According to the Christensen Institute, microschools are small, independent schooling programs. They often have students of mixed age groups and one or two educators who facilitate the learning experiences. This interesting trend seems to be increasing in popularity.
Amanda Dervaitis, founder of a micro in Toronto says that while microschools can vary in many ways, one thing they have in common is their size. Microschools, as you might expect, are small and have an intimate learning environment. In particular, you can expect a micro school will have most of the following features related to its size:
- A small student body (10 to 150 students)
- Small, mixed-age classes (12 students or less)
- An intimate, home-like community and environment
While microschools vary in their aims and goals, they tend to share a common approach. This approach is in stark contrast to that of more traditional or conventional schools. Indeed, micro schools tend to have the following alternative or progressive characteristics:
- A student-centred approach
- Non-traditional field and outdoor learning opportunities
- Project-based and personalized learning (similar to Reggio emilia-inspired schools)
- Flexibility and adaptability in terms of:
- Learning environments
- Daily schedules and annual calendars
- Curriculum and approaches
Is Phoenix a microschool?
Yes, we are a “large” microschool. We for sure have that small, one-room feel. We normally serve 125 BlendEd students and 125 home education students in any given year. Phoenix offers custom educational options that emphasize flexibility and adaptability for student learning. We also offer lots of field trips and hands-on activities to enhance learning outcomes. We set our own school year and calendar and offer a unique thematic approach to the curriculum for grades 1-6. And if there is something parents want us to offer, we are happy to have them assist with the organization of those activities.
Are microschools the future?
Micro schools have the ability to be adaptive and responsive to the individual needs of students and as such the model is very appealing in an age where the pace of change is hard to keep up with.
Microschools do have their limits of course, such as fewer extracurriculars and sports clubs. However, the addition of these schools provides much needed choice in education. This is becoming more important as we look to meet the changing needs of our students, so that they can succeed in the 21st century.
Sources include the Christensen Institute, Our Kids Website and the article “Micro School: the Wave of the Future” by Amanda Dervaitis.
Phoenix Education Foundation 