[-]When is the right time to start your child in a Hebrew School Class? Can anyone recommend a conservative hebrew school? I live mid-town but would be willing to travel for a good program.
7 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]With the holidays upon us this is a really good idea. Have you been to any in temples in NYC? Can you recommedn one? I want one that is child friendly/open to young families . . .
[ Reply | Options ]I have heard really good things about Town & Village temple. Has anyone else heard about this temple?
[ Reply | Options ]My DC goes there for hebrew school and LOVES it. He's very excited to learn Hebrew & about Israel. They do a lot of innovative programming. DC is going into 1st grade and "went" to Israel -- passport and learned about the different cities, did tzedukah for Hannukah, etc. The Town & Village temple is a wonderful cross section of New York and there are a lot of great people. It's a very open atmosphere that welcomes people as they are. Everyone is so nice.
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My DC is at Town & Village Hebrew school (14th St/Union Sq/Second Ave) and he loves it. He's beein going since he was 3 and knows his hebrew letters and words (going into 1st grade). He is so proud to be Jewish. The classes are small, with lots of emphasis on tzedukah, Hebrew, Israel, etc. The children are from all over Manhattan - midtown to the Battery.
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[-]Child has been just assigned another new teacher for this year. This is the third time. Last year was especially a disaster. She is easy and smart but is so not being served by this. I didn't complain the first year but tried to get her switched all last year to no avail because everyone in the class was unhappy. Switching schools would be even more traumatic I think even if we could. Any advice? TIA
22 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]That stinks. Since you tried to switch last year and the administration didn't help you, you know they won't help you this year either. By placing your dd with a new teacher, they pretty much told you that. So, your only choice is to make the best of what you have. Good luck!
[ Reply | Options ]we have had a similar issue. I highly recommend speaking with the Admin. at the end of this school year, BEFORE they pick teachers and expressing your interest in a particular type of teacher for your dd next year. Many schools don't take requests for a particular teacher, and they definitely don't change placements, but they will take your thoughts on the type of teaching style that would be good for your child. "traditional" and "classic" are words I would use to express this.
[ Reply | Options ]i know what you mean. we had a situation where for four consecutive years we had to switch teachers in the middle of the year. it's really very disruptive. i'd speak to the school. let them know your concerns, ask them what they are doing to make sure this teacher does a good job. and ask for a list of skills that your child should be learning this year so you can try to help her along.
[ Reply | Options ]a list of skills? not sure how that will be helpful. just sounds like you are attacking the teacher, not try to help the dc work well with the teacher.
[ Reply | Options ]the problem here isn't getting the student to work well with the teacher. the problem with a new teacher is that they have no experience. there's an upside too. they are usually enthusiastic, happy to put a lot into the students, care a lot, work very hard. but they don't have the experience in classroom management. some are good anyway, most are not. the role of the parent in this case is to help make sure their child is learning the things they are supposed to be learning. a parent can't manage classroom dynamics from the home, can only have limited input on student/teacher relationship. but they can make sure that their child is getting the skills they are supposed to be getting that year.
[ Reply | Options ]Classroom management is actually more of a innate skill IMO, either you have it or not. We had brand new teacher who was excellent at this, and more seasoned teacher who sucked at it big time. I am sure they can learn some tricks while teaching, but most of it is personality IMO.
[ Reply | Options ]yes, it's an innate skill. but i feel very strongly that first year teachers are at a disadvantage when it comes to that. it's a lot of things put together - handling the kids, handling behavioral problems, juggling kids of different academic levels, juggling the new curriculum, time management, etc. i'd rather have a good first-time teacher than an "i hate these kids already" burnt out experienced teacher, but to have a series of new teachers in a row? it's not going to be to the student's advantage.
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I've been very frustrated by how inexperienced all my dd's teachers have been (good public school.) I think they keep their budget down by getting rid of teachers before they get seniority. My bf is a teacher who's been working for about 18 years and I can hear how much her experience matters to her quality of teaching. Our teachers look like young girls to me -- most are under thirty -- and though they are nice, sometimes bright and upbeat and probably well-trained, they lack experience and judgement imo.
[ Reply | Options ]np: I totally disagree with this. if you have taught 20 years odds are you are pretty disillusioned by that point, many teachers are just counting years till they can retire by that point. Though brand new is not ideal, I think 5 years of experience is about what you want. Enough to know all the ropes, have lesson plans etc. but not enough to have lost all the enthusiasm for teaching. There are huge exceptions on both sides of course but that's my experience both from years at school and my kids' schools.
[ Reply | Options ]At least 1/3 - 1/2 of teachers at my kids excellent public have less than five years. My kid is a "model" in a CTT class and I don't appreciate that the CTT teachers have so little experience, but generally I'd much prefer her not to have so many second-year teachers no matter what.
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You could try another tact and ask what mentorship strategies they have in place for new teachers. The new teachers should not be getting stuck with all the difficult students, for example - maybe this is why your DD ends up with them? Act as an advocate for struggling new teachers rather than assuming s/he will not meet your needs right off the bat. Maybe you'll make a difference, or maybe you'll be enough of a PITA this way that they'll assign DD a more experienced teacher next time :)
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[-]What is a reasonable curfew for a 15 and a half year old (beginning sophmore year in high school)? It seems to me that her friends in public school have much later curfews and more freedom than her friends in private school (she changed to private school for high school.) When she sees her friends from public school, they are allowed out until 1, 2 am. Her private school friends need to be home by midnight. We insist on midnight, but out biggest concern is that she is safe. Any thoughts?
13 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]I never had a curfew. My parents always had to know who I was with and where we were. If they approved of the plans, they didn't look at the clock.
[ Reply | Options ]Our son is at Beacon (also about to begin 10th grade) and it his friends are given an enormous amount of freedom. We had problems this year with him going to parties without any parents around and there was lots of drinking. We have a 12:30 curfew on weekends which is earlier than many of his friends, but to be honest, I need my sleep and I can't sleep until he's home!
[ Reply | Options ]I have a teen the same age. We take it on a case by case basis. VERY little (if any) going out on weeknights. On weekends, its depends. If he's at a friend's house (a family/kid we know) it usually turns out to be a mutually agreed on midnight (and yes, we will pick him up as needed). He went to one blow out party at the end of freshman year, after LOTS of talk about personal responsibility and his intentions/our feelings about drinking, etc. We arranged for a car service to pick him up and bring him home, as he was in an outerborough and we didn't want him on the train that late. We work it all out together, is really the bottom line.
[ Reply | Options ]I have the same question - my dd will be 15 next month and has asked for a curfew. I think home by 7:30 on school nights, 11:00 on weekends is reasonable (doorman leaves at 11:15 and I don't want her fumbling with keys alone at night). Or later on weekends if we are picking her up or if she is coming home with a friend. My worry is how she gets home after dark - I'd rather she not be walking home from the subway late at night. Am I being way too overprotective?
[ Reply | Options ]My mom never had a curfew for me (single parent family) but she always said I HAD to call her wherever I was, and whenever I got to my new destination. When I reached my "final" destination we decided on a curfew. I think it's most important to keep an open dialogue with your child so that he/she feels safe to call you no matter what and also respects that you trust her. Set limits, but be flexible!
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iPhone games for kids. Try Digit Defenders, (www.rcloudsoftware.com/digitdefenders) a math game designed specifically for young children. The game starts with simple, fun counting levels for kids as young as 3, then moves up through arithmetic, and algebra for older kids. It's a great way to get your kids to learn important math skills, while keeping them entertained (and quiet!).
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[-]Can you reccommend a company that makes labels for kids clothing. DC school requires that I label everything. Thanks
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[-]I'm looking for parents of transgender children especially young teens in NYC. Our DC is f to m and needs some friends going through similar issues.
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[-]Hello- We have only lived in NY one year, still figuring things out. My dd is starting Hunter 7th grade this year...after a disappointing year in zoned ps she really wanted to go private (it may be weird per other ub'ers, butshe loved Hewitt) but HCHS seemed like such a good deal, we couldn't pass it up. Any thoughts...she was accepted at other privates, but loved Hewitt.
15 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]What kind of thoughts would you like? I hope your dd likes Hunter HS! I know many kids who do.
[ Reply | Options ]Just feeling guilty! I guess...should we have sent her to Hewitt? Or one of the more tt schools? Or is letting her try a year at Hunter okay? Glad to hear kids like Hunter.
[ Reply | Options ]Yes, try it out for 7th and if unhappy start applying out during 8th grade for HSs. Then you can decide once 7th and 8th grades are under her belt.
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No, just feeling guilty, and feeling guilty because I guess part of the reason we pushed her to Hunter was that we thought she would have been bored academically at Hewitt, and I guess I feel guilty having considered that as a factor.
[ Reply | Options ]np. I agree with an above poster who suggested that she make a decision during 8th grade and if she still wants to apply to Hewitt for HS, to let her. Hewitt in the 9th grade and beyond has a different feeling than in the lower and middle school, which might or might not be what you are looking for. So evaluate again, when the time comes.
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ita too - very hard for someone who live in NY only one year to have it together to get in to hunter for 7th - it is a process that takes like 2 years
[ Reply | Options ]Hunter High School test is taken in late fall of 6th grade, based on being in 90 percentile of 5th test grade scores. Children have 5th grade test scores no matter where they were in school.
[ Reply | Options ]yes, but if you are not here and in the loop you don't know to present scores for a ticket. We were in that group, new to city, did not get ds tested. He got into Stuy later but Hunter would have been great, and a friend he made in 6th got in and my ds was sad he never had chance to take the test for a shot at it himself.
[ Reply | Options ]What is the big deal? At our k-8 private they ask if your kid (if tests scores on ERBs fall in a certain range) wants to take the test. The kid takes the tests, and you are either in or not. You could do this from any k-8 school in any city. There is no preparation necessary. My kid made it, but we chose to stay and finish with his class. He will go private for 9th grade.
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[-]Has anyone had any experience with the Brooklyn School for Collaborative Studies at the High School level? Please let me know about your insights...
2 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]I know a sophomore there. He's great kid and very bright, but a little quirky. His parents sought out BCS because it doesn't teach to the test nor is it a pressure cooker. Interesting college placements too (e.g. Hampshire, Bard, all the CUNYs Howard).
[ Reply | Options ]Thank you. My husband and I went to Hampshire. I'm sending my son to BSCS this Fall. I liked that they don't teach to the test, but I wondered about the population of students, whether they were academically and intellectually motivated. The school staff seems great, but a lot of families seem to transfer out after middle school. Anyway, thanks for your response.
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[-]What time do/did you make your 6th grader go to bed on a school night?
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