Academic Programs and Philosophies

A Parent's Guide To Understanding High School Teaching Methods

You and I began teaching our children probably even before they were born. I remember well how my late wife played a Mozart symphony or some Gilbert and Sullivan while she was pregnant. She also frequently read aloud. Teaching by example truly is one of the most effective teaching methods.

Teaching by example still has its place in teaching high school examples, but things are a bit more complicated, or should I say, enriched, in 2025.

• As parents of high school students, we often find ourselves puzzled by the teaching methods our teens tell us about.
• Gone are the days when education meant simply lecturing and memorizing facts. That may be true, but I can still conjugate the Latin verbs I learned in 8th Grade. But I digress.

Against that backdrop, let's take a look at how teachers function in today's high schools. I've included quotes from several authoritative sources so you can drill down and find out more about the methods.

Canva generated this picture of high school students.

Let's ask Perplexity to answer our questions.

RK: How do high school teachers teach these days?

Perplexity: Today's high school teachers employ a wide variety of approaches designed to engage students and prepare them for a complex world.

• Understanding these methods isn't just interesting. It's essential for supporting our teens throughout these

Will your child be going to high school in a few years? Are you looking at the academic options available in your local public and private schools? If so, then I recommend that you take this IB quiz. It will help you decide the best college prep approach for your child.

In education, one size does not fit all because children learn differently. Some children do well in a school offering a curriculum centered around Advanced Placement courses and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) preparation. Others thrive in the non-traditional educational experience that progressive schools provide. Finally, some children find that the substantial academic experience that the International Baccalaureate program offers is the right option for them. Your answers to the following questions will help you make the right decisions about your child's academic future and preparation for college.

Why should I consider a school that offers the International Baccalaureate® Diploma Programme?

For several reasons, you should consider sending your child to a school that offers the International Baccalaureate® Programme, or IB as it is affectionately called. First of all, you have decided that you want your child to learn how to do serious academic work in high school so that she is well-prepared for the rigors of tertiary-level academic work. Secondly, you are uncomfortable with her only learning how to do well on tests. Thirdly, you want her to develop superior writing and research skills.

Where is the IB Diploma Programme offered?

Most American public and private

As you research private schools, you will find yourself coming back to a handful of websites again and again. Why? Because they are informative, useful, and easy to use. Here are my picks for 'must have' websites when it comes to finding out about private K-12 schools.

The Association of Boarding Schools
http://www.boardingschools.com/

The Association of Boarding Schools site is dynamic and clean. I want to find information quickly with as few clicks as possible. The TABS site is one of those well-designed sites which allows you to do just that. You can drill down to member boarding schools, learn about recruiting fairs, financing, boarding school life, and just about anything to do with boarding schools. This site is a 'must have' for parents living outside the United States who are thinking about sending their children to American boarding schools.

Google Maps
maps.google.com

I included maps.google.com on this list of 'must have' websites because it allows me to zoom in and look at the street view. That is not important for schools and locations I know. But when I am researching a school in another state, Google Maps allows me to get the lay of the land quickly and efficiently. Also, because it is available as an app, I can plug the address in on my smartphone and get directions to the campuses of the schools which I am visiting.

SSAT
www.ssat.org/

Standardized admissions testing is an important component of your child's admissions profile.

Test your knowledge of private school facts and trivia with these twenty-one questions and answers.

The Questions

1. How many private schools are there in the U.S.A.?

2. How many boarding schools are there?

3. Which private school offers the most Advanced Placement courses?

4. Which private school is the most expensive?

5. Which private school did Bill Gates graduate from?

6. How many Montessori schools are there in the U.S.A.?

7. Where did Reggio-Emilia schools get their name?

8. Who founded the movement that spawned the modern Waldorf schools?

9. Which is the oldest school in the U.S.A.?

10. What was Maria Montessori's degree in?

11. Who founded what we now call the progressive school movement?

12. What percentage of American students attend private school?

13. What are the names of the schools established by the last Hawaiian princess?

14. Which New England family founded Exeter and Andover?

15. Which Roman Catholic order established a network of prestigious high schools?

16. What grade does Fifth Form refer to?

17. How many Jewish schools are there in Brooklyn, New York?

18. What does the term crew refer to?

19. What is the oldest private school athletic league?

20. What is the name of the independent school association based in Washington, DC?

21. Which private school has the largest endowment?

The Answers:

1. How many private schools are there in the U.S.A.?

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) surveys private schools every two years. Their most recent data from

The Private School Advantage: The Top Reasons To Send a Child To Private School

Are you thinking about sending your child to a private school?

• There are many reasons why you should consider sending your child to a private school.
• What is essential as you begin this process is not to reinvent the wheel.
• Most of us parents have had the same concerns as you about your child's education.
• We all want our children to receive the very best education possible so that they are positioned for success in later life.

Start by writing down all the reasons you can think of for wanting to give your child a private school education. Then, compare them with my four top reasons for doing that.

1. You want your child to receive specialized instruction from well-qualified instructors.

For example, perhaps she has unique needs.

• You can certainly arrange for your local public school to develop an IEP or Individualized Education Program for your child.
• This is mandated by a federal law known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
• While your child's needs will indeed be identified and an instruction program devised for her, you would be wise to explore the options a specialized private school offers. Why?
• Depending on your area's public school district, resources are often spread very thin.
• When you send your child to a private school for special needs, she will be taught by credentialled, highly skilled teachers and paraprofessionals throughout the school