Types of Schools
Play-based
- children are free to choose the activities they’re interested in
- promotes a love of school and learning
- good for many types of kids, but some may need more structure
Academic
- focus is on preparing children for kindergarten
- most of the time spent learning letters, sounds, numbers, colors, and shapes
- good for a child that needs lots of direction and structure
Play-based Versus Academic
“Teaching academics earlier is not helping children develop cognitive skills any sooner.” National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- play is the language of childhood
- research shows the social skills kids learn early in life (through play) are the greatest indicator of later school success
Co-operative
- focus on cooperation and resolving conflicts
- parent commit to helping school either in the classroom or through committee service, evening/weekend projects, etc.
- very nurturing, some kids may have trouble with their parent showing other kids attention
Classical
- based on the trivium (grammar, logic, rhetoric)
- young children learn by repetition, rhyming, singing, memorization
- middle school student’s interested in the “why’s’ – logic stage
Religious
- focus on conveying religious teachings and traditions
- Christian Academy’s usually have a Biblical World View, with religion integrated into every subject
- Catholic school curriculum set by diocese
- Jewish schools have ½ the day in English, ½ the day in Hebrew
Language Immersion
- can be dual or one-way
- no clear research as to whether or not learning a second language delays English mastery
Montessori
- focus on student learning to become self-reliant, independent, and productive
- children grouped in multi-age classrooms
- good if acceleration is needed
- may not be a good option for very active kids, those with attention or sensory issues, or those who have trouble working independently
International Baccalaureate
- provides a larger, broader world view
- all subjects of equal importance
- Primary program has six themes that are woven through all subjects
Questions to Guide You
1. What type of school will fit your family? Traditional or loosely structured?
2. What is your child like? Does she do better in large or small groups? Does she do better with or without structure?
3. How does your child learn? Visual, auditory, kinesthetic?
4. If entering Kindergarten, is your child ready for a full day, ready to be away from you?
5. How do you feel in the school? Can you envision your child in the classroom? What is your intuition telling you?
Tips
1. Tour many schools
2. Buy a notebook and spend 10 minutes in your car after you leave a school tour making notes
3. Don’t stress if it’s not a good match. Your child is young, and it’s hard to know what school will be the best fit when they are older.
Lastly…
If you need:
- help coming up with a list of schools that will be a good fit for your child
- assistance with application short-answer questions
- answers about the admissions process, OR
- help at any point along the way….
Don’t hesitate to email me!
Also…
I author a blog about the private school admission process that includes admissions topics and information about learning issues, including gifted education. To sign up, click here and enter your name/email address.
Thanks and good luck in your school search!
Eleanor