By Hailey Eisen
When Ekin's family moved from Kleinberg to Brampton, Ontario prior to her starting Grade 6, she and her parents underwent an extensive school search. They researched public and private schools, hoping to find an environment that would not only accommodate Ekin as a learner, but also make her feel happy and welcome. They asked neighbours for recommendations, researched schools online and then visited each one in person. "My parents took me to all the schools with them so that I could see how the classes were run and try to picture myself there," recalls Ekin who is currently in Grade 8.
"I wanted a school that had nice teachers that wouldn't yell at you if you got something wrong, and instead would explain what you could have done to get it right," she says. "I like knowing where my marks go." Ekin was coming from a Montessori school in Kleinberg and was looking for a similar learning environment. As a self-proclaimed visual learner she says: "I wanted a mix of text book and hands-on learning; I like to see pictures and have things laid out for me."
When she visited Rowntree Montessori School in Brampton she was impressed with what she saw. "When I came here I thought: 'Oh, they have lockers and everything,'" she recalls. "The teachers seemed really nice and I liked that they had so many clubs and sports teams if you stayed late after school or arrived early."
According to experts, when parents include their child in the school search—as Ekin's did—they are more likely to find a school that "feels" right; however, equipped with an understanding of the child's learning needs and social behaviours, they will be more likely to find the perfect fit.
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