As a co-parent to a young child, nothing in the last 5 years quite hit my son’s father and me like the subject of school—REAL school! Not preschool at the local church or learning center with little to remember to put in his backpack other than his signed behavior and activity reports. No, this was real school as a full-fledged kindergartner with buses and homework and older kids and tardy slips…a real school with real rules and real report cards and real dress codes.
My son, Dre and I have lived off South Lamar since he was a 18 months old and I worked hard to make sure we stayed in this area, which we adore so much. It’s colorful and lively, but it’s also in the school zone belonging to one of Austin’s most distinguished and reputable elementary schools.
For years, I looked forward to walking him through those school doors, imagined it every time we passed by on the way to Zilker Park. But as Dre’s 5th birthday approached, I began to hear of other options for his education. Although my heart was pretty set on the traditional elementary school, I’m never one to be closed minded about anything concerning my parenting choices.
While talking to a friend the topic of school came up and she asked me if I had heard of IDEA Public Schools. I hadn’t, but was intrigued at the concept of alternative learning within a public school system. Just a few days later, Dre’s stepmother asked me if I had heard of IDEA because she was considering it for her own upcoming kindergartner, Dre’s stepbrother. We all took it as a sign to look more into the option of IDEA. But I will be blunt; my initial research on charter schools made me weary…With lesson plans stricter and more structured than those of traditional public schools, I had wondered if this was the appropriate learning environment for my free-spirited and extremely imaginative Pisces baby.
With further research, I realized that the model of IDEA learning is not as homogenous as I initially assumed. Although the school is a college prep campus serving kids up to grade 12, this process begins with an elementary curriculum called BetterIDEA.
This curriculum is made of two components: the new core curriculum consisting of Direct Instruction (DI), the theory that by using clear instruction and teaching to mastery, teachers can accelerate learning for all students, and the individualized learning component for students, which consists of a computer assisted math lab and an independent reading lab. These components encourage success of IDEA’s Accelerated Reading Zone, a time set aside for students to read a book of their choice followed by a computer-based Accelerated Reading Exam to measure comprehension and help students define their individual reading goals.
For the kindergarteners, their year is of course, spent learning how to read. By the time they start 1st grade, they will be expected to be able to read on their own and fully participate in the AR Zone. That being said, our experience with IDEA and Dre’s teacher, has been impressive, to say the least. The first semester hasn’t even wrapped up yet, and last night Dre read a beginner’s reading storybook in full, no help and no hints given or even wanted from him. “No excuses,” he likes to tell me if he feels I am helping him too much.
“No excuses” is one of IDEA Academy’s core values and is reiterated to the students every day; no one is responsible for either your successes or failures but you, not your parents, not your economic status, just the student staring back at you in the mirror.
On the topic of my son’s teacher, Miss Velez sent out a letter to all parents on the first day of school, promising to always be open and available for consistent and continuous communication. Since then, I’ve sent countless texts and emails, and every single one was answered thoroughly, quickly, and professionally. She doesn’t hesitate to call just to give an update or send a text to let me know how Dre did on his reading test that day, sometimes almost immediately after she grades his exam. As a mother, this is invaluable. Between Dre’s father, Miss Velez, the school, and me, we all share the belief that communication is key to ensuring the highest level of success for our children. Miss Velez said it best in her letter when she wrote, “Keeping parents regularly informed and involved in their child’s education is a high priority of mine. When parents know what is happening at school, they are better able to discuss and reinforce activities with their children.” … And I couldn’t have said it better.
:: Where will/do your children go to school: Charter, Public, or Private? ::
Sponsored By: IDEA Public Schools
