Back to school and on to the 2nd grade!

Summer vacation was a blast but the girls were so excited to go back to school. Big kids now, they have settled nicely into second grade. The year ahead will surely be filled with new lessons, friends, activities, and adventures. Wishing the "core four" a fabulous year!

-Tara, Ellyn, Annabelle, & Lisa

Lila is excited for science class. She is currently experimenting with the idea of becoming a chemist.

Clara can't wait to devour lots of books this year. Her love for reading has inspired Clara to consider a future career as a librarian (in addition to being a mommy).

Elisa is a whiz in math class. No wonder why she plans to become a mathematician. 

Clearly an animal-lover (note the stylish cat ear head band), Sarah is already looking forward to a wonderful career as a veterinarian.

First Day of First Grade

There's nothing like the first day of school. Everything is fresh and new and there is so much excitement that goes along with stepping up to the next grade. Here they are: Elisa, Lila, Clara and Sarah on their first day of first grade. Our girls are growing up so quickly! Check out last year's post to see just how much they've grown.

Here's to a fabulous year in first grade!

-Tara, Ellyn, Lisa, & Annabelle

Elisa: loving her new classroom.

Lila: a yummy, healthy lunch is one of the best parts of the school day.

Clara: with a bright smile for her first day!

Sarah: stylin' and ready to take the bus to school.

Failing at Foreign Language in Three Parts

French

I studied French in Middle School and High School for a total of seven years. Sadly, the only French word I remember with certainty today is pamplemousse (grapefruit). 

I can also recite the Pledge of Allegiance (to the American flag) in French.  This is a skill that I am sure will come in handy in no other situation other than the one in which it was practiced. My French class happened to be scheduled for first period in Middle School and so when the Pledge of Allegiance came roaring over the loudspeakers, the faithful Francophones in our class stood up, hand over heart, and slowly recited the pledge in French. “J’engage ma fidelite des Etats Unis…”

***

Italian

My aptitude for foreign languages has not improved with time. Despite the fact that I married into an Italian family and have spent several months visiting Italy, I am still limited in vocabulary and comprehension. 

This is sad to me because I would very much like to be someone who speaks multiple languages. We were recently at a birthday party in the United States where an American mother talked to her daughter solely in Italian. It seemed exotic and impressive. It reminded me of friends from high school who were native Italian speakers. They spoke English most of the time, but it was always clear when they were gossiping because they would quickly switch to speaking Italian so they could exchange juicy tidbits in a privately public way. 

Clara recently asked me how many words I know in Italian. I think I could count them on two hands.

Cappello...Naso... Occhi (I learned these body part names while watching Clara's Little Pim How to learn Italian DVDs.)

Prego...Grazie (Please and thank you are always important words to know)

And then a lot of food words: Mangia-Zuppa-Cannellini-Torte-Pane-Prosciutto-Vongole (I could go on for a while with random Italian food words. I really like Italian food).

“That’s a lot of words to know,” Clara assured me. She was genuinely impressed and felt that the number of words I know in Italian are quite sufficient.

***

Spanish

In Kindergarten, Clara has the option to study Spanish, French, or Chinese. You already know my track record with French, so that was out of the running. We seriously considered Chinese, but ultimately, Spanish won since there are several people in my extended family who are fluent Spanish speakers. I thought this would give Clara lots of practice partners.

Even though I never studied Spanish, I felt more confident with this language than the others just through sheer immersion. I have watched Dora the Explorer on occasion. I grew up in an area where many people speak Spanish. I honestly thought I could help Clara with at least the first week of Spanish studies in her Kindergarten class. But...I was wrong.

Yesterday, Clara comes home happily singing a song she learned in Spanish. I was impressed by the gusto with which she sang this song, but when I asked her what the song meant, she said, "I don't know. It's in Spanish!"

Here we were week one of Spanish class and both of us were lost in syllables and sounds that we didn't quite understand. After listening a few times, I could figure out about every other word of the song. Que means what. Tiempo means time. I thought the song was about telling time until she got to the last line of the song which Clara was confident meant "It's sunny."

A call to my cousin and multiple renditions of the song later, we finally got the translation down. Ah! Languages and their multiple meanings. It turns out tiempo could mean time... or weather. So, I am already beyond my ability to help after week one, but fortunately Tia Christa and Tia Sandra are willing tutors. 

I think I need a Spanish vocabulary children's picture book to try to keep up.

-Ellyn

The first day of school!

We all experienced mixed emotions sending our not-so-little ones off to their first day of kindergarten. We are pleased to announce there were no tears-- the mamas really held it together! It was bittersweet to acknowledge this major milestone. No more daycare or preschool for these girls. Kindergarten is the real deal! Each attending different schools (private, public, and parochial), the girls made us so proud as they embarked on this new experience with such ease and confidence. Many adventures are sure to come!

-Tara, Annabelle, Lisa & Ellyn

Elisa on her way to school, so happy for her big day!

Lila getting right to work.

Clara enjoying Orientation Day.

 Sarah- so excited to take the bus like a big girl.





Top 10 Questions To Ask When Exploring Kindergarten

Two years ago, my husband and I were already thinking about kindergarten. For "fun" we toured and fell in love with the private schools in our area. We enjoyed VIP treatment, munching on hors d'oeuvres and schmoozing with other like-minded parents seeking the best possible education for our little ones. At the time, we didn't bother looking at the price tags figuring we would certainly be eligible for financial aid. We explored Montessori and International Baccalaureate programs and fantasized about all the wonderful things that Lila would learn and do-- she would speak two (maybe three) languages, develop exceptional leadership skills, master reading, writing and math beyond standard expectations, enjoy organic lunches and a variety of enriching after school activities...

Now, it's time for reality. We are in the midst of the kindergarten enrollment process. Come to find out very little financial aid (if any) is available for these fabulous kindergarten programs. And although we have high expectations, we have a middle class income; truth of the matter, the $30-$40K tuition is a bit unrealistic. And so we find ourselves exploring our local public school system...

In our city, there are four highly-desired magnet programs, each with a different speciality: Math, Science & Technology, Social Studies, the Arts, and the gem of our city-- the International Baccalaureate program. In order to be considered for the magnet schools, parents must attend an orientation for each school and enter their child's name into the lottery. In March, we would find out if Lila has been accepted into one of the magnet programs. If not, she would enter the public school in our district. For the next two days, we will be attending orientations for each program, including a tour of our district school.

Lila is a smart kid. She's receiving a solid foundation in preschool. She is fortunate to be in a classroom of ten students with two teachers plus interns. She loves learning and is developing new skills and knowledge in leaps and bounds. We want so badly for this to continue for her-- to know that she will be in a place that will provide the opportunity for her to grow and explore as she is currently. I worry about large classrooms, the lack of individualized attention (that she is used to) and the overall quality of her education. I am entering this process with an open mind but A LOT of questions!

There are so many things to consider, but here are my Top 10:

1) How are differences in learning styles and levels accommodated?

2) What are the curriculum goals for the year? What is my daughter expected to learn and achieve by the end of kindergarten? (I know what my expectations are and I am hoping they match up!)

3) What is the school's educational philosophy? How is it reflected in their teaching methods and programs?

4) How many students are in each class? What is the student-teacher ratio?

5) What are the safety and security measures in place for the school? (This wasn't originally on my list, but sadly it has become a huge concern.)

6) How diverse is the student body? The faculty and staff?

7) How is technology incorporated into classroom learning? What resources are available?

8) What is their policy on discipline? How do they handle common school concerns such as bullying? 

9) What are the available options for after school enrichment activities? Who supervises these activities?

10) What are the menu options for school lunch? Do they provide healthy options? (If not, Lila will be brown bagging it!)

Wish us luck!

-Tara

It’s not a new debate: public vs. private school

It’s not a new debate: public vs. private school

I never imagined that I would be considering private school for my daughter but living in an area with no shortage of choices, I found myself curious about our educational options. Interestingly, I had also been in contact with several private school parents whose enthusiasm for their respective schools was incredibly convincing. Thus, my husband and I have begun the task of touring, reviewing and debating our school choices.

First, let it be understood that there is nothing wrong with our neighborhood public school. As a public school educator, I am especially devoted to the idea that we all contribute to successful public schools by remaining loyal to them and involved in them. In fact, my neighbors speak very positively of their experiences there and on a tour; we found the teachers and administrators to be pleasant, motivated and knowledgeable about the issues that are most important to us: ability grouping, otherwise known as tracking, budget cuts that impact the arts, classroom management, innovative use of technology and promoting math and science. However, for us, the debate is a bit more complicated as my husband attended a prestigious prep school, and frankly, I wish I had such opportunity when I was a kid.

So, here we are. Our first private school open house was at a local and highly-acclaimed prep school. The tuition is in the $30,000 a year range, but the school boasts significant financial aid opportunities, which we would need in order for Sarah to attend. In the back of my mind, of course, is an awareness of the ridiculousness of spending so much money on kindergarten and on the end result of a private school education costing almost as much as Harvard. At the same time, I liked the beautiful campus, the small classes and the nurturing, academic environment.

Our second open house was of a religious-affiliated, private, day school whose tuition runs significantly lower than others in the area. It was yet another beautiful campus and also boasted small classes and individualized education. This particular school, however, had a different feel. It was warm and energetic, although less prestigious than the school we’d toured the week before. Is that why it felt different?

Of course, different tuition ranges attract different clientele. The more expensive school appeared to attract a more diverse population  in both the student body represented at the open house and in the other families on tour. Ultimately, neither school could hold a candle to the diverse population our urban neighborhood school provided, but in the age of testing and political pressure, diversity comes with a fair share of challenges. Diverse schools must bring all students to a performance standard within a specific amount of time in order to avoid being pegged an “F” school or “in need of improvement” according to No Child Left Behind. If a neighborhood school is already rated, chances are they’ve suffered reductions in funding for important programs like counseling, special education and support for English Language Learners – the very groups that are ‘bringing down’ the test scores. This ‘catch-22’ is further complicated, as we all saw in the recent Waiting for Superman, by the quality of teachers in a particular school who are supported by a powerful teacher’s union and protected by a flawed tenure system.

What does all this mean for us – incoming kindergarten parents? We want to make a choice that represented the least amount of politically-motivated decision-making and the most student-centered decision-making. Ironically, we only see what the schools show us on special days. Thus, we need to explore all of our options and be as knowledgeable about what we think good education looks like. After all, we can only see what each of the schools shows us. So, we will continue on in this debate as a family. All I know is we’re immensely lucky to have any choices at all . . . more to come on this topic, for sure!

--Lisa

Sick on the First Day of School?!?

In 18 years of being a student (counting college and grad school) and 10 years of being a teacher, I can't remember a time that I or another student was absent on the first day of school. The first day is meant to be a time for healthy, sun-kissed children, full of tales of summer fun, to catch up with friends and meet new teachers and students. 

Clara has been counting down to the first day of Pre-K since nearly the first day of summer. I'm not kidding... EVERY DAY she would ask, "How many more days until Pre-K? Is summer over yet? Is it time for school yet? How many more sleeps until the first day of Pre-K?" I have never seen anyone more excited for school. And, now, here it is, the first day of school, and Clara is home sick.

First day of school photos were a big deal in our family. My siblings and I always stood in the same place, against the ranch panels of our house. We were able to see how much we grew from year to year by "how many panels" we had grown. When my mom made a 30th birthday book for me, she put every first day of school photo on a two-page centerspread. It was an awesome, if embarrassing, way to document my changes over the years from my dorky, too-big glasses in my fourth grade first day of school shot to my sky-high bangs in my trying-to-be-cool seventh grade photo.

In solidarity with years of my own first day photos, I actually tried to take a first day photo of Clara this morning even though she wasn't going to school! For about half an hour this morning, we thought she might make it, her fever was gone for more than 24 hours, her throat felt better, and so we went ahead and told her she could get dressed for school. By the time she was actually dressed, we heard her cough a dozen or more times, and decided that it was not wise for her to go to school. She needed another day to recover.

I thought for the sake of posterity, I would still take the photo. Not. A. Good. Idea. 

I have several photos of my daughter, positioned on our front porch, just like her PreSchool first day photo (thinking ahead to the centerspread of first-day of school photos I might make for her some time), all dressed for her first day of school.... hysterically crying, as she jumped up and down in desperation, "I want to go to school!" Although I am a fan of photos in a blog, I think it would be too cruel to include these photos. So, this will be my first photo-less post. 

Last week, I thought about writing a post about the first day of school. And it was meant to be quite different from today's post. The post I imagined writing was about first days of school and how as a teacher and student, I have now had 28 first days of school, and how each first day brings excitement... as well as some anxiety... for me.

I wanted to write about how Clara views her first day of school with absolute joy and pure excitement, not an ounce of anxiety. Whereas I could definitely be on board with a few more weeks (or months) of summer vacation, Clara literally can't wait for school to start. I hope this enthusiasm for education on her part will last. I can't help feeling sad for my little girl who literally couldn't wait for her first day of school and now had to miss it.

-Ellyn

Thank you preschool teachers

I feel so fortunate that Lila attends a wonderful preschool. It is a nurturing, creative, and stimulating environment and because of it I'm convinced that she is a much smarter four year old than I was. I am amazed by her ever expanding vocabulary and knowledge base. I honestly did not know that a caterpillar forms a "chrysalis" before becoming a butterfly, until Lila informed me of this process. She has learned so much and I admit I can't take much credit. Her teachers are fabulous.

A few weeks ago, Lila was suddenly overcome by the inspiration to create her own rendition of the "Three Little Pigs." When she arrived at school, she shared her idea and instead of just brushing it off, her teacher allowed her to put on her play. As I was leaving, Lila (hands on her hips) was busy deciding where the stage should be. The teachers and student interns were the cast, the children were the audience, and Lila was the director, producer, and, of course, the star of the play. Lila was so proud of herself. I believe that this will be one of those moments that will help to shape Lila's self concept and perhaps her future. (Hmmm, the next Tyler Perry?)

She has attended the Children's Center since she was 18 months, beginning in the Yellow Room and progressing to the Green Room, Purple Room and now the Blue Room. Relating the rooms to high school terms, Lila is now entering her "Senior" year in preschool. (sniff sniff). As a college counselor I have seen many tearful, proud, yet anxious parents sending their kids off to college or watching them graduate-- I can totally relate already. I get ridiculously emotional with the ending and beginning of each stage in Lila's life.

Today was the last day of school for the year for Lila (the center closes for the month of August). When Lila returns in September, this will be her final year at the center. Then, it's off to kindergarten... and before I know it, college!

Knowing how emotional parents get, Lila's school hosted an end of the school year event to really bring on the water works-- Family Day. This was hosted in June since some of the students are off for the full summer. Here are some of the highlights of the day:

The children made us fruit salad and lemonade and ordered an array of delicious mini muffins. They decorated each table with adorable handmade centerpieces. 

During circle time, the children were asked

"why do you love your mom?"& "why do you love your dad?"

I just love the responses!

For the grand finale, we watched a slide show of their productive year in the Purple Room. The kids were excited to see themselves on the big screen.

Lila and her friends wait patiently for the show to begin.

It's hard to come up with a way to thank Lila's teachers for all that they do. I trust them to care for my "baby" for eight hours a day and they truly exceed my expectations.

As a thank you gift, we decided to bring "an apple for the teacher"-- cliche, I know, but this one was covered in caramel and dark chocolate and topped with a drizzle of white chocolate. YUM! We included a thank you note which Lila personally decorated with lots of her favorite stickers. I'm hoping they enjoy these decadent treats as they relax and celebrate the end of another great year. 

Signature chocolate covered apple from Chocolate Rain Shop in Norwalk, CT.

Lila thanking one of her teachers for a wonderful year!

-Tara