preschool

Preschool Readiness

  • What does research say about preschool readiness and student achievement in later years?
  • Children who spend more months in preschool do better on achievement tests in the second grade, have fewer behavior problems in third grade, and are less likely to have to repeat a grade. (National Research Council)

Children who attended higher-quality preschools scored better on tests of learning and social skills from kindergarten through second grade. The quality of the preschool experience made more of a difference for children whose mothers had less education. (Cost, Quality, and Outcomes Study).

  • What can parents do to support their children:
  1. Talk with and listen to your children as you do daily activities together
  2. Encourage children to develop specific language skills, such as using adjectives to describe things, following simple directions, expressing needs and feelings, telling a very simple story in the right order
  3. Read to your children every day
  4. Take children to the library to choose books to read at home
  5. Keep books and writing materials (crayons, pencils, paper) where children can reach them
  6. Point out the printed words in your home and community
  7. Provide blocks or other materials children can use for building, sorting, and handling
  8. Sing songs and listen to music
  9. Give your child opportunities to exercise and develop physical skills such as throwing balls, running, jumping, climbing, dancing
  10. Make sure your child has plenty of time to play, to explore, to be creative
  11. Make sure your child has plenty of opportunities to make friends, play, and share with other kids
  12. Promote good health with nutritious food, enough sleep, safe places to play, and regular medical care
  13. Encourage your children to do things for themselves when they are ready, such as feeding, dressing, and cleaning up — even if it takes more time and the tasks are not done perfectly
  14. Encourage self-esteem by letting your child know that s/he is loved no matter what

Sources: BANANAS, National Association for the Education of Young Children, Ready or not…Preparing young children for the classroom; America Reads Challenge: Ready*Set*Read for Families

Student Achievement through Parental Involvement

In every child’s life there are two main educators, their parents and their teachers. Educational research consistently shows that parental involvement is the number one factor in student achievement through the school years and beyond.  Several studies show a positive correlation between increases in parental involvement in elementary and middle school years and increased student achievement.

Children who have actively engaged parents tend to have higher overall academic achievement, increased motivation, better self-esteem, fewer behavior problems, fewer absences, higher graduation rates. Research also shows that a home environment that supports and encourages learning is even more important than the parents’ income, educational level, or cultural background.

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Tech Tips for Tots

If you are a parent or grandparent of a toddler you may be asking your self how much technology should you expose your child to? How can we build computer skills and at the same time limit the overall amount of time our children spend isolated from others and  interacting one on one with technology.

Statistically 90 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 17 use computers, 97 percent of children at the kindergarten and first grade level have access to computers at school or at home and use them on a regular basis.

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