Anonymous
Post 05/15/2012 09:11     Subject: Why are you sending your child to Basis?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am not that smart and I didn't work that hard in high school. I am very commited to showing up - I have always had good attendence. My parents supported me. I passed 4 AP tests. Why does Basis go on and on about kids having 4 hours of homework a day in order to pass a few AP tests????


Two points, PP.

First, BASIS upper school students must take a minimum of 8 AP courses and pass a minimum of 6 AP exams to graduate. Many pass more than the minimum.

Second, BASIS claims to assign very little homework. IIRC, BASIS students have regular homework only in math. The philosophy seems to be that, since the kids focus on learning to the exclusion of all else during the 7 hours they are at school each day, there is little reason to load them up with homework.


If this is true Basis is much more attractive to me. Every parent I know who attended the info sessions (several of whom are very impressed and are going to send their kids there) talked about there being hours of homework a night. If you look at the reviews on great schools, there is talk of hours of homework a night. If homework is regularly assigned only in math, we will definitely look at Basis for my kid. I don't care about my kid going to the best school in America, I want him to have a childhood.

Anonymous
Post 05/14/2012 23:21     Subject: Why are you sending your child to Basis?
Anonymous wrote:I am not that smart and I didn't work that hard in high school. I am very commited to showing up - I have always had good attendence. My parents supported me. I passed 4 AP tests. Why does Basis go on and on about kids having 4 hours of homework a day in order to pass a few AP tests????


Two points, PP.

First, BASIS upper school students must take a minimum of 8 AP courses and pass a minimum of 6 AP exams to graduate. Many pass more than the minimum.

Second, BASIS claims to assign very little homework. IIRC, BASIS students have regular homework only in math. The philosophy seems to be that, since the kids focus on learning to the exclusion of all else during the 7 hours they are at school each day, there is little reason to load them up with homework.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2012 21:32     Subject: Re:Why are you sending your child to Basis?
Latin middle school parent here. Good to hear from the PP with the good experience after deciding to stay at Latin for Upper School. We have been very, very happy with the incredible individual teacher attention at Latin and would definitely consider staying for high school, particularly if there is a move to a newly renovated facility, which seems to be more and more likely.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2012 20:43     Subject: Re:Why are you sending your child to Basis?
That's what has happened to us in our expeditionary school.
Even in science, the teacher gives really complicated and rather long texts to introduce a new concept. Students read them independently or in small groups, have to analyze everything, make sense of all the difficult words and then try to apply the new theory to a complicated project.
In English/social studies one single expedition is to be executed over months.
How many pre-teens have the planning skills and concentration to work on such complicated and long term projects with minimal help from teachers?
Precious time is being wasted, and children are getting frustrated and thinking middle school work is tedious and utterly boring.


Perhaps MS is a good place for students to start learning those skills, since it will be assumed they have them in HS, in college, and in life.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2012 20:26     Subject: Why are you sending your child to Basis?
I am not that smart and I didn't work that hard in high school. I am very commited to showing up - I have always had good attendence. My parents supported me. I passed 4 AP tests. Why does Basis go on and on about kids having 4 hours of homework a day in order to pass a few AP tests????
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2012 17:41     Subject: Re:Why are you sending your child to Basis?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP's do you mind stating the schools that you are unhappy with?


Washington Latin PCS.


Sorry to hijack, but could you explain why you're not happy with Latin, and which grades? We're considering it and it would be helpful.


To be honest, PP, we're not leaving Latin as much as we are joining BASIS. DC has learned a lot at Latin, but could be learning more. We think DC will learn more with the accelerated program at BASIS.

If BASIS were not opening next year, we would most likely finish out middle school at Latin. Based on what we have heard from others about the upper school at Latin, we would most likely leave Latin after 8th grade were we to stay.



Our DC has had a good experience at Latin.


Good to hear. Our child has had a really good experience so far in Upper School at Latin; better than middle, which our child enjoyed. Have you spoken to many parents with their children currently in Upper School, or is your information based on those who chose to leave before trying Upper School? While the latter may have evaluated carefully, they would not have access to firsthand experience which might surprise you. Curious, since I think there is an idea about Latin that 'everybody' leaves after 8th grade. It's simply not true. Last year the highest ever group of students stayed on from Middle -- about 80% I believe -- and the new students who came in are wonderful. It's a great freshman class and I hope this year's rising 8th consider carefully staying on. The teachers simply cannot be beat.
I'm intrigued by BASIS, and given that we gave Latin a go when it was 'untested' we are probably the kind of family that would have given a high expectations school like BASIS a spin. That being said, the worst courses I had in High School involved teachers 'teaching to the AP'. Luckily, I only had a few teachers that took that tack. The rest taught us to think, and we sailed through the APs when we took them. What is the BASIS take on this?
Thanks.

Anonymous
Post 05/14/2012 17:11     Subject: Re:Why are you sending your child to Basis?


I visited an expeditionary school to see what the kids were doing. Definitely a pretty nice ambiance and raport between the kids and teachers, but the kids were basically getting lap tops and going to google-docs to open up their long-term projects and working on them in class. For kids without good executive function and planning skills, or those who distract easily, I'm not sure that's the best use of a 50 minute class...


That's what has happened to us in our expeditionary school.
Even in science, the teacher gives really complicated and rather long texts to introduce a new concept. Students read them independently or in small groups, have to analyze everything, make sense of all the difficult words and then try to apply the new theory to a complicated project.
In English/social studies one single expedition is to be executed over months.
How many pre-teens have the planning skills and concentration to work on such complicated and long term projects with minimal help from teachers?
Precious time is being wasted, and children are getting frustrated and thinking middle school work is tedious and utterly boring.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2012 14:04     Subject: Re:Why are you sending your child to Basis?
Yes, PP for sure. Have to admit that the model above is what DD is getting in her private school this year, so not exactly the same as DCPS or charter resources. But the main thing is communication, not special books or materials or whatever that would cost money. It's just the teachers planning and talking with each other. My DD's charter was a very good one but the teachers, even just the two for the one grade, DID NOT PLAN TOGETHER. It was shocking how little they actually coordinated what they did. It somehow worked out but no way could you do a well-planned thematic program. Not sure why this did not happen, as there was planning time included in every day's schedule. Maybe just lack of knowledge about how it could work and seeing a good program in action.

I visited an expeditionary school to see what the kids were doing. Definitely a pretty nice ambiance and raport between the kids and teachers, but the kids were basically getting lap tops and going to google-docs to open up their long-term projects and working on them in class. For kids without good executive function and planning skills, or those who distract easily, I'm not sure that's the best use of a 50 minute class...
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2012 13:44     Subject: Re:Why are you sending your child to Basis?
Anonymous wrote:it's possible to do group projects, long-term research projects, etc., if the staff plans and executes really well. I see that in my DD's school-- long term subjects (the Romans, for example) and the teachers carry out interesting discussions/projects etc. on that theme. Math -- Roman architecture and geometry; Social Studies -- nuf said; English -- reading materials, writing a composition on a facet of roman life, etc. Science -- how aqueducts work or roman agricultural methods or whatever. Even the specials -- drama class using roman theatre techniques, music examples from that time. Pretty neat and coincides with the regular curriculum enough so that the kids are moving along in the basics of academics as well as studying something interesting and enriching.


This model should be replicated in other project based schools. It's yet again coming back to the quality of staff, how much thought has been put in the work during planning and how is it being executed in the classroom.
In our case, we're hoping that repeating the same grade with extra work from the teachers will be enough to get us back on grade level.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2012 13:26     Subject: Re:Why are you sending your child to Basis?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP's do you mind stating the schools that you are unhappy with?


Washington Latin PCS.


Sorry to hijack, but could you explain why you're not happy with Latin, and which grades? We're considering it and it would be helpful.


To be honest, PP, we're not leaving Latin as much as we are joining BASIS. DC has learned a lot at Latin, but could be learning more. We think DC will learn more with the accelerated program at BASIS.

If BASIS were not opening next year, we would most likely finish out middle school at Latin. Based on what we have heard from others about the upper school at Latin, we would most likely leave Latin after 8th grade were we to stay.



Our DC has had a good experience at Latin.


More and more students are staying in Latin for high school. After a lot of thought (and after visiting a few BASIS info sessions), we have decided to stay at Latin. I really like the collegial feel at Latin (and friends in HS there mention that this remains and intensifies). I like the thoughtful curriculum in place at Latin and like that Latin is rigorous without being over the top, (we have had nights of 4 hours of homework, but most nights it is 1-2). This leaves time for my child to pursue other interests -- sports, music, etc. (i.e. well rounded college resume). Latin also offers a fair amount of AP classes, so I doubt my kid will suffer from lack of academic achievements.

BASIS is closer to my office so I liked the idea of being able to commute with my child, but in the end, realized that it wasn't the deciding factor for us.

This city certainly needs more high quality middle schools, so I hope it succeeds. Just wanted to post a counterpoint that families leave after 8th grade. I think this year they had only 6 openings for 9th grade.

Anonymous
Post 05/14/2012 12:52     Subject: Re:Why are you sending your child to Basis?
it's possible to do group projects, long-term research projects, etc., if the staff plans and executes really well. I see that in my DD's school-- long term subjects (the Romans, for example) and the teachers carry out interesting discussions/projects etc. on that theme. Math -- Roman architecture and geometry; Social Studies -- nuf said; English -- reading materials, writing a composition on a facet of roman life, etc. Science -- how aqueducts work or roman agricultural methods or whatever. Even the specials -- drama class using roman theatre techniques, music examples from that time. Pretty neat and coincides with the regular curriculum enough so that the kids are moving along in the basics of academics as well as studying something interesting and enriching.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2012 12:32     Subject: Why are you sending your child to Basis?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Your last sentence says it all.
Good teachers are respected and highly regarded by most if not all parents. There are also those who should find themselves another occupation. Printing out something from the internet and passing them out to children and telling them to work independently or in groups, day after day, month after month should not be allowed, but is unfortunately happening.

cosign
just as with cops, I give teachers the benefit of the doubt until the evidence causes me to doubt
Just being in the field is not a carte blanche


Totally agree.
Middle school is not high school. Why is it that teachers feel frustrated when an 11 or 12 year old is not independent? Why do teachers assume kids need to come to 6th grade knowing how to write research papers and do critical thinking and analysis? And these folks have no problem telling the parent "he was supposed to have done this in elementary".
I had no idea that a project based middle school = end of high school/college work as far as teacher student interaction goes. Needless to say they will never admit to it.
Basis has hired an academic head of school who will oversee that what teachers say they are doing is indeed being done in classrooms. They have a reputation they don't want to tarnish.
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2012 07:46     Subject: Why are you sending your child to Basis?
Anonymous wrote:
Your last sentence says it all.
Good teachers are respected and highly regarded by most if not all parents. There are also those who should find themselves another occupation. Printing out something from the internet and passing them out to children and telling them to work independently or in groups, day after day, month after month should not be allowed, but is unfortunately happening.

cosign
just as with cops, I give teachers the benefit of the doubt until the evidence causes me to doubt
Just being in the field is not a carte blanche
Anonymous
Post 05/14/2012 01:03     Subject: Why are you sending your child to Basis?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:pp
Maybe lawyers want to have free summers.
A current middle school teacher had his own successful private practice for years. He wanted to spend more time with his grandchildren, so after 20 + years as a lawyer, he decided to become a teacher. He is very good at it.

I also know people who attended law school but could never pass the bar exam. Instead of doing the job of a paralegal, they decided to try their hand in teaching.


Or maybe teaching is more interesting and engaging than the law. There is such an undercurrent of disdain and condescension towards teachers in this thread. Show some respect for the people who are dealing with your children and teaching them all day.


Your last sentence says it all.
Good teachers are respected and highly regarded by most if not all parents. There are also those who should find themselves another occupation. Printing out something from the internet and passing them out to children and telling them to work independently or in groups, day after day, month after month should not be allowed, but is unfortunately happening.
Anonymous
Post 05/13/2012 23:46     Subject: Re:Why are you sending your child to Basis?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP's do you mind stating the schools that you are unhappy with?


Washington Latin PCS.


Sorry to hijack, but could you explain why you're not happy with Latin, and which grades? We're considering it and it would be helpful.


To be honest, PP, we're not leaving Latin as much as we are joining BASIS. DC has learned a lot at Latin, but could be learning more. We think DC will learn more with the accelerated program at BASIS.

If BASIS were not opening next year, we would most likely finish out middle school at Latin. Based on what we have heard from others about the upper school at Latin, we would most likely leave Latin after 8th grade were we to stay.



Our DC has had a good experience at Latin.