Schools are places that teach students, and also where they play, learn skills, and interact with peers. They can be public or private, and they often have a long history.
Attending school events for new families can give you a good impression of the atmosphere and culture at a particular school. But data points don’t tell the full story.
Teachers
Teachers have a unique position in society as they are the ones who are able to communicate knowledge and information to young people. Many people choose to become teachers as they have a passion for helping young people learn. This is often based on a positive school experience themselves or a desire to make a difference in the community.
The responsibilities of teachers are varied and include teaching skills, establishing a classroom environment and implementing curriculum. Some teachers specialise in certain fields, such as science or arts education.
More and more teachers understand that in order to help students learn, they must inspire a love of learning. This new concept of instruction prompts them to abandon lecture-based teaching methods in favor of project-based learning adventures.
Friends
Friendships play a large role in children’s experiences at school. In the early years, kids will probably make friends with kids who live close to them or are in their class, but as they get older friendships can become more stable and form based on shared interests, loyalty, empathy and communication skills. Friendships can help children cope with stressful situations at school, such as tests and extracurricular activities, but they also have the potential to be a source of conflict.
Among the two large typical schools in the analysis sample, similarity in GPA has a positive and significant effect on friend selection. However, in the smaller less typical rural schools, academic achievement does not seem to be a major sorting mechanism for friendship ties.
Attendance
Attendance is an essential building block for learning and a key indicator of student and community needs. Students who are chronically absent – missing two days or more per month, regardless of the reason — are significantly less likely to read at grade level by third grade and are at greater risk for dropping out of high school.
Creating a strong culture of attendance starts at the school level by identifying and responding to barriers that contribute to absences. Involve teachers, parents and students in school-based attendance teams that reflect the community to examine data and identify strategies to address barriers. Engage students and families with incentives such as raffles and parties to increase regular attendance. Ensure that all children can access support services such as dental, flu and health clinics, which are often unavailable to those who miss school.
Skills
From group projects to team sports, school life puts a heavy emphasis on collaboration. This is a necessary skill for almost every job and, as students anticipate higher education and careers, schools should equip them with these valuable tools for learning and-as new research argues-thriving in the workforce.
Schools that incorporate these skills are able to help students become more goal-oriented and build relationships as they realize how school fits into their bigger plans for themselves. Collaborative assignments also cultivate essential workplace skills, such as time management and figuring out how to collaborate in new situations.
However, recent critiques have shown that SEL initiatives can be implemented in culturally insensitive ways that exacerbate psychological harm against marginalized youth. By implementing practices like self-regulation and stress management, schools can ensure their efforts support the development of valued skills, habits, and mindsets for their entire community.
Community
A sense of community is a powerful component in education. It fosters growth, paves the way for exploration and nurtures inspiration that drives curiosity and passion. Without community, students will struggle to achieve their educational and personal goals.
Schools can support their community by implementing collaborative learning opportunities. They can do this by bringing in guest speakers, hosting mentorship programs and engaging with local businesses through collaboration projects.
They can also open their facilities to the local community by offering educational athletic and recreational spaces, theatrical and multipurpose areas, and more. This will help schools to build a good reputation and garner support for their programs from the local area. They should make sure that they are reaching out to all members of the community by removing barriers to engagement, such as translation services or childcare.