Anonymous
Post 01/16/2018 22:05     Subject: Creative Minds for pk3/pk4?
Anonymous wrote:I am a former CMI parent and can report that, up until August of 2017, , all of the teachers are NOT trained in special education, unless you are counting seminars in the Floortime method. Even the special ed teachers are not trained in special education beyond the certification, which takes a few months to get. [/b]unlike the typical special education teachers in DCPS, who tend to have Masters in special education, the ones at CMI that I dealt with were woefully unqualified—although their hearts were in it. If you have a child with a high level of special needs who would be confined to a self contained classroom in DCPS or other settings, then CMI is a good long term solution.[b] If your child has level 1 or 2 special needs or is a typical learner, you would be better off elsewhere. I don’t have experience with other charters, but have experience with privates and EOTP DCPS and both were/are 10x better than CMI when it comes to academics and behavior management. CMI does have a great parent community.


Why is CMI a good solution for kids with a high level of special needs if the teachers are unqualified? I'm just trying to understand what you mean.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2018 21:59     Subject: Creative Minds for pk3/pk4?
Anonymous wrote:So why do so many parents with SN kids want CMI? I would like to hear from parents with NT kids or advanced learners to know how differentiation is working for their kids


As far as I'm aware, CMI is the only public school in DC that uses the Floortime method. It is also the only school with a commitment to serving special needs kids in inclusive classrooms. Those are two big draws for some parents of SN kids.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2018 20:52     Subject: Creative Minds for pk3/pk4?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am a former CMI parent and can report that, up until August of 2017, , all of the teachers are NOT trained in special education, unless you are counting seminars in the Floortime method. Even the special ed teachers are not trained in special education beyond the certification, which takes a few months to get. unlike the typical special education teachers in DCPS, who tend to have Masters in special education, the ones at CMI that I dealt with were woefully unqualified—although their hearts were in it. If you have a child with a high level of special needs who would be confined to a self contained classroom in DCPS or other settings, then CMI is a good long term solution. If your child has level 1 or 2 special needs or is a typical learner, you would be better off elsewhere. I don’t have experience with other charters, but have experience with privates and EOTP DCPS and both were/are 10x better than CMI when it comes to academics and behavior management. CMI does have a great parent community.


This is really helpful. So why do so many parents with SN kids want CMI? I would like to hear from parents with NT kids or advanced learners to know how differentiation is working for their kids


Parent with NT kid who left CMI. Differentiation wasn’t working for our kid, not to say it doesn’t work for others, but not for us. My kid got lost in the shuffle of all the pullouts and specials etc. One teacher said to me “your kid is so easy, It’s like having another teacher in the classsroom”. Well, I’m not sending my child to school to help you with the other kids.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2018 16:51     Subject: Creative Minds for pk3/pk4?
Anonymous wrote:I am a former CMI parent and can report that, up until August of 2017, , all of the teachers are NOT trained in special education, unless you are counting seminars in the Floortime method. Even the special ed teachers are not trained in special education beyond the certification, which takes a few months to get. unlike the typical special education teachers in DCPS, who tend to have Masters in special education, the ones at CMI that I dealt with were woefully unqualified—although their hearts were in it. If you have a child with a high level of special needs who would be confined to a self contained classroom in DCPS or other settings, then CMI is a good long term solution. If your child has level 1 or 2 special needs or is a typical learner, you would be better off elsewhere. I don’t have experience with other charters, but have experience with privates and EOTP DCPS and both were/are 10x better than CMI when it comes to academics and behavior management. CMI does have a great parent community.


This is really helpful. So why do so many parents with SN kids want CMI? I would like to hear from parents with NT kids or advanced learners to know how differentiation is working for their kids
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2018 22:59     Subject: Creative Minds for pk3/pk4?
Anonymous wrote:Current parent and I must ask -- does your child have SN that may include behavioral issues? If so, show me a school in DC better than CMI at including that child? Great for those who have options elsewhere but for those of us who don't, CMI has offered a respite and is serving a need. Also, there are no issues in preschool except underappreciated and overworked teachers.


Depends on the SN. If you fit into the “floor time” solution - yes, CMI is great.

Otherwise CMI ignores the issue. Don’t speak for all SN parents at CMI we aren’t the same.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2018 20:03     Subject: Creative Minds for pk3/pk4?
Anonymous wrote:And as a teacher I would say I’d rather you advocate for a higher salary if I am so great rather than have a gift.

Or do both!

I do do both. I wish I could give you a raise but since I can’t, i’ll give you a generous gift.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2018 14:42     Subject: Creative Minds for pk3/pk4?
And as a teacher I would say I’d rather you advocate for a higher salary if I am so great rather than have a gift.

Or do both!
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2018 14:29     Subject: Creative Minds for pk3/pk4?
the parents in the classes my kids are in always gave very generous teacher gifts for Christmas and end of the year.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2018 12:05     Subject: Re:Creative Minds for pk3/pk4?
I agee, with poster who left summer 2017, we left the year before and subsequently
DC gained a lot of ground academically at her DCPS school and her
larger classroom has fewer behavioral problems. I was aware that CMI
paid teachers very little and sometimes worried about their wellbeing. My child's
teacher was subject to VERY uncomfortable physical contact from a SN student
on at least one occassion.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2018 09:28     Subject: Creative Minds for pk3/pk4?
I am a former CMI parent and can report that, up until August of 2017, , all of the teachers are NOT trained in special education, unless you are counting seminars in the Floortime method. Even the special ed teachers are not trained in special education beyond the certification, which takes a few months to get. unlike the typical special education teachers in DCPS, who tend to have Masters in special education, the ones at CMI that I dealt with were woefully unqualified—although their hearts were in it. If you have a child with a high level of special needs who would be confined to a self contained classroom in DCPS or other settings, then CMI is a good long term solution. If your child has level 1 or 2 special needs or is a typical learner, you would be better off elsewhere. I don’t have experience with other charters, but have experience with privates and EOTP DCPS and both were/are 10x better than CMI when it comes to academics and behavior management. CMI does have a great parent community.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2018 09:04     Subject: Creative Minds for pk3/pk4?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Current parent and I must ask -- does your child have SN that may include behavioral issues? If so, show me a school in DC better than CMI at including that child? Great for those who have options elsewhere but for those of us who don't, CMI has offered a respite and is serving a need. Also, there are no issues in preschool except underappreciated and overworked teachers.


What other schools do you have experience with? I am at another charter that is very good in that area too. And they pay their staff closer to what they deserve. What’s your point?


Are all the teachers trained in special education? How do they manage so many special needs kids, especially those with behavioral issues. Are typical kids getting short changed?
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2018 08:22     Subject: Creative Minds for pk3/pk4?
All I’m saying is that raising money for chrome books doesn’t impress me when the teachers are getting paid less than their peers.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2018 08:18     Subject: Creative Minds for pk3/pk4?
Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher and I’d want a higher salary before chrome books for every student and more library books. Sorry not sorry. I have to provide for my family too.

I always think it’s ridiculous teachers are expected to be okay with less money. Why? Is it because we should be doing this out of the goodness of our hearts?

What would you parents do if all the teachers said enough is enough and left for schools that paid them a decent wage? Would you be here crying over it? If so, do something about it.


The parent raised money shouldn’t be going for teachers — mostly because it is a variable amount of money.

All charters have the same basic expenses — salary, benefits, insurance, facilities, materials.

How thy allocate their per pupil allocations and facilities allowance across these categories varies more than you might think. CMI does pay its teachers less, on average than other schools.

It is a decision it’s Board and administration make.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2018 06:48     Subject: Creative Minds for pk3/pk4?
I’m a teacher and I’d want a higher salary before chrome books for every student and more library books. Sorry not sorry. I have to provide for my family too.

I always think it’s ridiculous teachers are expected to be okay with less money. Why? Is it because we should be doing this out of the goodness of our hearts?

What would you parents do if all the teachers said enough is enough and left for schools that paid them a decent wage? Would you be here crying over it? If so, do something about it.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2018 21:53     Subject: Creative Minds for pk3/pk4?
Anonymous wrote:Current parent and I must ask -- does your child have SN that may include behavioral issues? If so, show me a school in DC better than CMI at including that child? Great for those who have options elsewhere but for those of us who don't, CMI has offered a respite and is serving a need. Also, there are no issues in preschool except underappreciated and overworked teachers.


What other schools do you have experience with? I am at another charter that is very good in that area too. And they pay their staff closer to what they deserve. What’s your point?