In many ways, Waldorf schools are as close as we can get to the one-room schoolhouse while still being organized.

With the rise of charter and independent schools has come a willingness on the part of educators to try new models of how schools can run. Some of these models are rooted in a century of research. Others are completely new concepts. One thing they all share: these aren’t your traditional school programs.

There are positives and negatives to all of these programs, but if you think your child could benefit from a progressive model and your district offers such programs, they are worth investigating.

Montessori

Montessori schools have been around for generations and are built around the educational research and philosophies of Maria Montessori. She believed that students should be allowed to learn in their own way. Classes tend to be multi-age, full of hands-on tools, and less structured than the traditional model. Montessori schools are particularly popular for kids up to kindergarten, although full elementary Montessori programs do exist. The model is not considered beneficial for students older than that.

Waldorf

In many ways, Waldorf schools are as close as we can get to the one-room schoolhouse while still being organized. The curriculum is fluid. A single subject might be focused on for up to a month, and the same teacher might stay with the same students for up to eight grades. In addition to the core subjects, students also receive more instruction in the arts and languages than they would at a traditional school. There are 124 Waldorf schools around the US, including a number of public charter schools.

International Baccalaureate

IB is taught in 125 countries worldwide and has the goal of presenting a truly international curriculum. Core subjects are presented in a fast-paced and rigorous way, in addition to focusing on language and the arts. Most programs focus on project-based learning and extracurriculars that might include community service. IB schools have been adopted widely, even in traditional public schools, and are particularly popular for high schools. In many districts, the IB school(s) is the highest-performing high school in the district.

No age alignment

The Carlton Innovation School in Salem, MA is an example of a school that has taken traditional education norms and thrown them out the window. To start, there are no grade levels. Students are progressed through the curriculum on a trimester basis and might be grouped with kids who are a year older or younger. This is accomplished through constant, non-graded assessment and a strict alignment to standards.

Although Carlton might be one of the few schools that brings a lot of these concepts together, individually they can be found around the country.

For dedicated teachers, the end of the year is always hard.

Everyone is looking forward to the end of the school year. That can lead to a lackadaisical attitude about wrapping up at school. Especially now, after testing, there might be the feeling that not much more is left to be done.

There’s still plenty to do to set your child up for success in the next school year. One of which is having a year-end conversation with their teacher. Here are some things to ask before the doors close for the last time.

Is my child ready for the next grade?

This one is common sense, but you might get a surprising answer. Grades and scores aren’t 100% reflective of potential. Just because your child has apparently passed the class and showed proficiency on the assessments might not mean they are ready for the next step.

You might hear things about study skills, or focus in class, or skills that might not have been a big focus this year but will be front-and-center in the next grade. The truth is, very few students are ready for success in day 1 of the new school year. There will be a period of adjustment.

Is there anything they can do to help themselves over the summer?

There are plenty of ways for students to help themselves prepare for the next school year. Don’t be surprised if the first answer is reading. It’s the best way to head off the summer brain drain. Many schools offer a summer reading list for kids who need suggestions.

Your teacher will have many other ideas gathered from their experience. All of those “What I did over summer vacation” assignment add up.

Is there anything we can do?

The answer might be as simple as turning off the TV or providing opportunities to explore knowledge. It can also be to provide some summertime tutoring to bolster some skills with which the child is struggling. Again, the teacher will have plenty of ideas in this area.

Are there any materials we can take with us?

The teacher might let you borrow a textbook, or give you a list of websites on which the student can work. It beats having to hunt for materials yourself.

Thank you!

For dedicated teachers, the end of the year is always hard. They hate saying goodbye to students who they have grown close to and have helped shape into the people they currently are. Make sure you let the teacher know how much you appreciate their efforts.

Action needs to be taken to make sure your child is getting enough sleep. How much? Anywhere from 9-12 hours.

Problem: Your morning routine looks more like the Battle of Waterloo than stress-free start to the day. Reports are coming in about your child falling asleep in class. Grades are starting to slip. They just don’t seem like themselves.

Solutions: The classic caricature of a teenager is someone who sleeps all the time and will avoid waking up at the appointed hour at any cost. Laughing it off as “kids being kids” can be very detrimental. Action needs to be taken to make sure your child is getting enough sleep. How much? Anywhere from 9-12 hours. Here’s how to make that happen:

• A routine, even for older kids

• No screen time before bed

• Get active

• Talk (or write) out any concerns

• Model good sleep habits yourself

A routine, even for older kids

Establishing a sleep routine is one of the first things you learn as a parent, but as the kid gets older we tend to let things slide. You don’t have to read your high schooler a bedtime story anymore (having them read to you might help, though), but keep up with the idea of a regular bedtime, perhaps a shower, and some wind down time without screens. No matter the age, children like reliability. They’re conditioned to it from spending their days moving at the whim of a bell.

No screen time before bed

It’s starting to become an accepted fact that using devices, particularly those with a harsh backlight close to your face, is terrible for your sleep patterns. You’re basically tricking your brain into thinking it’s daytime. Ban phones and tablets for the hour leading up to bedtime. Take them away or keep them out in the living room if you have to.

Get active

Kids need to expend energy during the day. Recess is being cut nationwide, so if your child isn’t into sports, they are probably spending the vast majority of their day sitting down. Find something active for them to do. Bonus points if you can do it with them.

Talk (or write) out any concerns

Just like adults, sometimes the pressures of life can keep kids from sleeping. They might be worried about an upcoming test or some social problem. As always, offer to be a listening post for them. If they aren’t willing to talk, encourage them to start a journal and write in it regularly. Even that can help clear the mind.

Model good sleep habits yourself

Kids are smart. They know when you go to bed, when you’re tired, and when you aren’t performing your best and then can connect the dots. You need to model these same sleep habits yourself if you want your child to follow them.

Although, teacher’s like traditional gifts, allow your child to help you think out of the box.

Teacher Appreciation Week is this week. Although your child’s teacher(s) will definitely be thankful for the traditional homemade cookies or Starbucks gift card, some parents want to stand out. This is the list for them.

1. Ask your kid – Very few parents actually think to ask their kid what their teacher likes. Maybe they’re into golf, or hiking, or some other hobby. Then gift appropriately.
2. Beach stuff – Summer is almost here. Some sunscreen, beach toys, or a gift card to a local beach bar make a lot of sense for those of us lucky enough to live near a beach. If not, there’s always the pool.
3. Subscription to an online tool – Teachers like tech toys but don’t often think to buy the upgraded package. Things like Evernote, Google Drive, and some social networking apps all have upgrade subscriptions that aren’t terribly expensive.
4. Take over a task – Notice that the teacher works hard on organizing things like field trips or the class website? There’s no reason you can’t do most of the work. At least make the offer.
5. Organize planning time – Some PTOs arrange to give the kids in the school some field or gym time so the teachers can have a couple of hours of quiet time in their classrooms.
6. Clean up – Custodians clean the classrooms and teachers’ lounge, but they don’t organize. Volunteer to go into the supply and/or book rooms and sort everything out.
7. Edcamp – Organize an informal conference called an Edcamp. Teachers come together to share ideas informally. It’s a lot cheaper than sending a teacher to an actual conference.
8. Write a positive email to the principal – Just like kids perk up when the teacher reports something positive to their parents, teachers love to hear positive feedback from their principal. Make it happen.
9. Chair massages – Massages are expensive, but not if they are short, localized to one part of the body, and given by massage students. Find the local spa school and make a deal.
10. Arrange for a speaker – Faculty meetings are boring, but not with a professional speaker. Find someone local that can speak on topics like stress reduction or organization. It’s easier than you think and it might even be free.
11. Comedian – Along the same lines as the last idea. They’re also easy to find (but probably not free). You also want to find one that can keep their bit clean.

Scrapbook – Have each child in the class write about the teacher and the school year (you might want to make a form to spur them on), then organize the results in some sort of binding.