As a teacher, I’ve always told the parents that I interact with that I am here to work with them as a teammate. I want to see their child succeed and I want to work along side the parent to make sure there is consistency on behalf of the child. Having a successful parent-teacher partnership holds some important value, as well.

According to PBS, having a positive parent-teacher relationship can lead to success in school. It shows that your child can trust his teacher, because you do. Now I get it, there will be times when you don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye with your child’s teacher; but we both still want that end goal of success in school. So what can we do?

Here are some steps to make sure the parents and the teachers are all a part of one team.

1. Communication: This step easily creates a gateway of opportunities for success. I like to tell myself “if you don’t ask, you won’t receive”. If I need to know something in order to benefit my student (for example, their schedule), I need to ask in order to get my information. I would like to think that the same goes for the parents, as well.

If the parent wants/needs to know details about what is going on in school, or maybe the parent wishes to talk about options regarding optimal learning, the parent needs to approach the teacher. There are many communication styles available these days; from email, phone calls, conferences, and messaging, the team is bound to find a mode of communication that works best for them.

2. Relationships: According to guidance counselor, Linda Lendman, “this is one of the first relationships with an adult your child may have outside of the family unit.” This means that you are helping your child build a skill of learning how relationships work, develop, and unfold.

Come to this parent-teacher relationship with respect and watch how your child’s relationship with their teacher develops. You child spends a lot of time in the classroom, and you want them to have a positive experience, without possible negative predispositions about the adult role model in the room.

3. Remember your own experiences: Think on your own elementary experiences and I am sure you will remember teachers you both liked and disliked. Try and keep that in mind when working with your child’s teachers. When your child is in a class with someone you connect with, that is a great set up for a positive parent-teacher relationship!

However, if you find yourself not necessarily agreeing with the teacher, take a step back and remember the goal: success in a positive school environment. Remember to respectfully ask for what it is you want/need on behalf of your child. Understand that there will always be people you and your child won’t agree with, but how are you going to use this as a learning opportunity in fostering positive/meaningful relationships.

I truly hope these steps help you find peace in knowing that successful parent-teacher relationships are attainable. This relationship will take attention, time, and work, just like any other but it can be so rewarding in the benefits your child will see. As a teacher, I want you to know that we are all in it together, we’re a team!

~Ms. Caitlin
Wellness Coordinator
Lead Floater

Often we have no clue where to start this conversation about diversity, or maybe we just don’t and push it aside. It’s okay to be afraid to have this conversation, but get informed, buckle up, and do it.

Do some research on things that you may not know so much about; such as languages or specific disabilities. This can also be a great educational time for you as well. You do not want to send your children out into the world not knowing how to perceive others in a respectful manner. We want our children to have an understanding of cultural differences and be accepting of all.

This is a tender topic that may put the same kind of pressure on as having the birds and the bees’ conversation, but if we want to grow children with a deep understanding of inclusion, then we have to have these uncomfortable conversations.

Here are some easy ways to help get the message to your preschooler:

• It’s okay to have conversations about diversity. If you child has a question, then answer them. They are not trying to be rude. It is better that you explain what they are asking so that they have the correct information.
• Reading diverse books daily will have an impact all its own. Making it a regular habit of seeing all kinds of people doing all kinds of things will make an impact.
• Look for other intentional learning moments. Take your children to events or festivals to learn more about others.
• Be specific when telling children how to refer to others. Always use that person’s name. Avoid using labels and making that apart of their language at all.
• Be all inclusive even if you do not celebrate certain things. Talk to your children about all holidays, religions, race, disabilities, sexual orientation, and types of families. Do this in a way that you are comfortable with, but let them know that the world is more than what they see, and that it is not black and white.
• Find a balance of differences and similarities in your lives. It is important to build upon similarities to create empathy. If they can relate they are less likely to discriminate. It is important to point out the differences as well to expand your child’s mind, not keep them in their box of what is “right” or “normal”.
• Ask open ended questions such as: “what made you notice that?”

Accept that you child will say things at some point or another that will totally embarrass you; try to realize that they are not trying to be hurtful they just don’t know. That is where you will swoop in with your newly learned skills to lead them in the right direction.

Model these inclusive behaviors and use appropriate language. Children are very observant. They are listening to what you are saying. They look up to you, and if you say it then they will think it is okay for them to say as well.

~Ms. Brooke
Lead Pre-K Teacher
Early Literacy Coordinator
Curriculum Coordinator

It’s finally starting to feel like spring! We are now able to open the windows and let the fresh air roll in with the warm sunshine! Well, until you and your children start coughing because you realize its time to deep clean the windows and the dust bunnies are in full force-haha! Seriously!

Spring cleaning can be such a great feeling to get rid of the old single socks, clean those dust bunnies, and tidy up the house from top to bottom. This can feel very overwhelming! Trying to take this on without help from your kiddos in my opinion is a ‘no-go’. Now that my kids are a bit older they will be included in taking on the spring cleaning tasks!

In our classroom, we expect these preschoolers to start cleaning up after themselves. When they dump an entire box of Legos out onto the floor, I am not the one picking them up. They take on the responsibility of cleaning up after their own messes. This gives them the control, the responsibility, the fine motor practice. If I just clean it up for them, all of these important opportunities are taken away instantly. We hope that this practice of cleaning up after themselves transfers over into their home life as well.

No age is too young!

Yes, even your one year old can help! Give them a damp rag and let them go to town! They can help you clean the walls, floor, and windows with just a wet rag! Doing this along with you as you really get the grime helps build so many important skills and gives them a chance to start helping out. As your child gets older, give them more appropriate age related tasks.

My three year old will help clean up any toys or messy spills that he creates; we get him to participate a little better if we make it fun. He likes to sing the ‘clean up’ song (by Daniel Tiger) while he picks up his toys. He also likes to race his sister while they pick up. Making small games or just singing a simple song makes a huge difference at this age.

For older kiddos, have them start to actually take on responsibility of regularly cleaning. Specifically for this spring cleaning time, I am on a huge purging kick. I gave my 6 year old specific tasks that I could have easily done for her, but by her doing them she gets to take on some responsibility which turns into taking pride in her hard work.

Some tasks I gave her this year were:

• getting rid of 10 stuffed animals
• trying on all her questionable fitting clothes, and getting rid of those that were too small
• helping organize the playroom

I gave her easy goals to meet and let her go to work. In the end, she was really proud to help with these tasks and so far has kept things put away as she had cleaned. She’s proud of her hard work and so am I.

I have attached a chart of age appropriate cleaning tasks for children that I found online. I find it helpful to visually see the breakdown by ages. So don’t take on all the stress of spring cleaning! Let your children help with some of the tasks they are able to do and let them take pride in keeping a clean and happy home!

Summer vacation is one of the most exciting times school kids look forward to every year. This is their chance to break away from all the studying and homework, projects and assignments. It also means more time for playing and having fun. As a parent, you want your child to make the most of their vacation. So if you’re looking for excellent summer childcare, you may want to send your child to a summer camp. Summer camps are more than just having fun, sing alongs, playing, and building a campfire. They provide plenty of opportunities for kids to develop skills. Summer camps also teach children how to build meaningful relationships, how to be independent and other valuable traits. If you would like your child to have an awesome and productive summer, here are some tips to help you choose the best summer camp program for them.

Set your child’s expectations

Before you start looking, talk to your child and discuss the idea of summer camp. Ask them about the things they want to do this summer. Do they have specific activities they want to try? Whom do they want to spend their summer with? Are there new things they would like to accomplish or learn? The answers you get from your child could be your basis for choosing the right summer program for them. If they want to focus on sports or swimming, or they want to develop their skills in arts and crafts, you can find the summer camp program that features these activities.

Do your research

Look into a variety of summer programs before making a final decision. Be sure that the program encourages new learning and development. Find out how the summer program will contribute to your child’s future studies and career. You can use the internet as one of your resources. Check individual child care/summer camp websites and go through the list of programs they provide. See what is included in the tuition. Also, seek recommendations from your friends and family. Speak to other parents about their experiences with various summer camps. They can share an insight into how a camp usually works, the activities and their focus program. They can also share if the experience was helpful for their child or not.

Visit the camp

Before registering your child for a camp, it would be best to visit the camp and ensure the quality of instruction and the surroundings. Talk to the people who facilitate the summer camp program. Ask specific questions about the philosophies of their program, their unique features, rewards system as well as the rules. When you visit the camp, observe the interaction between the kids and their counselors. Notice how the activities take place in the camps day to day. Also, make sure that the general environment of the camp is engaging and safe for your child.

Evaluate the staff running the summer program

One of the top things parents look into is the ratio of counselors to campers. While this is an important thing to consider, there are other things about the staff you should find out. The skills and experience of the counselors are something that should be taken into consideration. Take time to find out if the staff has gone through the necessary training and if they have the experience in handling such summer programs. Ask how long they have been with the camp. Dig into how skillful and effective they are when it comes to achieving the goals the program has in place. How is their relationship with the campers? Are they capable of facilitating the activities in such a way that the children learn what they’re supposed to learn and develop the skills they are supposed to develop? Counselors play a significant role in making a summer camp program successful. So make sure you also look into this area during your search.

Summer camps are an excellent way for your child to have fun and be productive at the same time over their vacation. Follow these tips and you’re on your way to sending your child to a summer camp program that will make their summer really worthwhile.

Children and parents alike enjoy the upcoming season of summer. Ahhh, glorious sunny days, warm weather, and no school. Taking special time with family becomes a priority, as it should!

However, learning shouldn’t fall behind in the process. Let’s discuss some shocking stats!

On average, students lose 2 months of reading skills over the summer. Children are at risk of losing more than just academic knowledge during the summer.

• 2.6 months of math skills are lost.
• Physical fitness levels also take a hit.
• 6 weeks of the beginning of school is spent relearning things from the previous year!

(CLICK HERE to read more for yourself!)
With this in mind please consider the academic part of your child’s life. Many things can be done during the summer to incorporate family fun with continued education.

Reading:
Take trips to the library. If you are going on a trip encourage them to read and learn about the area you will be visiting. Have a summer reading challenge program with a cool reward to receive when the goal is meet.

Math:
Involve the children in the grocery shopping. Give them a budget. Have them make a list to shop for a couple meals then let them work it out. While driving in the car play counting games. Assign car colors to the children and see who can find the most of their color.

Technology:
Tablets can be useful for more than games. Ask them questions about trips you are making, or even random ideas and have them look for the answers.

Children work so hard during the school year. Much of what they learn is retained through repetition. That practice goes away for many during the summer.  It can be hard and hurt their self esteem to go back to school the next year and they realize they have forgotten things they worked so hard to achieve. The best suggestion we have is to use activities as a learning purpose. Keep in mind these stats as we all head into the summer with full steam!

Learning can be a fun way to keep connected to your children!
–Ms. Dotty G.
NAEYC Coordinator
Lead Jr. Kindergarten Teacher