Compulsory education is necessary at a societal level, but traditional schooling often doesn’t work for individual students. The effort to streamline the education process to suit a large classroom full of students means that pupils who don’t fit the mold are frequently left out. Feeling like they don’t belong or that the system isn’t set up to work for them can negatively affect students’ mental health. With an understanding of flexible school models, parents can discover the advantages of providing a great education with less stress.
Personalized Learning
Each kid is unique, with different learning needs and goals. While teachers of large classes may try to customize as much as they can, they often can’t spare the time for all but the neediest students. In flexible learning environments common to private schools and other institutions, teachers create a personalized schedule planning for each student. The learning plan tailors education programs toward students’ individual needs. That way, kids can devote the time to subjects that they need or want to explore, instead of repeating work on concepts they already understand.
Variable Scheduling Options
Just like everyone has unique educational needs, each student learns on a different schedule. Trying to force everyone to start and stop at the same time may work for many, but a tailored schedule works best. Some students need to break up the day to avoid overstimulation or burnout. Others have complicated schedules around doctors’ appointments, internships, or other commitments. Customizing a schedule helps to ensure that students are ready to study at the right time, with plenty of opportunities for rest, relaxation, family time, and activities.
Reduced Stress
For many students, school is like a full-time job, and it can be quite a stressful one. Having to get from class to class, dealing with social activities and conflicts, and staying engaged throughout the day can create a lot of unnecessary stress for students. Flexible school models allow parents to select a program that works best for their students. That might mean smaller class sizes for students with social anxiety, solo testing options for kids with test anxiety, or reduced academic pressure. A lower-stress learning environment means that students can relax while learning, instead of preparing for an onslaught.
Higher Family Engagement
Participation in family activities is important for child development, but students in traditional learning environments often don’t have the time. Recent research shows that high school students spend almost three hours doing homework each night, leaving little time for rest or spending time with family. Educational flexibility often cuts down on the rote practice students have to perform, because they spend variable amounts of time on each subject. This flexibility often frees up time in the schedule, making room for family outings, game nights, and more.
Integrated Well-Being Programs
With a set of curriculum standards set by the state, traditional educational institutions often lack the time to spend on well-being programs for students. Just like adults, students need to take breaks, walk around, stretch their muscles, and switch to different tasks to remain productive. That’s why integrated well-being programs can be so effective. Edmonton Therapy could help with building an educational program around student health, instead of the other way around, allows for breaks and other necessities for student performance. Kids may do better in their studies when they can attend to their health, even if they’re not spending as much time in each course.
Students learn best when they have an environment that is built to support their unique needs. By considering the advantages of flexible school models, parents and guardians can discover ways to support their students throughout their education.
Author bio: Dr. Brent Goldman is the CEO and Founder of Xceed Preparatory Academy, a Cognia-accredited network of private and virtual schools for grades 6-12. A former public-school educator, he has spent over 25 years pioneering innovative education models, including The Sagemont School and Smart Horizons Career Online Education. Through Xceed’s personalized learning approach, he helps students succeed with flexible schedules, an online curriculum, and dedicated academic support.
