Hey everyone, I'm interviewing at a traditional school this week. They are calling themselves a "back to basics" school. What does that mean? They use Saxon math and Spalding language arts. I am just looking for some insight. Has anyone work at a school like this? Pros/cons? I'm a pretty creative person so I am hesitant about the Saxon/Spalding since I know they are scripted. Thanks!
If I had to guess, it sounds more like a teacher-centered than a student-centered school. I would investigate their website to find out as much information about their philosophy as I could. I've never heard of a school call themselves "back to basics."
Saxon Math Does Allow For Creativity Before I waste your time with meaningless advice, what grade levels will you be teaching? AWR
I've been to a school that sounds similar to this. They focused on the "Three R's" Reading, Writing and Math. I was a science/social studies teacher at this school. Little to say, I was not a big fan. My kids had no idea what country they lived in, or even that the earth rotated around the sun (and not vice-versa.) It was tough to teach the concept of what a country is, when students have never learned this before sixth grade. I had no background knowledge to build on. The schools did have relatively high reading and math state test scores. I am a bit biased, being a science/social-studies teacher! It wasn't all bad, just not my cup of tea.
Sounds similar to my school (only our test scores are less than stellar). We use Saxon Math which I do enjoy sometimes due to it's repetitive nature. I also wish though that the lessons built on each other a little more consistently (one day we should learn telling time to the hour, then sometime within the next week we need to tell it to the quarter hour instead of 2 months later). We use a basal program. Guided reading is not the preferred method of instruction. Whole-class instruction is generally pushed along with 30 minutes of intervention a day (centers, small groups, etc.) Differentiation is something that is considered "new and unproven." I don't particularly think that it's best for students but it caters to the static and slow-to-change faculty. I'm still the "newbie" so when I try to implement something new even just in my classroom, it's discouraged. Not the happiest place to work but I assure you, there are ways to work around it. It is a job and it is experience, beyond that, I don't know what to tell you.
It's a brand new school, so if hired I would have my pick of grade levels. Generally, I prefer 2-4. I would be willing to teach kinder, for example, if it allowed for slightly more creativity. What do you suggest?
