USAmma
08-31-2006, 12:20 PM
I had posted a couple of threads a few weeks ago about my search for a school for Abi. She's not profoundly gifted but she's bright and a couple of years ahead of her peers in many areas. I am beginning the long road to a nursing degree and wanted to have more study time, and so was looking for schools for her.
Well, I'm happy to say that upon recommendation from another MDC mama, I think I found the school for her! It's a charter school, 208 kids total grades K-5, average class size 15 for the younger grades, 20 for the older kids. They have a separate campus for grades 6-9.
Kids are tested upon enrollment to find out what level they are at in different areas. The kids have a homeroom and are grouped for part of the day according to age. However the whole school will cover certain subjects at certain times, and for those subjects the kids are grouped by ability, not by age. *All* the kids switch classes and go to the classroom that teaches to their ability. No one is singled out because of their giftedness or learning disabilities. It's common to have kids spanning 3 grade levels in the same classes for the core subjects.
From their paperwork: "Ability grouping is the practice of placing students into groups or classes based on their comparable skills, needs, abilities, talents, or previous achievement, for instruction. Ability grouping increases student achievement by reducing the disparity in student levels, and this increases the likelihood that teachers can provide instruction that is neither too easy nor too hard. All kids walk into the classroom with a unique set of abilities. With direct instruction, we help them walk out with the power to do anything they set their minds to do." They use a variety of mediums to teach concepts and encourage the kids to problem solve and figure out solutions on their own, and teaches critical thinking.
Most of the kids are in classes that opens into a common hallway in one building. The K kids, however, stay in a house that has been converted for the kids into classrooms. This is for their homeroom time. They still get to do the core subjects by ability in the main building. The house is next to the main building and is very comfortable and homey. Even still has the original kitchen where the snacks are prepared, and the bathroom looks like the one in our house.
The kids wear uniforms. I really agree with this, as a child who grew up being teased for having old, ill-fitting clothes. They have some choices with the uniforms (red or white shirt, blue jumper, skirt, shorts, or pants, white or black shoes).
They have a full time Spanish teacher for all the kids, and music part-time. No formal PE but they have 2 recess periods per day, which is more than most kids around here get.
I signed her up a few days ago, and she will start next week. I had intended to just tour the school for next year's enrollment. They usually have a waiting list but they just hired another teacher for the new state all day K regulations, so they had *one* spot left for K. I signed her up that day. If it works out and she's happy, she can now bypass the waiting list in the future and so can her little sister if she goes there later.
I was feeling so bad about the whole school thing, but now I actually feel good about it and I am hopeful that she will be happy there and that this will work out for our family. I just can't believe it's FREE and that I got her in! I had heard of this school, but since it's part of a church building I assumed it was a private church school. Turns out they just rent the building from the church and there is no affiliation at all.
UPDATE: see post #8.
Well, I'm happy to say that upon recommendation from another MDC mama, I think I found the school for her! It's a charter school, 208 kids total grades K-5, average class size 15 for the younger grades, 20 for the older kids. They have a separate campus for grades 6-9.
Kids are tested upon enrollment to find out what level they are at in different areas. The kids have a homeroom and are grouped for part of the day according to age. However the whole school will cover certain subjects at certain times, and for those subjects the kids are grouped by ability, not by age. *All* the kids switch classes and go to the classroom that teaches to their ability. No one is singled out because of their giftedness or learning disabilities. It's common to have kids spanning 3 grade levels in the same classes for the core subjects.
From their paperwork: "Ability grouping is the practice of placing students into groups or classes based on their comparable skills, needs, abilities, talents, or previous achievement, for instruction. Ability grouping increases student achievement by reducing the disparity in student levels, and this increases the likelihood that teachers can provide instruction that is neither too easy nor too hard. All kids walk into the classroom with a unique set of abilities. With direct instruction, we help them walk out with the power to do anything they set their minds to do." They use a variety of mediums to teach concepts and encourage the kids to problem solve and figure out solutions on their own, and teaches critical thinking.
Most of the kids are in classes that opens into a common hallway in one building. The K kids, however, stay in a house that has been converted for the kids into classrooms. This is for their homeroom time. They still get to do the core subjects by ability in the main building. The house is next to the main building and is very comfortable and homey. Even still has the original kitchen where the snacks are prepared, and the bathroom looks like the one in our house.
The kids wear uniforms. I really agree with this, as a child who grew up being teased for having old, ill-fitting clothes. They have some choices with the uniforms (red or white shirt, blue jumper, skirt, shorts, or pants, white or black shoes).
They have a full time Spanish teacher for all the kids, and music part-time. No formal PE but they have 2 recess periods per day, which is more than most kids around here get.
I signed her up a few days ago, and she will start next week. I had intended to just tour the school for next year's enrollment. They usually have a waiting list but they just hired another teacher for the new state all day K regulations, so they had *one* spot left for K. I signed her up that day. If it works out and she's happy, she can now bypass the waiting list in the future and so can her little sister if she goes there later.
I was feeling so bad about the whole school thing, but now I actually feel good about it and I am hopeful that she will be happy there and that this will work out for our family. I just can't believe it's FREE and that I got her in! I had heard of this school, but since it's part of a church building I assumed it was a private church school. Turns out they just rent the building from the church and there is no affiliation at all.
UPDATE: see post #8.