Cooperative Preschools. I'm a huge fan. This is the kind of preschool where the parents rotate being the assistant teacher to the lead teacher right in the child's classroom. It's an absolutely wonderful way to enjoy and benefit from your child's first school experiences.
Here are some of the benefits, courtesy of the Virginia Cooperative Preschool Council:
What Are the Benefits for Children?
School is special when a parent is there to share it
Children develop a positive attitude toward school
Children see the value their parents place on education
School is more easily extended beyond the classroom, leading to a lifelong habit of learning
Children develop an increased sense of pride and self-esteem when they are the helper and get to show off their parent
Children enjoy friendly adults who accept each child in a safe and nurturing environment
What Are the Benefits for Parents?
Participation in all aspects of your child's education
Education in child development and parenting skills are found in the classroom, at parent meetings, and throughout the school
A support network of friends with the same interests and concerns
A chance to observe how your child manages his or her first years of school
A chance to discover new and hidden talents and contribute your abilities
A voice in school decisions and policy making
Ease of communication with teachers
A chance to learn to effectively advocate on behalf of children
I had both of my children in Cooperative preschools, quite different ones in different states, and I strongly recommend the experience to you and your child. There are MANY co-ops in the neighborhood. Check out this link to find them: http://www.geocities.com/vcpc1/
A lot of their open houses are coming up in the next few weeks. Enjoy!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Introducing two good friends...
Alfie and Annie Rose.
If you haven't met the two children who star in several of Shirley Hughes' books, run, don't walk to get yourself a copy. Arlington libraries has several. I can't think of another author/illustrator who captures childhood, both the way it feels to the child and the parent, so poignantly without the slightest trace of sticky-sweetness. Absolutely wonderful. Fair warning--once these books come into your house, they will be requested again and again. A couple of these, The Big Alfie Out of Doors Book, and The Big Alphie and Annie Rose Storybook, rotate as my daughter's favorites. Enjoy!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
I Love You, I Love You, is what she said
A wonderful woman lived in a shoe
She had so many children,
and she knew exactly what to do.
She hugged them, and rocked them,
and tucked them in bed,
I love you, I love you, is what she said.
So goes the re-imagined nursery rhyme (remember the original? yikes!) by Becky Bailey, Ph.D., from her book I Love You Rituals. Scores of rhymes, interactive finger plays, soothing games, and physically active games for newborns through age eight.
I Love You rituals:
- Prime a child's brain for learning (by raising their dopamine levels)
- enhance attention, cooperation, and self-esteem
- help children cope with change
- help busy families stay close
I participated in a workshop with Dr. Bailey at the Kindermusik International conference in Chicago in October. I was blown away by her presentation--wonderful ideas supported by in-depth research into child development, child psychology, and human neurobiology.
By all means, get yourself a copy of this book!
She had so many children,
and she knew exactly what to do.
She hugged them, and rocked them,
and tucked them in bed,
I love you, I love you, is what she said.
So goes the re-imagined nursery rhyme (remember the original? yikes!) by Becky Bailey, Ph.D., from her book I Love You Rituals. Scores of rhymes, interactive finger plays, soothing games, and physically active games for newborns through age eight.
I Love You rituals:
- Prime a child's brain for learning (by raising their dopamine levels)
- enhance attention, cooperation, and self-esteem
- help children cope with change
- help busy families stay close
I participated in a workshop with Dr. Bailey at the Kindermusik International conference in Chicago in October. I was blown away by her presentation--wonderful ideas supported by in-depth research into child development, child psychology, and human neurobiology.
By all means, get yourself a copy of this book!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Let your light so shine
Hi, Readers, a correction! I learned today that I had incorrectly attributed this quote to Nelson Mandela. This quote is actually from Marianne Williamson, author on spirituality. Apparently one sentence from this quote sounds a lot like a part of Mandela's 1994 inaugural address, so this is incorrect all over the internet. But no longer here!
Here, a quote. This feels timely to me right now, in the dawn of our new year, while we're still thinking about what we're going to make of this year and what we'll make of ourselves in it.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other peole won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory...that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."
- Marianne Williamson
Here, a quote. This feels timely to me right now, in the dawn of our new year, while we're still thinking about what we're going to make of this year and what we'll make of ourselves in it.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other peole won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory...that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."
- Marianne Williamson
My favorite part is the egg
Thanks to Molly McGinn, I found this artist, who is making whimsical little worlds with needle and thread. Flickr apparently won't allow me to post one of the pictures here, so please click and look for yourself. It's a smile, for sure.
Monday, January 7, 2008
The Power of Play
Great new book by author David Elkind. You may know him from one of his previous books, such as The Hurried Child. I just read The Power of Play over the holidays, and I definitely recommend it. Well-written treatise on why to protect children's free time for spontaneous creativity, and how, both at home and in school. The last chapter delves into comparing some early childhood education methodologies, an area close to my heart.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
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