can coordinate on this matter?
In general, how well/often do parents communicate? Do they set up any text/chat groups or online platforms?

This, hardly the sentiments of a "hater."

A really good middle school, public or private, would make some effort to build on students' skills in modern languages. Maybe not for exotic languages, but for Spanish, French, Chinese, yes. Nobody should be celebrating the fact that BASIS DC doesn't bother. It's dumb of their admins to blithely let the immersion kids language skills lapse before trying to teach them these languages from scratch in 8th grade. This is such an obvious point.

So. Don't. Attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS doesn't withhold language. If language is important to you then choose a school that prioritizes language or as other posters have said, supplement. No school can be all things to all people. If you want a school to teach your child languages in 5th then pick a school that teaches languages in 5th. If that's not BASIS then pick another school. If you absolutely want BASIS and want languages, then supplement languages. Why is this so hard.

I know why it is so hard, they went the study languages route rather than the rigorous academics when in school.

This is the regressive posture that keeps most Americans monolingual. To somebody from another part of the world, studying a language seriously from the upper elementary grades is as routine as studying math.
Educators around the world follow the science behind learning languages young, since it's much easier to teach a child to speak a language than an older teen or an adult. Viewing middle school language learning as a liability in college admissions wouldn't make sense elsewhere. What BASIS does is let the 5th grade immersion graduates' language skills slide, only to endeavor to teach them languages from scratch from 8th grade, without providing anything like appropriate challenge. The result is that 5s on AP language exams aren't nearly as common as they could be at BASIS DC.

What BASIS DC parents don't know is that some of the BASIS Arizona campuses allow modern languages to be learned in middle school, including at the advanced level, but on a voluntary basis. They also offer serious instrumental music programs. BASIS Scottsdale certainly does. BASIS DC is hardly the jewel in the BASIS crown, for several reasons. The building isn't among the worst and the franchise, admins and parents aren't raising money for enrichment as they do elsewhere, and the school's leadership has changed repeatedly (what is it now, 8 Heads of School in 10 years?). Parent contributions in DC go only to top up teachers' salaries.

If you want language immersion in DC, you should look elsewhere.

No kids at Basis but why not demand better with the school with languages especially since other sites offer it? Improve the overall curriculum instead the status quo

No other public school in DC has the equivalent academics.

You want your kid to be a polyglot, send them to boarding school in Switzerland.

You are settling for less and don’t even know it. All the schools in the suburbs of DC offer languages and academic challenge

True, the suburban schools do. BASIS doesn't, yet has a long waiting list. Really all there is to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it could hurt to inquire with BASIS about the possibility of altering the language curriculum, especially since they clearly just altered it to substitute linguistics for Latin at 5th grade. The worst that can happen is they don’t allow it, but if other BASIS locations have that option (as a PP mentioned), perhaps it can be looked into. But even if there’s no hope of allowing earlier modern language study at advanced levels at BASIS, at the very least I don’t see why language clubs can’t be formed (even if they must be outside the school) by connecting like-minded immersion families. There must be a critical mass of students who either came from an immersion ES or otherwise have foreign language experience…Does anyone know if BASIS provides a general family directory for the school? I realize parents are less involved with their students in MS than ES, but perhaps they can coordinate on this matter?
In general, how well/often do parents communicate? Do they set up any text/chat groups or online platforms?

This, hardly the sentiments of a "hater."

A really good middle school, public or private, would make some effort to build on students' skills in modern languages. Maybe not for exotic languages, but for Spanish, French, Chinese, yes. Nobody should be celebrating the fact that BASIS DC doesn't bother. It's dumb of their admins to blithely let the immersion kids language skills lapse before trying to teach them these languages from scratch in 8th grade. This is such an obvious point.

So. Don't. Attend.

So don't toot their horn for upholding a dumb and wasteful policy at taxpayer's expense. Hint: BASIS isn't a private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to the original question of this thread:
Seems like the preparation for 5th grade students is minimal compared to the preparation the 5th grade parents need to constantly defend their decision to go to BASIS. But in all seriousness, I have heard that in addition to “boss camp” over the summer, the students can attend a weekend retreat in the fall to further acclimate. I have also heard that students can attend lots of office hours outside of the school day to feel better prepared with any material they are confused about. From the many posts I have read and current BASIS families I have spoken to, it seems important to figure out the weaknesses early and address them so a student doesn’t fall behind and get overwhelmed.

No worries. Just ignore the handful of BASIS haters on DCUM that like to fill up any BASIS DC thread with their misinformed comments on computer labs, cooking classes, Arizona schools, and the like.

Envy is thin because it bites but never eats.

Grow up. All the comments aren't misinformed. All the criticism isn't misplaced and doesn't stem from envy.

We were glad to leave for Walls even though my oldest did well on AP Cal and World History in....8th grade. I really like how Walls is run by older adults.

Funny. Every parent I know from Walls says the weakest part of the school is the faculty and administration.

Not my experience. BASIS is run by junior twits by comparison. Nice twits, well-meaning twits, still inexperienced young twits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it could hurt to inquire with BASIS about the possibility of altering the language curriculum, especially since they clearly just altered it to substitute linguistics for Latin at 5th grade. The worst that can happen is they don’t allow it, but if other BASIS locations have that option (as a PP mentioned), perhaps it can be looked into. But even if there’s no hope of allowing earlier modern language study at advanced levels at BASIS, at the very least I don’t see why language clubs can’t be formed (even if they must be outside the school) by connecting like-minded immersion families. There must be a critical mass of students who either came from an immersion ES or otherwise have foreign language experience…Does anyone know if BASIS provides a general family directory for the school? I realize parents are less involved with their students in MS than ES, but perhaps they can coordinate on this matter?
In general, how well/often do parents communicate? Do they set up any text/chat groups or online platforms?

This, hardly the sentiments of a "hater."

A really good middle school, public or private, would make some effort to build on students' skills in modern languages. Maybe not for exotic languages, but for Spanish, French, Chinese, yes. Nobody should be celebrating the fact that BASIS DC doesn't bother. It's dumb of their admins to blithely let the immersion kids language skills lapse before trying to teach them these languages from scratch in 8th grade. This is such an obvious point.

So. Don't. Attend.

So don't toot their horn for upholding a dumb and wasteful policy at taxpayer's expense. Hint: BASIS isn't a private school.

Hahaha. So Basis shouldn't exisit because they don't start Spanish until 8th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back to the original question of this thread:
Seems like the preparation for 5th grade students is minimal compared to the preparation the 5th grade parents need to constantly defend their decision to go to BASIS. But in all seriousness, I have heard that in addition to “boss camp” over the summer, the students can attend a weekend retreat in the fall to further acclimate. I have also heard that students can attend lots of office hours outside of the school day to feel better prepared with any material they are confused about. From the many posts I have read and current BASIS families I have spoken to, it seems important to figure out the weaknesses early and address them so a student doesn’t fall behind and get overwhelmed.

No worries. Just ignore the handful of BASIS haters on DCUM that like to fill up any BASIS DC thread with their misinformed comments on computer labs, cooking classes, Arizona schools, and the like.

Envy is thin because it bites but never eats.

Grow up. All the comments aren't misinformed. All the criticism isn't misplaced and doesn't stem from envy.

We were glad to leave for Walls even though my oldest did well on AP Cal and World History in....8th grade. I really like how Walls is run by older adults.

Funny. Every parent I know from Walls says the weakest part of the school is the faculty and administration.

Not my experience. BASIS is run by junior twits by comparison. Nice twits, well-meaning twits, still inexperienced young twits.

I would agree they are young, and sometimes inexperienced. But I've found the teachers to be (mostly) great. I don't have kids at SWW, so I am only projecting heresay, but the number of parents I know who are absolutely appalled at the teachers (not the students, who are excellent) at SWW is pretty high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS doesn't withhold language. If language is important to you then choose a school that prioritizes language or as other posters have said, supplement. No school can be all things to all people. If you want a school to teach your child languages in 5th then pick a school that teaches languages in 5th. If that's not BASIS then pick another school. If you absolutely want BASIS and want languages, then supplement languages. Why is this so hard.

I know why it is so hard, they went the study languages route rather than the rigorous academics when in school.

This is the regressive posture that keeps most Americans monolingual. To somebody from another part of the world, studying a language seriously from the upper elementary grades is as routine as studying math.
Educators around the world follow the science behind learning languages young, since it's much easier to teach a child to speak a language than an older teen or an adult. Viewing middle school language learning as a liability in college admissions wouldn't make sense elsewhere. What BASIS does is let the 5th grade immersion graduates' language skills slide, only to endeavor to teach them languages from scratch from 8th grade, without providing anything like appropriate challenge. The result is that 5s on AP language exams aren't nearly as common as they could be at BASIS DC.

What BASIS DC parents don't know is that some of the BASIS Arizona campuses allow modern languages to be learned in middle school, including at the advanced level, but on a voluntary basis. They also offer serious instrumental music programs. BASIS Scottsdale certainly does. BASIS DC is hardly the jewel in the BASIS crown, for several reasons. The building isn't among the worst and the franchise, admins and parents aren't raising money for enrichment as they do elsewhere, and the school's leadership has changed repeatedly (what is it now, 8 Heads of School in 10 years?). Parent contributions in DC go only to top up teachers' salaries.

If you want language immersion in DC, you should look elsewhere.

No kids at Basis but why not demand better with the school with languages especially since other sites offer it? Improve the overall curriculum instead the status quo

No other public school in DC has the equivalent academics.

You want your kid to be a polyglot, send them to boarding school in Switzerland.

You are settling for less and don’t even know it. All the schools in the suburbs of DC offer languages and academic challenge

So why are you in a DC Public School board? Go away.

Because I’m a DC parent and want the city to offer adequate curriculum instead of selling for less.

The way to make change is to advocate, not to make excuses. Parents shouldn’t settle for the status quo

It's really weird that in a post about DC "offering an adequate curriculum" you're complaining about BASIS, which offers one of the most academically advanced programs in the entire city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS doesn't withhold language. If language is important to you then choose a school that prioritizes language or as other posters have said, supplement. No school can be all things to all people. If you want a school to teach your child languages in 5th then pick a school that teaches languages in 5th. If that's not BASIS then pick another school. If you absolutely want BASIS and want languages, then supplement languages. Why is this so hard.

I know why it is so hard, they went the study languages route rather than the rigorous academics when in school.

This is the regressive posture that keeps most Americans monolingual. To somebody from another part of the world, studying a language seriously from the upper elementary grades is as routine as studying math.
Educators around the world follow the science behind learning languages young, since it's much easier to teach a child to speak a language than an older teen or an adult. Viewing middle school language learning as a liability in college admissions wouldn't make sense elsewhere. What BASIS does is let the 5th grade immersion graduates' language skills slide, only to endeavor to teach them languages from scratch from 8th grade, without providing anything like appropriate challenge. The result is that 5s on AP language exams aren't nearly as common as they could be at BASIS DC.

What BASIS DC parents don't know is that some of the BASIS Arizona campuses allow modern languages to be learned in middle school, including at the advanced level, but on a voluntary basis. They also offer serious instrumental music programs. BASIS Scottsdale certainly does. BASIS DC is hardly the jewel in the BASIS crown, for several reasons. The building isn't among the worst and the franchise, admins and parents aren't raising money for enrichment as they do elsewhere, and the school's leadership has changed repeatedly (what is it now, 8 Heads of School in 10 years?). Parent contributions in DC go only to top up teachers' salaries.

If you want language immersion in DC, you should look elsewhere.

No kids at Basis but why not demand better with the school with languages especially since other sites offer it? Improve the overall curriculum instead the status quo

No other public school in DC has the equivalent academics.

You want your kid to be a polyglot, send them to boarding school in Switzerland.

You are settling for less and don’t even know it. All the schools in the suburbs of DC offer languages and academic challenge

So why are you in a DC Public School board? Go away.

Because I’m a DC parent and want the city to offer adequate curriculum instead of selling for less.

The way to make change is to advocate, not to make excuses. Parents shouldn’t settle for the status quo

It's really weird that in a post about DC "offering an adequate curriculum" you're complaining about BASIS, which offers one of the most academically advanced programs in the entire city.

PP doesn't agree. That's what they are arguing about. But I suspect in this case, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

To me, starting language in 8th is not a big deal at all. (And sorry that it doesn't cater to the immersion schools, but there is a school that does.)

[Anonymous]

You sound like a monolingual parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS doesn't withhold language. If language is important to you then choose a school that prioritizes language or as other posters have said, supplement. No school can be all things to all people. If you want a school to teach your child languages in 5th then pick a school that teaches languages in 5th. If that's not BASIS then pick another school. If you absolutely want BASIS and want languages, then supplement languages. Why is this so hard.

I know why it is so hard, they went the study languages route rather than the rigorous academics when in school.

This is the regressive posture that keeps most Americans monolingual. To somebody from another part of the world, studying a language seriously from the upper elementary grades is as routine as studying math.
Educators around the world follow the science behind learning languages young, since it's much easier to teach a child to speak a language than an older teen or an adult. Viewing middle school language learning as a liability in college admissions wouldn't make sense elsewhere. What BASIS does is let the 5th grade immersion graduates' language skills slide, only to endeavor to teach them languages from scratch from 8th grade, without providing anything like appropriate challenge. The result is that 5s on AP language exams aren't nearly as common as they could be at BASIS DC.

What BASIS DC parents don't know is that some of the BASIS Arizona campuses allow modern languages to be learned in middle school, including at the advanced level, but on a voluntary basis. They also offer serious instrumental music programs. BASIS Scottsdale certainly does. BASIS DC is hardly the jewel in the BASIS crown, for several reasons. The building isn't among the worst and the franchise, admins and parents aren't raising money for enrichment as they do elsewhere, and the school's leadership has changed repeatedly (what is it now, 8 Heads of School in 10 years?). Parent contributions in DC go only to top up teachers' salaries.

If you want language immersion in DC, you should look elsewhere.

No kids at Basis but why not demand better with the school with languages especially since other sites offer it? Improve the overall curriculum instead the status quo

No other public school in DC has the equivalent academics.

You want your kid to be a polyglot, send them to boarding school in Switzerland.

You are settling for less and don’t even know it. All the schools in the suburbs of DC offer languages and academic challenge

So why are you in a DC Public School board? Go away.

Because I’m a DC parent and want the city to offer adequate curriculum instead of selling for less.

The way to make change is to advocate, not to make excuses. Parents shouldn’t settle for the status quo

It's really weird that in a post about DC "offering an adequate curriculum" you're complaining about BASIS, which offers one of the most academically advanced programs in the entire city.

PP doesn't agree. That's what they are arguing about. But I suspect in this case, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

To me, starting language in 8th is not a big deal at all. (And sorry that it doesn't cater to the immersion schools, but there is a school that does.)

The weird thing is that PP is seemingly ignorant about the fact that charters are *supposed* to design their own curriculum for their own focus. That’s the whole dang point of charters. There are other charters that do language immersion - parents who prioritize language immersion can choose them. There is simply no grounds to complain about Basis curriculum based on some notion of “what all schools should do.” PP needs to hold the Basis network accountable for any issues with the curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound like a monolingual parent.

There are schools that cater to folks who care a lot about immersion. This is not one of them. Sorry you don't find DCI to be academically rigorous enough, but I think your beef is with DCI, not BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound like a monolingual parent.

I am. I took four years of french in HS, got a 4 on the AP, and enjoy the occasional menu items. It is not an insult to suggest that I am monolingual. And again, if languge is your thing - there is a charter for that.

[Anonymous]

I'm confused. In FCPS, the overwhelming majority of kids start a language in 8th or 9th. BASIS doesn't seem out of line with most area publics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS doesn't withhold language. If language is important to you then choose a school that prioritizes language or as other posters have said, supplement. No school can be all things to all people. If you want a school to teach your child languages in 5th then pick a school that teaches languages in 5th. If that's not BASIS then pick another school. If you absolutely want BASIS and want languages, then supplement languages. Why is this so hard.

I know why it is so hard, they went the study languages route rather than the rigorous academics when in school.

This is the regressive posture that keeps most Americans monolingual. To somebody from another part of the world, studying a language seriously from the upper elementary grades is as routine as studying math.
Educators around the world follow the science behind learning languages young, since it's much easier to teach a child to speak a language than an older teen or an adult. Viewing middle school language learning as a liability in college admissions wouldn't make sense elsewhere. What BASIS does is let the 5th grade immersion graduates' language skills slide, only to endeavor to teach them languages from scratch from 8th grade, without providing anything like appropriate challenge. The result is that 5s on AP language exams aren't nearly as common as they could be at BASIS DC.

What BASIS DC parents don't know is that some of the BASIS Arizona campuses allow modern languages to be learned in middle school, including at the advanced level, but on a voluntary basis. They also offer serious instrumental music programs. BASIS Scottsdale certainly does. BASIS DC is hardly the jewel in the BASIS crown, for several reasons. The building isn't among the worst and the franchise, admins and parents aren't raising money for enrichment as they do elsewhere, and the school's leadership has changed repeatedly (what is it now, 8 Heads of School in 10 years?). Parent contributions in DC go only to top up teachers' salaries.

If you want language immersion in DC, you should look elsewhere.

No kids at Basis but why not demand better with the school with languages especially since other sites offer it? Improve the overall curriculum instead the status quo

No other public school in DC has the equivalent academics.

You want your kid to be a polyglot, send them to boarding school in Switzerland.

You are settling for less and don’t even know it. All the schools in the suburbs of DC offer languages and academic challenge

So why are you in a DC Public School board? Go away.

Because I’m a DC parent and want the city to offer adequate curriculum instead of selling for less.

The way to make change is to advocate, not to make excuses. Parents shouldn’t settle for the status quo

Typo settling

So you live in DC, and send your kids to an MD school? And then come on the DC board to argue about a tiny charter school?

All your assumptions are completely wrong. My kid goes to school in DC at the elementary level. He is a high performing kid, and I’m looking at all options for middle/high school in DC and the burbs.

The offerings in DC are subpar to the burbs. Language offerings is just one example.

The basis curriculum is lacking in it and could be enriched by adding it. It’s not hard to do. Change doesn’t happen unless there is an impetus such as parents advocating.