Decision's on Kindergarten

My preschooler is getting to the end of K-4. My toddler is becoming a preschooler. Now the decision begins on kindergarten.

Living in a small town, there are not too many choices. I have been happy with the Montessori school my son is in and would love for him to continue in the fall. My husband works at a public school and wants him there with him.

But my son is way passed beginning kindergarten because of the Montessori program. I feel he will be bored or held back from what he is capable of doing. My husband wants him to be at his school.

There are many things you have to consider when deciding where to place your child for kindergarten. Funding, location, and curriculum are just a few. If you can afford a private school, is there one that is a good school that aligns with how you believe kindergarteners should be taught. I do not believe in too many worksheets or cookie cutter projects. I like students to be allowed to explore what interest them and have lots of play time. Some private schools are well suited for most children, but some children need a different style of teaching.

You may want to home school. Becoming a little more mainstream, it is a possibility for some parents that have the ability to stay home or work in shifts.

And public school is a great option too. As a public school teacher, I certainly see the benefits of what can be offered in a public school. It all depends on what school it is (but don't think the best school is the one the parents love the best!) and how the administration is.

And mostly, it all comes down to the teacher. The greatest schools can have the worst teachers. The worst schools can have some great teachers.

A lot to consider in the coming months!

Preschool Schedule Changes

What a week! My husband and I are both teachers, so we both had two weeks off during December/January. My children stayed up a little later, slept in a little longer, and truly got off their school time schedule. Not to mention, they both kept sleeping in our bed and not their own- a habit that is so hard to break.

And this week, we have been paying for it! Getting back into the school time schedule has not been easy for the adults or children in the house. It is important to stay on a schedule with preschoolers or be flexible when you do change it. We have had to have an extra amount of patience this week with our son especially. Not to mention, we are potty training our toddler too, which adds a great amount of fun!

Scheduling is important, but so is knowing how to adjust to a change in schedule. Keep this in mind as you have scheduling changes with your children, whether it is for vacation, summer break, or a new baby. Everyone has to learn to adjust to new activities and new adventures.

Choosing A Preschool

Because of different situations, we are changing my sons preschool this coming week. It was a decision we were considering, but have now thought it would be best for him for a few different reasons. We loved his teacher at the school he attended, a church based school, but did not like that he was having to lay down every day for over 2 hours. He does not nap (maybe once a month) and so my husband and I felt he was wasting time- not to mention causing problems because he did not want to lay still for so long. We arranged for my sister to start picking him up each day with her 4 year old so they could play together. Then my husband started reading about the Montessori method. He felt that our son would definitely thrive in that type of environment, but in our rural area, there are only so many choices, only one in our town being Montessori. Because of a series of events this week, my niece is changing to that school and now my son will go with her. It was hard to move away from my church school with a Christian education, but I think the benefit of Montessori along with afternoons without lying still for 2 hours will help my son. Not to mention, our state offers a free preschool program at this school, so I will not be paying for the school time at all. That will be a large savings, but that was not the main piece of the decision process.

Choosing a preschool is a hard decision. The different type of environments, teaching styles, and teaching methods make it difficult to understand the implications of sending a child to one or the other. I am praying that this is the right choice and my son will do well in his new location.

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Teacher Supply Showers

While many readers may be parents that do not put their children into school, there may also be some readers that have children in school or that are teachers.

Today in my local paper, I read a great article about giving a teacher a supply shower for the beginning of school.

Being a teacher, I know how much out-of-pocket money is spent on a classroom. Schools supply some funds, but the generous spirit of a teacher usually leads him or her to buy things beyond his or her school budget. Also, this time of year is usually a financial strain since most teachers have not been paid since the beginning of the summer and the money tends to run out. Not to mention- the amazing salaries most teachers are paid!

Utilizing the same registries as weddings or baby showers, teachers can register for wanted and needed supplies at local supply stores or discount stores such as Walmart or Target. Then parents and community members can purchase some of these supplies for that classroom. What a great idea!

There are also some online sources for these registries:
Adopt a Classroom
DonorsChoose.org
The Teacher's Wish List
Support Your Teacher

Support Your Teachers too!