Reply to First grader going to Arlington Traditional?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Hi all I’m the original poster - we did take the spot at ATS and so far have received more feedback and just general info from our whole year at the neighborhood school. I can tell the teachers are super involved and also the parents in our child’s class have reached out. It has been a drastic difference in a couple short weeks. Our child is still adjusting to the early start time and becoming familiar to new ways but as of now I think we are happy solely based on the communication from ATS compared to our neighborhood school. [/quote]

Glad you are having a good experience so far OP! There was a world of difference between my well regarded neighborhood school and ATS. You don’t realize how much better school can be until you have experienced a truly excellent school. [/quote]

DP.  What is it going to take to get APS to realize this and just make all our schools ATS-es. They don't all have to have the same strictness about tucked in shirts; but seriously - it is clearly effective academically.[/quote]

This. Get rid of the fads and implement the ATS best practices in all schools.[/quote]

It won't work at other schools because you won't have parent involvement, and many parents are anti homework because it interferes with sports etc.[/quote]

ATS isn't just about homework and tucked in shirts. There is a lot more to the school and schools can implement ATS best practices without having kids do homework. Best practices include:

- Direct teacher led instruction as opposed to inquiry based learning.  Here is an article on the importance of direct instruction when it comes to math:  https://www.city-journal.org/article/californias-math-framework-is-flawed  Direct instruction is a pedology that has a positive effect on learning outcomes. Inquiry based learning on the other hand has a negative correlation.  APS should move away from inquiry based learning and adopt direct instruction. See also Natalie Wexler on cognitive load theory:  https://theamericanscholar.org/why-so-many-kids-struggle-to-learn/

- High academic expectations.  ATS expects that students have the ability to do well, no matter what their background. If a student is below grade level, the school will do everything it can to bring that student up to grade level.

- High behavioral expectations: It is difficult to learn if you have erasers and pencils thrown at you in class. Schools should focus on creating a safe learning environment that is conducive to learning. ATS does that with its focus on behavior and character[/quote]

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