Updated 08/20/24
One of the most critical concerns of a parent is being sure their children get a good education. Most parents recognize their child’s preschool years provide a vital foundation for the rest of their education. As a preschool child near kindergarten, those parents will actively search for the right school for their child.
Although parents considering a private elementary school will prioritize excellent academic activities, many parents believe impressive extracurriculars are also essential. According to Ivywise, forward-thinking parents realize extracurricular activities help their children develop in multiple ways and are influential when a student is being considered for college admission. Parents choosing a school should be selective about the quality of academic activity offered, but finding a school offering unique extracurricular activities can be equally valuable for your child.
Working parents often take advantage of the extracurriculars or after-care programs at their schools, so their children can be supervised until the work day is over. By doing so, many parents have discovered their child is gifted at sports, music, or drama. Even after-care programs can benefit working parents, as these programs often help with homework. With all types of extracurricular activities, children can develop valuable social skills. It’s important to look for the right private school today!
You smiled as you looked over the attendance lists for the classes that you would sub today. Two of the names on the list were actually students from the Montessori preschool where you subbed years ago. The difference between children when they are in day care and teenagers when they are in high school should be pretty significant. The fact of the matter is, however, when this particular young man walked in the room you immediately recognized him. Same ears. Same smile. Same behaviors.
From computer labs to digital textbooks, technology plays an important role in many classrooms across the country. More than technology, however, parents who are looking at day care and preschool options for their youngest of students need to find a setting that nurtures a love for learning and guides students in the behaviors that they need to be successful in any classroom.
The Best Preschools and Day Cares Provide a Firm Foundation for Future Learning
Nearly one in four schools in the U.S. are private, but parents who are beginning the process of selecting an educational setting for their child need to understand that the search is not as black and white as the difference between private and public. In fact, if you want to know the most about a school it is important to visit and understand the learning environment at each particular space. Knowing the educational background of the teachers, for instance, can help you understand the academic rigor of a school. Knowing the class size, on the other hand, not only gives you a picture of the academic rigor, but it also indicates the amount of personal attention that your student will have.
Teachers. Qualified teachers run the best classrooms. Although there may be a misconception that anyone can teach, if you have spent time in a classroom lately then you know that this is not the case. Educators who are well versed in class room management can control a class, but if they are not knowledgeable about how to teach reading, your student will suffer. On the flip side, someone who knows all of the latest strategies for teaching reading, but does not know how to control a class, your student may still struggle to make progress.
The best teachers are those who have a strong combination of academic knowledge and classroom management.
Academic Rigor. The best teachers get the best results when they are in a building that promotes academic rigor. Even at the youngest levels, students can be exposed to foreign languages and other skills to help them be successful in the future. All of the technology in the world, for instance, does not serve the best purpose if it not used to help students navigate the process of learning the most important skills and facts. Middle and high school curriculum that allows students to access the highest level courses is an asset to any students. If, on the other hand, the course offerings are not rigorous enough, students will not reach their potential.
Collaboration. Educators who work together can help students get the most out of every educational experience. Knowing, for instance, that the American History teachers will be covering the 1920s when you are teaching The Great Gatsby provides the best setting for students getting the most out of this topic. Even in younger grades, collaboration allows students to se connections between subjects. When studying small engines, for example, it is important know that teachers throughout a school will address this topic as well. The art teacher can have students practice sketching gears and wheels and writing teachers can have students writing about popular inventions.
By attention to the teachers, the academic rigor, and collaboration in the building a parent can adequately assess how effective a school will be. The fact that nearly 95% of non-parochial private high school graduates go on to four-year postsecondary institutions is impressive when that percentage is compared to the 49% of public school graduates who do the same. Not every private school, however, is the same, so it is important to make sure you visit for yourself. From the beginning of day care to the end of high school, the educational choices you make will impact your student’s future.
