Anonymous
10/18/2014 05:34
Subject: Re:Parents of former Basis students - where did you go, and why
Anonymous wrote:Wow, just wow 19:06: Maybe rethink the approach to "attracting and retaining" parents by calling them elitist, narcissistic racists if they don't agree with you about how much you think Basis needs to change, and to flog and scream at supportive and otherwise happy parents to shut and go crawl under a rock.
[b]well, let's see, I wasn't looking to hear from happy and supportive BASIS parents (see title of thread) and their happiness sounds, from the posts by people who have left, and the dismissive and intolerant comments made on this thread and at the school on Thursday, at least a little bit deluded - elitist, narcissistic (me and my kids are the center of the universe so nothing could happen to them at BASIS because it is always someone's fault, and it will never be mine), and racist (you can be racist against your own kind)
aka, that could never happen to my child because she is not in the 8th grade, not in Boron, and that would never happen here. My child is not allowed to speak during lunch today and it is ok because.........
silent lunches for arbitrarily imposed tardies and having an administrator threaten an entire 8th grade chemistry class with a bad grade because no one had the courage to fess up to stealing the teacher's candy bar after the conciliatory comment "you mess with her stuff, I'll mess with your grades" was ok because..........
while we think theft should be expected because honesty begins at home and the real problem is that all these whiny parents are not "instructing their children properly," silent lunches reinforces BASIS core values and creates positive peer pressure......
- and anyone whose kid panicked when allegedly told they might get a zero for the year in Chemistry is a wimp, because, given all of their fair non arbitrary experiences at BASIS.........
they should never have taken the comment from a person in authority "you mess with her stuff, I'll mess with your grades" seriously because..............
although I teach my children to keep their hands all over their personal property even while going to the bathroom, because of all the riff raff that is the product of bad parenting...............
I do not teach my kids respect for all the administrators within my schools hallowed walls because.............
since DC is so much like Arizona, and Arizona would never stand for it, it just could not have happened that way....
and if it did, Arizona will fix it right up anyway. I'm not stupid, maybe we just need our fourth Head of School in four years............
And it was the third who apologised and said that he had been truly wrong about one thing - Arizona and DC are not alike at all............
"It's all fine and good to be well intentioned in soliciting thoughts on what you think should change - to an extent - but ultimately, we also need to recognize and acknowledge that ultimately parents/boosters are not school directors and have limited input - we as parents, can, should and do certainly suggest any small changes as appropriate, and I've seen Basis be responsive to many such suggestions over the last 2 years, but on the flip side, we also need to recognize that any major or fundamental change to Basis DC substantially divergent from their other Basis schools and model isn't going to happen, i.e. curriculum, comps, policy, APs, discipline, et cetera."
Well, let's take a long hard look at that hypothesis.
We are now at the point where the curriculum should no longer be watered down for the kids in the lowest grade in upper school - 8th. Kids in Washington DC are so behind in math that a) they created a lower math class for them than Saxon 7/8, which does not exist in other schools and b) have a program of PreCalculus that is designed to go on for two years, and c) instituted a "mastery defense program" in math that is not used at other BASIS schools.
All of this in the hopes that somehow our kids who want to stay will be able to meet the graduation requirement of taking and passing Calculus. And remember, as at other BASIS schools, you can fail your math comp and/or math class, and even if you fail again you
Furthermore, there are some kids who are so behind in math they do not even take Physics in 6th grade. Is that still true? Is that true at other BASIS schools?
How many other BASIS schools have a Special Ed Coordinator, and all these learning specialists as a result of being found guilty of violating the rights of children with IEPs and 504s their first year - violating the two federal laws to protect them , and being required by the office of Civil Rights to offer "compensatory education" to all of those children who could prove cause and effect and the illegal dumping of all the SPED kids into one section by the first Head of School?
Since they do not list SPED kids as part of the their student population in AZ, and will not have to accommodate them in their private schools, I am guessing............. zero?
In other BASIS schools, are they offering extra credit to those students who do not use a bathroom pass all grading period? Do they have silent lunches? An escalating tardy system where 3 gets you a silent lunch, 6 gets you Friday private reflection, and 9 gets you Saturday detention?
Do you think that possibly the BASIS wide change of the History sequence is so that fewer students will be taking the AP in 8th, now that we have US History in 7th? Given their expansion into DC and San Antonio.....? What about the universal abandonment of the GSCE's (The former O levels in the UK)?
We know that we are the only FARMS school, we are the only school that qualifies for additional help with OSSE because of it, we might still be the only majority minority school in the BASIS network, but I think we have a lot of kids whose stories are very different from those in the rest of the BASIS constellation. Several people moved across the country and had home schooled their kids. On the flip side, we have kids who have been homeless but are remarkably bright, probably quite a few "at risk" students, and we kicked everyone's assumptions by doing so well on the DC CAS.
Do you think we are the only ones with a school psychologist? Are we the only ones without a school nurse?
And why can't BASIS ed give us more veteran teachers like Mr. Davison? Offer them hardship pay, and do an additional week of training about class room control?
We know that we are the pilot school for the tables program, and do it well. I do not think it compensates for LEAP chemistry only getting 3 days of instruction, not 5. And we know we have attrition at the top of the pyramid which was not what they had hoped for for, and the 25 spaces in 6th are a hit financially,
"As with that sudden flurry of similar posts on the listserv, this thread has tragically gone off the deep end into the surreal. Thankfully most of us parents are a bit more calm, pragmatic and grounded than that. Hopefully posters can be mindful to take a few deeeeep breaths before clicking on the "submit" button next time."
The posts on the list serve were not similar, and they have all been deleted, much to my chagrin.
We have gone off track, gotten back on, and gone off track again.
I honestly think that this thread was derailed by present Basis parents, to whom it was not addressed, who just could not contain themselves, and did not breathe deeply enough before pressing the submit button. So we move off hopefully to a real exit interview and more civility. Thank you for all the former Basis parents who responded here. Sorry some of you got slammed....
Any genuinely *positive and constructive* suggestions are always welcome - but I think we can all do without the accusations and attacks.
Peace out.
Well, I think the Boosters started by making assumptions about why people left, and they were wrong about the fact that the kids were academically struggling, and then they had nothing else substantive to say except mention "test anxiety" and their approval of silent lunches.
Peace out. Please think before you pile on again. You did sound elitist, mean, and in denial about what goes on at the school.
Anonymous
10/18/2014 02:48
Subject: Parents of former Basis students - where did you go, and why
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So there are activities at BASIS though our DC never really participated in much. Academics have never been an issue for this one, grades were excellent, was in the Junior National Honor Society at BASIS. 4.0 the whole time.
Last year Mr. Aiken impressed upon parents that kids at a new BASIS school are free to start clubs and activties, which is great. We just don't have that kind of kid. And Walls is just larger and there more opportunities like Model UN and crew and even a cheese club. Of course your kid can start a cheese club at Basis too. Our kid wants nothing to do with cheese club anywhere btw.
Regarding math, the BASIS kids had to take additional tests the first week of school which was pretty irritating since some kids were rusty after the summer. So they ended up in different classes. Two out of the 13 basis kids are in pre calc which is where they would be had they stayed.
Our kid excelled in history at BASIS but chose not to take the AP test. So having to retake it is annoying. I think one BASIS child scored well enough on the AP exam to test out of history at Walls. Not everyone took it last year.
So it is not a perfect solution but so far it is a good fit.
Best of luck.
Not to put words in your mouth but it sounds like maybe tests were part of the issue. DC was also anxious about it, but it's gotten much better. We found a lot of good freebie resources on the web that can help with test taking strategy and preparing / relaxing / focus / other general test-taking issues. DC's a lot less worried about tests this year as compared to last year.
BASIS BOOSTER WROTE
Any genuinely *positive and constructive* suggestions are always welcome - but I think we can all do without the accusations and attacks.
Peace out.
do you think the above when the parent had said "our child had a 4.0" and "our child excelled in history but decided not to take the AP is a positive and constructive suggestion or an accusation and attack on one of the parents whose answer was specifically solicited because they clearly had one of the "top students" who left? Honestly?
and please "take a deep breath before you press the submit button" as all the BOOSTERS clearly have done on this thread........... way to represent folks. Not what this "deranged mom" was looking for or expected......... at all.
I should have waited for the Thursday meeting to understand that the true colors were those of the mom who asserted that any attempt to stagger class dismissal and/or transfer times to reduce violence in the hallways was, in her esteemed opinion, an attempt to reduce the "academic rigor" at BASIS because she had "signed up" for all of this, including not having the option of using Aero as a time for other kids to decompress, maybe get some exercise. No, because offering such options in what is supposed to be "study hall" would reduce the academic rigor as well.
Not going to argue with you........ but since you said (much to the dismay of many) that you had wanted to go back to another geographic area but could not because the school BASIS started there was private and has no financial aid to speak of, why don't you and your child(ren) apply to NCS.
I am sure you all would love it there, and as all the "you just left because you cannot handle the academic rigor" parents here are giving themselves or perhaps their compadres "atta girls," I can safely say based on an unscientific exit poll that lacks academic rigor and thus would never be published in a peer reviewed journal, that...
there are at least six parents who would love to be rid of you, because you take up unnecessary time at critical meetings just to point out that you think the school is perfect, exactly what you signed up for, torpedoes be damned because so far they have not been launched at your child. BOOSTERS would like me to shut up. Like minded parents who came to the meeting would like you to leave...........
Anonymous
10/18/2014 02:21
Subject: Parents of former Basis students - where did you go, and why
Anonymous wrote:+1000
Please do. Thanks!
will do,
signed,
one of the "deranged moms" who made the mistake of trusting present Basis parents not to commit Hari Kari
but who clearly stayed away from her computer too long to make sure that trust was warranted
Anonymous
10/18/2014 02:17
Subject: Parents of former Basis students - where did you go, and why
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
"deranged mom wrote
In addition, in only our second year, our DC CAS scores were, I believe, second only to Deal's. That suggests that Basis is already attracting the "right kind of student," because as people were quick to point out last year, we cannot completely remediate an entire 5th grade. So that part is going well. And before I get flamed, Basis had over 40% of children who were entitled to free and reduced meals, unlike Deal (21% or so) and Washington Latin (18%)
I do not believe that this much attrition was expected, either after 5th or in the upper grades, and the Boosters mailing state some of the "top" students left.
FARMs for 2013
Deal - 23%
Basis - exactly 40%
Latin - 19%
Anonymous
10/18/2014 02:13
Subject: Parents of former Basis students - where did you go, and why
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
There's a ton of folks (like us) for whom Wilson is not an option - and BASIS is far and away the best option that we have.
that is wonderful so why couldn't you just keep quiet so the BASIS model will survive here in DC?
.....
anonymous wrote:
I'm actually surprised that Basis parents expected anything else. Basis schools are designed to shrink as the students age. Why do you think they don't admit after 6th? What did you think was the point of all those high-stakes comprehensive exams? A lottery admission school has to churn through a lot of kids to get results like Basis.
at least one "deranged mom" - me - defended
I don't think churning is really the right word. It has such negative connotations after the financial collapse. But we do indeed have 25 open slots in 6th grade, and we do not admit in 7th, so there is less of a churning opportunity, no?
In addition, in only our second year, our DC CAS scores were, I believe, second only to Deal's. That suggests that Basis is already attracting the "right kind of student," because as people were quick to point out last year, we cannot completely remediate an entire 5th grade. So that part is going well. And before I get flamed, Basis had over 40% of children who were entitled to free and reduced meals, unlike Deal (21% or so) and Washington Latin (18%)
I do not believe that this much attrition was expected, either after 5th or in the upper grades, and the Boosters mailing state some of the "top" students left.
I would just like to know where these kids went, why they left, and whether they are happy, or happier.
My child was dimly aware of several students who were planning to leave who were already in 9th grade. My understanding is that their intention was to repeat 9th grade elsewhere. We have confirmed that they left, but do not know where they are - Walls? Banneker?
I would like to know how that worked out for them.
So if anyone has any relevant specific information they are willing to share, I would appreciate it. I do assume that the parents of the kids in high school are on DCUM............
Some private schools conduct exit interviews, and that is what I am trying to do - in order to predict what will happen in the next year or so. Maybe we are so new none of it matters in the long run. But right now it matters to me.....
Some, like NCS (see the "hot topics" forum), have the attitude that if a child leaves, the problem was with the child not the school, so anything the child or parents might have to say is irrelevant. There are apparently parents of kids who have graduated from NCS who wish to address the board on the subject of how awful the experience was for their child, and apparently these children are now at good colleges and universities... So it is department of, you got my kid into Harvard, and I paid you $38k a year to do it, but now I want to tell you that you made my child miserable, or the other students did, or the competitive environment........ It is hard to identify what they are talking about since it is an "atmosphere." But several parents referred to it as "toxic."
Thankfully, Basis does not seem to have these kinds of issues. We certaintly don't have any college admissions yet.
have to retract the former statement, as present BASIS parents are creating a toxic environment, indeed radioactive, at least on DCUM that no parent in their right mind would want to get involved in based on these posts by parents who were the only ones who refused to go gently into that good night[b] t
whose comments were not solicited.
The Basis parents are...... "doin' it, doin' it for themselves," and hence are "doin it, doin it" to themselves.........
Anonymous
10/18/2014 02:03
Subject: Parents of former Basis students - where did you go, and why
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Pp, if you are not a [b]parent of a student or former student at Basis , why are you reading this thread, let alone replying to it?
[/b]anonymous wrote
I am not the pp you are chiding. I am the parent of a dcps fourth grader, and I found this point of comparison wrt silent lunches relevant as I consider whether DC should apply to BASIS. Maybe it's a good thing that BASIS takes strong action by mposing silent lunches; maybe it is indicative of a particullarly unruly student body. Something to think about...
That said, I know BASIS is a great choice for many students..
parents of present students were invited to look, parents of former students were asked to comment,
if you are so literate and not intent on torpedoing the school you purport to support so unconditionally, what are you doing POSTING on a thread that is titled Parents of former Basis students - where did you go and why?" Why not just allow them to answer the question, since the Head of School himself admitted he was surprised by departure in the upper grades by some of "the best students?"
This was intended to be an albeit anecdotal exit interview since Basis did not see fit to conduct one, despite the fact that what happens in Arizona clearly is not happening here - we lost many of our top students, and have 25 open slots in 6th grade that will not fund a successful pyramid model even if the top students in that 6th grade decide to stay.............
Anonymous
10/18/2014 01:45
Subject: Parents of former Basis students - where did you go, and why
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Sounds like BASIS ain't so hot.
I am not interested in this school because, as I posted earlier, I'm not interested in accelerated academics. But sounds to me like there is one deranged mom there trying to torpedo the school
Deranged is the right word to describe her.
+100
I have to say I bit my tongue and didn't respond before, but those listserv posts were cringeworthy not just for the misguidedness mentioned above but they really jumped the shark with accusations of "racism" just because someone's kid didn't pass their comps. I just hate it when people immediately throw around those kinds of knee-jerk reactions, particularly when it's total ignorance of the reality that lots of AA kids passed their comps on the first try, lots of FARMS kids did as well, lots of AA kids are on honor roll, lots of AA kids are thriving and succeeding and being put to the fore competing academically against other schools, for example Science Bowl - not to mention the fact that the tests in question are electronically graded by a Scantron machine in Arizona that is incapable of knowing if a particular student is black, white, purple, whatever when it grades their tests. That, and the suggestion that only AA kids get disciplined when other parents know for a fact that's dead wrong. It really undermines all the hard work going on in civil rights when people immediately go straight to those kinds of specious accusations of racism and lean on it like a crutch any time anything isn't going their way.
BTW, the "deranged mother" everyone is referring to has not posted once on this thread, I asked.
Airing BASIS dirty laundry when it is not necessary does not help the school.............
were you not on the list serve when a mother posted about the neutral scantron machine not working, about insisting to see her child's comp retakes, and about how they were incorrectly marked and the child was incorrectly retained until she herself corrected/insisted they acknowledge their own error?
You will talk about parents crying "racism" until the cows come home, but BASIS according to the BOOSTERS acknowledged this incident, promoted the child, and "rechecked" every comp retake to insure this was not a widespread error. Not racism. Inaccuracy that almost resulted in a child repeating a year of school when by BASIS standards they did not have to.......
Anonymous
10/18/2014 01:36
Subject: Parents of former Basis students - where did you go, and why
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Sounds like BASIS ain't so hot.
That depends. If you're actually up for doing your part where it comes to putting in the work, doing accelerated coursework, APs, tracking your kid's progress and coursework in his CJ, availing yourself of the many supports, and passing comprehensive exams as a requirement to advancing to the next grade then they are doing great work at Basis.
But if you were shocked that there were actually expectations of your kid, if you think that all you need to do is have your kid show up, if you were one of the ones that waited til the last possible minute to worry about comps, if you had no clue your kid was struggling because you didn't bother to look at their CJ (parents can typically see how their kids are doing in class on a week by week basis) and if your kid was struggling, but you didn't have your kid avail himself of the tutoring, teacher hours, and many other supports or didn't bother until the last possible minute, then perhaps the school isn't for you.
And if you're the parent who figures that rather than doing your part in making it work, you instead think what needs to happen is to water down the expectations, water down the curriculum or change the requirements or model to make it like any number of the other schools that already exist in DC, then the school definitely isn't so hot for you.
Their model was developed over the span of 15 years with their highly successful Arizona schools, and is based on what's worked for them in a dozen schools, what's worked for thousands of families, and what's already demonstrated a phenomenal track record for accelerated results and college placement, and isn't terribly likely to change just because some parent didn't understand it or wasn't willing to do their part.
Please shut up! BTW I am a parent of a child that attends BASIS.
"Shut up?" I think it's right on the money and appreciated the post and appreciate that someone is standing up against the clueless, radioactive rants flying around.
insufferable elitism and blaming the victim (any child who did not pass their comps is lazy and/or stupid and their parents are both), too bad that every BASIS BOOSTER save one ignored the polite request that this be a thread about why parents left and why......... not about why those who stayed and have drunk the koolaid think everyone else should be silent and do not want us to attempt to conduct exit interviews to increase retention and improve the school
would anyone want to go to a school where their children are exposed to children whose parents have the attitude that
Anonymous
10/17/2014 19:53
Subject: Parents of former Basis students - where did you go, and why
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Basis plans to have Pre Calc in the future for all 8th graders, but for students not starting at fifth grade in the first year, they made an exception.
You are misinformed. Pre-Calc is only take in 8th grade if a student was accelerated based on diagnostic testing. Normally students take Algebra 1 in 7th and Algebra 2 in 8th grade.
That's what I should have said. I was trying to correct a previous poster and should have checked the course schedule.
Anonymous
10/17/2014 18:52
Subject: Parents of former Basis students - where did you go, and why
Anonymous wrote:Basis plans to have Pre Calc in the future for all 8th graders, but for students not starting at fifth grade in the first year, they made an exception.
You are misinformed. Pre-Calc is only take in 8th grade if a student was accelerated based on diagnostic testing. Normally students take Algebra 1 in 7th and Algebra 2 in 8th grade.
Anonymous
10/17/2014 17:39
Subject: Parents of former Basis students - where did you go, and why
Basis plans to have Pre Calc in the future for all 8th graders, but for students not starting at fifth grade in the first year, they made an exception.
Anonymous
10/17/2014 14:47
Subject: Parents of former Basis students - where did you go, and why
[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
[b]In the other BASIS thread about SWW, the poster states that only 2 of 13 students are in precallc at SWW, which they would have automatically been in had they stayed at BASIS. Saxon math is the reason why. If these 9th graders had been able to start BASIS at 5th grade, they may have already taken precalc in 8th grade, and would have definitely gotten to proofs. Will be interesting to see how BASIS students, if they jump ship, place in SWW math in the future.[/b][/quote]
I find it unbelievable that you know all the details about how 13 students actually performed at BASIS in math seeing as that is info protected by law. Also, are you aware that BASIS offers Pre-calculus as a one or two year option so it is possible that if these 13 students exist as you say that they may not have finished Pre-calculus.
Frankly, you seem very unhappy with BASIS and truly it might be better for you and your kid to find another school. I know I would not hesitate to move my kid to another school if I was mostly unhappy with it as you seem to be. in fact, I have moved my kid in the past from schools that I was unhappy with. Thankfully, we are happy with BASIS and plan on staying all the way through. I also know plenty of other parents who feel the same way.[/quote]
PP here, and now understanding why people think we BASIS families are a little intense. I do not know how the students placed, I was quoting another poster from the SWW thread, as I noted in my post. Contrary to how you took it, my post was actually hopeful for the future. I empathize with the families on the leading edge of BASIS -- my DC started in fifth grade and still had quite a rude awakening. I can only imagine how hard it was for the first 7th graders to try to get up to speed. My family is very happy at BASIS and don't plan to go anywhere else.
[b]In the other BASIS thread about SWW, the poster states that only 2 of 13 students are in precallc at SWW, which they would have automatically been in had they stayed at BASIS. Saxon math is the reason why. If these 9th graders had been able to start BASIS at 5th grade, they may have already taken precalc in 8th grade, and would have definitely gotten to proofs. Will be interesting to see how BASIS students, if they jump ship, place in SWW math in the future.[/b][/quote]
I find it unbelievable that you know all the details about how 13 students actually performed at BASIS in math seeing as that is info protected by law. Also, are you aware that BASIS offers Pre-calculus as a one or two year option so it is possible that if these 13 students exist as you say that they may not have finished Pre-calculus.
Frankly, you seem very unhappy with BASIS and truly it might be better for you and your kid to find another school. I know I would not hesitate to move my kid to another school if I was mostly unhappy with it as you seem to be. in fact, I have moved my kid in the past from schools that I was unhappy with. Thankfully, we are happy with BASIS and plan on staying all the way through. I also know plenty of other parents who feel the same way.[/quote]
PP here, and now understanding why people think we BASIS families are a little intense. I do not know how the students placed, I was quoting another poster from the SWW thread, as I noted in my post. Contrary to how you took it, my post was actually hopeful for the future. I empathize with the families on the leading edge of BASIS -- my DC started in fifth grade and still had quite a rude awakening. I can only imagine how hard it was for the first 7th graders to try to get up to speed. My family is very happy at BASIS and don't plan to go anywhere else.
Anonymous
10/17/2014 14:32
Subject: Parents of former Basis students - where did you go, and why
[quote=Anonymous]
[b]In the other BASIS thread about SWW, the poster states that only 2 of 13 students are in precallc at SWW, which they would have automatically been in had they stayed at BASIS. Saxon math is the reason why. If these 9th graders had been able to start BASIS at 5th grade, they may have already taken precalc in 8th grade, and would have definitely gotten to proofs. Will be interesting to see how BASIS students, if they jump ship, place in SWW math in the future.[/b][/quote]
I find it unbelievable that you know all the details about how 13 students actually performed at BASIS in math seeing as that is info protected by law. Also, are you aware that BASIS offers Pre-calculus as a one or two year option so it is possible that if these 13 students exist as you say that they may not have finished Pre-calculus.
Frankly, you seem very unhappy with BASIS and truly it might be better for you and your kid to find another school. I know I would not hesitate to move my kid to another school if I was mostly unhappy with it as you seem to be. in fact, I have moved my kid in the past from schools that I was unhappy with. Thankfully, we are happy with BASIS and plan on staying all the way through. I also know plenty of other parents who feel the same way.
[b]In the other BASIS thread about SWW, the poster states that only 2 of 13 students are in precallc at SWW, which they would have automatically been in had they stayed at BASIS. Saxon math is the reason why. If these 9th graders had been able to start BASIS at 5th grade, they may have already taken precalc in 8th grade, and would have definitely gotten to proofs. Will be interesting to see how BASIS students, if they jump ship, place in SWW math in the future.[/b][/quote]
I find it unbelievable that you know all the details about how 13 students actually performed at BASIS in math seeing as that is info protected by law. Also, are you aware that BASIS offers Pre-calculus as a one or two year option so it is possible that if these 13 students exist as you say that they may not have finished Pre-calculus.
Frankly, you seem very unhappy with BASIS and truly it might be better for you and your kid to find another school. I know I would not hesitate to move my kid to another school if I was mostly unhappy with it as you seem to be. in fact, I have moved my kid in the past from schools that I was unhappy with. Thankfully, we are happy with BASIS and plan on staying all the way through. I also know plenty of other parents who feel the same way.
Anonymous
10/17/2014 13:16
Subject: Parents of former Basis students - where did you go, and why
So these students could not pass the placement test and had to be repeat algebra or geometry because of proofs?
Was the test on proofs only? Besides any proof before precalculus is quite simple -- proving two triangles are congruent by SSS, SAS, ASA AAS (HL) postulates. It takes most students a couple weeks to understand these concepts.
I find it hard to imagine any placement test having more than 10% of the questions on proofs, and students not passing an overall placement test because they have not been exposed to it.
Was the test on proofs only? Besides any proof before precalculus is quite simple -- proving two triangles are congruent by SSS, SAS, ASA AAS (HL) postulates. It takes most students a couple weeks to understand these concepts.
I find it hard to imagine any placement test having more than 10% of the questions on proofs, and students not passing an overall placement test because they have not been exposed to it.
Anonymous
10/17/2014 10:33
Subject: Parents of former Basis students - where did you go, and why
[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
Why doesn't Basis cover proofs? This seems to be a major lack.[/quote]
I had heard this before, too so I looked into it a little bit. BASIS uses Saxon Math and from what I've researched about Saxon (aka Googled so I am NOT an expert by any stretch of the imagination), Saxon has geometry woven throughout the curriculum, but teaches proofs at the very end of the Algebra II book. If the class doesn't get to the very end of the book, they don't cover proofs as a true geometry class would. Continuing with the Saxon math sequence however, the student would revisit proofs the following year. [/quote]
Actually, Saxon math covers proofs extensively in Advance Mathematics (Pre-calculus). Students cover the equivalent of a full year of high school geometry over the course of Algebra 1 and 2 and Pre-Calculus. By weaving geometry though out these course leads to better retention. Also, BASIS has a very good track record with AP Calculus test results by using Saxon math. [/quote]
In the other BASIS thread about SWW, the poster states that only 2 of 13 students are in precallc at SWW, which they would have automatically been in had they stayed at BASIS. Saxon math is the reason why. If these 9th graders had been able to start BASIS at 5th grade, they may have already taken precalc in 8th grade, and would have definitely gotten to proofs. Will be interesting to see how BASIS students, if they jump ship, place in SWW math in the future.
Why doesn't Basis cover proofs? This seems to be a major lack.[/quote]
I had heard this before, too so I looked into it a little bit. BASIS uses Saxon Math and from what I've researched about Saxon (aka Googled so I am NOT an expert by any stretch of the imagination), Saxon has geometry woven throughout the curriculum, but teaches proofs at the very end of the Algebra II book. If the class doesn't get to the very end of the book, they don't cover proofs as a true geometry class would. Continuing with the Saxon math sequence however, the student would revisit proofs the following year. [/quote]
Actually, Saxon math covers proofs extensively in Advance Mathematics (Pre-calculus). Students cover the equivalent of a full year of high school geometry over the course of Algebra 1 and 2 and Pre-Calculus. By weaving geometry though out these course leads to better retention. Also, BASIS has a very good track record with AP Calculus test results by using Saxon math. [/quote]
In the other BASIS thread about SWW, the poster states that only 2 of 13 students are in precallc at SWW, which they would have automatically been in had they stayed at BASIS. Saxon math is the reason why. If these 9th graders had been able to start BASIS at 5th grade, they may have already taken precalc in 8th grade, and would have definitely gotten to proofs. Will be interesting to see how BASIS students, if they jump ship, place in SWW math in the future.