EDUCATION MATTERS—SANFORD SCHOOL'S PRIVATE SCHOOL BLOG

Kids–and adults!–often turn to technology for both fun and learning. Whether kids are doing online research for a project, posting comments on social media, texting a friend, or watching a movie, it can sometimes be surprising just how much time they spend using screens. In fact, a report by Common Sense Media states that tweens (children aged 8-12 years old) consume about six hours of media time each day, and for teenagers (children aged 13-18) the daily average jumps up to nearly nine hours.

According to an article from the American Psychological Association (APA), nearly one-third of children have been diagnosed with anxiety and it is the most common mental health disorder in kids. Below are four facts that you should know as you explore the causes and effects of childhood anxiety.

The National Council for History Education describes twelve practices that make up what they term History’s Habits of Mind, which are the skills that students develop when they are deeply engaged in rigorous history learning. While all of the skills are valuable, there is one that seems especially relevant during Black History Month: Utilizing multiple perspectives for comprehensive explanations. Incorporate this skill in the classroom by:

When you decide to move to a new area, one of the first things to do is to explore schools for your children. Below are a few tips for how to tackle each stage of the school research and selection process so that your move to a new city will be complemented by a smooth transition to a new school!

What does it actually mean to be a lifer at a school?

A lifer is a student who has chosen one school to attend from first grade through their senior year of high school, although some begin in preschool. At Sanford many students choose to pick the "Warrior Way of Life", many spending fourteen plus years laughing and learning with teachers and friends. Here's what being a lifer means to us:

Lab sheets, calculations, essays, debates; so much of what students accomplish during their school day exists on the mental plane. All of these exercises, and their affiliate subjects, are crucial in molding a child’s critical thinking and quantitative reasoning skills. These are undeniably valuable when considering the scope of one’s academic career, but how often are students able to appreciate all that they are accomplishing? For developing students, the constant mental focus used to excel can be draining. Pair that with the fact that more and more students are trading in their free time for screen time, and suddenly you have an environment where mental fatigue and burnout thrive.

What better gift than to give a child the gift of meeting new people and experiencing new places? Even better, there is no assembly required! Books are an investment in a child’s future and can be enjoyed over and over again.

Lifelines, resources, motivators, and inspirations, teachers act as the students’guides through the exciting, sometimes frustrating, but always challenging world of education. They are there to prepare the students for the adult world, help them grow into kind, curious, and diligent citizens, and inspire a love of learning. But a teacher’s role is relatively passive. They can only give so much without input on the parts of the students. Students have to take advantage of these giving members of a school community in order to fully profit from the efforts of a teacher. As such, it is essential that students maintain strong relationships with their teachers to wholly exploit their potential.

How do students maintain strong relationships with their teachers?

Working Parents Can Be Involved in Your Child’s School

It is the norm in today’s families that both parents are working while their children attend school. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, both parents work outside the home in 63% of married couples with families. Yet, most working parents in a recent survey shared they also want to be involved in their child’s school. Not only are parents aware of the statistics that demonstrate student success rates increase when parents volunteer at their child's school, but they also desire to create satisfying relationships with other parents.

If you have found a private school that was the right fit for your child but didn’t think it was the right fit for your wallet, think again. A private school education can be far more affordable than you might think. Here are some tips to make a private school tuition work within your budget: