Type of schools you should know about and must visit before deciding which one is best for your child. Placing your child in the best school will bring peace of mind to you as a parent. As your son or daughter grows there will come a time when you must decide on which schooling method is best for them based on not only your budget but beliefs. Did you know that not all schools are the same? How will you know which one is right for your children? I gather the information that you should know before you make your final decision.
- Top 5 types of schools educations you should consider!
- From those schools mentioned below which philosophy is best according to your needs?
- What is the difference between a private school and a public school?
Waldorf type of school Education
Waldorf education is typically public (free) to attend and there are no monthly payments to attend. Waldorf is a type of charter school where you will need to fill an application and sometimes be placed on a waiting list to be accepted and enrolled. There is usually a list of families interested in enrolling their children at such schools. A Waldorf school uses a unique system where children can explore, wonder and imagine. Students will raise chickens, sheep, and animals. Go hiking plant gardens and even pick apples. As part of the curriculum while still learning the primary subjects such as reading, math, science, and social studies. Teachers are joyful and usually encourage art, music, movement, and critical thinking with hands-on experience. Students are encouraged to make decisions as a group on whether they go outside or stay to do a different activity a good amount of time.
- Technology is first and they study how it works before it is used.
- Students create their own textbooks, by demonstrating their own progress the year. The curriculum is based on the need of the class and student.
- There is absolutely no memorization methods or test preparation like regular public schools.
- Recorders are introduced in first grade. They stay with the same teacher and students several years this way there is a comprehensive understanding of student’s strengths and challenges.
- Fourth graders learn a stringed instrument.
- Fifth graders participate in chorus.
- The students develop a love for nature, wonder, and respect for the world.
It’s almost like a dream because all the children love to explore and what a better way to teach them and treat each of them according to their needs. Students will come out with a joy for learning while having a good amount of physical activity. Students learn through play.
What is the downside of the Waldorf school you may ask? If your child frequently gets colds and coughs, then going out daily when the weather is quite cold might not be a good benefit. However, teaching your child to get well dressed for the weather and this can be solved. It also teaches the child to be responsible for their actions.
Montessori type of school Education
Montessori education is typically a private school where you will be required to pay monthly tuition. Montessori education is based on self-directed activities. There are also hands-on experience activities and play in collaboration just like Waldorf education. Montessori classrooms are secular but can be integrated easily with your faith-based teaching at home. Students learn at their own pace and through their own experience.
- Unlike most schools, they offer infant and toddler education from birth to three years. They provide a nurturing environment to promote trust, confidence and are offered opportunities to gain independence in daily tasks.
- Primary education from three to six years. Where they focus on task persistence and regulation, respect, communication and safe natural consequences to actions.
- Elementary education from six to twelve years. They focus on self-confidence, imagination, independence, and efficacy. Also, their role in the community, culture and natural world.
- Adolescence from twelve to fifteen years. Focus is in farm or non-farm urban setting, administration, economic, self-expression, and interpersonal relationships
Reggio Emilia Type of School Education
Reggio philosophy in education is that the child has rights rather than special needs no one is better than anyone. Parents play a very important role and their participation in their children’s learning is expected and supported. Learning how to share and negotiate is supported.
- Teachers are not seen as babysitters but as learners with the students. There is not a pre-set curriculum like other schools. Learning is not linear but a spiral progression. Using comparison, discussion, interpretation, observation lead to making choices on what to learn.
- Teaching is student-centered and not teacher centered.
- All students are competent, full of potential and are constantly learning through interactions with others. Teachers are aware of the student’s abilities and are encouraged to correct their own errors if needed. It is a very important skill to be a creative problem solving that will help far through life.
- Pictures are taking of the students while working and learning and shared with parents to show that their efforts are valued.
- The environment of the school is like a children’s museum. Art and projects are placed in specific places to show a specific meaningful message. Recycling is encouraged and leads to the many uses of an item that will no longer be used.
- Time in activities just builds on one another until the student is satisfied with the results. Therefore, there is not a set timer used to move from one activity to another, as students have their own sense of time and rhythm. The teacher is a facilitator and partner in learning.
- Did you know that we as human have different languages? Yes, and those are not only verbal but visual and these are connected as one and not separate from each other. Language is expressed in hundreds of ways. Language is seen in the tools the students use, curiosity, writing, drawing, painting, sculpture, shadow play, collage, music, media, and all valued by teachers.
At Bank Street Education they believe in the child-centered instruction through the lower school from age 3 to 6. Thereafter instruction becomes more structured in Middle school from first grade through fourth grade. Learning experiences focus on teaching students to gather information from books, pictures, documents and computer searches along with teacher direct instruction. Education then changes from fifth grade through eighth grades in a program that focuses on strengths and challenges that students face from childhood to adolescence. Students are challenged academically and learn in a fast-developing group. Their schedules are quite busy with art, shop, music, chorus, drama, computer literacy, library, French or Spanish, sports and co-curriculum opportunities that prepare students for high school.
Lower School is from age 3 to 6.
- Nursery (ages 3-4) where they help with the separation transition from home to a new place where there are new people. The curriculum focus is the students emotional learning. One step at a time to learn by doing, and feelings to self-discovery.
- Pre-Kindergarten (ages 4-5) students get prepared for kindergarten by practicing kindness. At this age, children love to move so movement and music classes are part of the weekly schedule.
- Kindergarten (ages 5-6) students work in a creative environment through exploration and discovery. Students are encouraged to ask questions to create connections and form interest.
Religious type of school Education
Religious schools believe in educating children as an instrument of God. This education mission is to transform and influence people around the world. They want students to know that God is the center of knowledge and to walk in life with hope. The best religious schools are the ones that use the bible to teach religion and not a textbook or both. However, the use of the Bible is critical during these early years of the children in my personal opinion.
Just like all other schools, education goes according to the child age there is no difference but the additional religious education approach. Be prepared to pay all kind of fees for EVERY SINGLE SEMESTER like the registration fee, annual fee, books fee, donation mandated fee, walkathon required shirt fee otherwise the student won’t be able to attend, all kind of charities boxes or bottles are sent home to be filled with money and all kind of fees that the school decide is needed.
Children often want to participate in a walkathon, so they do not feel left out of the class group, field days are not part of the monthly tuition these need to be paid as well otherwise the child cannot go with the other students on the trip or the walkathon. These are things that no one informs you about unless you find out for yourself, so I am warning you before you feel disappointed.
Unlike College Education you only pay registration fee once and the tuition and the next semester you continue attending all you pay is for the tuition which includes access to the following: fitness center, pool, tutoring services, career development center (they help you prepare to obtain a job), financial aid workshops, and any other workshops done in the college.