Your children’s school is crucial to their learning, development, and future. Schools set the foundation not just for their academic growth but for their character development, as well. You want your kids to have the best of everything and this includes using care and consideration when you browse through your options.
If you are wondering what separates one international school from the next, here are a few suggestions on what you should look for.
Academic Strength
It’s not enough to pluck a name out of the long list of private international schools in Dubai, though. You’ll need to consider the school’s academic strength. That’s one of the first things that parents check. What kind of curriculum does the school use? Do curricula encourage students to love learning and ask questions? That’s one of the considerations you’ll want to factor in.
Global Network
Pick a school that operates under a global network. The advantages of that arrangement are obvious. Your kids can connect to their peers around the world. Exposure of that level helps your children develop multiple perspectives. That already gives them an edge over other students in the country. Also, their participation in international activities will allow them to expand their mindset and thinking.
Local Partnerships
Does the school offer partnerships with local businesses or groups? That provides an incredible opportunity to your children. They can get a feel for how a business works. They can ask questions. They might even have the chance to volunteer or pitch their own ideas. That’s the kind of education that sets them up for life. They’ll grow up with training, knowledge, and exposure that allows them to make a difference not just in their lives but in the world.
Commitment to Community
A good school impacts the community it is a part of positively. That’s a quality you’ll want to look for when you check out options for your children’s international school. A school that gives back to its community or that efforts to improve the community through service work is worth a longer look. Schools that let their students participate in service work give students the first taste of being a volunteer. More than that, though, students learn what it feels how to be a part of efforts that help the collective, that give back to the community, and that fosters appreciation for good works. Kids who learn this early grow up to be adults who know the value of volunteerism in the community.
Personalized Teaching
One of the most important details that parents shouldn’t miss is the ratio of the teacher to the students. If there are too many students in a class, and only one teacher, that means that the teacher might not have enough time to devote to teach one. When you pick an international school, find out what the class size is. In some cases, twenty or twenty-five or even twenty-eight students under a teacher is a good number. Some schools might even have an assistant teacher. That means both teachers can easily look after the students. Parents won’t need to worry that their kids are missing out on personalized instructions. The class size and the help of the teacher assistant mean that the full-timer teacher can easily spend more time guiding the children, providing help that’s tailored to their needs, and help if they ever need them in class.
World-Class Faculty
Look for a school that seasoned and passionate teachers. Are they experts in their fields? Are they committed to helping the kids realize their full potential? Are they willing to contribute to the extra-curricular programs? The best teachers aren’t all about teaching lessons in classes. They are all about teaching students to learn life skills. Beyond academic strengths, they nurture and train students to develop compassion, character, and authenticity. They are passionate about sharing what they know. That means they aren’t just there to clock in and clock out by the end of their classes. In a time that requires transitioning to a fully virtual classroom, having teachers who are committed to their work that they do the best they can to build and sustain class engagement is a godsend.
Wonderful Mindset
While they encourage kids to do their best, applaud when their classes achieve high scores, and show their students that they’re happy with their progress, gifted teachers understand one thing: they impact the children’s lives. With the right instruction and support, they raise and mold these kids to become the best versions of themselves. That goes beyond merely teaching them about how to ace in math or get better grades in science. What the best teachers do is teach their students about the most essential human tasks: how to understand others and themselves. They recognize the importance of kindness and they want their students to build on that right along with academic strength.
ALSO READ: How to Make Study Time Fun for Kids
