5 Signs the Traditional Approach to Education Isn’t Working for Your Child [Hint: Personalized Learning Plays a Role]

The traditional approach to education typically focuses on memorization. Teachers give a lecture, students take notes and are tested on the information.

However, this approach doesn’t work for every child. Not all children learn through verbal/auditory instruction. Most children need more personalized learning.

Today, you’ll learn the top signs that the traditional approach to education isn’t working for your child, the seven learning styles, and other education options to consider.

Related: What is a Charter School?

Here are the top signs your child is having difficulty at school:

1. Your Child Doesn’t Want to Attend School or Wants to Change Schools

If your child is asking to stay home or change schools, they might want to avoid the classroom because they are having a difficult time grasping the material. Ask questions to find out how your child feels about their assignments and why they want to change schools.

2. Your Child Has Frequent Illnesses

It can be stressful and frustrating for your child when they don’t understand their schoolwork. Sometimes that stress can present itself physically, in the form of headaches or stomachaches. If your child suffers frequent illnesses, it could be related to how they feel about school.

3. Your Child is in a Bad Mood After School

When your normally optimistic and happy child often returns from school in a bad mood, it can be concerning. It’s important to figure out why your child is unhappy after school. Does it have to do with the teacher, tests, or lack of personalized learning? If your child is having a hard time at school, it could impact their overall happiness. 

4. Your Child’s Teacher Has Concerns

If your child doesn’t have great grades and the teacher contacts you with concerns, your child might not be in the best learning environment. Changing their environment to a more personalized learning approach could mean the difference between a failing and passing grade.

5. Your Child is Bored with School

If your child isn’t engaged with their schoolwork and the material, they might not be challenged academically. This could cause boredom that results in an ineffective learning environment.

Since the traditional approach doesn’t work for every child, you might be wondering, what approach would work? That’s where learning styles and personalized learning comes in.

What is my child’s learning style?

There are seven main learning styles that your child could have:

1. Aural – Children with this learning style prefer to learn with sound and music.
2. Verbal – A verbal learning style means your child learns best through speech and writing. The traditional method of education focuses on this learning style.
3. Physical/Kinesthetic – This is a more hands-on approach. If your child learns by doing, they are a physical learner.
4. Visual – Some children learn best using pictures and images. People with photographic memories have an easier time remembering images than text.
5. Logical – Children with this learning style learn through reasoning. They do well in math and science typically.
6. Solitary – Some people learn best when they’re alone and can work through the material at their own pace.
7. Social – Social learners learn best in groups and through collaboration.

The verbal learning style is the one that is most commonly accommodated in the traditional style of education. Yet a majority of children learn through other methods, like hands-on learning and group projects. Overall, the traditional system doesn’t work for every child and doesn’t necessarily give them the skills they need in the future. 

So, what is an alternative school option?

Public charter schools offer personalized learning to adapt the instructional approach to better meet the needs of its students. Many charter schools are focused on project based learning and social emotional learning, so that your child is set up for success in the real world. With project based learning, they learn how to solve complex real-world problems. And through social emotional learning, they learn to understand and manage their emotions, maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. All great tools for success! 

However, you might be wondering, what is a charter school?

Public charter schools are tuition free, yet they can choose their own curriculum and use more flexible teaching methods. This means that your child’s learning style is taken into account, providing them the best environment to learn.

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