Schools that excel in teaching writing, analysis and critical thinking

[Anonymous]

I'm a writing tutor and have worked with students from many different schools, both public and private. In general, I would agree that smaller class sizes give independent schools an advantage in teaching writing and critical thinking. Teachers can also engage students in discussion and debate more easily, helping them develop fluency and confidence in oral communication. My own children, whose temperaments and academic interests vary, were all well-prepared for college by their experiences in three very different independent schools.

With regard to sentence diagramming, while it's a great way to learn grammar, it's of limited value in learning how to write. Writing is thinking; even if you can diagram a sentence, you can't write effectively unless you know how to conduct research, synthesize your findings, structure an argument and use voice with nuance and verve. Sentence diagramming won't teach any of that. Studying a foreign language can be another way for students to develop a better understanding of English grammar, and, of course, learning to speak another language has many other benefits as well. In my experience, the best way to learn grammar is by osmosis. Kids who read good writing will absorb grammar like sponges soak up water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a writing tutor and have worked with students from many different schools, both public and private. In general, I would agree that smaller class sizes give independent schools an advantage in teaching writing and critical thinking. Teachers can also engage students in discussion and debate more easily, helping them develop fluency and confidence in oral communication. My own children, whose temperaments and academic interests vary, were all well-prepared for college by their experiences in three very different independent schools.

With regard to sentence diagramming, while it's a great way to learn grammar, it's of limited value in learning how to write. Writing is thinking; even if you can diagram a sentence, you can't write effectively unless you know how to conduct research, synthesize your findings, structure an argument and use voice with nuance and verve. Sentence diagramming won't teach any of that. Studying a foreign language can be another way for students to develop a better understanding of English grammar, and, of course, learning to speak another language has many other benefits as well. In my experience, the best way to learn grammar is by osmosis. Kids who read good writing will absorb grammar like sponges soak up water.

Diagramming mother. It's about understanding grammar and how to use language correctly. It is not about good critical writing, which is so much more as you point out, but proper usage of language does help clarity even then. I also think the exercise of deconstructing a sentence and putting it back together visually is a first step that sets the stage for a student to be able to deconstruct texts to analyze them critically. Yes, you can do that without knowing a thing about diagramming, but diagramming helps.

[Anonymous]

Potomac School

[Anonymous]

Foreign language grammar structure and syntax don't naturally translate to English. And grammar for most needs explicit instruction, not just osmosis.

[Anonymous]

Hard to beat the IB program for writing skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Jesuit schools...Georgetown Prep, Gonzaga

You are joking I hope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Jesuit schools...Georgetown Prep, Gonzaga

You are joking I hope.

No joke. These schools excel in the teaching of all liberal arts subjects...especially English. I suspect you are ignorant about this fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hard to beat the IB program for writing skills.

Why do you think that is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Foreign language grammar structure and syntax don't naturally translate to English. And grammar for most needs explicit instruction, not just osmosis.

Yes, of course, English differs from other languages; the differences are exactly what piques one's curiosity, leading to greater awareness and understanding. As for learning by osmosis, I'll stand by my experience in this regard. There are some fine points of grammar which require instruction and drill, but, a student who reads widely will grasp these points more quickly having seen them in context.

[Anonymous]

Potomac School +1

[Anonymous]

In response to the supposed writing tutor, it depends on what students are reading. Literature today has mutilated grammar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a writing tutor and have worked with students from many different schools, both public and private. In general, I would agree that smaller class sizes give independent schools an advantage in teaching writing and critical thinking. Teachers can also engage students in discussion and debate more easily, helping them develop fluency and confidence in oral communication. My own children, whose temperaments and academic interests vary, were all well-prepared for college by their experiences in three very different independent schools.

With regard to sentence diagramming, while it's a great way to learn grammar, it's of limited value in learning how to write. Writing is thinking; even if you can diagram a sentence, you can't write effectively unless you know how to conduct research, synthesize your findings, structure an argument and use voice with nuance and verve. Sentence diagramming won't teach any of that. Studying a foreign language can be another way for students to develop a better understanding of English grammar, and, of course, learning to speak another language has many other benefits as well. In my experience, the best way to learn grammar is by osmosis. Kids who read good writing will absorb grammar like sponges soak up water.

As a tutor for kids, I am sure you have seen many types of kids. My kid, who reads more than anyone I have ever met, can write well, analytically and critically. However, he has horrific spelling, verb tense problems and punctuation all over the map. There has been very little osmosis.

He needs formal instruction in grammar to refine his natural gifts of comprehension, synthesis and style. Just as some kids who pick this stuff up by osmosis need help developing ideas and transferring them to paper.

I think most kids can benefit by a stron background in grammar and some kids get that in ES and some not until HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a writing tutor and have worked with students from many different schools, both public and private. In general, I would agree that smaller class sizes give independent schools an advantage in teaching writing and critical thinking. Teachers can also engage students in discussion and debate more easily, helping them develop fluency and confidence in oral communication. My own children, whose temperaments and academic interests vary, were all well-prepared for college by their experiences in three very different independent schools.

With regard to sentence diagramming, while it's a great way to learn grammar, it's of limited value in learning how to write. Writing is thinking; even if you can diagram a sentence, you can't write effectively unless you know how to conduct research, synthesize your findings, structure an argument and use voice with nuance and verve. Sentence diagramming won't teach any of that. Studying a foreign language can be another way for students to develop a better understanding of English grammar, and, of course, learning to speak another language has many other benefits as well. In my experience, the best way to learn grammar is by osmosis. Kids who read good writing will absorb grammar like sponges soak up water.

As a tutor for kids, I am sure you have seen many types of kids. My kid, who reads more than anyone I have ever met, can write well, analytically and critically. However, he has horrific spelling, verb tense problems and punctuation all over the map. There has been very little osmosis.

He needs formal instruction in grammar to refine his natural gifts of comprehension, synthesis and style. Just as some kids who pick this stuff up by osmosis need help developing ideas and transferring them to paper.

I think most kids can benefit by a stron background in grammar and some kids get that in ES and some not until HS.

I'm sure you're right about your son needing help in certain areas, though, again, I would suggest that language study might be quiet effective in this regard. In particular, studying Latin has great benefits as far as spelling and vocabulary. In any case, it's wonderful that your son's love of reading has sharpened his ability to think critically and write well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have to say all the top schools in this area St. Albans/NCS, GDS, Sidwell, and Potomac. I know because i have looked at those schools and all seem top notch. We are not applying to all of them because of "fit" but most of them. I imagine Maret as well, though we haven't looked there. Basically, from what I have seen, you can't go wrong with any of the name brand schools.

+1 from a GDS parent. All the more competitive admissions independents offer fantastic programs to develop writing and thinking skills. There are differences in the curriculum and areas of emphasis, but you can get a solid sense of the variations by looking at what students are reading in English and history and social science classes. In nearly every instance, the writing load is driven by the teacher-student ratio. Required English and social studies classes in the publics have to cater to students who will barely graduate from high school. Public school teachers, even at the AP level, just don't have the time to ask students to do a lot of writing and thoughtful analysis. I think the expectations at the name brand independent high schools are on par or higher than what you would find in most freshman and sophomore classes at SLACs and big state universities.

Generally much higher. The awful writing of the typical college student is amazing (and unsettling). Some high school teachers at local highly regarded private schools have also said that although the kids they get are as smart as ever, the writing has deteriorated because so many fewer kids do a meaningful amount of reading for pleasure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Foreign language grammar structure and syntax don't naturally translate to English. And grammar for most needs explicit instruction, not just osmosis.

Yes, of course, English differs from other languages; the differences are exactly what piques one's curiosity, leading to greater awareness and understanding. As for learning by osmosis, I'll stand by my experience in this regard. There are some fine points of grammar which require instruction and drill, but, a student who reads widely will grasp these points more quickly having seen them in context.

Another teacher here. I don't oppose teaching grammar (learning to recognize common trouble areas and do it right is important), but the single most effective method of becoming a good writer is, I also believe, from reading -- lots and lots, and lots of well-written material (and that would include children's literature -- Harry Potter, Narnia books, Golden Compass, Hunger Games books, etc. -- plenty of fun and well-written stuff out there for kids and young adults).

If you can bear the years of fighting over screen time, and are willing to put away your own devices in leisure time (says the woman who loves House of Cards -- I know this is not easy), the single best thing you can do at home to support your child's education is to model reading for pleasure and try to put a structure in place where your child reads for pleasure. Not easy, but worth it. Almost every great student writer I come across loves to read (and the relationship may be 100% -- I don't always know their outside reading habits).