Fay School Blog

It’s impossible to talk about homeschooling without first acknowledging that parents choose to homeschool for a wide range of reasons and that there is no “one size fits all” approach to a homeschool program. Just as diverse are the many reasons why parents may choose to transition to a traditional school environment at some point in their child’s schooling. The impetus could be a change in the family’s schedule, a desire for increased social stimulation with their peer group, or the need to prepare the student for a mainstream high school or college experience.

Transitioning to a private middle school for the seventh or eighth grade--or to a school like Fay that also offers a capstone ninth grade program--can be a great way to manage the transition to a traditional school environment while maintaining the academic rigor and specialized attention of a homeschooling experience. Here are some features to look for as you consider making the transition.

While there are always one or two students in every class who just seem hardwired to excel in school, the reality is that most kids have to learn the organizational skills, test-taking strategies, and executive function skills that will make them strong students. Schools that explicitly teach their students the study skills and habits of being a successful student provide their students with a distinct advantage.

by Jay Besch, Upper School Music Teacher

When I was growing up, my parents worked for the State Department of the United States. This meant that I did not spend most of my childhood in America, but rather in other countries around the world. In seventh grade, my family moved to Egypt. Egypt is an incredible country with a rich cultural history and stunning landscape. My family has always been outdoorsy, and so when we were invited by friends to go camping in the desert we packed up our car and off we went.

On the hunt for a great read-aloud to share with your child? Look no further! This list includes classics and new wonders to read aloud to your children. Books are listed alphabetically by title, and descriptions are adapted from publisher descriptions or the Fay School library catalog summaries. We hope they will ignite imagination, foster conversation, and keep the pages turning!

- by Fay's Primary, Lower, and Upper School division heads

This summer, our faculty read The Power of Meaning: Finding Fulfillment in a World Obsessed with Happiness by Emily Esfahani Smith. In her book, Smith outlines four stages of finding meaning: belonging, purpose, storytelling, and transcendence. With our students ensconced in daily routines of the school year and actively engaged in questioning, learning, and doing, we have begun to reflect with them on the power of story.