Published in The Toronto Star
ETHAN ROTBERG SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Finding the private school that’s the best fit for you and your child is no easy task. With so many options to choose, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed — particularly if step one is determining the best learning environment.
“We define learning in three ways; academically, socially and emotionally,” says Karen Wolff, educational consultant at Wolff Educational Services.
“And we strongly believe that 21st-century classrooms and learning environments are centred and built around those three silos equally.”
That means it can take a bit of research to find an environment that will allow your child to thrive.
Here are a few tips for creating a private school short list:
Understanding your child
“We firmly believe in seeing your child not only as your child but as a learner,” Wolff said.
“And it’s a really hard thing for a parent to sort of navigate this because you don’t see them in the classroom for eight hours a day.”
She recommends getting your kids on board, so they can contribute to the process.
“You really need to see your child as an academic learner and understand their strengths and areas of needs as a social being — then you can really hone in on the type of environment that they would thrive in,” she said
Make a list
Once you have a picture of who your child is as a learner, you can determine which environments will cater to their strengths.
If one of their areas of strengths is math, then you could look at a school that has enriched math, Wolff added. You might also consider schools with small class sizes, specific religious values, single sex or co-ed, extracurricular options or even educational tools.
Visiting the schools is crucial, Wolff said.
“Once parents lay eyes on an environment that they maybe hadn’t seen online or heard their friends talk about and can picture their child there, it’s a game changer,” she said.
“It also gives you a chance to ask questions about your child,” she added.
“Every child is different. Every family has different questions. And so, when you’re visiting and having a tour, you have a chance to do that.”