Just when I think that maybe, I could not sent my kids to the private school Noah attends.  Maybe we could then buy that vacation home we want (okay we really don’t want one–but we could have one).  Maybe Bill could get a new car.  Then I listen to something like this and am reminded of all the reasons why I decided to send my kids, not just to any private school, but to this private school. This was about the importance of kindergarten (a good kindergarten–the kind where kids play and learn) but applies to so much more.

The guest on Radio Times, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, spoke directly to the reasons my children are at TCS.  In research, she and another psychologist, have come up with what they call the 6 C’s.  This is based on both psychological science. learning outcomes and the business world–that place so many of our kids will try to get jobs.  As I listened, she could have been describing Noah’s school.

• Collaboration–it is imperative that our children learn how to work in teams and to build community

• Communication–not just speaking but also listening.  Being able to write (not the 5-paragraph essay so many schools teach) but persuasively.

• Content–content is important but it can’t be the only thing.  Reading and Math scores are not all that matter–and really barely matter outside of schools.  Content should include music, history, STEM subjects.  The information/content of our world is said to double every 2 1/2 years–can we really drill all these facts into our kids?

• Critical Thinking–need to be able to create “recipes” for problems.

• Creativity–we can’t only be analytical.  We need and the business world wants more creative innovation.  Look how long it took BP to come up with a solution–we need to teach our kids to be creative innovators.

• Confidence–the students need confidence to try, not to fill in the right blank.  They need to have the confidence to know there are many, many routes to get to the same destination.

So, I’m happy to know my kids are getting the best education they can.  This isn’t to say that their school is the only place they could get this education but it is the only place I can guarantee they’ll get this education every year in everything they do at their school.