EDUCATION MATTERS—SANFORD SCHOOL'S PRIVATE SCHOOL BLOG

When looking for educational options for your child, it is important to select schools that not only provide a quality education but also welcome parent volunteerism. Look for options that meet your own schedule, whether you are working outside the home or are available during the school day. Schools should share their expectations of parents, as well as opportunities for them to become involved.

Now that I’m in graduate school, I find myself constantly using skills and abilities that I can trace back to my time as a private school student. A few are relevant to my discipline, U.S. history, but just as many apply to all areas of my life.

I, like many students, thrived in the small classes that are fundamental to the private school model. Several brilliant and engaged teachers inspired my curiosity about history and backed that up with rigorous instruction in research and writing. Provided with classroom resources and the flexibility to design imaginative lesson plans, these teachers were able to give me an early introduction to complex historical ideas that most students first encounter at the college level. I wrote book reviews and completed projects that demanded extensive work with primary sources—versions of the same work I now do in my PhD program. My high school teachers set high standards, believed in our ability to meet them, and helped us figure out how to do it. I’m still using that knowledge and those tools today.

I spend a lot of time thinking about school, not just my school, but all schools. Education in our country gets a lot of attention—from parents, from media, and from politicians. This makes sense, because of course we all want what’s best for children—and their performance in school will have a direct impact on our nation’s future success. Unfortunately, and sadly, after decades of study, laws, and billions of dollars, the American K-12 education isn’t very good for most of our nation's children, and it’s far from being great.

There is one exception, in my opinion, and that is our private schools:

Worrying from time to time is natural, even for children. As the caring adults in their lives, how do we approach these worries in a way that helps kids develop positive coping skills? Here are the top five tips I share with teachers and parents:

1.) Listen

Sure, this one may be obvious. When children open up to us, we know that they need to feel heard and understood. But once we get the gist of it, it is so easy to jump in and try to solve the problem or offer our opinion. The next time you’re ready to jump in, remember that it is likely too soon for your child.

2.) Bring the child back to reality

Kids can easily lose perspective and make little deals into big deals. Let’s say a child worries that everyone at school thinks he is stupid because he gave a wrong answer in class. Reframe the situation by pointing out an alternative (and more positive) viewpoint.

What do your teachers say about participating—do they say that you should try, even if you might be wrong? Have you heard other kids give wrong answers in class? And you don’t think they are stupid, right? You put yourself out there and took a risk today. I’m really proud of you for trying.

3.) Help the child look for solutions

At times, kids are worried about a situation where some type of action is necessary. Before you make suggestions about what to do, ask some questions to put the ball in the child’s court. 

• I wonder what might help?
• What are you going to do about that?
• What’s one thing you could try? 

Questions like these are empowering for kids—they show that you have confidence in their ability to solve problems on their own.

From the big screen, to NFL fields, to high school gymnasiums across the country, the buzz about concussions is getting louder. Just as our awareness is increasing, our tools for evaluation are improving. So is our understanding of why it’s important to give students the time they need to fully recover. Their futures depend on it!

Concussion rates represent a high proportion of all injuries sustained by athletes. In the United States, an estimated 3.8 million concussions occur each year as a result of sport and physical activity.

Schools, parents, and physicians want to work together to keep students safe while they play hard and have fun. That’s why there is greater emphasis on information and prevention, knowing each student’s baseline, and responding swiftly and cautiously when concussions occur. Here are some best practices to consider.

We’ve all heard that young children learn languages much more easily than adults. But why is that? And how does it help them? It turns out that the benefits go far beyond simply language acquisition. Learning another language broadens students’ worldview and confers cognitive benefits that last a lifetime, all of which equip them to thrive in the global village they will soon inherit.

Monolingualism Can Be Cured!

Younger learners are often referred to as “sponges,” quickly absorbing phrases and tone of language. Surprising to adults, children are often able to repeat and mimic patterns in another language, helping them to develop near native-like pronunciation and intonation. This is because the young brain’s synapses are still very much connected--something that begins to change as adolescence sets in. That’s why the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages advocates that languages begin in PreK, though it’s never too late to learn.

While talking comes naturally to some children, others need to feel reassured before attempting to speak in a new tongue. One goal of teaching younger children is to include all students so that they all feel comfortable taking linguistic steps. We find that music is a great tool for this. The repetition builds familiarity and predictability and--together with games, gestures, and movement--strengthens the musical part of memory. It is amazing to see how, years later, a few notes can bring back an entire song with precision!

Passport to the World

Children have a natural curiosity about learning, which is evident when they engage in learning a new language. Young learners are also generally open and accepting of people who speak other languages and come from other cultures. Since the study of languages and cultures in the early years is both social and interactive, children get a sense of how they fit into the larger world. What does this mean? For them, global citizenship starts early!

As a head of school for fifteen years, I have worked with many classroom teachers, from the experienced veteran to the new and eager rookie. Part of my role as a school leader is to hire classroom teachers and welcome them to the faculty – much like a coach would bring new players in to the fold of a team. Like a good team, a strong faculty is made up of a collection of individuals who have different skills, styles, and experience. However, in my view, all great teachers share three qualities – and these are the things I suggest parents look for when they visit schools. 

1. They Connect with Students.

A master teacher knows his/her students – who they are as people. These are the teachers who talk to kids before or after class, not about class necessarily – but about life. Teachers who connect with their students go to their games and concerts. In their classrooms there is an air of mutual respect that is both intentional and subtle. Students rise to the occasion and meet or beat expectations because of their high regard for their teachers.

Research shows that students perform better in school when they are physically and emotionally healthy. 

That’s why the national organization SHAPE America (Society for Health and Physical Educators) believes in educating the whole child. Their main focus is on children’s physical development and athletic skills, integrating these things into a well-rounded school day that offers kids opportunities to be active.

Physical education classes and participation on sports teams both provide knowledge and experience in different activities and address the social aspects of children's development. Recess, too, offers important opportunities for kids to be active, solve problems, and build skills, friendships, independence, and confidence. Physical activity also contributes to a greater sense of well-being, which has far-reaching benefits of its own.

It is essential to keep kids moving inside the classroom, as well. Studies have shown that information is solidified in the brain when the body moves. Why? Because exercise fuels the brain with oxygen, which helps make connections with the learned material. So next time your child needs to study for a test, maybe suggest that they get up and work out some dance moves while reviewing the material.

As we all know, school readiness is an important topic. As that fifth birthday approaches, almost every parent wonders if their child is ready for kindergarten or if they would benefit long-term from another year of preschool. If only crystal balls were real! We can look at a child’s date of birth or their gender, but that is not enough.

It’s tempting to focus on how a child is progressing with academic basics: 

• recognizing letters and numbers
• understanding that letters are associated with sounds
• understanding that numbers represent quantities
• knowing and manipulating shapes
• identifying colors 

A child who excels in these areas still may not be ready for all the challenges of a kindergarten classroom. Similarly, the child who mixes up some letters may show plenty of signs of being ready to succeed in kindergarten.

How is a parent to know what to do? 

It was with great pride and interest that I read the first two parts of this blog series on educational buzzwords. As an educator and school leader, I want to know what is current–both in my school and the greater educational landscape. Blended learning, differentiated instruction, Makerspace, STEAM/STEM… these are just a few of the things happening in our classrooms; however, it is not the trend that is being used but how it is being used that is so important.

What all great schools have in common are great teachers with the mindset that, in this profession, it is critical to learn, grow and change. It is this special group that stays up to date on what new trends are emerging and determines the best ways to fit them (or not) into the curriculum. Great teachers always have–and always will–connect deeply with students to make learning engaging, personal, challenging and meaningful. They use a wide variety of resources, tools, strategies and settings in instruction; and through all of these efforts, great teachers change lives. The definitions of  the “buzzwords” are interesting, and we might still talk about some of them in 20 years; however,  I am 100% certain that great teaching, which includes incorporating the trends that work and steering clear of those that don’t, will remain true and valid in 20 years and beyond.