Reply to Russian School of Math vs. AOPS

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]How are the RSM teachers? I read a review online that said teachers are strict and intimidating which would not work well for my DC.  [/quote]

DS has not complained about his RSM Teachers, he has had three this year. He started on grade level and then moved up a grade level. He also does competition math. We have not asked him how he likes his Teachers but he has not said anything negative and has asked to do RSM again next year.

He misses classes for Scouts or his Rec Sports and the school has always offered an online class for him to make up the missed class or a 30 minute tutoring session to discuss any homework issues. It has not been an issue.

We have found the Teachers very approachable. DS told us that the math he was doing was fine but kind of slow. We talked with the school and the teachers and they agreed to move him from his grade level up a grade. We have been talking with both Teachers to find the best fit for next year. Both have stopped to talk after class and via email.

I have seen Teachers talking with parents outside of class. The material moves at a quick pace but there are supports in place to help kids. We have had a positive experience so far.

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Usually in RSM you wouldn't move up a grade but up a level (accelerated -> advanced -> honors) within the grade cohort... but if you mean over time he made that progression and then also up a grade level thereafter, that makes more sense. I wouldn't say that the teachers are strict and intimidating in our experience, but probably only "somewhat" rather than "very" approachable either... that is, they tend to be neutral-to-warm (varies) but with a pretty quick "to the point" approach. That's not a negative, just emphasizing there's an appropriate difference in tone and focus between their math-focused supplementation teachers vs. your standard ES all-day classroom teacher. They aren't at all harsh or uncaring though.[/quote]

He started in honors for his grade level. He was finding it easy. We talked to the Teacher who agreed that he was at the top of class. RSM agreed to let him try the next grade level, he joined that grades Advanced class. He was solving problems on the whiteboard in week once and scored 100% on the unit assessment that was given in his second week. After a 4 week trial run in the higher grade level, he was added to that class. He has stayed in that class for the rest of the year. He has not had a problem with that material.

When we approached them we told them we would accept where they wanted to place him because they knew their program better then we did. If they had not thought it was a good fit, he would have stayed in his Honors class. I am guessing that this doesn't happen all that frequently but he is happier in the next grade level up and is learning concepts that are new to him. 
My point was that the program is approachable, or at least we have found it approachable, and flexible. We accepted their recommendation for next year. We approached them because the whole reason for him doing RSM or AoPS is to be challenged in math, there is limited reason for him doing the class if he knows the material that they are presenting. Like I said, we would have kept him in his original class if the program thought it was not a good idea to move him up or if the higher level material was too hard.

I don't get the feeling that the classes are filled with warm fuzzies but pretty matter of fact and to the point. The homework is pretty cut and dry. That said, it is a voluntary program for supplementation. You get a feel for how they approach classes when you do the evaluation. The evaluators tone and explanations are what you can expect in class. The program will offer tutoring for kids who need it, I have heard them talking to other parents.

AoPS was different, we only did that during the virtual program. The teacher was calling on kids to read the various parts of the comic strip that was teaching the material. Kids were invited to solve problems. I could hear that there were some kids that were reluctant and the Teacher was making an effort to call on those kids. The few RSM classes that I heard (December was virtual because of Omicron) did not involve kids reading anything. The Teacher would explain a concept, the kids would do practice problems and one would show their solution and explain their answer. Both were fine but they have different approaches. I don't know what either looks like in the physical classroom. [/quote]

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