Anonymous wrote:What math is the TJ entry level math? My kid is doing algebra in 8th. Thanks.

I think it is math 3 then math 4 freshman year, which is equivalent to geometry+alg 2+ some precalc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On the question of HW load, DC graduated recently before the TJ shakeup. They had an average of 4+ hours of HW daily some days less. but there was always something to do even if for longterm projects.

When I saw pp said their DC had 2 hours per night I was surprised.

The new principal Dr. Bonnitatibus changed the HW policy especially. during and after covid to 2 hrs/night from the previous 4 hrs/night
As a result some of the really advanced courses like Phys C M&E/M which were 2 years in 1 can't actually assign enough home.work to learn the material. Ditto for the advanced college level stem courses at TJ. On the good side it gives kids the chance to do lore sports etc... On the bad side the college-level coursework and advanced academics are really not the same as what TJ had before 2020.

Can't the students who want to learn the material well just do more problems themselves without having to be officially forced/graded by the teacher? If I was a teacher and kids are asking me how to learn the material, I would be giving them recommendations. I'm sure this is how teachers are responding even if they are not allowed to officially assign more than a certain amount, per school policy. This seems to mirror college; with the idea that if kids are taking advanced post-AP college classes, they should be self assessing and deciding whether they need to put more practice/effort to understand something. So they'll have the option to do more if they are motivated, but aren't forced to if they have other interests or are very busy with sports etc. More flexibility seems a good thing to me.

What math is the TJ entry level math? My kid is doing algebra in 8th. Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:On the question of HW load, DC graduated recently before the TJ shakeup. They had an average of 4+ hours of HW daily some days less. but there was always something to do even if for longterm projects.

When I saw pp said their DC had 2 hours per night I was surprised.

The new principal Dr. Bonnitatibus changed the HW policy especially. during and after covid to 2 hrs/night from the previous 4 hrs/night
As a result some of the really advanced courses like Phys C M&E/M which were 2 years in 1 can't actually assign enough home.work to learn the material. Ditto for the advanced college level stem courses at TJ. On the good side it gives kids the chance to do lore sports etc... On the bad side the college-level coursework and advanced academics are really not the same as what TJ had before 2020.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This will depend hugely on what course load your child plans on. Would they be coming in at normal entry level (Stats and TJ Math 3 which is Algebra 2) or a higher level?

DC came in at the normal math/science entry level and restarted at a level 1 for language (hated the one taken in 8th). Summer PE before 9th was the only head start step.

DC’s experience: Homework is not every single night but usually 4 - 5 hours or so on the weekend and then a couple nights of 1.5 hours or so of work. The rest gets done at school normally.

Why take PE the summer before? It's not like that saves you from homework and maybe getting a little exercise during the school day is a good way to blow off stress. If you're taking an academic course in place of PE, then your intentionally creating more homework. Sorry just curious why someone would do this?

It makes it a lot easier to fit in the various requirements particularly if your kid wants to do orchestra or band. Most TJ students do a few summer school sessions to make their schedules work out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is presently a freshman at TJ, joined two varsity sports teams and has other extracurricular activities that she does year round. Coming into TJ, we were also worried about whether she could pursue her extracurricular interests while staying on top of her academics. We were told that most kids do approximately 2 hours of homework a night. It seems that my daughter often spends more time on her schoolwork. It’s not unusual for her to stay up really late to study, especially if there’s a quiz/test the next day or a group project. Despite the work, long commute and sleep deprivation, she loves TJ.

Do you even hear yourself? Wow.

My son was over-worked, sleep deprived and had long commute but loved every moment of TJ.

On the question of HW load, DC graduated recently before the TJ shakeup. They had an average of 4+ hours of HW daily some days less. but there was always something to do even if for longterm projects.

When I saw pp said their DC had 2 hours per night I was surprised.

Anonymous wrote:This will depend hugely on what course load your child plans on. Would they be coming in at normal entry level (Stats and TJ Math 3 which is Algebra 2) or a higher level?

DC came in at the normal math/science entry level and restarted at a level 1 for language (hated the one taken in 8th). Summer PE before 9th was the only head start step.

DC’s experience: Homework is not every single night but usually 4 - 5 hours or so on the weekend and then a couple nights of 1.5 hours or so of work. The rest gets done at school normally.

Why take PE the summer before? It's not like that saves you from homework and maybe getting a little exercise during the school day is a good way to blow off stress. If you're taking an academic course in place of PE, then your intentionally creating more homework. Sorry just curious why someone would do this?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is presently a freshman at TJ, joined two varsity sports teams and has other extracurricular activities that she does year round. Coming into TJ, we were also worried about whether she could pursue her extracurricular interests while staying on top of her academics. We were told that most kids do approximately 2 hours of homework a night. It seems that my daughter often spends more time on her schoolwork. It’s not unusual for her to stay up really late to study, especially if there’s a quiz/test the next day or a group project. Despite the work, long commute and sleep deprivation, she loves TJ.

Do you even hear yourself? Wow.

I hear my daughter. Shocker.

Anonymous wrote:Realistically, I'd you want to get mostly A grades, how much homework do you do per night and on weekends?

My child is still waiting to hear but is starting to have second thoughts since the child has so many interests outside of school and is worried there won't be time.

Remember the child can always go back to base school anytime if they can't handle the school load + sports. Once you decline TJ offer, it is gone.
Sports is highly encouraged at TJ which helps with stress and time management

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is presently a freshman at TJ, joined two varsity sports teams and has other extracurricular activities that she does year round. Coming into TJ, we were also worried about whether she could pursue her extracurricular interests while staying on top of her academics. We were told that most kids do approximately 2 hours of homework a night. It seems that my daughter often spends more time on her schoolwork. It’s not unusual for her to stay up really late to study, especially if there’s a quiz/test the next day or a group project. Despite the work, long commute and sleep deprivation, she loves TJ.

My child is a freshman too at TJ. So far he is doing fine with grades, and doing Crew. Crew and Tennis is lot of time commitment with every day practice + Saturday morning. He has been liking it and enjoys being part of Crew team. It is also good for college applications to show time management across course work + sports and shows commitment. TJ homework is not as much....maybe middle school had more homework but there are tests almost every other day so the kid has to be prepared all the time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is presently a freshman at TJ, joined two varsity sports teams and has other extracurricular activities that she does year round. Coming into TJ, we were also worried about whether she could pursue her extracurricular interests while staying on top of her academics. We were told that most kids do approximately 2 hours of homework a night. It seems that my daughter often spends more time on her schoolwork. It’s not unusual for her to stay up really late to study, especially if there’s a quiz/test the next day or a group project. Despite the work, long commute and sleep deprivation, she loves TJ.

Do you even hear yourself? Wow.

Not PP but just noting that what works for 1 kid is not what works for all of them. If here daughter is happy, active in extracurriculars, and doing well in school then clearly it seems to be working for her. For another kid, the additional work and/or sleep impacts might be deal-breakers.

It's not for everyone and no one tries to pretend it is. But for many kids it's a great experience.

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is presently a freshman at TJ, joined two varsity sports teams and has other extracurricular activities that she does year round. Coming into TJ, we were also worried about whether she could pursue her extracurricular interests while staying on top of her academics. We were told that most kids do approximately 2 hours of homework a night. It seems that my daughter often spends more time on her schoolwork. It’s not unusual for her to stay up really late to study, especially if there’s a quiz/test the next day or a group project. Despite the work, long commute and sleep deprivation, she loves TJ.

Do you even hear yourself? Wow.

My daughter is presently a freshman at TJ, joined two varsity sports teams and has other extracurricular activities that she does year round. Coming into TJ, we were also worried about whether she could pursue her extracurricular interests while staying on top of her academics. We were told that most kids do approximately 2 hours of homework a night. It seems that my daughter often spends more time on her schoolwork. It’s not unusual for her to stay up really late to study, especially if there’s a quiz/test the next day or a group project. Despite the work, long commute and sleep deprivation, she loves TJ.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid was a 3 sport athlete at TJ and loved the whole TJ experience. Currently at a T10, so TJ and sports is definitely doable.

One of the deep secrets of TJ is that it's actually a phenomenal place to be an athlete. Your opportunities there (assuming you're talking about team sports) will be much, much stronger than they would be at a base school - you're more likely to make the teams and you're more likely to play varsity earlier. And in many cases, that can lead to being more of a recruitable athlete than you would be at a base school.

Yep, if you are talking team sports. Don't even try making the swim team, tennis team, or golf team at TJ as a male unless you are truly elite. TJ boys win the state in these sports almost as regularly as they win states for Chess.