Choosing the right school for your child(ren) can be one of the most important decisions you make as a parent. The school you select should – and will – play a pivotal role in the development of your child as they navigate through the most impressionable years of their lives.

When I was in school, a well-planned, one-size-fits-all lesson was the way we learned. We sat at our tables quietly, listened to our teacher and raised our hand when we had a question. You could usually hear a pin drop, as noise was frowned upon. The teacher was the star of the show, and the students were the audience members. Today, the classroom is made up of an ensemble cast, featuring both the teacher and the students.

(Updated in January 2023)

With a generation of learners who grew up in an age of the Internet, smartphones and 3-D printers, robotics, artificial intelligence, and computer programming are playing a more important role in educational curricula than ever before.

“Bueller? Bueller?” This is a phrase that crosses the mind of many when they think about school. Students sitting in perfectly aligned rows either hanging on every word the teacher says or their heads down taking a quick nap. In this classroom from the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” the teacher stands at the front of the classroom endlessly speaking in a monotonous tone about this and that. 

Luckily, classrooms no longer operate in that fashion. New teaching techniques, and advances in technology, have changed the direction of classrooms. Now, “flipped classrooms” are combining that technology and a new style of teaching that placesstudents at the center of learning. Vanderbilt University defines this new type of classroom as a way for students to gain exposure to new material outside of class by reading or viewing lecture videos at home, and using class time for more in-depth knowledge exercises, through problem-solving, discussion or debates.Flipped classrooms are changing and enhancing student comprehension by allowing for student ownership of learning, student-directed learning, as well as easier access to content for both students and parents.

This letter to Santa Claus was found this morning on the printer in the Oak Knoll Help Desk. In order to make sure it makes it to Santa in time for him to take advantage of some of the shopping deals that are being advertised, we are posting it here. Maybe it can also help spark an idea or two for those who are never sure what to get for the holidays.

November’s general election is one of the year’s greatest teachable moments. With candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, who disagree – loudly – on practically every issue, we would be kidding ourselves if we thought children were not paying attention and discussing the election amongst themselves. But how do we (as teachers and parents) talk to them about the election in a way that can be constructive, educational and age-appropriate? Lower School social studies teachers Leslie Smith and Michael Manna compiled their helpful tips to keep in mind when talking to kids about the election: