Finding the Right Fit
Finding the right school fit can happen with specialized education. A lot of parents want the best for their children, but don’t know what options are out there. These schools offer specialized training and are not often thought of as a resource.
There are a lot of options out there, and a lot of families don’t even know they exist. Although this doesn’t always guarantee a good fit, it can help you get to the right one with a clearer picture of what you need to look for. Educating yourself about all these options can help you make an informed choice.
Be supportive. Schools and districts will focus on the success of each student, which is key. Students who aren’t able to succeed in one school environment can benefit from being educated in a more specialized setting. An inclusive school environment is also necessary, so pay attention to the experiences your student has with their peers and teachers. Prejudice is not dead in the school system, and being ostracized because of their identity can ruin their whole school experience.
Apply the same to the parent-teacher relationship as you would to the relationship you have with your child’s teacher or the other adults in the classroom. There should be communication throughout the entire process. Find out if they are open to your asking questions and welcome your ideas, and be a team player. You are both in this together.
Be involved. Do your homework. Make a list of the characteristics you want in a school, and follow it closely throughout the process. This will help you with the school selection process and create a level of trust from the beginning.
Take on the responsibility of communication. Parents have a responsibility to be involved in school-related activities. Involve the principal or other adults in the process. Be respectful of any rules that are put in place, but make sure you are also held accountable. Be aware that parents will be expected to care for and facilitate their child’s growth.
Prepare yourself for what to expect. It’s hard not to stress about the competition for school and the difficulties in finding the right fit. Be realistic about how much you will be able to do for your child.
Parents who have faced the difficulties of locating and choosing a school know how hard it is to find the best high school or private school for their student’s needs. These options are harder to find than some but can be worth everything and more for your student to find where they belong. Find out where they are, talk to the teachers, and see what you can do to help improve them and make them better for your children.
Automotive
Automotive schools teach car maintenance and repair. Banking Schools teach math. IT and computer science Schools teach programming and coding. Dental School teaches dental hygiene. The list goes on and on. So how can someone go from barely passing a class in high school to being enrolled in a 4-year college and receiving a 4-year degree in 4 years?
The answer: Vocational education. But vocational education, in order to be successful, needs to be personalized. It is not enough to take a typical job training course or, worse, attend a “boot camp” and get a job. We often wonder why so many people feel like they need to go through a traditional school setting for a career. Why not look into automotive schools that teach car maintenance and repair if you’re into cars?
Automotive schools teach technical, business, and management courses for those who are interested in working in the auto industry as an employee or as a career, rather than getting a typical job. These institutions help not only with basic math skills, but also with reading and writing skills, as well as professional career training, resume development, and interview skills.
A typical automotive education course will fully equip someone to begin an apprenticeship or further technical work at a place of business. After taking classes in design, mechanical engineering, and technical math classes, they’ll have the knowledge to work on a car, do auto body repair, figure out parts on a car, and repair the car.
Going into auto school, many students don’t know what kind of job they’ll end up doing in the auto industry. However, it’s often easy for students like this to realize early on that they don’t want to spend their academic career learning things they aren’t interested in. There’s nothing wrong with being more interested in getting your hands dirty rather than sitting in a classroom, and opportunities to pursue that early on can save students, and their parents, a lot of headaches.
Engineering and Mechanics
Taking classes in electronics, control systems, mechatronics, and other mechanics can prepare students for jobs in the engineering field. More than just giving students hands-on experience, vocational education also ensures that they have a firm foundation in problem-solving and critical thinking skills. If your local high school or middle school doesn’t offer vocational education, it’s time to investigate your options.
High school students of all backgrounds can take advantage of new partnerships between colleges and companies. They empower students to discover and create with technology. Engineering can be a great option for you if you don’t have a strong interest in taking a traditional college route. Consider enrolling in technology-focused classes, creating your own projects, and applying technology to solve real problems. You may even find yourself more engaged in your work and pursuing careers you never thought possible.
Sometimes, vocational schools can provide this training, and other times it will be offered through a technical college. Either way, you can create a pathway to a successful, fulfilling future in technology.
Don’t let fear dictate what you learn. Take classes like computer programming and control systems if you’re interested in working in automotive manufacturing. Explore welding training schools, or circuitry engineering if it appeals to you. Industrial welders are in high demand, and they often end up in auto body repair and the automotive industry. Those with engineering backgrounds can take control of manufacturing jobs and come up with great, new ways to improve manufacturing processes and enhance efficiency. When it comes to education, the opportunities are endless.
Cosmetology and Nursing
Cosmetology and nursing schools are alternative schools where many kids who enjoy helping people can go to get a feel for the work. Nursing is a massive industry constantly growing and serves as a great educational path to start early. Even if the student doesn’t pursue nursing after graduation, the training is usually a good start for any health field, including public health, veterinary services, and teaching. As everyone knows, healthcare careers require extensive education, and if the student knows for sure they want to work in the field, why not get them started early?
Nail tech classes often run small classes for a wide range of age groups. This is a great choice for high school students who find more interest in the specific kinds of art and technique that go into the beauty industry. Classes will usually include studying the history and development of technology and styles. The most important part though is the opportunity to work with your hands, and to pick up practical skills that can almost guarantee a career right out of school. If makeup, hair styling, design, or hospitality are things your student shows interest in, this is the perfect chance to help them find a career they’re passionate about.
Doing What You Love
With Common Core and all of the other pressures and challenges on kids, taking time out for themselves to do what they love can be hard. You may have heard about programs like the Trues 5/10/15 plan that encourages kids to take part in the things they love to do. Make that goal a reality for your child and you will see a difference in their life and your peace of mind.
From playing sports and doing arts and crafts to hanging out with friends and socializing, there is no shortage of enjoyable ways to spend your teen years. If you help them identify the important activities and friends, and do your best to stay involved with them, they will have a wonderful time and find opportunities to take more time out for themselves.
All of this takes time. They need time to adjust to all of the changes in their life, build new friendships, and learn to keep more distractions to a minimum. Make sure that you give them the time to build those habits and patterns and keep their time free of distractions so they can continue to thrive and grow throughout the next few years.
Video production is a great way to have your teen participate in an exciting project and learn many new things. The experience can help them decide what they want to be when they grow up and gain the skills to do what they love.
Constructive Summer Schools
Summer schools are largely ineffective unless they manage to properly address the root of the student’s trouble. By and large, vocational courses give students with behavioral issues an active outlet, and can actually improve performance in the classroom.
Progressive education is a form of selective education for adults. Education is critical in all aspects of life, from our workplaces to our communities. A system that advances the learning of both school-aged and adult learners is essential to improving community outcomes. Learning has to be continuous, and programs designed for multiple levels of students must be relevant to our challenges.
Education into Adulthood
Education has to be relevant to our challenges and that’s where continuing education services come into play. Adult learners need educational opportunities that foster their development to the full range of postsecondary and career options. A supportive career skills network of opportunities, apprenticeships, certificates, certificate series, employment skills, on-the-job training, service learning, and job shadowing, help adults develop important soft skills needed for the workforce. These programs provide access to supportive environments where participants can gain valuable work-focused training in a variety of career-related fields.
Continuing education programs can contribute to economic recovery, develop jobs and resources and improve our lives. They can contribute to our efforts to prepare students for all opportunities. Opportunities in sustainable energy, energy efficiency, emerging technologies, video production, and agriculture. This can also help people with disabilities get the chance to learn in a space that’s comfortable. Even just having the option for remote work or returning student programs can give people the second chance they need to find work that they love.
Programs need to be designed to encourage student access, and sometimes this means the use of summer programs can be useful. It is important to attend all school-based and adult-oriented programs that offer a pathway to employment and educational opportunities for students.