This is going to be an interesting post. I am actually writing it hoping that people who aren't sincerely interested, won't read it. I spent some time at the school yesterday answering questions to an accreditation team about my feelings and views on our school. Then last night, I went out with some wonderful ladies in my ward, who asked why we don't go to a closer charter school. I always want to answer these questions but I don't know if they want a two minute answer or the 45 minute one. So, now I can give the long answer and people can read it if they want, and skip it if they don't. Obviously, this is my opinion and I think everyone should have their own, and make their own choices. I just want to share why I think it is a good choice for my family to drive 20 minutes out and back for Julia's school each day.
First why did I choose a charter school?
1. No UNIONS! I spent a year and a half teaching at West High, and a year at East High. I took the place of a man who was "caught in the hall with a student." He wasn't fired as he was a member of the union, but was put on administrative leave. He sat at home and got paid for the rest of the year while I taught his class. The next year he was transferred to another school. Meanwhile, I met a teacher down the hall from me who had realized that if he was going to give the same lectures year after year, he just as well record them. So he did. And each day he would sit at the back of the room and push play. They couldn't fire him because, technically he was doing his job, and he had tenure over every other English teacher there. That meant that if they wanted to fire him, they would have to fire every single other English teacher that had been there less time than him. At charter schools this doesn't happen because teachers can be fired any time if they are not doing a good job. So, they fire the bad ones and keep the good ones. If you are going to be a good teacher you don't have to worry and if you are a lazy one, you either change, or find a new job. I never have to worry if Julia is going to get a good or bad teacher.
2. At my charter school we have uniforms. My daughter actually loves it. She likes dressing up for school and she doesn't have to spend ten minutes in front of her closet deciding what to wear. She chooses her friends, and they choose her, based on actions, rather than clothing. Last conference, someone mentioned the idea that the way we dress directly impacts the way we behave. I believe that when children are not in their play clothes, they are less likely to ACT like they are in their play clothes.
3. Charter Schools offer me a choice of what I want my school to focus on. I can choose a school that I think is best for my child. I don't want everyone to go to my school. I don't think they would all like it; but that doesn’t mean I shouldn't be able to choose it for my child.
4. All charter schools, that I am aware of, require parent volunteer hours. A lot of people get up in arms about this because some people just can't go into the school due to work, health, children at home, or other restraints. That is ok. We have lots of opportunities to work from home for the school, and when parents are required to put some time into their school, they care about it more and they pay more attention to how the school and their child are doing.
5. Charter schools don't have districts. I recently learned that the employee to student ratio of my local school district is about one to six. This is odd because they have thirty kids in a class. Part of the problem is that they pay for countless district employees that don't directly benefit the students. Our charter school has about 20-25 kids in a class and they usually have 6-8 in their reading groups. This is because we utilize everyone. Every instructor and teacher teaches reading so we can bring down the teacher:student ratio. When I was at the U of U, I got a minor in reading. I learned wonderful skills to help a child learn to read. When I graduated, my husband asked why I didn't want to teach reading at one of the many junior high schools that were interested in hiring me to do so. I explained that I could take a remedial reader and get them up to level in no time, but not with 30 kids in a class. You don't do an effective job teaching reading with 30 kids in a class. They need much more individual attention
So, after all of that, why my particular charter school, instead of one of the many that are located closer to me?
1. All charter schools are not the same. They focus on different things. Mine focuses on classical academics. We go back to learning the basic things that all kids need to learn. And when this is done, kids can go much farther that we are used to. I was looking at a paper from Julia's folder this morning where, in 1st grade, she took several sentences and labeled the subject noun, verb, adverb, adjective, and article adjective. I taught high school kids in 11th grade that couldn't read! And I had to pass them so they could graduate. The other night I was asking Julia about some of the things I saw on their weekly plan (things like the location of Middle Eastern countries, the beliefs of Judaism, and where planets got their names from) and Peter asked me what in the world I was doing. I asked him if he wanted to play, "Are you smarter than your 1st grader" but he declined. Anyway, when kids keep learning new things, they are interested and they don't need fake praise. They KNOW they are doing awesome and doing amazing things.
2. We have ability grouping. Most people in today's education system would tell you how bad this is, but I love it. If I were in traditional schools, I could try to have Julia test into an accelerated program but the problem with that, is while she may be on a reading level a grade or two higher, that may not be the case in math. When you test into those programs they tout that the kids do ALL their work a grade or two above level. At my school, they can put her in an area that keeps her challenged in every subject all day long; higher and lower when needed. The kids don't view it as stupid and smart because everyone in the whole school spends the day in different groups for math, reading, spelling, and core subjects.
3. Julia is in a reading group of six to eight kids and it will stay that way through third grade. Then she will have no more than thirteen in grades 4-6. I mentioned before that we use all of our employees to help with our reading program and because everyone is working, they can be in smaller groups. I learned at the university that six or seven kids are about what you want, when you teach reading. After kindergarten, Julia read the Magic Tree House books, (chapter books) and she loves reading at an early age because she can do it. I believe ALL kids can do this if they get the help and attention they need.
4. We use Saxon math. Most people may not know a lot about their local schools math program, but we use Saxon math. Each day they have a lesson, then a guided practice worksheet which they bring home with their homework on the other side. The homework is not a problem because it has the same type of problems they did in class. Julia has learned about bar graphs, horizontal and vertical, and fractions, she also has complex story problems every day (they contain some information that is irrelevant, and must be deciphered from the relevant). She doesn't mind story problems because she has had practice with them at such an early age.
5. My school teaches values. In a world where people don't seem to value character any more, this is a big thing to me. This week’s outline has the following subjects: The Golden Rule, the Make New Friends song, a Kindness Costs Nothing poster, and a compliment circle. The issue most people have with values in education is that they believe everyone has different values. Our school knows that there are certain values (respect, responsibility, courage, honesty, self discipline, and excellence) that all students are better off having.
6. My school doesn't have holiday parties. I know a lot of people view this as harsh and cruel, but it makes sense to us. If you are going to take my kids away for seven hours a day, do something with them that is more than what I can do at home. I can do valentines, trick-or-treating, television, and fluff at home. That is my job, but while they are at school they can learn. The kids really don't mind either, they know they get to do that stuff at home, and they are excited to be learning so many new things.
7. Julia loves it. The most important thing about my school is that Julia loves it. She doesn't need fluff praise on things like coloring pictures because she knows that she is smart. She knows that she is learning real things at school. She likes knowing things and being able to share those things with us at the end of the day. I want her to love learning and I feel like part of the reason she loves it, is because she gets so many opportunities to experience it each day.
So, now that I have shared the wonderful traits of my school, I will let you know that open enrollment is in January, and while we have a waiting list of OVER 500 families, you would be surprised at how many people get in the first year they try. If you are interested in knowing more about my school, (such as its name) send me an e-mail. I won't post the school name on here because it falls under the list of things I won't post to keep my blog somewhat private. I hope you also love your school and your child is getting everything they can out of it.
First why did I choose a charter school?
1. No UNIONS! I spent a year and a half teaching at West High, and a year at East High. I took the place of a man who was "caught in the hall with a student." He wasn't fired as he was a member of the union, but was put on administrative leave. He sat at home and got paid for the rest of the year while I taught his class. The next year he was transferred to another school. Meanwhile, I met a teacher down the hall from me who had realized that if he was going to give the same lectures year after year, he just as well record them. So he did. And each day he would sit at the back of the room and push play. They couldn't fire him because, technically he was doing his job, and he had tenure over every other English teacher there. That meant that if they wanted to fire him, they would have to fire every single other English teacher that had been there less time than him. At charter schools this doesn't happen because teachers can be fired any time if they are not doing a good job. So, they fire the bad ones and keep the good ones. If you are going to be a good teacher you don't have to worry and if you are a lazy one, you either change, or find a new job. I never have to worry if Julia is going to get a good or bad teacher.
2. At my charter school we have uniforms. My daughter actually loves it. She likes dressing up for school and she doesn't have to spend ten minutes in front of her closet deciding what to wear. She chooses her friends, and they choose her, based on actions, rather than clothing. Last conference, someone mentioned the idea that the way we dress directly impacts the way we behave. I believe that when children are not in their play clothes, they are less likely to ACT like they are in their play clothes.
3. Charter Schools offer me a choice of what I want my school to focus on. I can choose a school that I think is best for my child. I don't want everyone to go to my school. I don't think they would all like it; but that doesn’t mean I shouldn't be able to choose it for my child.
4. All charter schools, that I am aware of, require parent volunteer hours. A lot of people get up in arms about this because some people just can't go into the school due to work, health, children at home, or other restraints. That is ok. We have lots of opportunities to work from home for the school, and when parents are required to put some time into their school, they care about it more and they pay more attention to how the school and their child are doing.
5. Charter schools don't have districts. I recently learned that the employee to student ratio of my local school district is about one to six. This is odd because they have thirty kids in a class. Part of the problem is that they pay for countless district employees that don't directly benefit the students. Our charter school has about 20-25 kids in a class and they usually have 6-8 in their reading groups. This is because we utilize everyone. Every instructor and teacher teaches reading so we can bring down the teacher:student ratio. When I was at the U of U, I got a minor in reading. I learned wonderful skills to help a child learn to read. When I graduated, my husband asked why I didn't want to teach reading at one of the many junior high schools that were interested in hiring me to do so. I explained that I could take a remedial reader and get them up to level in no time, but not with 30 kids in a class. You don't do an effective job teaching reading with 30 kids in a class. They need much more individual attention
So, after all of that, why my particular charter school, instead of one of the many that are located closer to me?
1. All charter schools are not the same. They focus on different things. Mine focuses on classical academics. We go back to learning the basic things that all kids need to learn. And when this is done, kids can go much farther that we are used to. I was looking at a paper from Julia's folder this morning where, in 1st grade, she took several sentences and labeled the subject noun, verb, adverb, adjective, and article adjective. I taught high school kids in 11th grade that couldn't read! And I had to pass them so they could graduate. The other night I was asking Julia about some of the things I saw on their weekly plan (things like the location of Middle Eastern countries, the beliefs of Judaism, and where planets got their names from) and Peter asked me what in the world I was doing. I asked him if he wanted to play, "Are you smarter than your 1st grader" but he declined. Anyway, when kids keep learning new things, they are interested and they don't need fake praise. They KNOW they are doing awesome and doing amazing things.
2. We have ability grouping. Most people in today's education system would tell you how bad this is, but I love it. If I were in traditional schools, I could try to have Julia test into an accelerated program but the problem with that, is while she may be on a reading level a grade or two higher, that may not be the case in math. When you test into those programs they tout that the kids do ALL their work a grade or two above level. At my school, they can put her in an area that keeps her challenged in every subject all day long; higher and lower when needed. The kids don't view it as stupid and smart because everyone in the whole school spends the day in different groups for math, reading, spelling, and core subjects.
3. Julia is in a reading group of six to eight kids and it will stay that way through third grade. Then she will have no more than thirteen in grades 4-6. I mentioned before that we use all of our employees to help with our reading program and because everyone is working, they can be in smaller groups. I learned at the university that six or seven kids are about what you want, when you teach reading. After kindergarten, Julia read the Magic Tree House books, (chapter books) and she loves reading at an early age because she can do it. I believe ALL kids can do this if they get the help and attention they need.
4. We use Saxon math. Most people may not know a lot about their local schools math program, but we use Saxon math. Each day they have a lesson, then a guided practice worksheet which they bring home with their homework on the other side. The homework is not a problem because it has the same type of problems they did in class. Julia has learned about bar graphs, horizontal and vertical, and fractions, she also has complex story problems every day (they contain some information that is irrelevant, and must be deciphered from the relevant). She doesn't mind story problems because she has had practice with them at such an early age.
5. My school teaches values. In a world where people don't seem to value character any more, this is a big thing to me. This week’s outline has the following subjects: The Golden Rule, the Make New Friends song, a Kindness Costs Nothing poster, and a compliment circle. The issue most people have with values in education is that they believe everyone has different values. Our school knows that there are certain values (respect, responsibility, courage, honesty, self discipline, and excellence) that all students are better off having.
6. My school doesn't have holiday parties. I know a lot of people view this as harsh and cruel, but it makes sense to us. If you are going to take my kids away for seven hours a day, do something with them that is more than what I can do at home. I can do valentines, trick-or-treating, television, and fluff at home. That is my job, but while they are at school they can learn. The kids really don't mind either, they know they get to do that stuff at home, and they are excited to be learning so many new things.
7. Julia loves it. The most important thing about my school is that Julia loves it. She doesn't need fluff praise on things like coloring pictures because she knows that she is smart. She knows that she is learning real things at school. She likes knowing things and being able to share those things with us at the end of the day. I want her to love learning and I feel like part of the reason she loves it, is because she gets so many opportunities to experience it each day.
So, now that I have shared the wonderful traits of my school, I will let you know that open enrollment is in January, and while we have a waiting list of OVER 500 families, you would be surprised at how many people get in the first year they try. If you are interested in knowing more about my school, (such as its name) send me an e-mail. I won't post the school name on here because it falls under the list of things I won't post to keep my blog somewhat private. I hope you also love your school and your child is getting everything they can out of it.
4 comments:
What was I thinking when I left?? I could just cry after reading about our awesome school. I hope the people that got my spot are loving the great benefits.
Yes, Lucas' name should be in again for first grade. I have to say I think you are lucky though. It is tough to get into any charter school once it is established--at least it has been for me. I'm glad you guys are all in!!
I'm sold :)
Anyone in your networks know of one that focuses on the arts?
Had we not moved my kids would be going to this school. I was in the group to get it started then we found out we were moving...
Post a Comment