tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post6864793090037664881..comments2023-11-07T06:56:59.563-05:00Comments on Ann Arbor Schools Musings: News RoundupRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10531344380743742801noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-62651066486833788402010-01-26T23:30:28.639-05:002010-01-26T23:30:28.639-05:00YpsiAnon--All good points. There are pros and cons...YpsiAnon--All good points. There are pros and cons to both of those systems--which is why (as you already know) I support having multiple options.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10531344380743742801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-21298230466655345412010-01-26T22:59:03.112-05:002010-01-26T22:59:03.112-05:00When your child attends kindergarten at such a cen...When your child attends kindergarten at such a center, they have a lovely year learning good things and making new friends. Then they leave most of those good friends behind when they go to first grade, since everyone is redistributed to the elementaries. That can be a tough transition, and is it really a necessary one? Also, parents don't put as much effort into becoming part of the school community when they're only there for a year.<br /><br />Some of the K-8 schools I've known have been too small to support any electives such as band, and that's been disappointing to some. Also, I think a lot of kids are ready to stretch socially and would like to meet new people. No documentation on that, just anecdotal and personal experience.<br /><br />These days, though, many of the things that did make middle school special are being cut, so that may make them irrelevant. Sad days.<br /><br />- YpsiAnonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-33982700426471222202010-01-26T08:59:27.918-05:002010-01-26T08:59:27.918-05:00Some studies have shown better performance from ki...Some studies have shown better performance from kids who are in K-8 programs as opposed to elementary, than middle, than high school. <br /><br />A lot of people are unhappy with the way middle schools are set up. For myself, I've worked in a middle school, and I love working with middle-school-aged kids, but I think they don't offer kids the benefits of elementary school (continuity with knowing your teachers, personal connections) or the benefits of high school (lots of elective choice and more independence). I preferred the K-8 option. <br /><br />I think the K-6 question vs. K-5 is primarily a function of demographics. As for Kindergarten, do you want an early childhood education center, or to see it more as part of elementary school? I think there could be efficiencies with the early childhood education center but that might depend on the district.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10531344380743742801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-79376263000270018502010-01-25T21:42:57.089-05:002010-01-25T21:42:57.089-05:00I'm pondering this K-8 idea... It's true ...I'm pondering this K-8 idea... It's true that charter and private schools do it... Maybe that's good?<br /><br />I don't know about K-6, but how is this so different from K-5, which AAPS has? I do know that many YPS families would be fine with moving kindergarten back into the elementaries.<br /><br />- YpsiAnonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com