Category Archives: School

Anything that will help you determine your child’s best schooling options

Getting Ready for the School Year

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Wow!  The summer is almost over and the new 2012-2013 school year is just around the corner.

 

Here are some ideas to help you and your child get a HEAD START ON SUCCESS.

  • A week before school make sure that bedtime and wake-up time is in place to insure a happy start to everyone’s day.
  • How about a little practice on those math facts?
    • This is great to do as an activity in the car!   “Sarah, how much is 7×8?”
    • Include MIND MATH too!  “If you and I go to the store and buy 4 goldfish and we give 1 to a friend, how many fish will we have for our fishbowl?”
  • Get those hand and arm muscles ready for writing.
    • Crayola Modeling Compound is so much fun and not messy at all!
    • How about sponges in the pool?
    • Finger paint with pudding.
    • Write letters in hardened jell-o,
  • On these hot days, a trip to the library to pick up some books to read could be great fun.  Remember children learn as much from hearing you read as they do from reading themselves!
  • Make a list of school supplies.
    • For younger ones – draw pictures of what needs to be found for school.
    • For older children have them make the list and when they are shopping plan enough time that they may be able to add how much money they are spending (Sure! Round it off to the next dollar!)
  • Go through your children’s closets to weed out the “this is too small pile”.  Then talk about donating the clothes to Good Will or a shelter for children to use who are less fortunate!

Have fun and be safe. Katherine

Guidelines for Finding Quality Early Childhood Programs

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Please know that when searching for a quality environment in which your child will both grow and thrive, the school should be licensed by the state of Texas.

In addition, if you want your child to attend a preschool with the highest level of accreditation standards, search for programs accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Some of the things you will want the program to have include

  • Trained administration
  • Clear mission and/or philosophy statement
  • State licensing compliance
  • Maintaining developmentally appropriate practices throughout the daily programming and curriculum
  • Staff qualifications and educational development requirements – at least 24 hours of training each year
  • Open door policy
  • Security system in place
  • On-going program evaluation
  • Parent program evaluation conducted yearly
  • Loving and guiding interaction between faculty and children
  • Consistent and frequent interaction between parents and teachers
  • Health and safety a priority

If you need additional support, please let me know how I can help. Katherine

Sensory Integration

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Beginning to Understand the Importance of Movement

Is your child’s body working for him or against him?

 

The purpose of the following activities is to promote better movement, balance, equilibrium, vestibular processing and integration.  Much research has been and is currently being done to show the need for and importance of movement.  Remember again these activities are to be encouraged and/or suggested not forced on any child.

PROPRIOCEPTIVE input refers to the feedback from the muscles and joints providing information about where the body is, where it is moving, and how much force is being used.  This type of information is essential to the body MOTOR PLANNING, SEQUENCING, and DEVELOPING POSTURAL STRENGTH.

Here are some calming and organizing body activities that mean heavy work is needed.

  • Wall pushes
  • Moving heavy objects (furniture, vacuuming, carrying several books in a back pack, mopping)

When TACTILE input (for protection, discrimination, and often calming) is needed:

  • Hand fidgets
  • Chewing sugarless gum (increases alertness and organizing)
  • Sour Candy (increases alertness) like lemon drops
  • Small carrots

The VESTIBULAR system mechanism is located in the inner ear and is activated by movement or by changing head position.  It is a very important sense, but it is often taken for granted.

Movement is a potent sensory input and must always be used with caution and carefully monitored.  Providing vestibular types of activities is usually fun and easy.  Many childhood games such as jumping, tag, swinging and merry-go-round involve a significant amount of movement.

Precautions against falling or bumping are a necessity.  The movement sensation itself – mainly spinning – can be intense, disorganizing, and potentially harmful to the child.  When equipment is used to encourage vestibular activities, THE CHILD SHOULD BE IN CONTROL.  For instance, a hammock can be hung low enough to the ground so that the child can easily make it go or stop.  Additionally precaution should be taken for the child with slow processing or poor language development.

  • Office chair that spins and/or has rollers 
  • Rocking chair
  • Bouncing on exercise ball
  • Tree swing or tire swing
  • Trapeze work
  • Swinging, merry-go-round, slides

This is just a beginning look at Sensory Integration.  More later!   Katherine

Is Your Child Ready For Preschool or Kindergarten?

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Knowing signs of readiness for school is an important element in insuring your child’s success at the next level of his/her learning.   Parents usually think about choosing a great school for their young child but often ask,  “Is My Child Ready?”   Knowing as a parent you have worked hard at choosing the RIGHT place is only the beginning.

As important as cognitive readiness, knowing letters, colors and shapes, is the knowledge and experience of being a positive participant in the classroom.  Children come from a variety of backgrounds.  Some have attended Mother’s Day Out; some Day Care, some preschool and some have stayed at home.  These environments also help in the preparation process.

But does your child have
the right tools for success?

Let the bulleted list help you begin the process of deciding whether your child is ready for kindergarten?

  • Does your child separate easily from you?
  • Does your child have good self-help skills relating to dressing,
    say they do not feel well, eat snacks and treats without assistance, and have independent bathroom skills?
  • Is your child easily understood when speaking?
  • Does your child have good communication skills to be able to express desires and needs?
  • Does your child have good personal boundaries?
  • Does your child enjoy group activities?  Taking turns and waiting is hard to do, but a necessary skill.
  • Does your child relate well to other adults?  Other children?

Knowing your child’s readiness can help insure his/her success!

 

Teacher In-Service Training Hour

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Time for a fun-filled Teacher In-Service Training Hour and earn a Certificate

 

Where:  Lakeshore Learning Center in Dallas – Located on the NE corner of Alpha and the Tollway

When:  Thursday, April 26

  • Time:  6:30-7:30P
  • TOPIC:  Dinosaur Discoveries

When:  Thursday, May 24

  • Time:  6:30-7:30P
  • TOPIC:  Life on the Farm

Great fun and a fabulous NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY