When you have multiple options for getting your child the best education, you need to do the research and ask questions to find just the right schools and instructors. Talk with your child about his/her own goals and expectations and how they align with yours. Then start looking for a teacher who can please you both.
Ask Around
The first resource is your own friends, neighbors, and relatives. Ask both the children and adults about which teachers they like, the quality of local schools, and what has impressed them. You could also ask questions of your local school board. Attend parent-teacher meetings and other open house events to ask questions and see different schools and their faculties first hand.
Check Online
Do a search and visit the websites of schools that sound promising and jot down their names. Contact them and ask for information on teachers appropriate to your child’s age. You could also search on LinkedIn for teacher or administrative profiles and reach out to them for more information. Look for schools that are fully accredited, and teachers that received their education from accredited universities.
Preliminary Interviews
Once you’ve come up with a list of possibilities, reach out to them by telephone, Skype, or email and start asking questions. Important information could include locations, tuition/fees, school hours, curriculum, training materials, and whatever else you feel is relevant to getting your child the best learning environment. Ask the teacher about their own background and experiences in teaching.
Follow Up
Be wary of teachers that don’t ask you relevant questions in return. A teacher who cares about their students and the classroom environment will have questions for you, as well. He/she will want to know about your own goals and expectations. They should also be determining whether your child will fit into their classroom environment and lesson plan. They may want to know where your child is academically, or even request that the child take placement exams.
Arrange a Final Interview
The final step is to narrow down your list to a few of the leading candidates and arrange a face-to-face interview with the teacher at a school like Kid’s Country Learning Center. Be sure your child is included. This way you can both get a good look at the premises, the other students, and the classroom. You might want to avoid any school that looks run-down, outdated, or has unhappy students or faculty. The teacher will likely have questions for both of you. Encourage your child to ask questions in return. Be observant of child-teacher interactions to ensure there’s a comfortable relationship forming.
Finding the best possible learning experience for your child isn’t a simple decision. Keep looking until you find an educator that inspires confidence in both of you.
