Since we wrote our blog post on Parenting Your Right Brain Kinesthetic Learner, Private School Challenges, we have received quite a reaction from parents.  Specific reactions included:

• “We appear to have created a “Private School Challenge”.  Private schools are becoming much more selective. Is this likely to get better or worse and what can a parent do?”
• “The private school has told me that my child needs to improve their performance to be invited back.  They offer in school tutoring.  Is that the best option?”
• “Is private school the best option for the bright right brain kinesthetic learner or is public school and investing in private interventions a better option?”

Parenting Your Bright Right Brain Kinesthetic Learner, Why Private Schools are Likely to Become Even More Selective 

As we described in our prior blog post, the demand for private schools has increased dramatically as:

• Those parents who are financially able to afford private school, like the option.
• Many families from the Northeast and the Midwest have moved to South Florida.   Many are financially stable and like the private school options, thinking they are better educational options.
• Private school vouchers have made private schools affordable for many parents.
• The pandemic made private schools more desirable as they tended to remain open to “in-person” learning. For our Right Brain Kinesthetic learners, this was a huge benefit.
• What is happening in 2023 is likely to accelerate the growth in private school demand as:
  • • Public and charter schools are experiencing more challenges as so many kids are behind as well as a hostile political environment toward public schools.
    • School vouchers are likely to be available to many more students.
    • More parents want a safer environment with less behavior issues.

Several things a parent can do when considering private school for their child:

1.     Start your school search early and be aware that your child might not get into your first option, even though you have followed all of the application procedures.  Have a Plan B and potentially a Plan C.
2.    Read any psychoeducational reports carefully before submitting them to a private school.
   One case from a family moving from the Northeast, where their daughter had no behavior problems at school, but was a challenge at home, stated the child was “difficult”. The private school rejected their application, citing behavioral challenges that were reported over a year ago.  Work with your child’s psychologist to remove red flags, where appropriate. You want to be truthful, and get appropriate help, and professionals can help in this area. If your child is acting out or frustrated, it is often a sign that they are struggling somewhere in the school environment. 
3.    Consider public schools or alternative private schools.  There are also new or relatively new private school options that may be an excellent fit.
4.    Be a collaborative parent – focusing on how you can make it work.  In a market where private schools have the upper hand; combative parents will find it hard.  We always look for the win-win.
5.    Private school tutoring may be the right intervention if a child just needs one-on-one help and learns the way the teacher teaches.  

For the right brain kinesthetic learner, a tailored outside intervention may be better if they:

• Teach using an engaging, experiential and more effective approach.
• Identify and/or address the relevant executive function issues (e.g., working memory, processing speed and attention issues.
• Help you to be the coach and advocate your child needs.

 6.    Consider outside interventions.  We have helped parents:

• Have their child stay in a very competitive private school by increasing the student’s reading comprehension 3 grade levels in less than a year.
• Have their child go from an expensive academy to a public school the following year and into the gifted program the year after that by significantly improving his reading comprehension and attention.
• Reduce their monthly tutoring costs.  A family was spending $750 a month on tutors, and we significantly reduced the amount of tutoring needed, over the years to come, with our program.

The good news is that many bright right brain kinesthetic learners can make significant gains in months.

We offer a no cost conversation to help you navigate these challenging issues.  You can arrange a conversation by either:
– Giving us a call at 561-361-7495 or
– Clicking here to Schedule a Conversation