Posts Tagged ‘middle school’
School Fit: A Teacher’s Reflection
Can a school really make a dramatic difference to a student? I began my classroom teaching career at another independent private school in the region, which was in many ways the diametric opposite of The Sycamore School. Their respective approaches to education and student support diverged from the start. Early Emphasis on AP Classes The first school I taught at was founded on the idea that American schools failed to challenge their students. Their solution was simple: lots of AP classes as early as possible and challenging curricula, even at the middle school level. Sixth graders tackle “Julius Caesar” while “Macbeth” is slated for 7th graders. Students are pushed from 5th grade onward to focus on tests and grades almost exclusively. Starting in 6th and 7th grade, students take a test halfway through the year and another at the end. Each test counts 50% of that semester’s grade. The pressure…
Read MoreField Trip to the National Museum of the American Indian
One of the world’s great museum centers is minutes away from The Sycamore School in the Smithsonian network that sprawls across a dozen blocks on the Mall and offers students a window into great history, science, and art from our past. The MS2 and MS3 cohorts brought their “Pre-Columbian Americas” unit on Native American cultures to life with a field trip to the National Museum of the American Indian. It also gave them insight into how the growing USA relentlessly pushed aside Native Americans. NMAI has changed over the years, shifting from tribe-based exhibitions to thematic displays such as the history of treaties between the states or the US government and various tribes. Students were assigned one treaty to research in detail, spanning the late 1600s until 1854. They looked at each side’s expectations and goals, what the parties agreed to, and how that treaty was honored or not in…
Read MoreMiddle School Team Building
Everyone knows the classic game “Rock, Paper, Scissors” used by kids to break a tie or resolve an impasse. Did you know it could be a full-court team sport that draws out the inner athlete in students and teaches them teamwork simultaneously? Recently, students ventured to a nearby Rosslyn playground court for the big RPS middle school team building challenge. Two randomly chosen teams lined up on the baselines; then, one player from each team had to walk (not run!) down the sideline to the centerline, where the first two players had an instant RPS game. The winner moves forward to meet the next player from the opposing team, speed walking down the sideline while the winner advances. If the winner wins again, they keep moving to the enemy baseline. Defeating every opponent in the way yields one point. Capturing the enemy line took 4-5 wins, so the competition was…
Read MoreA New Year. A New Space.
A new year in a new space for The Sycamore School! After months of planning, veteran students and staff joined newcomers in our expanded middle and high school space at 1550 Wilson Blvd in Rosslyn, just up the hill from the Metro. Reasons Behind the Move Why the move? The imminent redevelopment of the hotel-office complex in Ballston that housed the school since it opened in 2017 certainly figured highly. TSS is also growing at a measured pace, making more room in a newer building very attractive. But, finding building space that can accommodate an independent school’s requirements takes work. A school can only occupy lower floors, and the building must be ready to deal with dozens of students coming and going simultaneously. So, TSS had to widen its search beyond Ballston. Staff and students loved the Ballston area, especially the diverse offerings around the Ballston Quarter Mall. Rosslyn offers…
Read MoreSix Tips to Start the New School Year Strong
A new school year is always full of excitement and possibility, but it can also bring with it some fear and anxiety. Whether you are a student, parent, or teacher, the beginning of a new school year brings a unique sense of anticipation. This can be especially true for students starting in a new school or a new grade. What are the teachers going to be like? Will the other kids be friends with me? These are questions students might be asking themselves. As parents, we know you want your child to be happy and successful. Let’s explore six tips to start the new school year strong for parents and students. 1. Embrace Change Every new school year is a chance to start over. You can think of a new school year as a fresh start, a time to embrace the “what-ifs” and potential for growth. Though new beginnings can be…
Read MoreFrom Struggling Student to Successful Teacher: My Journey with Executive Functioning Challenges
I was a backpack stuffer. All the papers I received during the day were crumpled and stuffed at the bottom of my backpack, crushed by the weight of objects I didn’t need. I couldn’t find anything. Homework assignments were turned in late or not at all. Permission slips never made it to my parents. And I would rather not discuss what happened to my lunch. I failed every binder test. I didn’t know how to put papers in my binder or manage my time. I couldn’t break down long-term projects into manageable chunks. I struggled. All of this conspired to tank my self-esteem. I wanted to do well in school but didn’t know how. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Looking back, I now know I needed help with executive functioning. Executive functioning is managing time, focusing attention, remembering instructions, prioritizing, and completing multiple tasks. This applies to school, home,…
Read MoreSocial Media as Creative Writing Curriculum
The Sycamore School’s Journalism & Yearbook Class is a daily elective where students actively contribute to our school’s social media. This class empowers them to contribute to the narrative and culture of TSS while developing their capacity to make ideas visible with words, pictures, and videos. Social Media as Collaboration The student social media unit began with the selection of a holiday/ day of celebration. Students went through guided practice with immediate feedback on their post copy and graphic. As their skills developed, students worked collaboratively to research holidays and celebrations, adding them to a planning calendar and claiming which posts they would like to create. When students claim a holiday, they create the graphic, write the copy, and choose a minimum of three hashtags. Upon completion, the post is approved by a teacher and scheduled on the school’s social media platforms. Students have total control over the posts and…
Read MoreA Parent Guide for Helping Your Child Beat the Winter Blues
The short days and less favorable weather of winter often have an adverse impact on our general mood. It is not uncommon for individuals — including children — to find it difficult to stay active and optimistic during the winter months. What is “Winter Blues” vs. Seasonal Affective Disorder (“SAD”) The “winter blues” describe the sadness and fatigue that many people experience during the winter. It may cause symptoms such as sluggishness, low interest in activities, changes in appetite, and difficulty concentrating. Is your child has more serious symptoms, such as feelings of hopelessness or thoughts of suicide. This could be SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, a condition that affects around 4% to 6% of people. This can cause depression in both men and women, especially during the winter months. It’s important to note the difference between SAD and the winter blues; SAD is a rare diagnosed condition, and more…
Read MoreThe Sycamore School is Moving to Rosslyn
The Sycamore School is moving to Rosslyn! After six years in Ballston, TSS has decided that we are ready to take the next step in our journey and move into a space that accommodates our growth over the years. From how far we’ve come, to how far we hope to go, we know this move will be beneficial to our students, staff, and community. Where We’ve Been: Ballston When TSS was founded, it was designed as an urban model school. Being based in Arlington may seem like a limitation, since there are not acres of land available to house a large campus. However, we take this as an opportunity to explore the countless museums, nature centers, and historical sites that are only a metro ride away. We utilize community resources to augment our on-site resources. For our version of PE, which we call Movement & Mindfulness, we regularly visit local…
Read MoreExploring Executive Functioning Skills & Parent Tips
Executive functioning skills are all the skills needed to engage in goal-directed behavior, such as planning a vacation or organizing a birthday party. We use them every day, throughout the day. Many people think of it as organizational skills, but it’s much more. Executive functioning skills also help us with emotional regulation. The Three Categories of Executive Functioning Skills: Executive Functioning is Situational If we think about a student being given an assignment or an activity to do at school, we can describe several different executive functioning skills needed to complete this task successfully. The student first needs to select an approach and figure out how to start the activity. Once they have started, how do they sustain focus and motivation? If they have questions or get stuck, can they ask for help? Then, how do they know when they’re done and have satisfied the requirements? Another area that requires…
Read MoreParent Blog: How TSS Changed My Life (and My Daughter’s)
This blog is a part of a series where parents of The Sycamore School’s students share their experiences on what it’s like to be a part of the TSS community and the impact TSS has made on their children. Through these blogs, we hope you’ll gain inside knowledge and understanding of what to expect when you enroll your student in our small, independent school using the mastery-based learning approach. See the previous blog: How The Sycamore School Helped to Transform My Daughter It may sound overly dramatic to say that finding The Sycamore School changed my life, but I’m sure some parents will understand. Whether their kid is bored by the pace at a public school, feels overwhelmed by tests and homework, or is anxious about going to school each day — it all comes down to the fact that their child is not thriving in their current environment. For…
Read MoreThe Educational Value of Field Trips
Part of our personalized experiential learning approach at The Sycamore School (TSS) is connecting learning to our larger world, and one of the ways we do this is by regularly taking students on field trips. We call Fridays our community-based learning day — students go on field trips related to what they’re studying, participate in community service outings, and welcome guest speakers. They also engage in extension activities such as science labs and career days. This year, our youngest middle school cohorts studied ecosystems and natural disasters. As part of this experience class, students went to Lacey Woods to investigate and learn how to identify local flora and fauna. They also visited a virtual aquarium to explore underwater ecosystems and food webs. This experience helped them make real-life connections to the concepts they discussed in class. Our youngest cohorts also participated in a soil investigation lab. They collected soil samples…
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