Reply to Advice Needed-Really Worried about Child at Current School

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP:  yes. I know of situations where school transfers happen within DCPS for extraordinary circumstances.  You can start by contacting the DCPS crisis team or family advocate or ombudsman whatever it is called..

But really think about if a transfer is what you want. Is there any way to salvage the current situation?  Maybe a new outside school activity or a new pet or some cognitive behavioral ways to think about these difficulties as growth experiences. Definitely something fun to look forward to during winter and spring breaks to give him something to propel him through hard days.

Of course if he is truly being mistreated by other kids or adults at school that needs to be addressed. Speak up loudly.

As for PPs guessing why 5th grade in DCPS can be hard and blaming it on charter schools “taking” friends. I call BS.  I have yet to see a DCPS elementary school that provides the intellectual and social opportunities that these 10/11 year olds are ready for. They THRiVE at Latin and Basis in 5th grade. They love it. They are ready for it. DCPS could do something similar in their 5th grades, but don’t. [/quote]

I fundamentally think the problem is that 5th graders are ready for real content, not just skills learning. But elementary school teachers are skills specialists, not content specialists. So a person who can teach 2nd graders ELA is also going to potentially teach 5th graders. But middle school teachers are content specialists - so they dive deep into their areas of specialty and get to the meaty stuff of history, math, English, science etc.[/quote]

Elementary content specialist here. This is a huge generalization. SOME 5th graders are excited to have meaty content while some are more concerned with who likes who. SOME elementary teachers are content specialists and excited to share their love of science and social studies, while others are just skimming through to check boxes. SOME middle school teachers are captivating and sow a love of their subject among students. SOME are checking boxes. This issue varies widely among students, teachers and schools.[/quote]

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