11 May 07
I am unhappy with the type of schools for K-8th grade or 5-14 yrs of age. We have large schools and class sizes around 30-35. Has anyone had experience with small schools that have all grades in the same building and the older children, as part of their school day, tutor the younger ones? If so what did you think of it?
11 May 07
Originally posted by lepomisI have taught in various schools in England age 11-18.
I am unhappy with the type of schools for K-8th grade or 5-14 yrs of age. We have large schools and class sizes around 30-35. Has anyone had experience with small schools that have all grades in the same building and the older children, as part of their school day, tutor the younger ones? If so what did you think of it?
My experiences have taught me that small schools are VERY much better. A big study of US schools years ago found that smaller schools had huge benefits.
In my school I initiated a peer group learning system. It was very hard to co ordinate but all the pupils responded really well. the pupils doing the teaching generally get the most out of it.
It is not the academic side that is the biggest benefit, it is the sense of community.
11 May 07
1 edit
Originally posted by lepomisI went to school in a one room school house with one teacher teaching about 30 of us first, second and third graders. It was wonderful, as there was a lot of help from above. We were free to ask any "older" kids for help and they were expected to give it. If we got stuck, the teacher would of course step in and "clarify and teach".
I am unhappy with the type of schools for K-8th grade or 5-14 yrs of age. We have large schools and class sizes around 30-35. Has anyone had experience with small schools that have all grades in the same building and the older children, as part of their school day, tutor the younger ones? If so what did you think of it?
Then I went the opposite the last half of my second grade we moved to a larger city and I was in a typical "baby boom" class of 45 students and one teacher. It too was amazingly good. The same theory as three classes together was again employed, only instead of "age" we assisted each other based on "ability" and "knowledge". I never had a bad experience with school until we moved to Arizona last half of seventh grade and first quarter of eighth. That was a joke. For the first time, school became a "political" animal, with "home room" and "science teachers" and "math teachers" and wandering about in a daze from one clueless democrat to another in hopes that one of them would know "something.... or anything". They didn't. Except for my band teacher. He was good. He went on to lead the USC Trojan Marching Band for three decades.
My schooling in high school was wonderful too. My teachers were all very free to persue any route they thought was good. There was no "control" from administrators and each teacher taught whatever they wanted to teach. This was in a small highschool grades 9 - 12... of only about 420 students total. Class sizes were about ... 30??? Smallish for my baby boomin age.
Btw.... the Arizona schools were all about 20 students per class... and we had "library day by law" on wednesdays. The state legislature passed a law that every student of every school had to 'visit the school library once a week' because they had mandated that each school HAVE a school library. So every wednesday, the custodians erected silver poles with red ropes around in a path THROUGH the library, and we were marched through the library. We couldn't talk or get beyond the red roped path. We couldn't touch anything. We couldn't ask questions. But we sure as hell complied with the stupid dems in charge of the Arizona state government. lol (edit)... Students had to go to the pricipals office to get a special pass to enter the library, and then the "advisor" on duty had to be willing to attend and "unlock" it and supervise. At no time could you even think of taking anything FROM the library. It all had to be accounted for and it was a matter of CYA from the word go as far as the teachers were concerned. I once spent several hours trying to get material for a report on the Rome olympics and finally ended up going to the Mesa city library instead.
I could tell at that time that it is not a good idea to put pseudo-libs in charge of children. I think this stupidity is now the norm.
11 May 07
Originally posted by petrosianpupilThat is similar to what I am looking for. I am not happy with how the school my 6 yr old is in, seems to be changing her. She appears to be falling in with the other kids/teachers rules. She has a very strong personality, but the school is doing its 'best' to change that 🙁
I have taught in various schools in England age 11-18.
My experiences have taught me that small schools are VERY much better. A big study of US schools years ago found that smaller schools had huge benefits.
In my school I initiated a peer group learning system. It was very hard to co ordinate but all the pupils responded really well. the pupils ...[text shortened]... of it.
It is not the academic side that is the biggest benefit, it is the sense of community.
A saying that she has picked up on is 'you dont get what you want... you get what you need' My wife started to volunteer in the class to see what is happening.... nothing is blatant but it is consistent. Ideas on how to do something, that are different than the coursework, are not allowed. I want her to feel that anything is possible for her, but the school acts as if it was a bad habit.
I am just not sure what to do for her.
11 May 07
Originally posted by lepomisWhat other schools are available? I've heard good things about Montessori schools in my area.
That is similar to what I am looking for. I am not happy with how the school my 6 yr old is in, seems to be changing her. She appears to be falling in with the other kids/teachers rules. She has a very strong personality, but the school is doing its 'best' to change that 🙁
A saying that she has picked up on is 'you dont get what you want... you get ...[text shortened]... her, but the school acts as if it was a bad habit.
I am just not sure what to do for her.
11 May 07
Originally posted by lepomisNot trying to be a smart arse here, but have you considered home schooling?
That is similar to what I am looking for. I am not happy with how the school my 6 yr old is in, seems to be changing her. She appears to be falling in with the other kids/teachers rules. She has a very strong personality, but the school is doing its 'best' to change that 🙁
A saying that she has picked up on is 'you dont get what you want... you get ...[text shortened]... her, but the school acts as if it was a bad habit.
I am just not sure what to do for her.
11 May 07
Originally posted by bbarrThis is the best school we have found so far... The closest Montessori style school we have found is 100 + miles from us. We may have to move... or we will just have to start one here.
What other schools are available? I've heard good things about Montessori schools in my area.
17 May 07
Originally posted by petrosianpupilSmalls schools may be easier, but alot less challenging. I say bring on the challenge to keep life exciting! Although I refuse to work with children over the age of 8!!!
I have taught in various schools in England age 11-18.
My experiences have taught me that small schools are VERY much better. A big study of US schools years ago found that smaller schools had huge benefits.
In my school I initiated a peer group learning system. It was very hard to co ordinate but all the pupils responded really well. the pupils ...[text shortened]... of it.
It is not the academic side that is the biggest benefit, it is the sense of community.
17 May 07
Originally posted by kathleen1Perhaps not, since I have never heard this complaint. I'm familiar with a few in this area, and have worked with one in particular when I taught high school. The Montessori schools I'm familiar with are not medieval in their approach, but give detailed and individual attention to students, and do not stifle their creativity.
Have you enough knowledge about Montessori schools? Some people find these 'medievil' in their approach.
18 May 07
Originally posted by kathleen1I know that a lot of people have a strange prejudice against Steiner and Montessori schools based on the perception that they are "weird carrot-eaters". Their critique runs no deeper than that, but it suffices for them to rule out sending their children there ever. The advantages that the schools offer are perceived as some sort of threat. Well, I suppose creativity and anality will always be at loggerheads...(was that a pun?)
Have you enough knowledge about Montessori schools? Some people find these 'medievil' in their approach.
19 May 07
Originally posted by Bosse de NageMaybe its just my opinion then, but then again I have only read about them, not actualy visited one seeing as the nearest one to me (11miles away) has just closed as they couldn't maintain numbers. I guess the feeling is that they promote very individual learning, working with trays individually at tables. Not social interaction seems to occur, which is so crucial in early years. Also, I have heard that the environment has to be of all neutral colours, nothing stimulating. The staff are even encouraged to wear pastels??? Its not an approach I would support.
I know that a lot of people have a strange prejudice against Steiner and Montessori schools based on the perception that they are "weird carrot-eaters". Their critique runs no deeper than that, but it suffices for them to rule out sending their children there ever. The advantages that the schools offer are perceived as some sort of threat. Well, I suppose creativity and anality will always be at loggerheads...(was that a pun?)
Let me know if I am wrong, but this is my understanding so far. Maybe I should study it more??
19 May 07
1 edit
note that they're comparing WITHIN a pool of inner-city schools.
like, maybe there, anything different is better than what's not different.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montessori#Criticisms
...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montessori#Benefits
A 2006 study published in the journal "Science" concluded that Montessori students performed better than their standard public school counterparts in a variety of arenas, including not only traditional academic areas such as language and mathematical reasoning, but in social cognition skills as well. [2]:
On several dimensions, children at a public inner city Montessori school had superior outcomes relative to a sample of Montessori applicants who, because of a random lottery, attended other schools. By the end of kindergarten, the Montessori children performed better on standardized tests of reading and math, engaged in positive interaction on the playground more, and showed advanced social cognition and executive control more. They also showed more concern for fairness and justice. At the end of elementary school, Montessori children wrote more creative essays with more complex sentence structures, selected more positive responses to social dilemmas, and reported feeling more of a sense of community at their school.
The authors concluded that, "when strictly implemented, Montessori education fosters social and academic skills that are equal or superior to those fostered by a pool of other types of schools."