Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look. There is no Reggio beyond K and maybe 1st grade at SWS. The school has a lovely culture that is Reggio-infused but there has been to Reggio principles applied in 2nd and 3rd grades. It is just a normal math, reading, smattering of social studies, science in the form of FoodPrints kind of experience in the upper grades. The closest I have seen to a project-based student-curiosity centered activity was not even led by a classroom teacher, it was the awesome librarian who put on a show that the kids wrote and put together all on their own. There are no special programs ( book clubs, pull outs ) for advanced readers and no advanced math. The math is actually solid but pretty slow in the 3rd grade. My student could be doing a lot more, but hasn't been asked to. This is the first time Sws has ever done 3rd grade, it will take a while to get it all together and figure out how it becomes Reggio. One thing I can say is that the building is chock full of dedicated, talented and creative educators and that's all I care about. Kids will do fine at Latin and Basis with a basic ( doesn't need to be advanced ) elementary education.

can't speak beyond my child's classroom, there is a "project day" every week and ongoing investigation related to it. Beyond Food Prints there is a dedicated science teacher with an entirely different focus than Food Prints. All children have studio, music, and movement (plus PE). They also have strategies and counselors who work closely with the teachers to help kids navigate social and emotional issues.

There is plenty for advanced learners -- if your child isn't showing initiative that's not on the school to "push". Leveled and partnered reading is by ability, both with same level and differing ones, and math is grouped similarly. My child learns as much by applying concepts beyond classroom as any in-class pedagogy. Upper grades get "homework" of daily reading and math/project work which is logged and submitted weekly, as well as access to online supplemental resources.

What you are describing about the upper grades sounds EXACTLY like the programming at Watkins, which makes sense because that is where the 3rd grade teachers worked before joining SWS. They need someone to lead with a little more vision for the upper grades, whether it's the principal or someone else. They can't just wait for the renovations to start innovating. This has been coming for a long time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look. There is no Reggio beyond K and maybe 1st grade at SWS. The school has a lovely culture that is Reggio-infused but there has been to Reggio principles applied in 2nd and 3rd grades. It is just a normal math, reading, smattering of social studies, science in the form of FoodPrints kind of experience in the upper grades. The closest I have seen to a project-based student-curiosity centered activity was not even led by a classroom teacher, it was the awesome librarian who put on a show that the kids wrote and put together all on their own. There are no special programs ( book clubs, pull outs ) for advanced readers and no advanced math. The math is actually solid but pretty slow in the 3rd grade. My student could be doing a lot more, but hasn't been asked to. This is the first time Sws has ever done 3rd grade, it will take a while to get it all together and figure out how it becomes Reggio. One thing I can say is that the building is chock full of dedicated, talented and creative educators and that's all I care about. Kids will do fine at Latin and Basis with a basic ( doesn't need to be advanced ) elementary education.

can't speak beyond my child's classroom, there is a "project day" every week and ongoing investigation related to it. Beyond Food Prints there is a dedicated science teacher with an entirely different focus than Food Prints. All children have studio, music, and movement (plus PE). They also have strategies and counselors who work closely with the teachers to help kids navigate social and emotional issues.

There is plenty for advanced learners -- if your child isn't showing initiative that's not on the school to "push". Leveled and partnered reading is by ability, both with same level and differing ones, and math is grouped similarly. My child learns as much by applying concepts beyond classroom as any in-class pedagogy. Upper grades get "homework" of daily reading and math/project work which is logged and submitted weekly, as well as access to online supplemental resources.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look. There is no Reggio beyond K and maybe 1st grade at SWS. The school has a lovely culture that is Reggio-infused but there has been to Reggio principles applied in 2nd and 3rd grades. It is just a normal math, reading, smattering of social studies, science in the form of FoodPrints kind of experience in the upper grades. The closest I have seen to a project-based student-curiosity centered activity was not even led by a classroom teacher, it was the awesome librarian who put on a show that the kids wrote and put together all on their own. There are no special programs ( book clubs, pull outs ) for advanced readers and no advanced math. The math is actually solid but pretty slow in the 3rd grade. My student could be doing a lot more, but hasn't been asked to. This is the first time Sws has ever done 3rd grade, it will take a while to get it all together and figure out how it becomes Reggio. One thing I can say is that the building is chock full of dedicated, talented and creative educators and that's all I care about. Kids will do fine at Latin and Basis with a basic ( doesn't need to be advanced ) elementary education.

can't speak beyond my child's classroom, there is a "project day" every week and ongoing investigation related to it. Beyond Food Prints there is a dedicated science teacher with an entirely different focus than Food Prints. All children have studio, music, and movement (plus PE). They also have strategies and counselors who work closely with the teachers to help kids navigate social and emotional issues.

There is plenty for advanced learners -- if your child isn't showing initiative that's not on the school to "push". Leveled and partnered reading is by ability, both with same level and differing ones, and math is grouped similarly. My child learns as much by applying concepts beyond classroom as any in-class pedagogy. Upper grades get "homework" of daily reading and math/project work which is logged and submitted weekly, as well as access to online supplemental resources.

This is pp: hello fellow parent. Your child sounds great. Mine is too. It's a great school. Simply trying to draw an accurate picture. By the way, if you ever had kids in another elementary 3rd grade you would know that the homework required by SWS is extremely limited--which is probably a good thing.

Anonymous wrote:We also have a good PK waitlist number for SWS and I'm wondering if someone can clarify the comments about overachievers and the kind of opportunities offered to advanced learners. I don't want my children to be drilled and killed, nor do I necessarily care about their scores on standardized tests so long as they "pass" and I know they are challenged, engaged, and learning what they need to be ready for middle school. So that leads to my question:

After elementary we would plan to send our kids to a middle school that is on par with a Latin or a Deal. I am assuming there are "advanced" classes in these middle schools. Does the SWS education prepare a student to qualify for and succeed in these "advanced" classes once he/she enters middle school?

And before anyone snarks, I am not assuming at this point that my PK student is going to be an advanced learner. I can't predict this any more than anyone else can for their child. But if he is, I want him to be in an elementary school that will set him up to thrive in the advanced classes in middle and high school. Is this mindset similar to the mindset of the typical SWS parent, or would we be in for culture shock?

Thanks!