Why Should I Give Private School a Chance? Why People Often Avoid Private Schools

“Is private school or public school right for my child?”

This is a huge question for any parent and one that deserves some thought. Many parents end up avoiding private schools without giving them a chance. Sending your child to public school is definitely the easier route. But sometimes the easiest is not always best. Here, we seek to provide perspective on five reasons parents avoid private schools.

Reason #1: Private school is expensive.

This is one of biggest concerns that parents bring to a discussion of private school. And it is true that cost is involved in sending your child to a private school. But remember that it is your child’s education you are dealing with. Where and how they learn will lay the foundation for the rest of their lives. Thus, higher quality education is vital for their long-term success. And this is the kind of education that can be found in private schools. If you invest in your child’s education, he or she will thank you later.

Reason #2: I want my student to make friends, not competitors.

Because private schools often require a high level of academia, they are sometimes seen as a little too ambitious. Parents want their children to be able to make friends at school instead of always having a competitive attitude toward their classmates. This is totally understandable! While we agree that some private school systems are better than others, the truth is that most private schools have great relating between classmates. Students are encouraged to be positive and encouraging toward their peers. Believe it or not, friction between classmates is actually minimized in the private school setting.

Reason #3: Private school seems too pretentious for me.

Somewhere, the myth started that private school is only for white-collar families. This is a twisting of the facts. Private Schools are extremely welcoming to any and all students who are willing to work hard. It is true that many private schools hold to high standards and values – like the equality of all people. Your student will be challenged to see and respond to the world in a new light. This is the kind of environment is where you want your student to learn.

Reason #4: I can just hire a private tutor if my student needs extra help. 

Public school students often struggle with the lack of individual attention and personal academic help. One solution is to hire a private tutor. However, it is often difficult for students to focus for an extra session outside of school. Plus, it is just one more place the parent has to drive their child to in a week. Private schools offer a unique opportunity because the class sizes are often much smaller. This allows for more individual help. Schools like The Tenney School even offer one-on-one student-teacher studies as a part of the daily school routine. This is invaluable.

Reason #5: Public schools are “good enough.” 

This is true on some level. If your student is motivated, they can learn well at a public school. But somewhere deep inside, “good enough” does not resonate well with any of us. You want to put your student in an environment where they can truly thrive. You want them to study in a place where their motivation will only increase. You want to give them the gift of an education where their own individuality is taken into account. The gift of a quality education is one that never stops giving.  When you know that your child is in the best school or him or her, rather than just in a school that is “good enough,” you can know that you made the right call.

Sending your child to a private school may end up being the right decision for you and your family. If you want a school that will encourage your child’s personality and maximize their potential, make sure to check out The Tenney School website. Or if you have any questions, feel free to contact us. We understand that this is an important decision and we are always ready to help!

Why Should I Give Private School a Chance? Why People Often Avoid Private Schools2019-02-05T06:03:11-06:00

Encouraging Students to Ask (Better) Questions in Class

As they grow, children are (consciously or subconsciously) taught to conform to rules and boundaries, and not to question for fear of displeasing others or being mocked. Without even realizing it, adults often curb their curiosity and critical thinking, in place teaching them conformity and acceptance of what they believe is right. Even in school, the wide-eyed, curious little toddlers who step into this environment gradually lose that wonderment, inquisitiveness, and courage to question what they do not understand.

In many traditional classrooms, students simply aren’t encouraged to ask questions in class. They may spend the entire class period listening to the teacher’s lecture without ever really engaging–or, if they’re confused, they may not even know where to begin with the questions they have to ask. Much of the question-asking process depends, not on the students themselves, but on their teachers–and knowing how, as a teacher, to facilitate great question-asking can help create a more effective classroom.

The First Tool: The Teacher’s Attitude

In every classroom, the teacher is the one who sets the stage for the entire classroom. A teacher who is excited to be there and eager to interact with her students will be much more likely to create a positive learning response in students than a teacher who is clearly bored and disinterested in both the topic at hand and the students in the classroom.

This is even truer when it comes to encouraging students to ask questions! A teacher who is patient, who accepts questions with genuine interest, and who focuses on being sure that students genuinely understand the material before moving on will encourage questions from students in the future. A teacher who is abrupt, huffy, and simply directs the student to the book for the answer, on the other hand, likely won’t receive many questions in the future.

Make it about them- not you!

Never be afraid of not knowing the answer to a question- a teacher is not supposed to be all-knowing, not even about his own subject! In fact, if they do ask questions which are out of the box and even new to you, that means you have succeeded in giving them the courage to ask.

Someone great once said: “Teaching – It’s 10% asking kids questions. It’s 90% inspiring kids to ask questions that you can’t even answer.”

Teaching is not just about transferring your knowledge to others. It actually gives you a chance to learn more than you teach! Never make it about you or your ego. Do not feel embarrassed at not knowing an answer.

Appreciate your students for asking big questions, and write down the ones you can’t answer to look them up later and then guide them. If your students are making you learn new things, that is a blessing and the true essence of learning- it’s always a two-way street. Invite other students to answer each other’s questions too. You will be surprised at the answers they come up with, answers you may never have thought of!

Determining Student Understanding: Cues Matter

Many teachers assume that if their students aren’t asking questions, they must understand the material. Unfortunately, all too many students have been conditioned not to ask questions by teachers who are indifferent at best about their questions (and who, at worst, only want to deliver instruction, with no regard to whether or not students are actually learning). In the classroom, there are several cues teachers can look for to determine whether or not students truly understand the material.

Are students engaged with the content? If you’re having a classroom discussion, are students participating? Often, students who don’t have a good grasp of the material will disengage from the discussion or appear disinterested. Some of these students will just be too shy and hesitant to ask for fear of social judgement.

How well are students asking questions or engaging in discussions together? Proctoring lesson discussions are essential for teachers who want to check student learning. By paying attention to what your students are discussing and how they’re discussing it, you’ll get a much better idea of how well they’ve absorbed the material.

What does the work look like? You shouldn’t have to give a quiz to check for student understanding. Instead, check over the work students have done on the lesson for the day. While they are working, you shouldn’t just sit on your chair and watch from a distance. Instead, use that opportunity to go up to them individually and engage with them. Do they appear to understand, or are they missing vital concepts?

Have you asked your students? Sometimes, all it takes is a little prompting to determine whether or not students have a good grasp of the material. If someone is too hesitant to ask, a little starter from you will help them to voice their thoughts. A quick check-in will allow students to self-evaluate and determine their grasp of the material.

Establishing a Q&A Culture

Without student questions, many teachers don’t really have any idea whether or not their lesson was absorbed. In order to create this vital shift in classroom structure, it may be necessary to establish a new direction for the classroom–one that will ultimately benefit both teacher and student.

Get comfortable with silence. If it’s silent in the classroom, even in the middle of a classroom discussion, don’t feel as though you need to be the one to fill it. Instead, get comfortable with silence, and wait for students to speak. By giving them time to formulate their thoughts, you put them in a better position to ask those vital questions.

Give them time to brainstorm and work independently too. Do not put them under pressure to speak all the time. First give them a chance to ponder and reflect silently so they can focus, and come up with creative, original ideas that are not influenced by other people’s opinions.

In short, do not make them speak or question just for the sake of it. All you have to do is create a spark and give them the encouragement they need- then see the magic!

Make them feel heard. Listen to student answers–really listen. They may ask questions of their own, or they may go off on a tangent. That’s okay! Listen to everything they have to say before you answer. Give them your full attention when they speak. Even your body language will say a lot about your interest, like how you face them and how kind and genuinely interested your facial expressions are.

Praise them. Appreciation is the best confidence booster you can give a child. Just saying “That’s a great question!” or “Wow, what an interesting question!” will mean the world to your students and will make them open up more often. Similarly, when they answer a question you asked, appreciate them for what they say even if the answer is not correct.

If they are younger students, then you can even give them stickers or candies. A high-five would be great too! Be more than a teacher to them- be a friend.

Never mock a question. Every teacher knows that there are some questions that really do come across as “stupid”–but they weren’t stupid to the student who asked them. Never mock or belittle a child for asking a question. Instead, provide clear, solid answers that will genuinely help students with their questions, even if they’re difficult.

If you snuff out a child’s question saying it is trivial or that they should have paid attention earlier or that it is a repeated question, essentially, you are snuffing out their courage to ever ask a question again. Explain as many times as they ask you. If a student is weak at grasping a concept, treat them as even more special and allow them to come to you separately after class as well.

Give students time and space. Do not expect all students to learn at the same pace. Be prepared to give some of them more time and effort. Some students need more time to work with new material than others. Give them a chance to try out an assignment so that they can learn what they do and don’t know about the material before coming to you.

Create an environment of respect. If you’re working with several students at the same time, make sure they are respectful of each other and offer one another their attention when they’re asking questions.

It is not just your respect that matters, but also the respect a student needs from his classmates. It can sometimes happen that a student’s question (or answer) is met by laughter or ridicule from other students. This kind of negative peer pressure can be extremely discouraging and scarring. You have the biggest role here, because you can turn this around. Appreciate the student who spoke, and always let the others know when their behavior was inappropriate or disrespectful to others.

Make it a rule that no one can laugh or make fun when their classmate is speaking. Inculcate empathy within them. Make them think about how they would feel if they were in the same situation.

Activities to Encourage Question-Asking

Since some students feel hesitant to put their hands up during a class and participate, there are other indirect and more exciting ways to get them to speak up.

Create a “Wonder Wall”

This is a really creative way that some teachers use to help students participate. They put up a soft board in the classroom or dedicate a wall and call it the “Wonder Wall”. Then they ask students to use sticky notes to put up questions throughout the year. The question does not even have to be course related- simply anything that a student might be curious about, from the littlest to the biggest things.

Anonymous questions

This is one of the best ways to bring out confidence in otherwise hesitant or shy children. Make a way for them to ask anonymously. Sticky notes are the perfect way to do this. Students should be given the option to put up questions on the “Wonder Wall” anonymously.

Another practice can be a question “box” or “bank”. This can be a great thing to do around once or twice a week (the rest of the times you can encourage verbal question answer sessions). After class, give each student a sticky note and ask them to jot down whatever questions came to their mind during the lesson, anonymously. Then go around and collect all of these in a box. Shake the box to jumble them up and then pick out random ones to answer one by one. Also encourage the whole class to give their opinions.

What’s the question to this answer?

Another way to get students to formulate and ask questions is an activity called “What’s the question to this answer?” You just put up a word, phrase, or statement and ask students to come up with different questions that it could be a potential answer for! It might seem unconventional or illogical but even this depicts how much students know and gets their creative juices flowing. It enables them to frame better questions too.

One-on-one discussions

These are very effective because it is a lot easier to talk to one person, in this case the student sitting next to you, than speaking up in front of the entire class. So give students time to ask their partner some questions and have a one-on-one discussion with them before having a whole class discussion.

Put up question starters

This is a great thing to add to the boards around the classroom. Starters such as “What if…” or “I wonder why…” along with examples of meaningful questions would help them learn how to question better. You can also put up issues related to which they can raise profound questions, such as “Multiple Perspectives”, “Ethical questions”, “Empathic questions” and so on.

Creating an atmosphere where questions are encouraged takes time. At The Tenney School, we offer students and teachers the benefits of a question-rich environment that makes it easier for teachers to check for student understanding. Want to learn more? Contact us today.

References

https://www.teachstarter.com/us/blog/10-simple-ways-encourage-students-ask-questions-2-2/ 

https://www.fusionyearbooks.com/blog/encourage-students-ask-questions/

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/help-students-become-better-questioners-warren-berger

Encouraging Students to Ask (Better) Questions in Class2020-10-05T08:24:15-05:00

5 Signs That Your Child Would Do Better in a Small School

Not every child is cut out for the constant press and hustle of large public schools. While it’s true that some children thrive in a crowded environment and rise to the top surrounded by hundreds and thousands of peers, not every child is like this. Many children are quiet, reserved, or work better in small groups rather than large ones. It’s not uncommon for a few children in every grade-year to struggle simply because there are too many other kids around them and not enough time or attention from the teachers to help them.

If your child is someone who would benefit from learning in a smaller hands-on school, chances are that you have already seen the signs. As a parent, naturally, you want your child to have the best possible start and choosing a local school is a great way to do that for them. Especially in large cities where the school districts are packed but there are many alternate schools to choose from. If your child has demonstrated stress or learning trouble in high-population classrooms, perhaps they would perform significantly better in a small school.

Here are five clear signs that your child would benefit from smaller classes and more attentive teaching:

1) Crowds Stress Them Out

Many children have trouble with crowds when they are little and some never quite get the ‘knack’ for casually swimming through a few hundred classmates before class and at lunchtime. And for some children, it’s much more than clumsiness or shyness. Children who get stressed out when surrounded by a crowd may be taking that stress into the classroom where it negatively affects their work and happiness.

You know your child better than anyone. If they are the type of person who gets panicked or stressed out when surrounded in a crowd, they are likely to be much happier in a small school with reasonable lunch lines and much smaller classes.

2) They Prefer a Small Circle of Friends

Parents often worry, when considering moving their child to a smaller school, that the child will miss their large group of friends. Some children are natural socialites who will find a hundred new friends in two-thousand classmates. But many children are much happier with a very small and selective circle of ‘best friends’ who they stick with through thick and thin.

If your child is more of an introvert with birthday parties attended by five instead of fifty, they are also likely to be happier in a small school. You can be sure they will not miss their ‘hundred friends’ and are more likely to feel comfortable in smaller groups making new select friends.

3) “The Teacher Didn’t Get to Me / My Group”

Has your child ever come home with an incomplete project because the teacher didn’t get to them that day? In overpacked classrooms, many children who need more attention in learning miss out simply because the teacher didn’t have time to talk to them. Your child may have trouble speaking up over classmates or the simple act of waiting their turn left them waiting until the end of class and beyond.

If your child is having trouble completing their work or understanding the lessons due to over-stretched teachers, a small school is exactly what they need to get back on top of their grades and enjoy their projects again.

4) They Learn Better with 1 on 1 Instruction

The large public school policy is that the teacher lectures and everyone learns by following along. But not all children learn well this way. You know your child and should be aware if they learn better as part of a group, doing an activity, or with 1 on 1 instruction from a compassionate teacher. If your child is someone who learns brilliantly with personal help but slowly in a group, a small school can give them the best head-start on life possible.

5) Their Grades Slip in Larger Classes

Finally, you may notice as your child gets older that in larger classes, they tend to perform less well. Maybe they are distracted by socialization, don’t keep up well independently, or the teacher just doesn’t have time to help them with difficult concepts. But large classes can be a detriment to many children and the larger the class, the more your child’s grades may slip.

If you have noticed that classes with more children tend to cause your child’s performance to drop, then a small school is a great way to make sure this problem is never an issue again.

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Here at the Tenney School, we believe in small personalized classes with enough teacher-time for every student. If your child is not a natural at managing crowds or learning on their own, a small school could be the best change you make in their young life. For more information about the Tenney School in Houston or other benefits of a small school for learning children, contact us today!

5 Signs That Your Child Would Do Better in a Small School2018-11-08T09:39:29-06:00

Is a Private School Right for our Family?

As the summer is wrapping up, you may be thinking about the school year looming in the near future. The thought of the children heading back to school may fill you with excitement or trepidation depending on how satisfied you are with their school experience. The school years are some of the most important, yet challenging of a child’s life. How children and youth handle the complexities of school often determines how they will deal with the real world once they enter it.

Because a positive school experience is so important, you may wonder “is a private school right for my child?” “would they be better off in a private school?” If you’ve ever considered a private school for your child, then read on to find answers to some questions you probably have.

Is private school worth the added expense?

This is perhaps the main question that many parents ask themselves. Obviously, private schools do have a cost attached to them while public education is free. It’s also true that when you pay for a service, whether it’s education or any other service, you will generally get better service than if you get it for free. Since private schools do charge tuition, they have dedicated resources devoted to providing students with a top-notch education. In addition, the student-teacher ratio is extremely low compared to that of public school, which means your child will get more one on one attention.

So, when deciding if the private school is worth the cost, you must decide how overwhelmed your current public school is. Do they have a low student-teacher ratio? Can they tailor the curriculum to help your child if he or she has particular needs or gifts?

Will my child have friends if they go to a private school?

Parents are often concerned about their children having friendships during school, although sometimes the peer pressure in a public school can be overwhelming for some children. Private schools do have less of a student population so your children will not have as many other children in contact with them. However, the smaller student population allows students to create more personal and lasting relationships. The cliques that are so common in public schools are not as much of an issue for private school students. Another benefit of being with a smaller group of students is that the older ones tend to mentor the younger students. This is beneficial for both sides involved.

Will my child have a better education at a private school?

Educational content is one of the most important factors in a child’s schooling. Some children need a more customized approach such as those who are international students, those who are gifted, or those who have other unique learning needs. All students learn differently. Some may learn best by using their hands, while others need to hear the material. Still, others prefer to see visuals, texts, images, and so on. Larger public schools may combine the three modes of learning but don’t have the time or resources to work individually with students to ensure they are getting their preferred way of learning. While your child may still gain a good education at your public school it will not be as tailored to your child’s needs as it would be in a private school.

If you feel your child would benefit from a tailored curriculum and a one on one experience with the teacher, then you’ve answered the question. In addition, your child will have close friendships due to the intimate setting of a smaller school. At Tenney School, we are dedicated to providing our students with the ultimate educational experience. We know the decisions parents make about their children’s education are huge and we take our role seriously. Check us out online and connect with us for more information about our private school.

Is a Private School Right for our Family?2018-10-26T09:40:51-05:00

Private Schools – Could One Be Right For Your Child?

When it comes to private schools, there are more than a few questions that parents may ask themselves before enrolling their children. More and more parents are choosing to enroll their little ones in private schools for a variety of reasons. The following is a closer examination of the questions that must be answered and how they will affect your decision.

What If There Are Decent Public Schools To Be Found?

While you may reside in an area where there are quality public schools available, there is no substitute for the benefits that a private school has to offer. According to a comprehensive study, a student that has access to smaller classes will perform at a higher level of their academic achievement exams.

The longer a child remains in a smaller class, the more pronounced the advantages become. A private school with smaller class sizes is able to address a student’s weaknesses and in time, these weaknesses become strengths.

Is The Learning Environment Demonstrably Different?

Parents who are not familiar with private schooling may find themselves wondering if the learning environment that these schools provide is noticeably different from the environment that is offered at a public school. The answer is a resounding yes. The teachers that are hired at private schools will usually hold an advanced degree in their area of study.

School grounds are also monitored more closely because there are fewer children to look after. By lowering the ratio of students to teachers and administrators, school grounds remain under closer control.

Will Private Schools Help My Child Get Ready For College?

The average public school is not always able to offer a student the type of college counseling that they are going to need in order to achieve their objectives. They simply have too many students to address in a relatively short period of time. On the other hand, a private school’s counseling department can put in the time needed.

This keeps a student from potentially making a misinformed decision when it comes time to get ready for college. Since choosing a private school is all about making sure that a child is prepared for that moment, a parent is going to want to choose a school that will remain heavily involved in the process.

The Importance of Specialists

At a public school, students are not always going to receive the proper access to various specialists. Whether your child is showing aptitude in sports, theater, art or dance, there are private school instructors who are ready and willing to assist them in making their way to the next level. Even the best public schools do not possess this ability.

Top of the Line Technology

A private school is always going to provide their students with access to technology that other schools simply cannot match. Not only is the Internet service as reliable as possible but the students are also given access to late model electronics that they need in order to get the most out of their learning experience.

First Rate Facilities

The best private schools utilize their resources wisely and they are able to offer students the opportunity to receive their education at first-rate facilities. A fine school is not going to allow their students to work in buildings that are small and not fully modernized. Meanwhile, public schools are always going to struggle to replicate these types of benefits for their student body.

For more information about private schools and all of the benefits that they have to offer your child, be sure to contact The Tenney School as soon as possible. We will be more than happy to answer any and all questions that you may have on the topic.

 

Private Schools – Could One Be Right For Your Child?2018-06-28T09:26:34-05:00

4 Ways Small Private Schools Better Prepare Students for College

With summer upon us, many students will be making the transition from junior high to high school. Not only is this a milestone in a student’s educational career, but it also provides parents with another opportunity to consider the future of their child’s education and whether it may be time to transfer them to a private school.

The fact is that this is an important time to consider your child’s educational future. Their time in high school will shape their future and will influence not only the college they get accepted to, but their entire college experience and the extent to which they succeed in college. If you are considering sending your child to a small private high school, here are just a few of the ways in which doing so will better prepare them for college.

 

 

How do Small Private Schools Prepare Students for College?

Students Are Exposed To A More Rigorous Curriculum

One of the primary ways in which private school education better prepares students for college is that private school students are often exposed to a more rigorous curriculum in high school than their public school counterparts. While private school education may initially seem demanding to students, this helps to prepare them for the difficulties of college, and it teaches them valuable studying and time-management skills that will be vital for them to have in college.

While many public school graduates struggle to keep up with the advanced workload they are presented with in their freshman year of college, private school graduates often remark that they did not notice a significant difference in the demands required of them in high school vs college. By being used to a rigorous curriculum, private school graduates are more likely to succeed in college and make it to graduation.

Small Private Schools Provide Personalized Education

One of the primary problems that plague public high schools are extremely large class sizes. With many teachers being assigned 30 or even 40 students per class, it can be extremely difficult for them to meet the needs of each student. Oftentimes, students get looked over and do not receive the personalized help they need, which can lead to them getting left behind. These students are more likely to struggle with their grades and are less likely to get accepted to college.

It is for this reason that our program focuses on a one-on-one approach to teaching. This ensures that every student gets the personalized attention that they need, ensuring that they do not feel that they are being overlooked by a curriculum that is either too slow or too fast for their learning style. This ensures that every student has the best chances of succeeding and that they are sufficiently prepared for the challenges that will face them in college.

Teachers at Small Private Schools Report Higher Job Satisfaction

Considering the large class sizes they are faced with and the fact that they do not have enough resources, it is unsurprising that many public school teachers become dissatisfied with their jobs and become “burnt-out”. What many people may not realize is the effect this can have on students. When a teacher is not satisfied with their job, they are less likely to be engaged with students and go the extra mile to ensure that their classes succeed.

Alternatively, teachers at small private schools report extremely high job satisfaction, and many are passionate about their jobs and the success of their students. When teachers care about their jobs and are enthusiastic, students are more likely to be interested, energetic, and excited about learning. This fosters a curiosity and love for knowledge that will follow them into their college careers helping to ensure their future academic success.

More Private School Students Go to College

When considering the ways in which private school better prepares students for college, the statistics truly speak for themselves. Even though the number of high school grads who go on to attend a four-year postsecondary university is on the rise, the number of public school graduates who attend college is still only 49%. Alternatively, it is estimated that roughly 95% of private school graduates go on to attend college, truly demonstrating the extent to which private schools foster future academic success.

Contact us to learn more about the benefits of small private schools as well as to learn our unique one-on-one approach to education.

4 Ways Small Private Schools Better Prepare Students for College2018-06-15T16:28:10-05:00

3 Ways Customized Instruction Improves Learning for Children

Most parents would agree that customized instruction for students is more effective than the broad curriculum used in the classroom by large schools, yet they might still wonder: how much of a difference will it really make? Caring parents understand how choosing the education path for their children is a big responsibility, as it’s one of the biggest factors in determining their future.

When 19% of high school graduates can’t read in America, parents should consider if the size and method of public schools are at fault. The average public high school in America is just over 500, yet this figure is a bit misleading as schools in larger cities are much larger (more like 1,500 to 5,000); public schools are ever-growing as well.

Schools this large simply cannot customize instruction for each child, which means children only learn according to the broad instruction given to the large classroom. Let’s explore this subject further by examining 3 ways customized instruction improves learning for children.

Encourages Self-Analysis

How many questions go unasked or unanswered in larger school classrooms without customized instruction? Childhood and adolescence is a time of questioning and self-analysis; if these questions are not asked or answered, because of the largeness of a classroom and the inaccessibility of a teacher, they might be suppressed or forgotten.

Customized instruction encourages self-analysis in children, helping them understand themselves and the world they live in on a deeper and more meaningful level. With one-on-one instruction, students can ask the questions about life and themselves they may have otherwise been afraid to ask in a large classroom.

Self-analysis is an important aspect of learning, which often is very personal; if students are afraid to explore their own minds because of the intimidating environment of a large classroom, they’ll suppress their critical thinking ability and rely more on groupthink conclusions.

Maximizes Potential

Every loving parent desires to see their children maximize their potential in school and adulthood, as this gives them the best chance to be successful in life and content with their choices. Customized instruction maximizes a student’s potential by designing the pace of learning and curriculum around their ability to understand and learn.

Being an underachiever might be a romantic notion for some, yet for most, it simply creates regret and frustration in life. Life is a lesson in itself and not everything can be taught in a classroom, yet when students realize their potential they’ll be more content with their failures and successes. Customized instruction gives students the time to develop and realize their potential, as they have access to a well-educated teacher who has the time and resources to help them in a way that’s effective for them as an individual.

Fosters Realistic Perceptions

Fostering realistic perceptions is even more important in the modern, technologically-dominated world children are growing up in today. Students in large classrooms and schools can so easily become invisible and create unrealistic perceptions of themselves and the world they live in. Customized instruction with one-on-one instruction is the antidote to this all too often adolescent malady.

When students feel lost in the crowd or aren’t being challenged with a broad curriculum directed at the masses, they’ll be inclined to escape into unrealistic perceptions of life and themselves. Negative perceptions of themselves, school, society, or even their parents, are roadblocks to them developing into positive members of society. With all the distractions and tangible dangers in our modern society and culture, these negative perceptions can be detrimental to a successful life.

Customized instruction fosters realistic perceptions because it cuts through the distractions and holds students accountable to reality. When teachers have the resources and time to pay attention to each child during class, students will be kept on track with their goals and have a more realistic understanding of themselves and the world around them.

Summary

Deciding how to educate a child is an important choice for parents to make, especially in the dynamic, modern world we live in today. While most parents would agree that one-on-one customized instruction would be beneficial, understanding how and why isn’t always as clear. Hopefully, the 3 ways we’ve examined brings clarity and understanding to these important questions.

Customized, one-on-one instruction is an important method used at The Tenney School, yet small group classrooms are also an important method used to teach students. If interested in learning more about customized instruction or our unique private school please contact us today.

3 Ways Customized Instruction Improves Learning for Children2018-06-04T15:30:28-05:00

A Lifetime of Learning: How a Small School Helped One Child

Follow along as we look at the education of one girl named Amanda:

Amanda was the youngest in her family, and her parents, though not wealthy, chose to send all five of their children to a small, private school. By the time Amanda reached the classrooms of her school, her siblings had already won a family reputation of being involved in extracurricular events and getting excellent grades. The teachers expected much of the same from Amanda, and they challenged her and appreciated her achievements. Amanda rose to the challenges, and she too lived up to the family reputation.

However, Amanda struggled with shyness. She had difficulties making friends, and she often found herself alone during the students’ free times. To the teachers, Amanda’s quiet demeanor was just part of her charm. To her classmates, her quietness seemed either boring or snobby. How did Amanda deal with the pain of being excluded? She developed a passion for art. Drawing pictures gave Amanda an outlet to express her many thoughts (because quiet people are usually only quiet on the outside), and it kept her busy when she could have been sitting alone in the hallway. The art teacher respected Amanda’s dedication to her art and kept a small corner of the room reserved just for her.

As she grew in her skill, Amanda entered art contests and won them. She studied all the art books her teacher lent her, and she developed a side interest in the Renaissance. Her history essay about Renaissance art received the highest grade. Amanda realized she enjoyed writing nearly as well as she enjoyed drawing. Because her teachers were dedicated to Amanda’s success, they developed a new program just for her: an independent study in which she could combine her skills in art and writing. In this self-designed class, she wrote and illustrated a children’s book, a funny little book about a penguin who mistakenly ended up at a farm instead of a zoo.

Amanda loved her independent study, and she also loved the way her teachers helped and encouraged her just enough to keep her striving for new goals. When she was an adult, Amanda realized that being in a small school gave her opportunities to grow and self-direct her studies in ways that would have been impossible in a large school. Her teachers genuinely cared for her, and they wanted to give her a meaningful education, not just an average education.

Although Amanda’s funny little picture book never was accepted by a publisher (her teacher did help her submit), the experience of writing and drawing for publication left a lasting mark on her life. She was accepted at a good college, graduated with honors, and went on to earn an MFA in Creative Writing. Now Amanda is married, has three children, is the published author of a book of short stories centered around the life of an artist, and she continues to write. People ask her why she writes, and Amanda tells them, “I have to write. It’s what I love to do.” She is still a very quiet individual, and she still finds it hard to make friends, but her shyness has no bearing on her stories and poetry. Her words are full of imagination, beauty, and the love of truth. She has no problems incorporating history, science, or art into her writing because life is about learning, and all the subjects are intrinsically connected into life.

Even though Amanda is not wealthy, a CEO of a booming business, or fabulously famous, her quiet life of learning is a triumph. Her small school accepted her as an intelligent individual, and it recognized her talents and encouraged her along the path she was already heading. We at Tenney School believe in this kind of education. We value each of our students, and we want to develop a love of learning in each mind here. We recognize that learning is only beginning at this age. With the right cultivation and environment, it will grow for an entire lifetime and bear beautiful fruit.

Please contact us to learn more about the Tenney School education.

A Lifetime of Learning: How a Small School Helped One Child2018-05-30T11:44:04-05:00

The Inherent Advantages of Small Schools

It’s no surprise that many students prefer small schools to large schools. The climate, relationships, and classes offered by small schools make students, their parents, and teachers happy.

Better, closer relationships 

With fewer people overall, it’s easier to foster meaningful relationships in small schools. According to the National Education Association, this goes for student-to-student, student-to-teacher, and teacher-to-administration relationships:

“A small school offers an environment in which students may be more visible. Student-teacher relationships improve, allowing teachers to more easily identify individual talents and unique needs of each student, which offers a more personalized educational experience. Teachers are able to interact more with their faculty administrators.”

With relatively small classes, teachers are able to get to know their students better. In addition, they have more interaction with the administrators, which makes for greater overall cohesion within the school.

Increased attendance 

According to this New York Times article, students in small schools are more likely to graduate. On a smaller scale, they’re more likely to attend school on average.

With thousands of students, attendance can be hard to keep track of in larger schools. Without close student-to-teacher relationships, it will be hard for the teacher to determine if something serious is troubling the student.

More student participation 

With smaller classes, teachers have more freedom and flexibility. They can change the structure of the classroom and their teaching style and encourage more student participation.

According to the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, this isn’t always possible in large schools, and thus teachers have to rely on traditional, non-engaging lecturing methods:

“Due to low pupil/teacher ratios, the school is more likely to be learner-centered with strong emphasis placed on individualized and small group instruction. By contrast, large schools with large class sizes have traditionally led to reliance on lecture and objective tests that stress recall. The potential for student self identity, participation, and expression is thereby enhanced in small schools.”

We know that these traditional methods — lectures and objective tests — have their limitations. But the reality for large schools is that they’re often the only feasible way to teach and evaluate.

Small schools don’t have this problem. Since there is less enrollment, students can get more involved in the classroom. This increased level of participation makes a class more interactive, interesting, and effective.

Better school climate 

Small schools are less likely to develop cliques and bullying. Students get to know all of their classmates throughout the years and are encouraged to get involved in extracurricular activities. This kind of climate is less stressful than that in large schools, which have a harder time monitoring cliques and bullying.

Higher teacher satisfaction 

Finally, one of the most important advantages of small schools is the higher level of teacher satisfaction. As mentioned earlier, teachers get to know their students and administrators better than they would in a large school. In addition, they get to exercise more creativity in smaller classes than they could with higher pupil-to-teacher ratios.

Teacher satisfaction is an underrated aspect of education. When teachers are happy, they put more energy into their lessons and lectures. Furthermore, they’re more likely to develop meaningful relationships with students and care for their well-being. This plays an essential role in learning and provides additional much-needed support for students.

No matter what level of education it is, small schools will always have certain advantages over large schools. With relatively low enrollment, these schools can foster meaningful relationships between all parties involved. This, along with the more interactive and engaging lessons, helps students grow and learn.

For more information about the advantages of small schools, contact us today.

The Inherent Advantages of Small Schools2021-07-28T15:00:28-05:00
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