Madera Elementary for a former homeschooler?
Hi there,
My 8-year-old is heading to school next year for the first time. I'm hoping to hear from parents of other former homeschoolers about transitioning to Madera. For example, what was it like? How welcoming did the school feel to a newly schooling child? How supportive was the staff? Are there any ways in which Madera seems like a particularly good (or bad!) school for a child making this transition? Anything else a former homeschooler should know about Madera? Thanks!
Apr 16, 2019
Parent Replies
Hi there - Are you just looking at Madera or considering other schools as well? My kids attend Crestmont School, which is a private K-8 co-op school (financial aid available and applications/admissions still ongoing), just down the road from Madera, and there are many families there who have homeschooled. I myself had been seriously considering homeschooling my kids before deciding on Crestmont. I think a lot of homeschool families are drawn to it because of the individualized approaches, project-based learning, and the priority placed on fostering kids' innate love of learning. It's not a place where kids are expected to all proceed at the same pace or reach particular benchmarks. The pedagogical approaches are really fantastic - they're fun and engaging, very hands on, and correspond to the ways kids actually learn. There are no grades or tests, and no homework in the lower grades (and upper grades have meaningful projects, not busywork). The teachers are top notch, and the community of families is awesome. Because it's a co-op, parents can find their own ways to meaningfully contribute to the school, and we all get to know each other and the staff and students. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you'd like more info. We still have some spots for next year. Good luck with the transition, whatever you decide!
https://www.crestmontschool.org/