Choosing a Private School

Your baby is not even a year old, but already you're thinking about preschool. Should you send her to preschool or wait until kindergarten? Will she be OK in your local public school, or would the private preschool your friends and family keep mentioning be a better option? I've been there. Done that. Both of my daughters attended private preschools, mainly because back in the 70s, there was no public preschool option, at least that I can remember. Furthermore, I was blessed with a supportive mother-in-law who paid for her granddaughters' preschool. So, with that in mind, here are my suggestions to help you choose preschools that suit your needs and requirements best.

Which Early Education Approach?

Choosing the right early childhood education approach for your child is a significant decision that can shape her developmental journey. With various fine educational philosophies available, parents often face a confusing array of options. This article aims to demystify three popular early childhood education approaches: Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia. By understanding the core principles, benefits, and potential challenges of each, you can make an informed decision tailored to your child's unique needs.

The Montessori Method: Fostering Independence and Self-Discipline

The Montessori method, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) in the early 20th century, emphasizes independence, self-discipline, and hands-on learning. In a Montessori classroom, children are encouraged to explore and learn at their own pace, guided by specially designed materials that promote sensory-based learning.

Key Principles and Practices

Child-Centered Learning

What's involved in choosing a private school for your child? Which school is the best one? Can I get financial aid? How do I apply? I've got some answers for you. And they're based on my experience as a parent. My daughters attended private elementary schools, and those were great experiences. So, when it came to choosing a private high school, I thought I knew everything. Was I ever wrong! That's why I wrote this article. I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did. So, here is my 10-step guide to choosing a private school. When you want to drill down for more detailed answers, click the links I have included with each step.

1. Identify Your Child's Needs and Family Requirements

When choosing a private school, the first focus must be understanding your child’s unique needs and your family’s requirements. Begin by assessing your child’s academic strengths and weaknesses to pinpoint what educational environment best supports their learning style. Consider your family’s values and educational philosophy, as these will guide you in selecting a school that aligns with your principles.

Next, determine whether you are looking for a day or boarding school, which can significantly affect your child’s development and family dynamics. Additionally, evaluate the need for special programs, such as those for gifted students or students with learning differences, to ensure the school can provide the necessary support.

Finally, define your budget and explore

As a Young Person

I remember being intimidated by the private schools in my hometown of Montreal. I only became aware that there was such a thing as a private school in fifth or sixth grade when a couple of my classmates took the entrance examinations at Lower Canada College and Selwyn House School. I don't recall much discussion at home about the schools except that the academic work was hard and that my parents couldn't afford to send me to a private school. Then, in high school, we got a couple of new classmates who had previously attended a boarding school in the Eastern Townships. These lads struck me as snobbish, arrogant, rich, undisciplined, and not serious about learning. So, I understood why they had been asked not to return after a year at their school. That was the first time I knew private schools strive to be genuine learning institutions.

As a Parent

I had a different impression of private schools when we began thinking about preschools and elementary schools for our daughters. My late wife had attended private schools in Manhattan, so sending our kids to private schools made sense. Both girls attended preschools operated by the churches we attended. My eldest daughter then attended the local Waldorf school for the elementary grades. Again, we had positive experiences at all three of these schools. A few years later, we moved to Litchfield County, Connecticut. It's beautiful country, but not many people live there.

Have you ever wondered how a private school got its start? When and why was it founded? Who founded it? As I researched this article, which is a companion article to several I have written for Boarding School Review about boarding schools, I found a common thread. The founders of all these schools sought to provide a balanced, comprehensive, excellent education for their students.

Allen-Stevenson School, New York, New York

- Founded in 1883
- 200 students
- Grades K-8
- Boys
- Non-denominational
- Urban setting

The Allen-Stevenson School in New York City was founded in 1883 by Francis Bellows Allen at a home on Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. It started with only three boys enrolled in its first class. In 1885, the school moved to rented rooms at Madison Avenue and 44th Street with an enrollment of 20 boys. In 1904, Allen met Robert Alston Stevenson, a tutor, and they joined forces, moving the school to 50 East 57th Street with 100 students.[5] By 1918, enrollment exceeded 200 students. In 1924, the school purchased two brownstones and moved to its present location at 132 East 78th Street on the Upper East Side. Allen retired in 1939 at age 80 after 56 years of service, while Stevenson retired in 1947 after 43 years, with his son Robert "Huck" Alston Stevenson Jr. succeeding him as Headmaster. Over the years, the school has expanded its facilities, introduced new academic and extracurricular programs, and celebrated significant milestones like its

Exams can be nerve-wracking at any age. So, show your child where exams fit in and, more importantly, how to prepare for them. Beginning at an early age, your child will encounter various methods teachers use to assess whether she has learned and understood the material being taught.

The Purpose of Exams

Exams are a formal, structured method of assessment. Unfortunately, what makes exams stressful in high school, college, and in our professional lives is that so much is riding on them. For example, you must pass the LSAT to get into law school. Then, you must pass a state bar exam to practice law. The pressure to succeed is enormous. That's why I recommend you tell your child how you handled preparing for and taking the exam. The more your child understands how exams work and how to handle them, the more successful she is likely to be.

Exams and tests are a great way to assess what the students have learned with regards to particular subjects. Exams will show what part of the lesson each student seems to have taken the most interest in and has remembered. Source: Edu-Quip

Understand Your Learning Style

As soon as you can, identify your child's learning style. Observe her preferences and tendencies in how she processes and retains information. Contrast that with how you learn and what has worked for you. Sharing how you learned will help her understand how she knows. Understanding how