TORONTO—Hundreds of parents attended the Private School EXPO this weekend at the Roy Thompson Hall in search of the very best education for their children. Almost 100 different schools exhibited their special programs, and parents with children by their side browsed the booths.
With so many different options, parents faced a challenge in picking a school. Private, independent, or boarding were some of the options available along with different teaching methods, such as International Baccalaureate or Montessori.
As an education consultant and a one-time teacher and guidance councillor, Judy Winberg suggested that parents ask themselves “not only is it a good school, but is it a good school for your child.”
During her EXPO presentation, “Asking the right Questions,” Winberg said parents should consider the learning style of their children before looking into educational institutions. There are three kinds of learners according to Winberg: the visual, kinaesthetic, and auditory.
For example if a child is always active, meaning they’re a kinesthetic learner, the parents wouldn’t want to place them in a school where “children must sit in their rows and they don’t talk and they’re not allowed to get out of their seats and it’s a very strict environment,” said Winberg.
But if a child is more reserved and learns best by observing and listening, a disciplined classroom environment would suit their auditory or visual learning style better.
When talking to some of the parents at the EXPO, many seemed to be concerned with the academic programs offered by the institutions, since until high school, private schools can follow their own curriculum rather than that established by the District’s School Board.
“I’d like a school, independent, private, that at least adheres to the Toronto School Board guidelines,” says Toronto resident Kristina Milne, who came to choose a private school for her two children who will be attending grades 5 and 6 next September. Other aspects important to the Milne family are the cost of the school, accessibility, and transportation.
Fatima and Saeed Sanatkar, Torontonians who were looking for a school for their two children aged 3 and 18 months, agreed that academics is key. The Saeed family, where the kids speak multiple languages such as Mandarin, Spanish, Farsi, English, and are looking to learn French as well, said languages and the programs the school offers are the most important aspects for them.
According to Winberg, academics and education, important as they may be, should not be the primary aspect of every parent’s school search.
“Most kids applying to university come with very high grades, so there’s got to be a way of looking at them other than just their grades and that’s when they start looking at the extracurricular involvement,” she said.
Parents may want to look into what extracurricular activities, after school programs, community involvement, clubs, and other provisions of each school.
Other tips Winberg suggested when picking the right private school:
- Visit the school rather than basing your decision on what your neighbour tells you
- Base your decision on your child’s strengths and interests
- Prepare your child for the upcoming year in the school of your choice by focusing on the current school year
- Prepare your child for the admission process so that the school is able to obtain the most detailed profile of your child’s abilities to make the right decision
- Apply to more than one school
- If you don’t get accepted into a school, don’t take it personally and try a different school
- Understand the financial commitment tied to each school and all additional costs involved
- Depending on your child’s age, involve them in the admission process and decision making without putting them on the spot if something doesn’t go according to plan.
With so many different options, parents faced a challenge in picking a school. Private, independent, or boarding were some of the options available along with different teaching methods, such as International Baccalaureate or Montessori.
As an education consultant and a one-time teacher and guidance councillor, Judy Winberg suggested that parents ask themselves “not only is it a good school, but is it a good school for your child.”
During her EXPO presentation, “Asking the right Questions,” Winberg said parents should consider the learning style of their children before looking into educational institutions. There are three kinds of learners according to Winberg: the visual, kinaesthetic, and auditory.
For example if a child is always active, meaning they’re a kinesthetic learner, the parents wouldn’t want to place them in a school where “children must sit in their rows and they don’t talk and they’re not allowed to get out of their seats and it’s a very strict environment,” said Winberg.
But if a child is more reserved and learns best by observing and listening, a disciplined classroom environment would suit their auditory or visual learning style better.
When talking to some of the parents at the EXPO, many seemed to be concerned with the academic programs offered by the institutions, since until high school, private schools can follow their own curriculum rather than that established by the District’s School Board.
“I’d like a school, independent, private, that at least adheres to the Toronto School Board guidelines,” says Toronto resident Kristina Milne, who came to choose a private school for her two children who will be attending grades 5 and 6 next September. Other aspects important to the Milne family are the cost of the school, accessibility, and transportation.
Fatima and Saeed Sanatkar, Torontonians who were looking for a school for their two children aged 3 and 18 months, agreed that academics is key. The Saeed family, where the kids speak multiple languages such as Mandarin, Spanish, Farsi, English, and are looking to learn French as well, said languages and the programs the school offers are the most important aspects for them.
According to Winberg, academics and education, important as they may be, should not be the primary aspect of every parent’s school search.
“Most kids applying to university come with very high grades, so there’s got to be a way of looking at them other than just their grades and that’s when they start looking at the extracurricular involvement,” she said.
Parents may want to look into what extracurricular activities, after school programs, community involvement, clubs, and other provisions of each school.
Other tips Winberg suggested when picking the right private school:
- Visit the school rather than basing your decision on what your neighbour tells you
- Base your decision on your child’s strengths and interests
- Prepare your child for the upcoming year in the school of your choice by focusing on the current school year
- Prepare your child for the admission process so that the school is able to obtain the most detailed profile of your child’s abilities to make the right decision
- Apply to more than one school
- If you don’t get accepted into a school, don’t take it personally and try a different school
- Understand the financial commitment tied to each school and all additional costs involved
- Depending on your child’s age, involve them in the admission process and decision making without putting them on the spot if something doesn’t go according to plan.
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