Where to Send Your Child: Private, Public or Home School? Volume 2

Step 1. Taking into Consideration your Family’s and Child’s Needs

Your search should begin by deciding what you want a school to do for your child's needs. Ask yourself questions like:

- Is a structured environment or a less structured environment better for your child?

- Is more challenging work needed for your child?

- Is more individual attention needed for your child?

- Is more time and help needed for your child to complete homework or schoolwork?

- Is there any special learning needs for your child?

- Is a creative environment better for your child?

- Is English your child's first language or will your child need help with English as a second language?

- Is seeing how things work, a better learning environment for your child?

- Is reading how things work, a better learning environment for your child?

- Is listening how things work, a better learning environment for your child?

- Is participation discussion something your child enjoys?

- Is physical activity something your child likes to learn in?

- Does your child fall into the logical or mathematical category?

- Does your child fall into the musical or artistic category?

- Is a group environment something your child likes to learn in?

- Is working alone a better way for your child to learn in?

- Is a school located near you, like walking distance, important to you?

- Is it possible that being outside your neighborhood can nurture your child's talents?

- Are you comfortable with letting your child ride the bus to school and if so, how far?

- Does distance matter when it comes to driving your child to school and if does, how far are you willing to go?

- Are having your son or daughter's friends at school important to you?

- Is after school child care important to you and if so, does it need to be near the school or where you work?

- When choosing a school, are your child's transportation needs on a special needs basis?

Once you have answered all of the previous questions, move onto Step 2. Get all your information together about potential schools.

Step 2. Get All Your Information Together About Potential Schools.

When you are buying a new house, or looking for a place to live, or buying a new car, stove, fridge, etc... Often times you will ask a friend or family member or do research yourself on the internet.

You can do the same thing with schools. Ask around and make phone calls, find out where your neighbors are sending their children to school; to find the information you need in helping you make the right decision.

Now a days, every school has a website on the internet, so you can see what that school has to offer; their policies, their philosophy, their curriculum and any other services they have to offer. If you want your child in a sports program, you can also find out what sports programs your child can join or what types of after school clubs are available.

Some questions to ask when looking for a new school are:

- Is there a strong curriculum of core academia such as science, math, history, English, foreign languages or arts? You can read the rest of this story from any of the major book sellers, or also at http://www.vincestead.com or http://www.fun2readbooks.com You can also listen to it in Audio.