Reply to ATS Principal and Assistant Principal both left/leaving school.

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I’m still trying to understand exactly what ATS is and what makes it “traditional”. Shouldn’t all the schools be run that way (whatever that way is) if they get better results? [/quote]

As a parent with two kids at ATS I agree. But other parents clearly hate ATS so ….

It is traditional because instead of inquiry based learning it [b]uses the traditional form of instructional which is teacher guided instruction.[/b] So as to not waste precious time classrooms are self contained, meaning instead of the kids going to different classrooms, the teachers come to them. There is a dress code,[b] homework and an expectation of excellence for each child. There is a lot of extra help for students who are below grade level. There’s a lot of emphasis on the basics (the three Rs). There is a lot of communication - parents get weekly progress reports about how their kids are doing…[/b][/quote]

THIS should be happening at every APS elementary. I have no issues with ATS (except we couldn't get off the wait list) but with APS for not instituting good practcies at the other elementary schools. (Or is APS still hung up on "equity"?)  For example, why was it so hard for parents to get "extra help" at McKinley or "weekly progress reports" rather than discovering your DC was doing poorly mid-way through the school year?   :idea:  :idea:  :idea: [/quote]

PP here. I apologize for the typos. Yes I agree. I didn’t grow up in the US and my education was pretty much like the education my daughters are receiving at ATS (except we wore uniforms and learned two languages). We had experience with my first with the nontraditional type of instruction (in Fairfax county not ATS) and I wasn’t a big fan. Basically they work independently most of the time  in small groups on a table and they rotate to another table. The teacher works with a few students at a time. There is little direct instruction. The thing is direct instruction is a more effective way of learning (Natalie Wexler has an excellent article on this). The problem with the rotating tables (there is a term with it but I forgot what it is) is that if your kid is a rule follower (mine was) they will get their work done. If your kid isn’t they will waste time and start goofing around. This then ends up taking up the teachers time because he or she have to waste time with classroom management and discipline. I realized this method of instruction wouldn’t work for my very rebellious second child so when I heard about ATS I applied and we got in (had moved to Arlington as well). We applied for my first and she got in the next year. Now they are both in and luckily my second will be in 5th grade when my two year old enters kindergarten so hopefully she will get in via sibling preference. But yes I agree. All schools should be like ATS. One positive thing, APS has revamped their ELA instruction, gotten rid of Lucy Calkins and is doing a lot of phonics based instruction (which is what ATS does). On top of that the ELA department is reviewing new curriculums and my understanding that many of the new curriculums they are looking at are knowledge based not inquiry based. So I am feeling hopeful![/quote]

This is me - grew up abroad, strict school, learned two languages, want the same for my kids. I’m sorry to mix threads here but does anyone know if Key also does this going around the table set up that is described here? Because we want them in traditional schools. Do private schools do this?[/quote]

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