We live in the age of customization. Everything from your daily coffee, to your car, and even your daily vitamins can be customized to meet your individual needs.
So why not think of education in the same way? Can primary education also be customized to the needs of individual students? California charter schools say yes! They’re changing the way we think about our kids’ education and providing diverse ways for kids to live and learn.
Already advancements have been made in the way we view our children’s educational needs. Traditional course curriculums are undergoing changes to more honestly reflect and deal with the challenges of the day and the cultural implications of the past.
While the road to reformatting traditional forms of education is not without its bumps and bruises, California charter schools are broadening the available options available, giving parents and students choice in the matter.
Let’s take a look at five ways California charter schools can make the best out of your child’s educational journey.
#1: Adopting a Student Centric Approach
While it’s’ definitely widely accepted that teachers have the best interests in mind when working with students, traditional curriculum frameworks can sometimes limit the manner in which subject matter is taught or presented to students.
Adopting a student-centric approach means teachers act as facilitators between a subject matter and students, introducing an overview or general framework of a specific topic, but then allowing students themselves to explore, discover, and apply theory to practice.
This means no more lecture style formats. Instead, classrooms become group symposiums where students can test new skills and learn from practical application.This peer-to-peer format facilitates the exchange of information in differing or multiple points of views so students learn and gain understanding in more than one way.
#2: You Put in What You Want to Get Back
One of the main drawbacks to standardized education is that not all students learn the same way. Each has unique interests, abilities, and preferred learning styles that can often be neglected or altogether ignored in traditional settings.
Take for instance the recent announcement of Alena Analeigh Wicker, a student from Fort Worth, TX whose acceptance into medical school at age 13 – yup, you heard that right – makes her the youngest student ever to have been accepted. To that, she added, “What is age? You’re not too young to do anything.”
While Wicker’s accomplishment may be a one-in-a-million occurrence, she mentions her hybrid educational approach – home-school and in-person learning – as a factor in her advancement. Her journey demonstrates the real benefits of expanding the nature and ways in which curriculum is accessed and learned by an increasingly tech-savvy generation of students.
#3: There is More to Life than Academics
Okay, before I get sent to detention, let me explain. Our children deserve a well-rounded upbringing that includes education, extra-curriculars, and room to have fun so that they grow up to become balanced individuals.
While academic achievement is undoubtedly important, it’s crucial to remember that it’s not the only measure of a student’s overall success in life. In fact, studies have shown that learning to play a musical instrument, such as with Yamaha keyboards in Australia, can have significant benefits for a child’s cognitive and emotional development. As in the example of Alena Analeigh Wicker, who went viral for her impressive keyboard skills, exploring other interests and talents outside of the traditional academic realm can help students to develop a more well-rounded and fulfilling life.
Many students are not academically-inclined and that’s okay too. Some are destined for other areas of success. The important thing to note here is that California charter schools offer a greater variety for students and their academic learning to interact.
That means that whether a student opts to attend in-person learning, online, or a combination of both, they are taking ownership of their education and the manner in which they are choosing to learn.
#4: Embrace the New
Like any generation before them, it’s easy to speak of your upbringing days as “the good ol’ days.” But as any generation knows – i’m talking about us millennials – each new generation has to deal with advancements and the challenges that come with each.
The post-COVID world has seen a shift in family and life dynamics that has forever altered our priorities and energy. If we can embrace the idea of remote work for a better work-life balance, then we can certainly embrace the concept of remote learning.
Granted, not everyone is a fan of remote learning and it may not be the best form of learning for your individual student. However, the intention of California charter schools is to provide the opportunities and choice to increase the types of access to education available.
#5: A Community of Support
California charter schools make it a point to involve the communities where they are located in the continued development of its students. From parent input and support, their administrative and teaching teams are equipped to help parents or guardians navigate educational curriculum and standards. Local partnerships with businesses and organizations often serve as student classrooms as both field trip destinations or internship opportunities. The thinking behind all of this is to provide a greater sense of community, support, and diversity, because when one community flourishes, everyone benefits.
