Microschools... Who Are They For?

All I’ve ever wanted to do was teach. I have been a high school English Language Arts teacher for over a decade. During that decade, between budget cuts, less and less resources, and then a global pandemic, teaching in the traditional classroom had become a chore and a struggle. I knew my time in a public school was coming to an end, but I didn’t know why. I LOVED teaching. Why was teaching so hard now?

I started asking myself some big questions. Why do I want to teach? What is the point of learning? What should students be doing in school? How do students in THIS generation learn the BEST? These questions really led me to hone in on my personal philosophy of education. Because of that, I was able to craft my new path: to open a microschool for junior high and high school students that brings FUN back into learning. 

That said, if you are a parent who is wondering what is the best educational path for your student, and if it includes a microschool, I have some questions that might help you and your student hone in on your personal philosophies of education and what you want out of your educational journeys! 

I should probably let you know what a microschool actually is. I tell people it’s kind of exactly what it sounds like: A microschool is a small group of students who meet (either part-time or full-time) and work through all the core school subjects with a teacher. Each microschool is unique! Some are only 2 days a week, some are 5 days a week. Some have elementary, some have secondary, and some have both! Some meet in homes; some meet in churches. The cool thing about a microschool is that it can be EXACTLY what your student needs. And so, now let's ask a couple of questions. Ask yourself and your student to see if a microschool is right for you!  

What is the point of education?

When I met with students before my microschool opened, I heard a lot of complaints about their schools. Students were frustrated with the amount of work they were told to do and the lack of meaning they felt with that work. They felt like most of their classes were just checklists of assignments that they were just doing for credit, but didn’t feel like they truly gained anything from that experience. This led me to ask them what they thought about education. Of course, these were older students, but most of them never really thought about it. They just assumed education was grades, assignments, and graduation. Having students really think about the GOAL of education gives students ownership over their own education.  

How do you (your student) learn the best?

We know every student has a different learning style. As a public school teacher for most of my adult life, I could go on and on about how the large class sizes have crippled individual learning styles and FAILS our students. But chances are, if you are reading this, you already know. Take some time with your students, and figure out HOW they learn. If you have multiple children, (as a mom of 2 myself), I can almost guarantee that they have different learning styles. Check out this learning style quiz. Do they like working with others? Do they need music? Do they need tasks chunked and scaffolded? A quiz helps guide this conversation. 

How involved do you, as a parent, want to be in their education?

I encourage parents to always do what is BEST for their families. I know for a FACT that you have a lot going on. I know this! So you really have to think about how much you want to be involved. Do you want to make all the decisions for curriculum, assignments, due dates, feedback, and instruction? Or do you want these choices to be in the hands of a professional whom you trust? Or something in between those two? Only you can decide based on how much you CAN do and what help is available. 

The answer to the last question may lead you to a microschool!

I started my microschool, Noema Learning, to bring joy back into school for junior high and high school students. And that is EXACTLY what I did. The families who come to my microschool know that this is my goal. As I talk with families about Noema Learning, if their goals don’t align with mine, I do my best to find a plan that helps them. Because, even if they don’t choose Noema, I am DEDICATED to making sure their students get the education they deserve. 

Your student deserves the best education possible! Could a microschool be a good fit? If the answer is yes, reach out to me or the Anchor administrative team to get the best education possible for your students!