Closing the Chapter on Our Microschool
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
There are big box stores, and there are boutiques. Big box stores offer the undeniable advantages of buying power, market share, and convenience. But sometimes, we want something smaller and more personalized. That is part of the reason many parents and teachers across the country have launched or joined microschools.
Like a boutique compared to a big box store, a microschool offers a more tailored experience than a traditional, factory-style school. Its small scale is both its biggest strength and its greatest limitation.
So, when is a microschool the right choice?
Microschools are nimble. They offer more personalized attention and flexibility. In the one we ran, learners could advance more than one grade level per year—and most did.
This brings up an important reality about resources. Most private schools—unless they are large or explicitly focused on learning differences—do not have the specialists on staff to fully support students with certain challenges. If you need help with a child who would benefit from specialized support, be it academic, social or emotional, a public school or a school designed for their challenge will by far be your best option. Public schools are required to provide these services at no cost, while private schools, if they offer them at all, often charge additional fees.
For students without those needs, microschools can be incredibly effective. Not only could our learners move ahead when they were ready, we could also quickly identify and address gaps in their understanding. That level of responsiveness was only possible because of the small size. But that same small size has trade-offs. Fewer students mean fewer sports teams, clubs, and extracurricular options. The number of students to the number of options is directly related. A microschool won’t be a one-stop shop.
Still, we loved our years of microschooling. And if you’re drawn to the idea of personalization and allowing learners to move at their own pace—rather than keeping in step with a whole class—homeschooling offers those same benefits, but amplified.
In our next post, we’ll take a closer look at homeschooling—how it can be leveraged to create a curated educational experience, and the pros and cons of various homeschool structures.
Choosing a Schooling Option: The Four Things School Offers
Monday, December 16, 2024 Savannah, GA, USA
We've all looked for a home to buy or rent. You know it is impossible to find the perfect residence. Along with budget constraints, there are also reality constraints. When you look at what is available, the place with the best kitchen may have the worst bathrooms or inadequate closets. Your best option features wise might be in an inconvenient location. You know the drill. You have to figure out which option will be best, knowing that there is no perfect choice. School is similar.
It's highly unlikely you will find the perfect schooling situation. And if you do, because families change, children change, and groups change, it likely won't remain perfect year after year. Just like when looking for a home, you need to do an honest examination of what matters to you most.
There are four main categories of services that schools offer: support, academics, structured enrichment, and culture.
Support is one of the biggest and most important considerations in today's world. Few parents have extended family to help with childcare, while more and more families have two working parents. More than ever, the childcare aspect of school is critical to families. No teacher likes to think of school as babysitting, but the reality is, for some families, this is exactly what they need.
Within the support category are programs like before-care and aftercare, transportation to and from school, and food preparation on campus. These services can significantly cut down on time obligations for busy working parents.
Realistically, if you don't have one parent functioning as a stay-at-home caregiver, support will be a very important category for you. Everyone is a better parent when they aren't over-extended and frazzled. How well a school fits into a parent's schedule and commute is a practical factor to consider for the sanity of the whole household.
Next, let's look at academics. What does your child need academically? Do they fall into a sweet spot where they'll blend into pretty much any classroom? Do they require extra help and need instructors with specialized training to succeed? Are they a rapid learner who needs the freedom to move more quickly than a most classrooms allows? Are you looking for a specific style of instruction or a particular curriculum?
Along with how your child learns, how important are academics to you? Are they important enough that you're willing to support your child through an academically rigorous program? Or would less rigorous academics be a better fit? No matter how intelligent your child is, they will need support to complete a demanding academic program.
Structured enrichment refers to enrichment activities run by adults with coaching, commitment, and expectations. Examples include sports, theater, and art programs. This does not include young people organizing their own games, bands, or plays.
Some schools focus heavily on specific enrichment activities. For instance, some are well known for their football teams, while others might emphasize an arts program.
Finally, the fourth side of the square is culture. This encompasses socialization, time with friends, and learning how to function in a group—all within a cultural environment that aligns with your values. The culture parents seek is usually one they are comfortable with and see as positively shaping their child. This could include religious affiliation, socioeconomic diversity, affluence, “granola”, or other cultural characteristics.
These are the four main categories that a school provides for families. Which is most important to you? And which are you willing to compromise on to prioritize something in another category? What do you think best fits your family, public school, private school or homeschooling?
2023 Children's Business Fair
Sunday, September 10, 2023 Starland Yard
It's time for a business fair!
Just in time for holiday shopping... Our first annual Children's Business Fair. There is no reason for science to have all the fair fun. We're hosting a fair for young entrepreneurs to show their small business savvy.
Apply here.
Spread the word via the FB Event Page here.
In learner-driven spirit, we ask that all businesses be the child's business.
- Parents of younger children may sit in their booth, but the children are to be responsible for setup, sales and interacting with the customers.
- This event is designed to give children a taste of selling a product. Please let them have that experience.
- Any parent seen selling to the customer or promoting the child’s product will result in disqualification from the competition.
Details
WHAT: Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.No Homework = More Involvement
Monday, November 1, 2021 Savannah, GA, USA
The idea of no assigned homework in Elementary School can be misunderstood.
There is plenty of time to accomplish all school-based elementary academic goals at the studio. There is no need to do additional schoolwork at home.*
No homework makes after-school sports and activities easier to manage. Personal interests have breathing room, whether athletic, academic, artistic or just time to play! All these can be enjoyed after school. As well as relaxed family time to enjoy reading together, taking a bike ride together, cooking together, taking a trip to the beach, or attending a car show with Dad. The list is endless. With so many ways to enrich your time at home, it's a shame to have school take up your family time. No homework means more time to shape a rich family life. Not to be less involved in your child's life.
*Please note that elementary learners may choose to work on their academics at home for various reasons. Sometimes, they wish to work at home on a that they're especially enjoying. Sometimes they work at home to avoid falling behind, allowing them to advance alongside their peers as their peers start to transition to an older studio. Parents need to coach their child on the importance of working at school and encourage their child to use school time to complete work.
Middle School will often have work to do at home if they are not focusing and managing time well at school.
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